Naish 12' Glide vs. 11'6" Nalu

[Seven]

Newbie here looking for some advice in choosing between the Naish 12’ Glide AST and the Nalu 11’6” AST as a first board.  I’ve done research at (ke nalu, Seabreeze, ect), but was hoping to get some  insight on the boards side by side, hopefully someone here may have been on both…

This will be my first SUP board, but I have been cruising around a local lake on my old Hy-Fly windsurfer (10’8” x 29” @ 187L) with an oar and having a blast. 

I’m 6’ and about 195, and I am looking for a board to spend about 50% of the time on a lake (close proximity), 47% Ocean either flat water or windy – choppy conditions exploring/downwind, 3% the possibility of trying out some small waves (pipedream – I don’t surf)…  Based on what I’ve read it looks like the Glide is a good fit.

I think my biggest question is would the 11-6 work well for point to point paddling and some down-winders on flat or choppy water or would I be better off with the Glide?  Is the Glide noticeably quicker than the 11-6?  Any other thoughts?

I’m on Cape Cod and unfortunately haven’t found any demos, so water time with either of these boards isn’t really an option...  I would prefer to buy/support local which carries Naish, hence the Naish questions…

Any and all insight is appreciated…

[DavidJohn]

Both are great boards.. Toss a coin..  

The Glide will be faster and a much better board for down-winders and will catch runners that the 11'6" will not.. and will also be a better flat water and distance paddler.. IMO

The 11'6" is a classic alrounder and will surf much better than the Glide.. It's also a bit easier to balance on is very rough water where you get pushed around and hit with side chop.

I recommend the AST Glide... This is my daughter on mine..and also a short vid of me paddling it down-wind (in about 10 knots) and catching little runners.

DJ





 

[Easy Rider]

^^^^ Yup - what he said - bang on.

[tautologies]

what they said...only if you're thinking of having more than one person on the board...the nalu is probably more stable...

[D.Kirche]

DJ is on it, you will out grow the 11'6 as a flat water board really fast, so go for the 12'0 and have fun!!

D.Kirche

[Mcnally78]

No question, the 12 glide is the way to go. Otherwise you will end up buying another board after a few months. You could always just buy both. That way you will be covered for just about any situation. 

[Lobes]

All pretty good advice so far. I have the 12 Glide and its not really a surfboard but for 3% surfing in small waves the Glide is probably good enough.

11'6 is possibly better for introducing others to the sport but Glide is still ok for that too. After a while you wont notice the stability difference between them (11'6 is a bit better) but the speed issue is permanent and 11'6 will never be as smooth and as fast as the Glide.

[Nemo]

nalu 11'6" is to big to be fun in surf (fun as tamdem) you will outgro it fast...

Nalu 11'4" if you want to surf more than flatwater
glide 12' if you are in to flatwater or downwinders and want to play in the surf some times

[Seven]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to post replies,that was exactly the info that I was hoping to get.  My order is in and hopefully I’ll have the Glide by next weekend!

[lee]

Just have to add.
The glide windsurfs REALLY great too