Author Topic: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle  (Read 551242 times)

LM

  • Site Sponsor
  • Rincon Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 237
    • View Profile
    • KeNalu
    • Email
Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle
« Reply #1635 on: January 11, 2017, 10:46:10 PM »
Here's a pretty cool write-up/review from Dr. William Pearce about the Mana & Konihi blades: http://www.thestokeexchange.com/gear-reviews

Luc Benac

  • Teahupoo Status
  • ******
  • Posts: 1872
  • Super Natural British Columbia
    • View Profile
    • When not paddling...
    • Email
Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle
« Reply #1636 on: January 12, 2017, 07:50:30 AM »
And he has not even tried the Mana 82 yet. Even better :-)
Sunova Allwater 14'x25.5" 303L Viento 520
Sunova Torpedo 14'x27" 286L Salish 500
Naish Nalu 11'4" x 30" 180L Andaman 520
Sunova Steeze 10' x 31" 150L
Blackfish Paddles

warmuth

  • Rincon Status
  • ***
  • Posts: 180
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle
« Reply #1637 on: January 12, 2017, 09:45:03 AM »
  His times would lead me to believe he's one hell of a strong paddler. Probably gets the most out of that 90

Luc Benac

  • Teahupoo Status
  • ******
  • Posts: 1872
  • Super Natural British Columbia
    • View Profile
    • When not paddling...
    • Email
Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle
« Reply #1638 on: January 13, 2017, 10:32:18 AM »
  His times would lead me to believe he's one hell of a strong paddler. Probably gets the most out of that 90

True, Mana 82 might best for wimps like me and not for the beasts :-) Still it is a great paddle on its own and my first choice over the Mana 90 or the Konihi 84 (I have both).
Sunova Allwater 14'x25.5" 303L Viento 520
Sunova Torpedo 14'x27" 286L Salish 500
Naish Nalu 11'4" x 30" 180L Andaman 520
Sunova Steeze 10' x 31" 150L
Blackfish Paddles

GOTWAVZ

  • Sunset Status
  • ****
  • Posts: 322
    • View Profile
Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle
« Reply #1639 on: January 13, 2017, 10:36:33 AM »
Is this thread still going.....................?

I guess its a good one. It cracks me up every time it resurfaces.
HB, CA, Oahu, HI
JK 7'-8' x 28"x 4" = 99L
JK 7'-10" x 41/4" = 106 L
Joe Blair Gun 8-10" x 28 x 4 1/4
198 lbs - 5'-9"

supcymru

  • Rincon Status
  • ***
  • Posts: 135
    • View Profile
Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle
« Reply #1640 on: March 07, 2018, 10:06:53 AM »
A quick question for all you Ke Nalu fans!
Is there a noticeable difference between the 90 flex shaft and the xtuf (s) shaft? I'm hoping to get a new wiki paddle with the 74 blade and wondering how the two shafts compare?
Diolch! Cheers!

PonoBill

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 25859
    • View Profile
Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle
« Reply #1641 on: March 07, 2018, 10:37:48 AM »
Yes. The 90 has a somewhat linear flex. It's a little more flexible than the 100. The xTuf shafts have non-linear flex, they start off a lot softer than the 90 and then lock up as hard as the 100. All carbon shafts and even fiberglass shafts will eventually start stacking, but the xtuf and xtuf(S) does it quickly. So it's easy on the shoulders and arms from a shock perspective but doesn't keep bending. I'm not a big fan of the xtuf--too soft, but the xtuf(s) is a little bit of shoulder magic.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

Luc Benac

  • Teahupoo Status
  • ******
  • Posts: 1872
  • Super Natural British Columbia
    • View Profile
    • When not paddling...
    • Email
Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle
« Reply #1642 on: March 07, 2018, 11:05:42 AM »
Xtuf(S) on all my paddles.
Sunova Allwater 14'x25.5" 303L Viento 520
Sunova Torpedo 14'x27" 286L Salish 500
Naish Nalu 11'4" x 30" 180L Andaman 520
Sunova Steeze 10' x 31" 150L
Blackfish Paddles

yugi

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 2228
    • View Profile
Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle
« Reply #1643 on: March 07, 2018, 12:55:32 PM »
Did Lane just re-ignite the old website?
Or did google stumble upon a treasure trove?

I stumbled upon some of the old articles. No (s) stuff.

« Last Edit: March 07, 2018, 01:22:14 PM by yugi »

yugi

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 2228
    • View Profile
Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle
« Reply #1644 on: March 07, 2018, 12:58:01 PM »
QUOTE:

"The sharkskin texture on xTuf shafts refracts a shimmering grey color in sunlight."

supcymru

  • Rincon Status
  • ***
  • Posts: 135
    • View Profile
Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle
« Reply #1645 on: March 07, 2018, 01:18:52 PM »
That line about the 'sharkskin texture' caught my eye too when I was looking for more info on the shaft options! Sounds cool!

TallDude

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 5714
  • Capistrano Beach
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle
« Reply #1646 on: March 07, 2018, 01:46:27 PM »
+1 on the Xtuf. It's magic. The texture /grip of the shaft was a little edgy at first, so I sanded it with some 400 grit. That did the trick and the shaft still looks like new. 
It's not overhead to me!
8'8" L-41 ST and a whole pile of boards I rarely use.

stoneaxe

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 12084
    • View Profile
    • Cape Cod Bay Challenge
Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle
« Reply #1647 on: March 07, 2018, 01:54:38 PM »
I like the 90 (can't notice a difference from the 100) most of the time but if I'm paddling long distance or my shoulders hurt go to xtuf(s). Xtuf(s) and Konihi 95 is a magic bullet for me for distance....I used to be very sore next day after a long paddle but much less or none since.
« Last Edit: March 07, 2018, 02:00:27 PM by stoneaxe »
Bob

8-4 Vec, 9-0 SouthCounty, 9-8 Starboard, 10-4 Foote Triton, 10-6 C4, 12-6 Starboard, 14-0 Vec (babysitting the 18-0 Speedboard) Ke Nalu Molokai, Ke Nalu Maliko, Ke Nalu Wiki Ke Nalu Konihi

805StandUp

  • Sunset Status
  • ****
  • Posts: 401
    • View Profile
Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle
« Reply #1648 on: March 08, 2018, 09:27:02 PM »
Lane, Luc, Bill, et. al.,

I have read the other threads on the Mana, but since this thread has been revived will ask my question here... Am thinking of changing the Maliko blade that I have on one of my paddles to a Mana and am torn between the 90 and 82.  I love my Konihi 84 and use it as my goto paddle in the surf but since I have been cutting this paddle down I probably need to have another paddle for when I take my raceboard out downwind/flatwater.  Is the thinking still that the 90 is better for downwinding and 82 better for flat or have you found that the 82 is now optimal in all conditions after more use?  I am 5'7.5 and weigh 185lbs.

LM

  • Site Sponsor
  • Rincon Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 237
    • View Profile
    • KeNalu
    • Email
Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle
« Reply #1649 on: March 08, 2018, 10:04:51 PM »
Lane, Luc, Bill, et. al.,

I have read the other threads on the Mana, but since this thread has been revived will ask my question here... Am thinking of changing the Maliko blade that I have on one of my paddles to a Mana and am torn between the 90 and 82.  I love my Konihi 84 and use it as my goto paddle in the surf but since I have been cutting this paddle down I probably need to have another paddle for when I take my raceboard out downwind/flatwater.  Is the thinking still that the 90 is better for downwinding and 82 better for flat or have you found that the 82 is now optimal in all conditions after more use?  I am 5'7.5 and weigh 185lbs.

I think it's really a personal preference thing more than anything, although I know Bill has said he gets faster speeds with the 82 but it takes more attention to keep the speed (if I remember correctly). I can say that the Mana 82 will feel more powerful than your Konihi 84. The Mana is a bit more "aggressive" than the Konihi in terms of catch and it also has slightly deeper concaves that provide a bit more "grip" than the Konihi. If you like the feel of your Maliko then go with the 90, it would feel similar in size to the Maliko & has a similar (although more stable) catch.

 


* Recent Posts

post Re: GPT 5, Sam Altman, What's coming
[Random]
PonoBill
March 17, 2024, 05:30:44 PM
post Re: 2024 North Mode Pro wings:
[Classifieds]
cnski
March 17, 2024, 05:09:04 PM
post Re: HOT Chicks on Stand Up Paddle Boards!
[SUP General]
burchas
March 17, 2024, 08:50:00 AM
post Re: HOT Chicks on Stand Up Paddle Boards!
[SUP General]
Night Wing
March 16, 2024, 07:02:05 PM
post Re: HOT Chicks on Stand Up Paddle Boards!
[SUP General]
blueplanetsurf
March 16, 2024, 03:28:57 PM
post Re: GPT 5, Sam Altman, What's coming
[Random]
LaPerouseBay
March 14, 2024, 12:38:42 PM
post Re: GPT 5, Sam Altman, What's coming
[Random]
LaPerouseBay
March 13, 2024, 07:59:28 PM
post Re: FS - Ocean Rodeo Glide A-Series Wings (3m/ 4m / 5m), USA
[Classifieds]
StellaBlu
March 12, 2024, 07:27:21 AM
post FS - Kalama Barracuda
[Classifieds]
VB_Foil
March 11, 2024, 05:43:58 PM
post Re: Vision Pro
[Random]
Bean
March 11, 2024, 03:46:42 PM
post Re: Vision Pro
[Random]
PonoBill
March 09, 2024, 11:06:32 AM
post Happy International Women's Day, lady zoners!
[General Discussion]
LaPerouseBay
March 08, 2024, 07:28:47 PM
post Re: Vision Pro
[Random]
Admin
March 08, 2024, 04:45:53 AM
post Re: Vision Pro
[Random]
PonoBill
March 06, 2024, 11:00:24 PM
post Re: Vision Pro
[Random]
Admin
March 06, 2024, 10:15:55 AM
SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal