Poll

Jimmy Lewis Rail or Infinity Downtown

JL RAIL 14x26.5
INFINITY DOWNTOWN 14x25 flat deck

Author Topic: Help me decide on my next downwind board  (Read 4006 times)

gone_foiling

  • Sunset Status
  • ****
  • Posts: 460
    • View Profile
    • Email
Help me decide on my next downwind board
« on: April 24, 2019, 04:56:39 AM »
I am on the market for my next dw board. My two choices are coming down to rail or downtown (flat deck) - both can be had for a reasonable money. Where I live in SW Florida we don't have much of downwinding going on but a lot of chop and quartering wind conditions. If you had experiences with any of those boards - tell me please what you liked,  what you didn't like. Thanks.
Addicted to foiling at the moment.
My shenanigans on insta @gone_foiling

Area 10

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 4057
    • View Profile
Re: Help me decide on my next downwind board
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2019, 06:24:33 AM »
These two are wildly different boards, so I think you’d have to let us know a bit more about you, what you want out of your board, and the conditions you paddle in before we could advise you properly.

My own preference would probably be the JL. But I paddle in extremely messy and windy conditions, and I don’t race. And I LOVE downwind “surfing” rather than piloting a board: the sense of control and carving that a gun-shaped DW board gives. I also surf my 14ft boards quite a lot. But if I paddled milder conditions or was interested more in speed than surfability, I might get the Downtown. I suspect that most people paddle conditions that are less extreme than mine, and would want a board that might be ok as an occasional flat water racer too, whereas I have a big quiver of boards, so can go more specialist.

burchas

  • Custom Built
  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 2508
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Help me decide on my next downwind board
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2019, 07:23:19 AM »
Knowing you I would say go with the Downtown, but only after you demo and feel good about it.
it's going be an upgraded dw experience from your 2017 All-Star and the added 28 liter volume
means better responsiveness over the Rail in the sticky conditions you often get . It will also paddle
nicer on flats.

You already have a Bullet so you can always switch with wifey if you want to have a different feel from
time to time. With the Rail in its going rate the price difference is really big though. Tough choices  ;)
in progress...

gone_foiling

  • Sunset Status
  • ****
  • Posts: 460
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Help me decide on my next downwind board
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2019, 08:23:10 AM »
These two are wildly different boards, so I think you’d have to let us know a bit more about you, what you want out of your board, and the conditions you paddle in before we could advise you properly.

My own preference would probably be the JL. But I paddle in extremely messy and windy conditions, and I don’t race. And I LOVE downwind “surfing” rather than piloting a board: the sense of control and carving that a gun-shaped DW board gives. I also surf my 14ft boards quite a lot. But if I paddled milder conditions or was interested more in speed than surfability, I might get the Downtown. I suspect that most people paddle conditions that are less extreme than mine, and would want a board that might be ok as an occasional flat water racer too, whereas I have a big quiver of boards, so can go more specialist.

Thanks Area! Conditions I paddle in are probably like this - 200 days flat :( --- 120 days chop (knee high bumps) and the rest is downbreezer/small waves. We don't get those epic dw conditions here and our winds are normally 15-25 mph. Rarely we get winds crossing 30 mph barrier. I do prefer the feel of the downwind board even in the flat water - racing in the flat doesn't appeal to me but it is nice to have a board that can move somewhat more efficiently through the water. I love boards that can carve on the bump and Rail will deliver I am sure. My concern is how sluggish it is on the flats. On the other hand, Downtown concerns me with this big volume up front probably very similar to my Allstar that gets pushed easily in the sidewind and chop. Price wise, Rail is the buy now - the deal is just amazing good - while downtown comes in at a higher price - it might be a better board for my conditions. I demoed dugout downtown and hated it.
Addicted to foiling at the moment.
My shenanigans on insta @gone_foiling

gone_foiling

  • Sunset Status
  • ****
  • Posts: 460
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Help me decide on my next downwind board
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2019, 08:24:00 AM »
Knowing you I would say go with the Downtown, but only after you demo and feel good about it.
it's going be an upgraded dw experience from your 2017 All-Star and the added 28 liter volume
means better responsiveness over the Rail in the sticky conditions you often get . It will also paddle
nicer on flats.

You already have a Bullet so you can always switch with wifey if you want to have a different feel from
time to time. With the Rail in its going rate the price difference is really big though. Tough choices  ;)
Yuval, that's exactly my thought process, thank you brother 😀
Addicted to foiling at the moment.
My shenanigans on insta @gone_foiling

Luc Benac

  • Teahupoo Status
  • ******
  • Posts: 1872
  • Super Natural British Columbia
    • View Profile
    • When not paddling...
    • Email
Re: Help me decide on my next downwind board
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2019, 09:47:59 AM »
These two are wildly different boards, so I think you’d have to let us know a bit more about you, what you want out of your board, and the conditions you paddle in before we could advise you properly.

My own preference would probably be the JL. But I paddle in extremely messy and windy conditions, and I don’t race. And I LOVE downwind “surfing” rather than piloting a board: the sense of control and carving that a gun-shaped DW board gives. I also surf my 14ft boards quite a lot. But if I paddled milder conditions or was interested more in speed than surfability, I might get the Downtown. I suspect that most people paddle conditions that are less extreme than mine, and would want a board that might be ok as an occasional flat water racer too, whereas I have a big quiver of boards, so can go more specialist.

Thanks Area! Conditions I paddle in are probably like this - 200 days flat :( --- 120 days chop (knee high bumps) and the rest is downbreezer/small waves. We don't get those epic dw conditions here and our winds are normally 15-25 mph. Rarely we get winds crossing 30 mph barrier. I do prefer the feel of the downwind board even in the flat water - racing in the flat doesn't appeal to me but it is nice to have a board that can move somewhat more efficiently through the water. I love boards that can carve on the bump and Rail will deliver I am sure. My concern is how sluggish it is on the flats. On the other hand, Downtown concerns me with this big volume up front probably very similar to my Allstar that gets pushed easily in the sidewind and chop. Price wise, Rail is the buy now - the deal is just amazing good - while downtown comes in at a higher price - it might be a better board for my conditions. I demoed dugout downtown and hated it.

One of our Swiss paddler member of the forum swears by the Rail and find it "fast" on the flat. I tried it only once but by then I had moved into boof noses (Vapor, Maliko...) and just did not want a pointy nose.
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

Luc Benac

  • Teahupoo Status
  • ******
  • Posts: 1872
  • Super Natural British Columbia
    • View Profile
    • When not paddling...
    • Email
Re: Help me decide on my next downwind board
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2019, 09:50:03 AM »
Double post....
« Last Edit: April 24, 2019, 09:55:11 AM 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

Luc Benac

  • Teahupoo Status
  • ******
  • Posts: 1872
  • Super Natural British Columbia
    • View Profile
    • When not paddling...
    • Email
Re: Help me decide on my next downwind board
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2019, 09:53:46 AM »
Yes we do not really have clean conditions very often here but more confused, crossing bumps. Once in a blue moon. The silver-lining, is that when we have something clean, even if it is not super strong, it feels like a million dollar.....
There is a balancing act between something with a little bit more volume to help in lighter winds and something with a volume that is uncomfortable in confused conditions.
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

Area 10

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 4057
    • View Profile
Re: Help me decide on my next downwind board
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2019, 12:26:31 PM »
Yes we do not really have clean conditions very often here but more confused, crossing bumps. Once in a blue moon. The silver-lining, is that when we have something clean, even if it is not super strong, it feels like a million dollar.....
There is a balancing act between something with a little bit more volume to help in lighter winds and something with a volume that is uncomfortable in confused conditions.
Yes, that’s exactly it. Although the JL has two big advantages for you, despite being designed in particular for more serious conditions than you are in most of the time: 1) It is very different from your All Star, and the dugout Downtown you hated. So it’s adding something new; (2) If you like the way that gun-style boards paddle and handle then does it really matter if your average speed in flat water is 0.2mph slower?

To these points I could perhaps add a third: IMO the Rail is unbelievably gorgeous! And so well made, and such good value. It’s a work of art, and a timeless shape: the sort of board you’d hold on to. The blue one in particular just oozes class and it just shouts fun to me.

FloridaWindSUP

  • Sunset Status
  • ****
  • Posts: 335
  • Marine Biologist, Riviera Paddlesurf Ambassador
    • View Profile
    • James' Blog
Re: Help me decide on my next downwind board
« Reply #9 on: April 24, 2019, 01:09:39 PM »
I think the JL Rail is way more your style.
14x23 Riviera RP
14x27.25 Fanatic Falcon
11'8 Exocet WindSUP
10'4 Angulo WindSUP
...and a bunch of windsurf stuff

Luc Benac

  • Teahupoo Status
  • ******
  • Posts: 1872
  • Super Natural British Columbia
    • View Profile
    • When not paddling...
    • Email
Re: Help me decide on my next downwind board
« Reply #10 on: April 24, 2019, 01:28:50 PM »
The price I have seen for a Rail in the USA kind of make it a no brainer !!!!!
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

JEG

  • Teahupoo Status
  • ******
  • Posts: 1016
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Help me decide on my next downwind board
« Reply #11 on: April 24, 2019, 01:31:10 PM »
I have never paddle both boards and my gut feeling would be the jl rail is it.

Luc Benac

  • Teahupoo Status
  • ******
  • Posts: 1872
  • Super Natural British Columbia
    • View Profile
    • When not paddling...
    • Email
Re: Help me decide on my next downwind board
« Reply #12 on: April 24, 2019, 01:51:53 PM »
You could also check the Ian Balding Albatros. A 14' gun that looks so very nice.
His web site seems down right now.

https://distressedmullet.com/2015/11/14/custom-board-candy-ian-balding-albatross-standup-paddleboard/

If we had really strong wind more often I would be so very tempted....

https://www.facebook.com/pg/ianbaldingpaddleandsurf/posts/?ref=page_internal

But of course, you are like me starved for big and clean conditions  :'(
« Last Edit: April 24, 2019, 01:58:46 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

burchas

  • Custom Built
  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 2508
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Help me decide on my next downwind board
« Reply #13 on: April 24, 2019, 02:01:25 PM »
The price I have seen for a Rail in the USA kind of make it a no brainer !!!!!

I know, it's almost like you have to buy just because. I was close to pulling the trigger just to have one as a backup.
in progress...

gone_foiling

  • Sunset Status
  • ****
  • Posts: 460
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Help me decide on my next downwind board
« Reply #14 on: April 24, 2019, 02:09:30 PM »
The price I have seen for a Rail in the USA kind of make it a no brainer !!!!!

That’s why i sold my Allstar, Luc :) Not the only one though.
Addicted to foiling at the moment.
My shenanigans on insta @gone_foiling

 


SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal