Is 30 really the magic number?

[DavidJohn]

The surf shops near where I live sell mostly Naish and Starboards..and they are both 30" wide.

The salesmen say 30" is the magic number..and if I buy a new board it should be 30" wide.

I just smile to myself..and think..Yeah right.. ..btw..I like the look of the new 11' Laird and it's 27" wide.

I've been using an NSP at only 25 1/5" wide..and sure it's a bit tippy in rough water..but those 30" wide boards look like a barge to me.

Is there any downside in wider boards..or is it all good..I'd like to surf bigger waves and not bounce around on bottom turns.

Just wondering what you guys think about this.

Cheers

DJ

[Dwight (DW)]

I'd like to know the answer too. When I go to Surf Expo next weekend, I'll be asking this question.

Why some shapers are going super narrow and others are going super wide is crazy. Who's right?

Windsurfers have gone super wide in recent years. Somehow wide and short has created earlier planing and more speed. Prior to this trend, narrow and long was thought to be fast and the way to go. Starboard is a windsurf brand. Maybe this is why their boards are wide.

[Richard]

Hey guys. For me 28" is just right. Any wider and I think that rail to rail transitions would be harder to do. Plus, 28" seems to be a stable width. [ width alone is not only factor in stability] Rider size certainly figures in here also.

Regards

Richard

[CB1]

Excellent question!  Can't wait to see what info DW comes back with from the Surf Expo.  I'm one of those windsurfers who ride short wide boards and then got into SUP, so the 30" from Starboard and Naish (and other shapers) don't seem that bad from my perspective.  But it is confusing when you have 2 different camps (wide and narrow) saying that is the way to go!

My thinking is that the shorter you make the boards, you will have to go wide to make up for the lose of length. If shaped right, I don't think you will lose anything on rail-to-rail transitions (but again, that may be skewed from my windsurfing background).

Very interesting topic!!

[Blane Chambers]

We'll be at the show in booth 790S.    To me, there is no "Magic" number.   We build boards from 26" to 31" wide.   Kinda depends on the person and the boards purpose etc.      At the show I'll have only our 28" to 28-1/2" boards with us...   Should be fun...   Stop by!

[Rand]

...and to complicate things even further is outline.  Width just refers to the wide point, but one board may be 27 but have relatively parallel rails (maintaing close to max width for quite a ways) while another at 28 may have a curvier outline and be at full width only at the wide point.  Not to mention bottom contours and rocker which can all add to or detract from stability.  Also, back to the thread on wide point that Bill started, where the wide point falls makes a huge difference as well.  Not only that, but how the max width lines up with the thickness and the rocker....

So hard not to focus on a single #.  I am way guilty.

[Chan]

An additional factor to consider when determining board width is rider shoulder width.  The rider’s paddling stance should roughly correlate to their shoulder width, and this will effect the minimum width parameter. 

[motopilot]

I myself think the "28" range works great.  As far as the really wide boards, I think you see the wider production boards are going to be ment for the "common man".  Ie: any regualr person can jump on the wider boards and go out and paddle.  I think that's the market they are going for.  Can't wait to see the boards at the show blane!

[ECSUP]

DavidJohn-
I started out on a Laird 12' board which is 31" wide and then I got a C4 10'6"-28 1/2" wide, and it is awesome. I have had it out in head high surf and it surfs great. It is really stable once you're used to it, except when it is really windy and choppy, and the decrease in stability in those conditions are probably my fault not the board's. I have also done some 3-4 mile flatwater paddles on it and it does well there also.
Happy New Year,
ECSUP

[stoneaxe]

I'm not sure I would go any smaller than 30 myself. Chan's comment about shoulder width makes sense and I'm 23" across at the shoulders. I also stand a little wide. I'm running out of rail. There is also the volume issue. My friends don't call me BAM for nothing. I'll let you figure out the acronym.. . I do want to try shorter though as my skills progress. Of course...I'm also interested in a 16' downwinder too. That could probably be 28".

[PonoBill]

I paddled my Jimmy Lewis 11' 7" today--for about ten minutes. All I could see was the nose. got to quit eating those late night dinners. I think the JL is 27.5" and it's got a pulled in tail. But I also wavesailed it today in some pretty heavy wind--what a hoot. I definitely approached my upper limit for boards with no footstraps. Sure was fun though.

Started the morning pulling dawn patrol at Kanaha--blown out, so I went over to Puamana and found NO WAVES. well some little ankle biters, but that was about it. Took a paddle on the JL 11er  from Puamana to the break wall--nuttin happenin there either. Went back and surfed at Pua for awhile then wavesailing at Kanaha 'tlll 4:00.

Ouch. Had to do it though, I turned 61 today. Shit.

[DavidJohn]

Happy Birthday PonoBill.. ..and hope you have a good one.

Thanks for everyones reply's...and keep them coming.

DJ

[snappy]

Happy birthday Ponobill I'm 51 today 5thjan so at least I know I've got another 10 years at this,yeh ha.
I surfed with a guy today who was on a Naish, looked like the ss battleship, caught waves alright but it all ended there, straight line only stuff.The thing that gets me is the thickness of the rails, looks about 12inches,can't be to forgiving.I suppose if you plonk a mast and your weight as well maybe it necesary.
Cheers.

[surfpainter]

I believe there is no magic number...Rand, Chan, Blane, Bill...all of you guys are correct . Rand's new board is absolutely stunning, but try to have great sessions on it here on the East coast and you will continue to wait for the epic day. I am still partial to a well designed , high-performance 10' or 11'x28 longboard (and no wetsuit). Windsurfing went shortboard, high performance so quickly in the early eighties, the entry level equipment became kind of an afterthought. Hawaii will always be the ultimate playground for most ocean watersports..but most beginners would never start there. When you decide to make a choice on what to buy, just put your best "Foote" forward ..oh..by the way..Foote-Maui booth #1097S ...( I could'nt resist)....Rick

[CB1]

I think the "magic" number was a rhetorical question, but there does seem to be 2 trains of thoughts on width (maybe?).  Maybe it's the windsurfing produced brands that are only doing the wide shapes since you have an options to plant a mast on the board, who knows?  I think some Cali shapers like Stamps, Blair, etc are producing wide boards as well.

Being on the east coast, I'm amazed at some of the small sizes our Hawaiian brethren are riding.  I'm very envious of the great conditions and great shapers based there.  But as an east coaster, I hope those shapers have a global view of the market and conditions for the boards they produce (well for the masses outside of mecca anyway).  I'm sure they do and I do not mean any disrespect to anyone.  As an analogy, I would never buy a Hookipa wave board (windsurfing) for sailing at Ego Bch or Salvo Ramp, & etc, as I would only be able to sail it in epic conditions (same thing surfpainter is saying with his comments).

Anyway, maybe my problem is that SUP isn't as "hot" on the US east coast, as it is on the west side or Hawaii, thus trying to get information and find/try that perfect board is difficult.  So that is why all this width/shape talk is so interesting!  This is great stuff!

Maybe Chambers or Foote can setup testing/research centers on Hatteras?