Author Topic: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race  (Read 259612 times)

Area 10

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #120 on: February 22, 2018, 10:52:42 AM »
It’s a shame they don’t seem to have any pics of the bottom of the Nelo on the website (?). I hope this turns out to be a good design, and strong and durable. I’ve had enough of spending a small fortune on race boards where the standard of construction is so poor that you have to ask yourself if it’s fit for purpose. If every little glancing blow when racing ends up in a $$$ bill, can a board be considered fit for it’s advertised use? Rubbing is racing, as they say.

Quickbeam

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #121 on: February 22, 2018, 11:26:17 AM »
Nope - No - and NOPE.

I was a rep for Nelo, I took part introducing all Nelo surfskis in France for about 2 years. I sold my last surfski about a year before leaving the company, so needless to say, when it was time to quit, I had a choice to make - and what ski(s) to purchase.

It was down with two companies: I simply chose Nelo because of construction, fit (near perfect on my Nelo 560M), and durability. I thought I was going to get a stellar deal, especially since I ended up purchasing a new ski for my wife as well as a K2 for the both of us. The whole thing cost me an arm and a leg (but think of it as an investment for good health).

Since you ask, I will emphasise this:
I was going to get a deal on the skis but didn't.
I was going to get free shipping as well - but ended up paying full shipping price as well.
Regrets? Of course... for the money, but I'd do it again.

I am no longer associated with:
Starboard SUP
Braca Paddles
Nelo Surfskis

I have never been associated with:
Nelo SUP

Meanwhile, and this should tell you a lot:
Because of durability (or lack thereof) I have decided to never purchase another board made with styrofoam.
I can paddle any surfski on planet earth - I have chosen a Nelo.
I can paddle any paddle on earth - some providing more enjoyment than others - but I paddle exclusively Braca paddles - EVEN FOR SUP.

That should clear the air a little. CHEERS!

Thanks Photo!
Infinity Blackfish 12’ 6” x 23”
ONE SUP Evo 12’ 6” x 24”
Infinity Whiplash 12' 6" x 24 1/2"
ONE SUP Evo 12’ 6” x 26”
Bark Competitor 12’ 6” x 29”
Red Paddle Explorer (Inflatable) 13' 2" x 30
Starboard Airline (Inflatable) 12’ 6” x 27

photofr

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #122 on: February 22, 2018, 12:49:42 PM »
It’s a shame they don’t seem to have any pics of the bottom of the Nelo on the website (?). I hope this turns out to be a good design, and strong and durable. I’ve had enough of spending a small fortune on race boards where the standard of construction is so poor that you have to ask yourself if it’s fit for purpose. If every little glancing blow when racing ends up in a $$$ bill, can a board be considered fit for it’s advertised use? Rubbing is racing, as they say.

Each year, I am thinking: "we have so much technology at our fingertips..." and every year, I am blown away at how some companies just ignore communicating on their products. Fewer representatives is one thing, but fewer descriptions, fewer explanations, and fewer photos make NO SENSE.
Nelo SUP - 14' x 23"
Nelo Surfski 560M - 18'4" x 17"

ukgm

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #123 on: February 23, 2018, 12:40:46 AM »
It’s a shame they don’t seem to have any pics of the bottom of the Nelo on the website (?). I hope this turns out to be a good design, and strong and durable. I’ve had enough of spending a small fortune on race boards where the standard of construction is so poor that you have to ask yourself if it’s fit for purpose. If every little glancing blow when racing ends up in a $$$ bill, can a board be considered fit for it’s advertised use? Rubbing is racing, as they say.

Each year, I am thinking: "we have so much technology at our fingertips..." and every year, I am blown away at how some companies just ignore communicating on their products. Fewer representatives is one thing, but fewer descriptions, fewer explanations, and fewer photos make NO SENSE.

Agreed. Digital communication is now everything. Companies should really be told they won't sell a thing now unless they allocate resources to a constant drip feed of information. The Nelo link is a huge brand in paddlesports but their attempt at promoting it outside of Germany is very poor at best. The board has been out for a year and chuck it into Google and there is literally nothing on it.

Area 10

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #124 on: February 23, 2018, 02:11:59 AM »
Well, they’re not really serious about it, are they? This is what happens when a company who specialises in one type of watercraft dabbles in SUP. We’ve seen it a few times over the last 10 years or so. It’s the same as the way the ICF will treat SUP... an afterthought, a poor relation.

On another topic, reverse noses are interesting, and it’s easy to understand the theory as regards reducing pitching and going upwind. But how do they load up as you approach hull speed? Do you have to step back a little bit to lift for the bow wave or does it push through it (if you are strong enough to do it)?

https://youtu.be/NU-keh72kQg

There’s certainly some “porpoise power” on display here :)

Will be interesting to see what the “Heigh-ho Nay-Lo” bow does at full chat like this.
« Last Edit: February 23, 2018, 02:18:07 AM by Area 10 »

photofr

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #125 on: February 23, 2018, 02:56:32 AM »
Couple of things come to mind.

Reverse bows are fantastic for sheer speed on dead flat water.
For all-around use, I would go with a surfski bow - any time, any day (if given the choice).
Surfski bows aren't the fastest on dead flat water (reverse bow seemingly are), but they are still plenty fast on dead flat.
The slowest bow on flat water would be that of an Ace or that of a traditional surfboard, or my dining table. 
Surfski bows do very well in ANY Ocean condition - and so would make an ideal candidate for SUP.
Sadly, no one is really giving us a real surfski bow for SUP - yet.
However, we are now getting one of the best surfski construction ever - for SUP.

On a different note, THANKS for sharing that video. I was the first guy taking photos from the water that day.

Here's the fastest paddler that year:


TYPICAL SURFSKI BOW


WHAT THE BOW LOOKS LIKE AT 10km/h


WHAT THE BOW LOOKS LIKE AT 15km/h


WHAT THE BOW LOOKS LIKE AT 25+ km/h


Nelo SUP - 14' x 23"
Nelo Surfski 560M - 18'4" x 17"

photofr

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #126 on: February 23, 2018, 03:01:08 AM »
However, I want to note that I do not have enough experience in OPEN WATER with a reverse bow.

SUP (and surfski) builders should however take a look at the two following designs from Revo Surfskis.
The bow is super interesting.
Even more so, the hull - DO CHECK OUT the hull on their website.
http://revokayaks.com.au

They are built a little on the heavy side, but the design is amazingly stable - for any given width.
Nelo SUP - 14' x 23"
Nelo Surfski 560M - 18'4" x 17"

Area 10

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #127 on: February 23, 2018, 03:47:37 AM »
So when you are talking about a “surfski bow” you mean an axe bow, right? If so, how is the axe bow on a surfski different from that implemented on boards like the Bark Dominator etc?

Oh, I can tell you that reverse (or more commonly “inverted”) bows do very well upwind  in small chop and is fine downwind in small stuff. But the board gets completely swamped going upwind in bigger stuff unless you get well back, and if you pearl it going downwind in big stuff you are gonna need an acqualung 😀 Don’t ask me how I know this...
« Last Edit: February 23, 2018, 03:53:57 AM by Area 10 »

Eagle

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #128 on: February 23, 2018, 09:07:13 AM »
Yeah we have hashed this over before.  Dom deep vee vs AS cutting boof.  Think SUP hollow surfski design and tough construction with super sharp deep vee and completely rounded smooth simple bottom.  Best cutting entry much sharper than the Dom.  Completely silent without the mega splash of spoon boof designs.
Fast is FUN!   8)
Dominator - Touring Pintail - Bullet V2 - M14 - AS23

Area 10

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #129 on: February 23, 2018, 09:29:05 AM »
Ah, ok well if photofr was just talking about an axe bow (albeit an extreme one) then we know exactly why these bows aren’t used much in SUP racing these days, whereas many of the early race SUPs had them. It’s because (a) they don’t draft great, (b) they weathervane (the difference between a 14ft race SUP and a surfski being a rudder); (c) they add roll (compared with a planing type nose) so the board needs to be wider in the middle for a given degree of stability, which makes it harder to get a technically good stroke on them; (d) they don’t downwind well.

But for going fast on your own in flat water or in mild conditions and straight upwind they are really great.

warmuth

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #130 on: February 23, 2018, 09:46:43 AM »
  Flat water racing is rarely flat water racing in practice. Almost no races are time trials either. Manufacturers don’t offer less and less flat water only boards for no reason. Small market of a small market.

Area 10

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #131 on: February 23, 2018, 10:02:54 AM »
  Flat water racing is rarely flat water racing in practice. Almost no races are time trials either. Manufacturers don’t offer less and less flat water only boards for no reason. Small market of a small market.
Yeah, if you want a board to paddle on your own in flat windless conditions and your balance is decent, then an axe bow board is really great.

photofr

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #132 on: February 23, 2018, 10:19:43 AM »
FOR YOUR OWN FLAT WATER ENJOYMENT
Take the THINK SUP, lower that deck by several inches (well below water level even) and simply reduce some of its width and you'd have a killing machine for:

Flat + upwind + dare I say DW

FOR EVERYDAY RACING
Take the exact same board, flatten the hull in strategic places, add couple of rails / channels if you wish to add even more stability and I assure you that you will have one heck of a fun board.

THINK may just have released their board "too early" - based on human's natural evolution ahahah

In the meantime, I am dreaming of my new Nelo board.
In the meantime: Big paddling weekend coming up - with my slug.
Nelo SUP - 14' x 23"
Nelo Surfski 560M - 18'4" x 17"

Luc Benac

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #133 on: February 23, 2018, 10:36:33 AM »
I think that the significant "lowering the deck to water level" is the mandatory and missing piece in the design.
Several races have used to some extend Think sup in some of our local race (where flat happen only once in a blue moon) and did not perform significantly better and have changed design/brand. I do not see any Think sup except maybe one in these races.

https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/nvn/sgd/d/think-xor-sup-20-off/6453783613.html
« Last Edit: February 23, 2018, 10:38:08 AM by Luc Benac »
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Eagle

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #134 on: February 23, 2018, 10:51:23 AM »
At 28 the rounded Think was comparable in speed to the original triple concave AS25.  I sprinted a few times with my buddy to check firsthand.  For long distance and lower underwater form drag -> the Think was loads better.  Glide was amazing and efficiency seemed much better and easier.  Was very easy to maintain a fast pace and speed. 

Whereas the AS25 accelerated quickly -> but then quickly decelerated with all the drag of the cutting boof complex underwater shape and fat tail.  Yeah for me would swap my Dom for the Think.  Is a really nice deep vee design with a constant roll.  Wanted Daryl to make a hollow 26 but he said there was no market for that.  But for pure paddling pleasure without buoy turns and such -> the Think captures the essence of flat paddling for me.  Def is not optimized for mass starts and wash as the super sharp entry self steers a ton.  Is super easy to go straight like the Dom.

Smooth silent operator built for straight line distance and max glide.  Is a bit of a handful DW -> but nothing is perfect.  ;)
Fast is FUN!   8)
Dominator - Touring Pintail - Bullet V2 - M14 - AS23

 


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