I copied this image from an old thread.
www.seabreeze.com.au/
/images/misc/forum-image-missing.gif
This shows two very different design approaches to "pointy" SUP design (please forgive my lack of knowledge of SUP terminology).
What are the applications of these two designs?
I am a SUP newb (short board surfer) looking at getting a "pointy" SUP that I can take out into the ocean as well as paddle long hauls through varied conditions on the local lake.
The photo above has made me think there are two design variants in this category of board. I saw a YouTube clip
IMO both designs work well in the open ocean but I think the pointy cutting nose is more suited to flat water and is slightly faster where the surfing nose is more suited to surfing and downwinders.. Good guys that want the most speed will often paddle a pointy cutting nose on downwinders because even though they are a bit trickier (technical) to paddle they are slightly faster.. So if you want the best DW board that you can also race go with the surfing nose.. If you want a race board that you can also do downwinders on go with the pointy cutting nose.. If you're after the easiest and the one with the best stability I'd choose the surfing nose board.. 
DJ
Cheers for the great response. As I wouldn't mind catching the odd wave and am a SUP newb the surfing nose would be the go. Any suggestions on models 12'6" to 14' designed like this?
This http://walkonwater.com.au/boards/walk-on-water/ is all I can find for the Walk on Water brand as shown in the photo I copied in the opening post.
here's a thread on the WoW DW boards
www.seabreeze.com.au/
I have the 14' DW board and I am very happy with it (if you look at DJ's vid on page 2 ypu'll see that it even attracts dolphins 
).
The WoW guys really need to get that website sorted...great boards across the range but a bit of a well-kept secret. I can PM you a contact for the WoW boys and If you're in Melb/Vic they're available at RPS in Elwood.
Thanks HC, got your PM. Turns out I used to work with the bloke years ago. Small world :)
Might see if he wants a hand with that Website too. It needs a bit of TLC.
Unless you only wight 50kg or have limited storage space I would recomend the 14 for sure.
DJ
This article
zenwaterman.blogspot.com/2009/11/sup-race-board-comparison-planing-vs.html relates to my question. Seems the "ship" type noses are faster and maybe catch runners with less effort. The "surfboard" type noses are easier to surf across runners at an angle.
if you look at the latest designs most are going for minimal displacement and almost a dishy type nose. take the starby ace and most of their old and new ocean range, the dc nsp, lahui kai and even fanatic seem to be heading in this direction. sic have stuck with their time and race proven planning nose and rockers and have them all documented
the idea is to cut a bit of chop but they are looking for the nose to float on the bump in front and even go over it.
the idea of a displacement nose cutting through the bump sounds good but a sup is just to wide to do this . ski and oc1 can because they are much narrower.
i've been fan planning nose types for dw for a while now and for me its great to see these dishy planning type noses coming through.
i believe they will only get better and better, how ever it is a real science to get it right so i would recommend production and semi hand crafted companies that do the hard yards with their r and d. not those that just put a board out there to cash in
cheers
Thanks lacey. From someone who knows little about the sport a surf type nose seems to make sense in the ocean to me, particularly if you are ever tempted to drop into a big lump.
Now I'm thinking whether to go 12'6" or 14'. Would a suitably designed 12'6" do the open ocean rough stuff OK or do you really have to go to a 14' to do this sort of DW SUPing? Just thinking of the easier lugging, easier storage and general convenience of a shorter board. Will be demoing a few in near future.
A 12'6" will work in the open ocean and on downwinders in the same way a BMX bike will work on a mountain bike ride.. Do'able but NQR.
Even big 14' boards start to feel very small when the conditions get wild and 12'6" boards become much more technical to make them work because you need to move around on the board more.
Boards like the 12'6" Glide and 12'6" Jav will do both very well (OO and DW) but IMO a 14' board is still the better choice.
DJ
...and then there's rider size. Tall and heavy? go the 14.
That said, nearly everyone down here in Melb, tall, short, thin, fat, light, heavy...chooses 14s for downwinders and all but the shortest/choppiest technical races.
in saying that im 92kg at the moment, there are plenty of high volume 12'6''s that work pretty well
Thanks. To me it will be about which is more fun to downwind. I see the SIC 12'6" Bullet is an inch wider than the 14' so might be a bit more stable in the cross chop.
I talked with a bloke who has surfed a 12'6" Bullet out at Makaha (Long Reef Sydney) on small days (an exposed fattish wave when small) and said he can cut back and have fun actually surfing this board a little. Another bloke I spoke to said he preferred the shorter length for DW especially in short period wind swell (which we often get on the NSW coast and in places like Pittwater, Lake Macquarie or Nelson Bay.)
I wonder if you could do this sort of surfing
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/Review/Sic-126-bullet/ on a 14'? Being able to surf a DW board like this makes it a pretty good all round board. Looks like fun.
Then again, other blokes say if you are heading out onto a windy ocean a 14' is definitely the go. I can see this. Seems like opinion is divided.
Guess I will go with something and work from there. Not another toy intensive hobby!
