Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => Gear Talk => Topic started by: WHS on June 05, 2020, 02:08:18 PM
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New guy here. Great forum! Recently started on a SUP and already needing new boards. Looking into getting one of the wider 2020 Bullet 14 as an upgrade with aspirations to down-wind on Lake Tahoe where I live. I would like to get 30” for stability while I progress and to better handle steep bouncy chop and massive boat wakes that are common in summer. Assuming I will outgrow it and go narrower on next board, I have plenty of visiting family and friends that will love a easy fairly fast board. I’m tempted by 27.5 wide but worried it will be a less fun board for myself now and other beginners later.
The biggest problem I have with this plan is that DF construction is so heavy and the extra $ for SF (PVC sandwich) makes handing it over to my idiot friends to drag over the rocks less of a brilliant idea. Now that manufacturing is at Kinetic I wonder whether the actual weights of the dragon fly construction will come down making that a better option? Anyone weight a DF board yet? Have read post of SF being 2 lb less than advertised. I would think there could even greater variance for DF. Comments please!
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I can't really comment on the weight, but I'd say unless you're a serious racer, the 27 1/2" Bullet will not disappoint. I used one of the earlier 14' wide bullets for the distance races at one of the Battle of the Paddle events. It saved my ass. I planned to do the race on my Blackfish but the conditions were so horrible I could hardly stand on the thing. I borrowed the Bullet from SIC and it was a pleasure to paddle. While everyone else was falling around me I stayed up and was nearly as fast as I would have been on my Blackfish. It's tough to be fast when youre laying in the water. As I recall I got second in my age group.
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I can't really comment on the weight, but I'd say unless you're a serious racer, the 27 1/2" Bullet will not disappoint.
Did you mean the 30" instead of 27 1/2? I think I remember your post but wasn't it 30" that "saved your ass"? Actually one the reasons I thought I would be happy on the 30" width.
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I was able to get a dealer to weight 27.5 DF and it was 30.5 lbs. Almost 3 lbs less than listed weight. Hoping 30 is close to that. Would be a reasonable weight for size and price.
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Probably. I don't remember what I had for dinner, so there's that. I do remember: 14'. Wide. Bullet. And it had steering, which I thought was odd for a 14' but I liked it.
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Went back and reread your old post. You didn't actually say what you used but recommended F14 to OP which I think was 30".
Thanks for your comments!
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Ordered a 14 x 30 Bullet DF. I was uncertain about DF construction but hoped the cheaper construction might have improved with Kinetic now making SIC boards. After a couple weeks dealer was unable to deliver in DF so for a little more $ SIC sent me SF!!! Amazing deal and board looks amazing.
Today was my first day with some glassy flat water (Been busy using the early morning glass to wakesurf and learn to wakefoil behind my boat). Board is exactly what I hoped for. Fast, stable, and light. Coming from 10'-6 x 32 all-around (that my wife stole) the Bullet feels just as stable but with more control/confidence in rough water and large wakes that I've been mostly using it in. This is a really nice performance board for a beginner who is intimidated (me) by wind and large chop. 30" width is very comfortable and it's really nice not being afraid to go paddling when lake gets busy. I'm sure I could have gotten used to the 27.5 width but so much fun paddling the 30!
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Congrats! You really scored. Let us know how it goes downwind.
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After a couple weeks dealer was unable to deliver in DF so for a little more $ SIC sent me SF!!!
Great customer service. Nice outcome.
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Congrats! You really scored. Let us know how it goes downwind.
Thanks. Still working on skills before I head into middle of the lake to catch swells. Haven't fallen yet so I guess I'm not trying hard enough :)
After a couple weeks dealer was unable to deliver in DF so for a little more $ SIC sent me SF!!!
Great customer service. Nice outcome.
Yeah no buyers remorse on this one! Should give credit to dealer who arranged it: Liquid surf and sail who also gave me free shipping.