San Francisco Bay Board Advice

[hbsteve]

Just as I'm getting ready to shop for a new board, it appears that we will be moving to the San Francisco area.  We are looking to live in Southern Marin. 
I'm currently paddling a Starboard Free Race, 12'6" x 29 x 6.  It is a fairly fast board in flat water.  But, as Larry says, it is not efficient.  The rails are square and the tail is narrow.  Making it hard to balance in sloppy water.
I'm 5'11" and 190, 66 with fair balance.
In the waters around Sausalito or Corte Madera what are you paddling?  Even tho a 14 might be better in general for my size, would it be a lot harder to handle in the sloppy water that can exist in that area?
I rowed out of the Open Water Rowing Center for about 5 years.  I enjoyed the rougher water.  So I have some knowledge of the water conditions.

[Fog City Rider]

If I could only have one board for the Bay, I'd get an SIC Bullet.  Handles everything. 

SB Freeride also a good choice, or any of the All-Waters racing boards like an All-Star, the NSP DC's, or Fanatics. 

/m

[sterbo]

Hey Steve

I live on the bay, in Sausalito, and paddle 4 / 5 times a week. The glory of the Bay besides it's incredible beauty and friendly creatures are the endless variations when it comes to weather coupled with wind and tide.

I did a lot of research before buying my current board. Went with a SIC 12-6 Bullet SCC and absolutely love it.
Runs fast, works into and on the wind beautifully, picks up the crazy bumps with ease - basically handles the myriad of extremes we experience out here with class.

Thought hard about the same board at 14 feet but I like the fact that a 12-6 is more maneuverable when the conditions really kick up hard - especially when I head out to and around Angel Island and the big water:)
Sweet too in the surf.

I'm 6' and 150+ lbs for what it's worth.

[Off-Shore]

I've sailed out of Saulsalito and so know how crazy those waters get. I've never paddled there though. Here in Hong Kong I do a lot of coastal paddling and conditions can change quickly. My go to board now is a SIC Bullet 14v1 TWC and I'm 5'11 and 182. I also have an SB All Star 12-6 x 27" which I agree is more manoverable in the sloppy stuff but I'm finding that I enjoy the Bullet 14 much more as it glides and downwinds way much better than the SB All Star 12-6, and from what I've read there are some awesome downwind runs in the bay. It's just a more fun all round board. If you can afford it, I'd go for the SCC version as it is a lot lighter than the TWC.

If you fast forward to the 2 minute mark here you'll see how the Bullet handles one of our gnarliest places to paddle where there is swell, backwash and tidal currents in the South Eastern most tip of Hong Kong. This is a fairly "calm" day for the Cape.

[sterbo]

Sorry. Hit the wrong button.

[Area 10]

Are you going to be doing any flat water racing?

If not, I'd say a 14ft SIC Bullet V2. It's very well-behaved in confused waters, and is generally nice to paddle.

If you do want to race, then things become a whole lot more complicated.

[hbsteve]

Thank you for the board specific advice.  I don't plan on racing.  Since my 29" wide SB is hard for me in small stuff, unless I'm going directly into it, I'm not inclinded to go narrower.  I'm hoping to stay in the 29-30" range.

[Fog City Rider]

Thank you for the board specific advice.  I don't plan on racing.  Since my 29" wide SB is hard for me in small stuff, unless I'm going directly into it, I'm not inclinded to go narrower.  I'm hoping to stay in the 29-30" range.

The Bullet 12'6 & 14, even though they're 28.5 wide, are very stable.  You might find it MORE stable than your Free Race once you get used to it, especially when conditions turn sour.  The Free Race is all hard rails and a big canoe nose; those are not your friends in chop.  The Bullet's contours and rocker work with the chop better, you won't feel like your board is being violently pushed around as much.     

The other Starboard I mentioned, the Freeride, is another good one IMO.  It's 12'2 x 30... and offers a bit more initial stability.

I would definitely try them.  We have all in stock if you'd like to demo.   

[JimK]

+1 to Fog City Go demo stuff in that area best way to be sure

JimK
www.extremewindsurfing.com

[PonoBill]

With the comments about 10 to one for SIC I probably don't need to chip in, but it's a nearly automatic choice when the wind starts blowing. When other boards are tossing you off or scaring you, the SIC gets really fun.