Messages

1531

Gear Talk / Re: 2016 Surftech Bark Vapor 14ft review

« on: February 23, 2016, 07:05:46 PM »

In Canada the Hybrid Allstar goes for around 3200.00 and the Vapor is 3699.00. Somethings up here.

The SIC FX14 is also around $3,200. The Surftech are the ones that seem to have taken more of a climb then just the dollar.
If the FX14 had stayed at 26"-266L it would likely have been the board that I was expecting the Vapor to be.
Not that there is anything wrong with the Vapor as is if anything it is even more interesting and would be a sure thing below a $3K price tag.

Robon out of curiosity which retailer in Canada has the All Star 2016 Hybrid?

1532

Gear Talk / Re: 2016 Surftech Bark Vapor 14ft review

« on: February 23, 2016, 05:18:44 PM »

Yes, I expected the same. And now I'm also thinking that a Vapor + D2 combination would cover most bases for most experienced paddlers. The Vapor has made me want a D2 now. There's not much information about it out there though, really. Some reviews that complain about the weight. I can see that it might matter a bit more for a flat water board. It seems that Surftech owners are less active on forums than Starboard, Fanatic, Naish etc owners.

I would think that at the current pricing here in Canada and solely based on weight, the D2/Vapor would compete directly with the SIC X14Pro and Bullet V2 being at the same price point for 2016.
I would agree that the 28 pounds of the D2 is a big disfavor for its use as a flat water board. If you always paddle a board this weight then you would not notice but when you start paddling a 24 pounds flat water board it does make a difference.

Regarding the downwinding board, 28~29 pounds is likely a sweet spot for stability and durability.

1533

Gear Talk / Re: 2016 Surftech Bark Vapor 14ft review

« on: February 23, 2016, 04:19:52 PM »

It is funny how I was expecting the Vapor to fill a role on the flat side of the Downwinder - kind of like a D2 with cross-chop/open sea capabilities - but now it looks more like it could instead fill a role on the downwind side of the Downwinder - actually more precisely move this role into easier downwind territory and in effect replace it to some extend.
As they said do not judge a book on its cover...
So a Bark only quiver could now look more like D2 + Vapor instead of Vapor + Downwinder and that quiver could be covering a larger range of conditions.

1534

Gear Talk / Re: 2016 Surftech Bark Vapor 14ft review

« on: February 23, 2016, 09:10:28 AM »

So in many ways IMO the Bark Downwinder should be called the Vapor, and the Vapor should be called the Downwinder.
They are kinda too similar in their skill sets, price and construction. But if you already have a Bark Downwinder, and like it, but feel ready to go narrower, and like downwinding a lot, then it might be worth changing the Downwinder for the Vapor.

I was kind of thinking exactly the same after digesting your review.
So the Vapor would likely be in the cards as an upgrade for the Downwinder some time down the line if price goes down drastically.

On the other hand, I might decide to pick-up a used full on downwind board instead which would complete my board range nicely in the meantime.

Flat = 14x25 Eradicator
Chop All-around = Bark Downwinder
Downwind specific =

Cheers,

luc

1535

Gear Talk / Re: 2016 Surftech Bark Vapor 14ft review

« on: February 23, 2016, 08:06:14 AM »

OK now make the CAD go up so that I can afford one next year 

Interesting review as usual.
I was a little bit surprised that the board is closer to the Bullet V2 rather than the FX or SB Allstar 2016.
Here in Canada the V2 and the Vapor resell for the same price.
The weight seems in line with teh Downwinder (they are about the same volume) and I do agree with your statement. WHen things are moving it is a blessing, when things have calm down it is not quite a curse but noticeable compare to a 25 lbs board.

It almost feels that the Vapor and the Downwinder are competing against each other with failry similar attributes.
You have paddled both, what is your take on this?

Thanks for the excellent review again.

Cheers,

luc

1536

Gear Talk / Re: Fanatic Falcon Flatwater 2015 Model 14' x 26.5"

« on: February 13, 2016, 08:35:50 PM »

The Volkswagen Golf has been a hugely successful car for VW, worldwide. The reason for this is that each new version has built on the lessons from the last. So what they have now is a hugely refined product. People still buy new VW Golfs even though the designs aren't hugely different from the previous ones. There's a lesson there for the big SUP brands, I think.

I which they would have done the same with the Jetta instead of screwing up a very good car (i.e. the 90+ models)

1537

Gear Talk / Re: 14' boards with clean lines?

« on: February 11, 2016, 11:01:05 AM »

That would be a board that attract my eyes and that I could perfectly use - joining form and function :-)


That would be a board that attract my eyes but for which I would have limited or no use where I am paddling.
http://distressedmullet.com/2015/11/14/custom-board-candy-ian-balding-albatross-standup-paddleboard/

1538

Gear Talk / Re: 14' boards with clean lines?

« on: February 11, 2016, 09:38:44 AM »

This may sound a bit arty farty or pretentious but I think if you lined up 20 different boards and asked 100 different people to rate the beauty of their shape alone (ie. forget graphics) then I'd bet you'd get a surprising amount of agreement about which board shape looks best, just as you would if you asked people to rate the best looking cars. I think for instance that maybe continuous rocker looks better to the eye than progressive rocker.

That is what it is. It is the same for a B&W photography (I happen to be a photographer if not an active one lately).

1539

Gear Talk / Re: 14' boards with clean lines?

« on: February 10, 2016, 09:10:27 PM »

Rail carbon is light! Lighter than Bullet V2.

Yes in Swiss Franc but not in Canadian dollar $$$

1540

Gear Talk / Re: 14' boards with clean lines?

« on: February 10, 2016, 08:21:48 PM »

The JL Sidewinder looks good and has multiple sizing options. Black color though? Any other color options available? Black is a no go straight up.

I have been told that it will come in both Carbon construction ($$$) and JL Signature sandwich construction ($$).
No info on the weight of a Signature construction 14x27 or 14x25.
Still unclear why the Rail is only available in Carbon.

1541

Gear Talk / Re: 14' boards with clean lines?

« on: February 10, 2016, 12:25:54 PM »

I just thought I'd add to the orange theme here. Here's the Bark Vapor, from one of my favorite angles. Sorry the picture is so crap:

Nice, would fit perfectly beside the Downwinder.
Any problem with paint shipping easily or things like that so far?

Cheers,

Luc

1542

Gear Talk / Re: 14' boards with clean lines?

« on: February 10, 2016, 07:14:26 AM »

Love SIC lines! (pun) Bark Vapor too. Clean lines on a board are important for me.

Here are some pics of JL Rail.

Nice. And nicer in Orange than the Yellow and Red, I have seen on some web page.
More rocker than I was expecting.

So it looks like we could soon have a review of the Vapor (Are10)  and a review of the Rail (Yugi?).
Anybody knows anything about the JL Sidewinder? It looks comparable to the Vapor as a fast choppy conditions board.

1543

Gear Talk / Re: 14' boards with clean lines?

« on: February 09, 2016, 07:03:52 PM »

Jimmy Lewis Rail

We need a good picture :-)

1544

Gear Talk / 14' boards with clean lines?

« on: February 09, 2016, 06:49:36 PM »

Yesterday I was looking at my Bark Downwinder on the top of my truck and once again noted how the clean lines and regular rocker made it so nice (at least in my eyes).
This is pretty much the opposite of my Starboard Race with "progressive" rocker and contorted shape.
The Boardworks Eradicator is also a board with somewhat clean lines if flatter and more angular than the Downwinder.

I was curious if you guys could think of other boards for flat water or open ocean that would have similar clean lines and shape as an attribute.

1545

Gear Talk / Re: 2016 SIC FX 12'6 X 26 VS Starboard All Star 12'6 X 25 Shootout

« on: February 09, 2016, 01:09:40 PM »

Drum roll please....According to Standup Outfitters in Bern, N.C., the dimensions written on the Demo SIC FX are 14' X 26" and volume is 266 liters. Soooo, still not 100% sure until the production boards arrive en masse. Their container will arrive in a few weeks. They have been paddling it and said "As for a speedy all conditions board, the FX in general is amazing. It blows through chop and maintains speed without wearing out your legs."

The distributor in Canada confirmed 25" and the higher volume....and I think that his container is also on his way but I cannot find the FB message again...