2012 Naish Glide 12'6

[SJV_SUP]

Hi, I'm a newb here asking for some advice. We currently have a couple of inflatables, a Naish Mana 10 and a Naish One 12'6. I have been paddling for about 3 months now, on flat water as you can tell from my location and want to step up my game a little. Just returned from the Portland OR area visiting our kids and grandson and enjoyed a lot of paddling on the Willamette River. I'm 60, 6'2" and 185 lbs (84kg) and in reasonably good shape. My goal is to get a lot of paddling in, and next summer when up in Oregon to do some downwind runs at the Gorge. I have found a new, unused 2012 Glide 12'6 for $1200 and am wondering if this would be a good fit. I would like to do some Recreational Racing and fitness paddling. Hoping DJ, Pono Bill and Covesurfer will chime in here since DJ seems to be the master of all things Naish and Pono Bill and Covesurfer the Gorge experts. thanks for any advice you can give.

Tom

[DavidJohn]

I just got home from paddling my 12'6'' Glide.. 

It's a great board and I think it would be a good choice for you.. It's a great all round flat water board that not only works well on glassy water it's very stable in the rough water and even goes well on downwinders.. You can even race it and be very competitive with other race boards.

I had the 2012 Glide and sold it and bought the 2013 Glide.. The only difference was that some of the 2012 Glides had a problem with the duel compound deck pad having some of the diamonds pealing off.. Mine was fine but I have seen some that had lots of diamonds missing in the standing area.. It's no big deal if they do peal because it's only a very thin top layer of the grip that peals.. It just looks a bit tacky.

DJ

[SJV_SUP]

Thanks for the input DJ. I see it has the same volume and width as the Naish One so I thought it would have similar stability, but be better as far as glide and speed are concerned.

Tom

[pdxmike]

The 12-6 Glide might be fine (I don't know myself but would take DJs word) but the 14' Glide might be even finer.  Lots of people love the 14' for the Gorge.  I do have the 14 and I'm sim. size (10 lbs. more).  It's great in flatwater in the Willamette--a great everyday training board.  Not as fast as the Javelin or other pure displacement boards in calm water but sim. speed when conditions get rougher.  I may race mine instead of the Javelin if I think a race (like Round the Rock) may be choppy.  You're at the weight where most people around here race on 14s. 

[SJV_SUP]

Mike, I have thought about the 14, but my trips up to Oregon are only a couple of times a summer at this point, so I don't know if the added expense and dealing with storing and transporting a 14' foot board would be worth it at this time. How does the narrower width of the 14 compared to the 12'6 affect the stability of the board on flat water and in chop?

Tom

[pdxmike]

Tom--don't know because I've never tried a 12-6, but you should hear from others who have.  Of course now the newest 14' Glide is apparently 29" vs. the 27" it's been up to now, so it must be more stable than before.  I know from past threads a lot of people have said 12-6s (in general, not referring to Glides in particular) can be a bit easier to handle in chop because you have less rail area getting pushed around.  The 14' does seem quite stable in flatwater, although less so than some other boards, but on the other hand many other 14s are an inch or two wider.

[maxsonic]

Mike, I have thought about the 14, but my trips up to Oregon are only a couple of times a summer at this point, so I don't know if the added expense and dealing with storing and transporting a 14' foot board would be worth it at this time. How does the narrower width of the 14 compared to the 12'6 affect the stability of the board on flat water and in chop?

Tom

Tom,

I'm an XXL at 260 lbs and have both boards (my 2012 14' Glide Carbon GX is currently for sale in classifieds).  At 27.25" width, the 14' Naish Glide is a little tippy for me, but fully manageable in San Diego Bay light wind chop. However, my desire is to do more open ocean long distance touring so I decided to pick up the Glide 12'6" - with its 30" width it will provide greater rider comfort and stability in the ocean swell. At your weight, the 14' Glide should be highly manageable - a major benefit being it forces you to learn better stability and control skills and techniques.

However, an unused 2012 Glide 12'6 for $1200 is a really good deal...I just picked up mine used (with a custom fin) for $1075.

MAX

[SJV_SUP]

Thanks for the feedback Max. I've been leaning toward the 12'6", but your 14' Glide GX sure looks tempting, just don't know if I'm ready for that yet. Oh well, I'll be heading down to San Diego for a weekend the middle of next month, who knows 

Tom

[maxsonic]

Thanks for the feedback Max. I've been leaning toward the 12'6", but your 14' Glide GX sure looks tempting, just don't know if I'm ready for that yet. Oh well, I'll be heading down to San Diego for a weekend the middle of next month, who knows 

Tom

PM me when you come to SD, you can take them both out for a try on Mission Bay or SD Bay!

MAX

[SJV_SUP]

Thanks for the invite Max. If I have not decided by then, I'll PM you.

Tom

[SJV_SUP]

Thanks everybody for your feedback...I stopped by the store the other day and they had reduced the Glide another two hundred, so I purchased it for $999. Seems to be a pretty good deal for a brand new 2012. UPS delivered my new Ke Nalu Elite Maliko/xTuf(S) paddle on Thursday, so it feels like Christmas in September.

Took the paddle and Glide out for the first time this afternoon at Millerton Lake. Wind was blowing 5-10, some wind chop, both the board and the paddle were great. My previous paddle was the Kialoa Puu Puu Adjustable, kind of heavy, very stiff, but the best adjustment mechanism I think. The Ke Nalu felt like a feather and was a joy to paddle. The Glide lived up to it's name. Followed advice from DJ on another thread, kept my toes up near the black line and towards the center hugging the yellow stripe and the board was very stable. When it did tip, the secondary stability was great. My wife was along on the Naish One Inflatable so i was able to compare the two, I still like the Naish One but the paddling experience is different, not so much glide and you can feel the chop as the board flexes under your feet.

Tom

[DavidJohn]

Congrats.. Just found an old vid that show how it goes on a downwinder.

DJ

[SJV_SUP]

Thanks for the video link DJ. I was watching some of your videos last night on the big screen streaming through the Apple TV but did not see that one.

Tom