Sunova Carver Unboxed

[B-Walnut]

Well, the wait for me is over. My new Carver showed up today and I'm absolutely stoked to get it on the water. Packaging looked good and it arrived without damage other than a few cardboard indents to the deck pad that should refresh themselves over time.

I ordered the 5'10" x 20" 85l version that comes with a stock expected weight of 6kg.

I asked for 2 alterations:
1. No footstrap inserts. (I don't jump).
2. Vapor instead of standard construction. (I was nervous about this decision but I watched Berts old layup videos and felt like I was still going to end up with a solid board).
There was no charge for these alterations.

I threw the board onto the scale and it clocked in at 4.85kg or 10.7lbs which is obviously, significantly below the stock weight and is also over a pound lighter than my e3 Kalama 5'3"x22" 83l.

While I haven't ridden it yet, I calculated the landing point for the foil and it looks like it should land almost dead center in the box. This would result in a total of only 4" added in front of my foil instead of the full 7" (in comparison to the e3). This also means that depending on how the board actually balances in the water, I may be able to cheat the foil farther forward to drop the nose length even more.

Last, I was concerned about the vapor construction and have ridden ultralight boards in the past that gave me pause on how long they would last. My first impression on the Sunova Vapor layup is that it is still quite strong and the board feels just as solid as any other production board I've picked up in the past. Just lighter.

Once I can get a few sessions in on this board I'll write up a formal review, but straight out of the box I'm excited!

Thanks to Sunova for making great gear and thanks to Poseidon Standup for processing my order so quickly.

[Badger]

Beautiful Board. I like everything about it. How did you calculate the landing point for the foil?

[B-Walnut]

First, find the balance point of the board. I typically do this with my SUP paddle. Lay the board deck down on the paddle and find where the "balance" point is. From that balance point, I know that I like the center of my mast approximately 12" back for my foils. Quick and easy and the most reliable way of doing an initial foil placement that I've found.

[Badger]

First, find the balance point of the board. I typically do this with my SUP paddle. Lay the board deck down on the paddle and find where the "balance" point is. From that balance point, I know that I like the center of my mast approximately 12" back for my foils. Quick and easy and the most reliable way of doing an initial foil placement that I've found.

Very interesting. I never thought of using the balance point on the board. I checked my 6'1 E3 and 12" back is precisely where my Axis mast is centered. On deck, my stance is perfectly centered over the balance point. That's how I've been riding it for the past six months and I'm comfortable there.

 

[B-Walnut]

Very interesting. I never thought of using the balance point on the board. I checked my 6'1 E3 and 12" back is precisely where my Axis mast is centered. On deck, my stance is perfectly centered over the balance point. That's how I've been riding it for the past six months and I'm comfortable there.

 

Thanks for checking and verifying on your board. I've been using this method for a while but haven't talked about it much since when I initially mentioned it to a few people they told me it wouldn't work for most boards. In my experience, it's worked on every board I've tried and when I find a board that the predictive measurement makes the foil land outside of the tracks, sure enough, the board and that foil don't work together.

When I slowed it down and thought about it I figured of course you should base the box placement on a board off of where you would stand (directly over the balance point) since that is going to give you the most stability and the best forward glide. Measuring X inches from the tail to place the box never made much sense to me and I'm glad I've been able to check this on a few boards and am now able to direct shapers towards this technique as well.

[Dwight (DW)]

It’s a good looking board. I like the dimensions.

I’ve been tempted to make one that size for myself. My 5’5 never leaves the van. Just the 6’8. I’m thinking a 5’10 might get me off the 6’8 on the best days.

[B-Walnut]

The 5'10" is exciting to me too. I think it will give me a solid dimension to start working off of with local shapers so that I can go a little longer, or a little thinner, based on how this one performs. I'm seriously doubting that I'll pull my 5'3" out very often again either.

[B-Walnut]

Well, tested the Carver today. It took all of 5 minutes for me to realize I should probably burn all of my other boards

Foiled up on my Cloud IX fs850 in average 13, lulls to 9 knots, and stayed on foil for 45 minutes without issue in the lulls. The light weight was a dream in the air. This board was not only easier to get on foil, but it was snappier rail to rail then my 5'3"x22" Kalama.

I don't know what else to say other than, wow, that's the best board I've ever ridden.

[Caribsurf]

wow solid report and you obviously love the board.  I've been reading so much about these shapes, but have yet to actually see one on the water or know anyone who owns want. 20"wide..wow common sense would say the board would be tippy but reports tell just the opposite.   looking forward to seeing some videos and seeing one in person.

[B-Walnut]

Day 2 on the 85l Carver 5'10":
90kg rider plus wetsuit weight.
10-19 knots, average 14 knots.
Wing: 4.2m Cloud IX Ho'Okipa
Foil: Cloud IX fs700 w/Catalyst stab and 66cm mast.

Another banger of a day. This is the foil that I want to ride every day but I typically can't get it up without using a bigger wing. First try on the Carver and yes, I had to pump/work up my speed but I was never stuck taxiing around despite the light winds. The foil setup on a short mast, small foil, monoblock tail, all resulted in an incredibly fast high performance ride. There wasn't any swell to really push it in today, but this was super fun and will definitely give me something to grow into. No issues with gybes, even with the small foil.

Only bump I will note is this:
I did notice on my first session with the fs850 and a 76cm mast that the board was a little tippy. Today, on a 66cm mast and even smaller foil at fs700 it was clearly tippy. I fell off the side once or twice. Nothing to be disturbed by or to have a shocked and disgruntled experience with, but yes, this board feels a little more tippy than I'm used to.

Still absolutely love the board and I'm wildly happy to be riding such a tiny foil, with a medium sized wing, in such light winds. It's going to be an awesome year in the Gorge on this beauty!

[Thatspec]

As another 90Kg winger, mainly in the Gorge, I'm wondering...

Are you choosing an 85L board as a single board solution for all conditions? Have you experimented with higher aspect shapes more in the 60L volume size? It's a two board solution but I'm finding a 60L is much more stable starting than a board of equal volume to weight and the 2 knot wind penalty on the start is a non issue (again... in the Gorge). I have a 115L if I get really desperate but it never gets used. Even though the 60L is only 1# lighter than the 115L switching back to back the difference in swing weight is night and day (as it would be for an 85L vs. 60).

I'm also finding my 710cm2 very high AR foil too much work in less than 25 knots, Who wants to pump that hard... There's just not enough energy in the water to make it fun in lighter winds. It's great in 2 meter plus waves but I'd rather use the 970 cm2 which has little penalty in 25+ just changing the tail.

On the other hand, there's a guy I sail with that has one board, foil, and wing (4.2). He never has to make a decision what to bring and he gets by. I'm often a bit jealous

[B-Walnut]

For the moment, the 85l will be my one board quiver for winging. I know there are a lot of people that complain about neutral buoyancy boards in choppy water, but I just haven't had that issue. I ride everywhere from Rooster to Arlington in the gorge and just haven't had issues with water starts. I can, however, knee start, stinkbug start, and rodeo start.

You mentioned a 2 knot penalty? Are you saying you only need 2 more knots to water start with a 60l board? My experience has been quite different on that front. I tried the Omen 60l and yes, it was plenty comfy submerged under water, but it lost a huge amount of the low end that I desire. I undoubtedly had to size up both my wing and probably my foil to get up in the same conditions. The struggle with any on water balance is quite minimal for me, the benefit of riding my 700 and a 4.2m wing in lulls down to 10 knots with average 14 is HUGE for me. I didn't have any issue getting up on foil, but can't imagine I would have ever gotten up with that kit on a 60l of any shape.

Now, I will clarify that I am probably a rarity in that I absolutely crave the smallest wing and foil and am very typically out there on smaller gear than anyone else other than my board. I've ridden the tiny boards and they are cool, they make big foils feel smaller, but I prefer going the route of more board when I'm winging so I can enjoy super small wings and foils instead. I, personally, also have a huge preference for how a mid length turns in the air over how a shorter sinker turns. I like feeling the board, it makes me feel a lot closer to surfing than a tiny board does.

[Thatspec]

For the moment, the 85l will be my one board quiver for winging...

You mentioned a 2 knot penalty? Are you saying you only need 2 more knots to water start with a 60l board? My experience has been quite different on that front. I tried the Omen 60l and yes, it was plenty comfy submerged under water, but it lost a huge amount of the low end that I desire...

Now, I will clarify that I am probably a rarity in that I absolutely crave the smallest wing and foil and am very typically out there on smaller gear than anyone else

Regardless, as a single board solution, the 85L carver looks great. The larger / longer board absolutely allows you to start the smaller foil with less effort.

I have a different way of looking at winging than most.

It's not a sailing sport for me. It's a foiling sport so just driving a small foil with wing power gets kinda boring after 20 minutes. Without wave power to drive that foil, may as well go on a bike ride. I think the 2 knot difference is pretty close. Without a wind meter on my wing though...  there's really no way to quantify. Wind is very rarely steady. I'm pretty much always using the same size or smaller wing than the 65-75Kg guys with my 60L. Just enough wing to start is all that's necessary, apparent wind, pumping and wave energy do the rest and keep it more interesting.

One 64Kg buddy uses a 38L board which still floats him better than me on my 60L. Kinda hard to wrap my brain around that

[B-Walnut]

It's not a sailing sport for me. It's a foiling sport so just driving a small foil with wing power gets kinda boring after 20 minutes. Without wave power to drive that foil, may as well go on a bike ride. I think the 2 knot difference is pretty close. Without a wind meter on my wing though...  there's really no way to quantify. Wind is very rarely steady. I'm pretty much always using the same size or smaller wing than the 65-75Kg guys with my 60L. Just enough wing to start is all that's necessary, apparent wind, pumping and wave energy do the rest and keep it more interesting.

One 64Kg buddy uses a 38L board which still floats him better than me on my 60L. Kinda hard to wrap my brain around that

Not sure where you comment about just driving around small foils and no wave power is coming from or how they relate to this conversation? Are you trying to say you only like to foil in strong wind? Even then, I prefer the use of a smaller foil and wing over a smaller board.

The 2 knot difference you're citing is a bit of a moot point though. Any time two riders go out at the same spot, they are relatively in the same wind. We wouldn't be standing there thinking "I'll do my water start where it's 2 knots lighter, and you can do yours where it's 2 knots stronger." The same rider using a neutral buoyancy kit vs a -30l kit is always going to be capable of using a smaller wing and a smaller foil with the added liters. If it was 2 knots stronger, as in my post about 14 knots going up to 16 knots, I would then downsize my wing to 3.5m or throw on my 550.

People can say that they like the submerged stability in the water of a -30l board, or that they prefer the smaller board over the smaller foil and wing, that's fine. However, I don't think they can claim comparable low end takeoff at any wind speed of the same foil and wing with a neutral vs -30l board.

[Thatspec]

Not sure where you comment about just driving around small foils and no wave power is coming from or how they relate to this conversation? Are you trying to say you only like to foil in strong wind? Even then, I prefer the use of a smaller foil and wing over a smaller board.

You need the larger board to start the smaller foil in light wind, it's your prefered way to foil, enjoy. Tried the 85L range, doesn't work for me, doesn't suit my style. I'll save my 710 for (very) windy days. It is not my preference to use it in lighter winds regardless of the fact I can start it with my larger board. It's just not as much fun. A single board won't work for me but nice to hear you've found one that works for you.