Need help: flatwater hard boards for long-distance racing/touring

[mr_proper]

Mr. Proper, would you also try the new 14x21.5 RS when it comes out? I am curious how it would perform in flat water.

Surely I will try it out of curiosity. But I will definitely not buy it. Even the 14x23 could be too narrow for me. At least the recommended maximum riders weight I'm already over it. Therefore, more for my wife ;-)
The 14x24.5, is too similar to the 14x26, so the 14x23 could be nice.

[Lake Paddler]

But I guess that everyone needs to exceed their limits in order to find out where their limits are. So why not get one? If you are very young, very light, or very talented, you’ll have no problem on it at all. Or if you are a very determined, wobbly oldster who paddles alone in sheltered water, you might also get away with it. If however none of these things apply to you, you may want to take a deep breath before ordering.

I will surely try it out if I get the chance, maybe after spending a substantial amount of time on a 14x23 RS first. But before that, it would be interesting to know other people's experiences.

[Lake Paddler]

Mr. Proper, would you also try the new 14x21.5 RS when it comes out? I am curious how it would perform in flat water.

Surely I will try it out of curiosity. But I will definitely not buy it. Even the 14x23 could be too narrow for me. At least the recommended maximum riders weight I'm already over it. Therefore, more for my wife ;-)
The 14x24.5, is too similar to the 14x26, so the 14x23 could be nice.

The guy who let me paddle his 14x23 RS also mentioned that he is a few kgs too heavy for it. He is about 190cm and 85kg as I gauge.
BTW what is the maximum rider weight for the 14x23 RS? I could not find it on the official site.
https://www.storesicmaui.com/boards/displacement-hull/14-0-rs-x23-0.html

[mr_proper]

Answer from BIC:
"We advertise 195Lbs/88.4kg MAX Rider Weight for the 14 x 23" and this is at a high skill level. For the 14 x 24.5" we advertise 220Lbs/99.8kg. If they are not as skilled you should air to the larger size for recreational paddler"

[Area 10]

Do you really need 23” wide? I’ve had boards that are 23, 24.5, 25 and 26 wide (as well as 27, 28,29, 30, 31 and 32!) and I didn’t really feel much gain going from 24.5 to 23. If you have wide shoulders it is diminishing returns after a while. I reckon much of the advantage of going narrower comes from the ease of getting a good stroke, rather than the decrease in drag. Of course, if however you have quite narrow shoulders (and especially if you are also short) then going narrow is really important. So a lot of it depends on your build, not just your weight, I suspect.

[mr_proper]

In case you mean me... no I don't need a 23 board, because I'm 195 cm and 92 kg.
But I'm sure that a 23 board is faster than a 26 board. But I'm not sure, if _I_ will be faster on a 23 board. Maybe next week I can try the 23 RS for a longer session und then I will see.

[Area 10]

In case you mean me... no I don't need a 23 board, because I'm 195 cm and 92 kg.
But I'm sure that a 23 board is faster than a 26 board. But I'm not sure, if _I_ will be faster on a 23 board. Maybe next week I can try the 23 RS for a longer session und then I will see.

Well I was amazed to find that I was quite a bit faster on a 14x25 Sidewinder in pure flat water than a 14x23 one, and I’m a fair bit lighter than you. The 23 *felt* faster. But it wasn’t, for me. Narrow board require a very narrow stance, or you are injecting rail steer all the time. So it depends how the mechanics of your body work with a narrow stance. On the 23 I felt like I was depressing the rails too much through the stroke. This is no doubt my failure to develop a really smooth and technical stroke. But it may provide another reason (apart from volume) why some people are slower on narrower boards, beyond a certain point, and then only on some designs (ie. because rail shape will alter a lot the effect of depressing a rail).

[mr_proper]

In the last two days I was able to test the RS 14x23 extensively. Unfortunately not in flat conditions, but in wind and wave. Wind was initially about 4 bft, on the second day a little less. The waves during the first day were big enough to get some nice glides.
The board is very stable for me, as long as the waves are not exactly from the side. From the front, back, diagonal, no problem. Side waves reduce my speed massively, because then I have to brace a lot, so as not to fall into the water.
It feels really light compared to a 14x24.5 or 14x26. Accelerates well. I think for flat water it will be a good board for me.
I have tested the 14x24.5 under the same conditions, but it is too similar to the 14x26.
As a one for all solution I would take the 14x24.5. But since I already have the 14x26, the 14x23 will be a good addition for flat conditions.
I order as soon as the Nelo is sold.

[yugi]

mr_proper, you're working your way through a bunch of boards. Good to have that experience.

Has anyone tried the new Sidewinder V2?

[Lake Paddler]

In the last two days I was able to test the RS 14x23 extensively. Unfortunately not in flat conditions, but in wind and wave. Wind was initially about 4 bft, on the second day a little less. The waves during the first day were big enough to get some nice glides.
The board is very stable for me, as long as the waves are not exactly from the side. From the front, back, diagonal, no problem. Side waves reduce my speed massively, because then I have to brace a lot, so as not to fall into the water.
It feels really light compared to a 14x24.5 or 14x26. Accelerates well. I think for flat water it will be a good board for me.
I have tested the 14x24.5 under the same conditions, but it is too similar to the 14x26.
As a one for all solution I would take the 14x24.5. But since I already have the 14x26, the 14x23 will be a good addition for flat conditions.
I order as soon as the Nelo is sold.

Thanks a lot Mr. Proper. It is great to know that the board has enough volume and is stable enough for you. Now I am even more looking forward to the 21.5" version. I also found it unbelievably light in my hands.
BTW, a retailer told me that the RS 14'x23" will not be deliverable till Sep 20. Is the situation similar in Austria?

[mr_proper]

In the last two days I was able to test the RS 14x23 extensively. Unfortunately not in flat conditions, but in wind and wave. Wind was initially about 4 bft, on the second day a little less. The waves during the first day were big enough to get some nice glides.
The board is very stable for me, as long as the waves are not exactly from the side. From the front, back, diagonal, no problem. Side waves reduce my speed massively, because then I have to brace a lot, so as not to fall into the water.
It feels really light compared to a 14x24.5 or 14x26. Accelerates well. I think for flat water it will be a good board for me.
I have tested the 14x24.5 under the same conditions, but it is too similar to the 14x26.
As a one for all solution I would take the 14x24.5. But since I already have the 14x26, the 14x23 will be a good addition for flat conditions.
I order as soon as the Nelo is sold.

Thanks a lot Mr. Proper. It is great to know that the board has enough volume and is stable enough for you. Now I am even more looking forward to the 21.5" version. I also found it unbelievably light in my hands.
BTW, a retailer told me that the RS 14'x23" will not be deliverable till Sep 20. Is the situation similar in Austria?

A friend ordered one last week and will get it October / November 18.

[Area 10]

mr_proper, you're working your way through a bunch of boards. Good to have that experience.

Has anyone tried the new Sidewinder V2?

Yes, I’ve paddled the Sidewinder V2 in flat water. It’s a very different board from the V1, a much more complex shape. They’ve dropped the deck slightly too. Overall it feels a bit like a Maliko perhaps (which is a good thing), but with a bit more volume. A bit more tippy than a Maliko of equivalent width perhaps, but I’d need to try them back to back to be sure. It feels quite light and reactive and glides nicely in flat water. I’m general I think the makeover has probably been a success (and the original 14x25 Sidewinder was a good board to start with). I think that maybe at the very top end it might not be quite there with the Maliko, but it is possible from what I hear that it is at least as good downwind and in surf- I‘ll have to try it and find out. The Sidewinder V2s are lovely looking boards and the fit and finish and general construction puts Naish to shame.

Definitely worth trying.

[Lake Paddler]

A friend ordered one last week and will get it October / November 18.

I see. Seems to be currently out of stock in Europe.

[mr_proper]

A friend ordered one last week and will get it October / November 18.

I see. Seems to be currently out of stock in Europe.

Where you come from?
Maybe it's worth it to ask here: https://www.supshop24-7.com (Michael Frosch)

[Lake Paddler]

Area, can you tell the difference between the V1 and V2 (both in 14') by its look? Is this bluish board
http://www.jimmylewis.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Sidewinder-14-top-1019x1024.png
V1 and this grayish one
http://jimmylewis.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Sidewinder-Red-Top.png
V2?