Author Topic: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race  (Read 259631 times)

photofr

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #435 on: May 18, 2018, 08:44:13 AM »
No, however, I was told that the 2.0 version was heavily tested by riders of all various weight. When asked if it were tested by super light paddlers, I was told YES. When finally asked what was the weight of the "super light paddler" I was told 68 kilos - and that he was very close to the limit for lightweight paddlers.

Keep that in mind: because the new board is really made for the average paddler - which is great news for you guys.
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Luc Benac

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #436 on: May 18, 2018, 08:55:54 AM »
No, however, I was told that the 2.0 version was heavily tested by riders of all various weight. When asked if it were tested by super light paddlers, I was told YES. When finally asked what was the weight of the "super light paddler" I was told 68 kilos - and that he was very close to the limit for lightweight paddlers.

Look at the bright side, you knew right from the start how much you were going to pay, at least there was one known parameter.
They could have sold you something where:
1) You did not know what the final product would be (check)
2) You did not know when you would get it exactly (check)
3) You did not know exactly how much it would cost you at the end (saved)

You must be very zen to still support them.
It is one thing to discuss with a shaper and entrust him to design/build the board you will receive, that is part of the contract.
I think it is another one to pre-order long in advance an "off-the-shelf" product and be served with a different product and be asked to be quiet and happy with it as your only option.
Not a very strong endorsement of their ethics toward customers unless it was spelled out to you at the time of purchase.
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photofr

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #437 on: May 18, 2018, 09:11:48 AM »
It's tough, you know...
Imagine waiting nearly 3 months for a board, and when you get it: wait... it looks different. What do you do? You go paddle it first, and the second you do that, you can't exactly return it.

Zen?
I am just making the most of it and so I am just adapting to the board.

SUPPORT?
On the other hand, I don't see myself as supporting them - as much as I am sharing info and photos with a cool group of people. But after trying the 2.0 board, you'll have to agree too: the board is "quite the board".
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 #438 on: May 18, 2018, 09:46:33 AM »
It's tough, you know...
Imagine waiting nearly 3 months for a board, and when you get it: wait... it looks different. What do you do? You go paddle it first, and the second you do that, you can't exactly return it.

Zen?
I am just making the most of it and so I am just adapting to the board.

SUPPORT?
On the other hand, I don't see myself as supporting them - as much as I am sharing info and photos with a cool group of people. But after trying the 2.0 board, you'll have to agree too: the board is "quite the board".

I know. I was not reflecting on your actions or decisions but on their business practice if they never told you that you might be receiving the current model rather than the one you ordered.
You can still like the board but not necessarily the company - I used support in that sense.
If this is the way they operate, I would never buy from them.
That said I like to stick to used boards anyway :-)
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

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #439 on: May 18, 2018, 10:10:38 AM »
You ordered one board but were given another.

Now they won’t give you what you originally ordered.

They should at least offer to take it back (at their cost) and refund your money.

The 3-month wait is nothing. I’ve waited twice that for a production board.

That IS a big bow. From the side it looks like a big nose with nostrils.

Maybe you should call it “hooter”. (Hang on, I think maybe that word means something different in the US than the UK :) )

Either way, IMO Lightcorp/Nelo have made a big boob here ;)

This thread is going to cost them far more in lost orders and goodwill than it would have taken for them to put this right.

And this discussion of ventral fins has highlighted a problem with hollow boards I hadn’t considered. Where do you get your dings fixed? How much would it cost to fix them? Easy if you have some specialist nearby. But some people might live hundreds of miles from one.

photofr

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #440 on: May 18, 2018, 10:23:05 AM »
They cannot give me what I ordered, even if I waited another 3 months (which BTW I am not ready to do and will not do). The 1.0 is no longer being produced - as of right now.

Getting my money back is out of the question.

BOW
Huge, right?
Today, I set it on the rack just below my surfski and walked away for a minute. When I came back, I couldn't help but laugh: my surfski bow is smaller in volume than the Nelo 2.0 - and that's just funny (sad, for my weight - really).

It's a hoot - for sure. :)

HOLLOW BOARD REPAIRS
So super easy!
My first job ever was repairing damaged surfskis, then brand new surfskis that came out of the Mold with issues, and then into construction, before teaching surfski paddling. I can tell you with certainty, fixing a hollow ski / board is a walk in the park. Installing a ventral fin is do-able without a hatch, but I much prefer have a hatch for storage (and let's face it, installing a box with a hatch is just child's play). Remains to hear back from people who have or have had such a setup before making up my mind.

I can't tell you here why the company decided to release a version 2.0 - but the end result is rather simple:
2.0 will meet the needs of far more paddlers than 1.0
(at the cost of breaking my heart - and I take paddling at heart)
Nelo SUP - 14' x 23"
Nelo Surfski 560M - 18'4" x 17"

Eagle

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #441 on: May 18, 2018, 11:01:28 AM »
Yeah sounds like you are hooped.  But am surprised that Nelo or the person responsible is firm on their position to not right this wrong in a more reasonable manner.

You did order a 1.0 and were given a 2.0.  That just seems plain and simple wrong.  Very surprised indeed you have been put into this unfortunate situation and have to live with a board you never ordered and is clearly not suited for your body weight.

We would send it back and get a re-furb at a big discount or get the 21.5 Sprint and not look back.  That board has amazing glide and does not feel corky for light weight riders.  Goes straight as an arrow as well.
Fast is FUN!   8)
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mr_proper

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #442 on: May 18, 2018, 12:00:08 PM »
You can also see it differently.
I order a board without special version (because I don't know that there is already a new version) and get the version 1.0. Two days later, I read somewhere that there is now version 2.0. I would like to have version 2.0 then too.
However it is handled, the company will always go wrong. Depending on the nature of the customer.
Of course, it would have been correct to point out the version 2.0 in the order confirmation.

I would be happy about the new version. Unfortunately, they are not yet available as 24.5.
I'm curious about the Allwater. Looks interesting.
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JL Stiletto 14x28, 2014 (sold)

Eagle

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #443 on: May 18, 2018, 01:53:35 PM »
The problem only came to the fore because he was given a demo 1.0 to try for a few days.  If he had not tried that demo and felt firsthand how that board responded with his body weight -> he would have never been the wiser.

For us if we ordered a 1.0 and got a corky 2.0 -> we would return it.  But as noted others sometimes want a more stable potentially slower board so the 2.0 would be better for them.  Nelo went where the demand was.  The 1.0 was too tippy and let in too much water.  So they made that 23" wide board easier to handle for more potential buyers.  Not many paddlers or racers are 54 or whatever kgs (118.8 lbs).  That is extremely light.  Even 60 kgs (132 lbs) is very light for any man.  The market is tiny for that sector of paddlers.

"You are right though: at 54 kilos, I wouldn't have placed my order for version 2.0"
Fast is FUN!   8)
Dominator - Touring Pintail - Bullet V2 - M14 - AS23

Eagle

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #444 on: May 18, 2018, 02:35:43 PM »
I can personally attest this board was surprisingly stable for 21.5 and had exceptional glide.  I attribute that to the lowered standing area and underbody design.  Was only a bit more tippy than my AS23.  On flat would always go with the Sprint 21.5 hands down.  No question.  The AS23 feels like a slug comparatively.

Would seriously consider your used Sprint 21.5 option.   ;)
Fast is FUN!   8)
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Luc Benac

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #445 on: May 18, 2018, 03:33:57 PM »
You can also see it differently.
I order a board without special version (because I don't know that there is already a new version) and get the version 1.0. Two days later, I read somewhere that there is now version 2.0. I would like to have version 2.0 then too.
However it is handled, the company will always go wrong. Depending on the nature of the customer.
Of course, it would have been correct to point out the version 2.0 in the order confirmation.

I would be happy about the new version. Unfortunately, they are not yet available as 24.5.
I'm curious about the Allwater. Looks interesting.

Fair point but anybody ordering the available version at the time would be hard pressed to complain that they did receive the version they ordered.
It is indeed made more complicated because there is not something like a 2017 model versus a 2018 model which is fairly easy to identify and include in a pre-order.
They might likely complained that they were not told about the upcoming version nor given a choice or a discount on the past version and even that would be pushing it.

Maybe you want to swap boards with PhotoFR :-)
« Last Edit: May 18, 2018, 03:35:54 PM by Luc Benac »
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

photofr

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #446 on: May 18, 2018, 03:34:14 PM »
You can also see it differently.
I order a board without special version (because I don't know that there is already a new version) and get the version 1.0. Two days later, I read somewhere that there is now version 2.0. I would like to have version 2.0 then too.
However it is handled, the company will always go wrong. Depending on the nature of the customer.
Of course, it would have been correct to point out the version 2.0 in the order confirmation.

I would be happy about the new version. Unfortunately, they are not yet available as 24.5.
I'm curious about the Allwater. Looks interesting.

YES - I think you nailed it; inevitably, it's all about communication (or the lack thereof). Pretty much anyone else would have been super happy to try the 1.0 and get the 2.0 - but as mentioned by someone else here: no one expected a feather lightweight paddler to take the 1.0 at heart.
Nelo SUP - 14' x 23"
Nelo Surfski 560M - 18'4" x 17"

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #447 on: May 18, 2018, 05:02:48 PM »
You weigh the same as my son did, at age 14, and with less than 10% body fat. In other words you are off the scale light for an adult male. So, the advice to you is going to be the same as someone who weighed 300lbs: go custom. At your weight even 21.5” wide is probably too wide. You look like a very fit guy indeed, and you are obviously an expert paddler. So for pure inland flat water I should think maybe even 20” wide might be feasible. A well-made cutting bow 14ft board with a 20” width is going to absolutely fly. Just get something like the Bark D2 and ask a good shaper to make you a version that is 6” narrower. It would FLY. You’ll be way faster than on the Nelo. And as a bonus, no-one will steal it, simply because you’ll be the only person who can use it :) Even a 21.5” wide Sprint is still made for someone who weighs a lot more, so they’ll be volume there you don’t need. Volume that is surplus to requirements just slows you down.

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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #448 on: May 18, 2018, 05:22:41 PM »
Yeah custom is another way to go @ 118.8 lbs.  The Sprint 21.5 is designed for 45+ kgs paddlers.  But if Robert can race the 11 Cities on a 20 something custom and do ok -> then no doubt someone that light can go even narrower if they wanted.
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Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race
« Reply #449 on: May 18, 2018, 07:46:35 PM »
217L (Sprint 21.5 volume) nd 54kgs (photofr’s weight) gives a weight/volume ratio of 4. So that would be the same as someone at 100kgs having a board that is 400L! You don’t need that much.

My SIC RS 14x26 gives me a ratio of 3.7 and it’s so stable it’s like paddling a floating dock - I’m even thinking maybe I should have gone a board width down. To add more volume to get to 4.0 or over would be nuts.

I was paddling with a guy yesterday who had an old Starboard that was 217L. He was going just fine on it and he must have been 85-90kgs or so.

So, while Starboard may say that the 21.5” wide sprint can be used by 45kg people, that doesn’t mean it is *optimal* for them. Any extra volume than you need is just dead weight and volume holding you back. It shouldn’t be there!

For photfr to have the same volume/ratio as most average moderately-keen racers that are my size have in something like the SIC RS type design, his board would be around 183L only. So given that he wants a flat-water board not an all-waters one, he might be able to go even less than that. In this way, once you actually do the maths you can see exactly why photofr is complaining about all the production boards having too much volume for him: he’s right. He can go smaller than any production 14 that is currently on the market (to my knowledge) - and probably SHOULD. Never mind trying to push that hulking great Nelo 2.0 through the water.



 


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