PSH 10-2 x 33 Hull Paddler

Andrew sent me up one of the Hull Paddlers 10-2 x 33 to test out for a couple of weeks here is my review.

First reaction when I saw it was wow it's a BIG thick board....it's has a really interesting Hull shape with a pointed Vee nose. The rails despite the board's thickness are really pulled over and performance shaped, this is achieved with a large chine under the board from the bottom edge of the board to the edge of the rail. The top of the rail is almost a stepped. This is a Hull Paddler not Hull Ripper. The board is designed as a paddling board that still surfs and that's where the interesting Hull shape comes into play.

I took the board out at Cabarita in head high mushy surf with a rebound swell pushing back off the headland just to makes things interesting. Paddling out through the break was the big surprise the pointed Vee nose would pierce through the waves and not buck up it like most big boards , straight away I was able to take on chest high white wash so the paddle out was a piece of cake. The board's stability is amazing and so it should be at 33 wide. A wave came through just as I got out the back, with only minimal pressure on the tail the board kicked turned on a dime.

Surf wise at first the board felt like a hand full as I pushed through the section, it was very easy to over cook your cutback as it only took minimal pressure to get the board over onto the chine. After a few waves I worked out that this board can be surfed without running to the tail. Some of the waves I caught where almost 200m long which is where I noticed how fast it paddled even against the relentless sweep on the paddle back out it was really fast. After the 2 hour session I really had this board dialled in and had a ball on it, I wasn't chucking buckets or getting it vertical but I made some really late take off's and long flowing sections,the board was just fun to surf and very forgiving.

Blane built this board with the new paddler in mind who needed stability and a board for long paddles but can still surf. If you compare this board to the Naish 11-6 or the Starboard 10-4 Whopper, it has the paddling speed of the Naish and better stability and performance of the Whopper IMO and its real big advantage is that nose, anyone that tried to punch out through the surf on the Big Naish or Starboard will know what I mean. It's very hard to compare this board to just one other as there is just nothing like it.

The board feels strong not sure of the actual construction but it's tuff. Price wise with a paddle for $1,299 its 2 boards rolled into one and for someone new getting into the sport or an all round family board, I think you just can't go past it.

This is some shots I took of my mate Brett Williams on the board at Cabarita , check out the nose piercing the wave in the first shot.

Rob

im just wondering if anyone knows why this board is so cheap, not saying its a bad thing its great making the sport accessible for more people, great review, might look at buying or trying one have only heard good reviews

Jarryd

Nice backhand bottom turn on the big girl, Bretty.

The board looks like fun - can't wait to have a play on one.

So we have 9'7", 10'2" and 10'10" Hull Paddlers. There was talk about a 12'6" model. Is that going to be in the Hull Ripper series? What other sizes are we going to get?

If I am going for a bigger board than my 9' then I want something that I can do longer cruises on, visit offshore reefs and do the odd downwinder.

So do we think it is true that the Hull boards paddle like a board a foot longer (obviously of similar category surf/allround)? Sounds like people do.

Does the heavier, cheaper construction negate some of the advantages of having a shorter board? 10'2x33 would probably weigh about the same as an 11'2x30".

Are the Hull Paddlers heavy? I have found PSH boards to be a bit on the pudgey side in the past.

Thank you all.
I plan to demo both the 9'7 Hybrid (12.5 kg) and the 9'5 Mana (10.5 kg) this weekend.
Also saw a guy at Collaroy on Wednesday on a PSH 9'11" Wide Ripper which looked impressive and seemed to paddle and surf very well. Based on the price I assume this is a more advanced board! But it looks wide and stable enough for an advanced first time! Maybe I'll try and demo one of these too.
Dave

Took the 10'2" Hull paddler for a demo yesterday in 1 -1.5 ft little peelers. First wave I took off on was a straighthander so I thought lets see how hard I can crank it and pullout. Much too my suprise it turned on a dime hit the lip at 90 degrees and I completed an off the lip re-entry. WHAT THE F---! I haven't done that for twenty years. What followed was the best session of little wave surfing i've had on a SUP and the best surf I've had in twenty years. The board is heavy (13 odd kg) and wide but man does it perform. It paddles like my twelve footer and is as stable as the Queen Mary. I've ordered the Red one because it goes faster. If you aren't going to challenge Kai Lenny, want to pump the board down the line, paddle a kilometre with out breathing hard in very good time, crank a bottom turn, hit the lip when its opportune, go through whitewater with ease and basically enjoy yourself to the max, then this board is it. I can't see how the Hull Rippers are going to be that much better. But I suppose the budding superstars of the sport will be able to tell me. I surfed for 2 and half hours caught about 40 to 50 small and short length waves and am not in the least bit sore. What a buzz. Thanks to the guys at SHQ for letting me demo my dream machine.

I bought the psh 10'6" extra wide gun ripper on Saturday. After 2 paddles on Narrabeen Lake I want to get out in the ocean. Maybe next weekend! Very good board but should be for the price. Enjoy!

Taa Matt. Talk to you soon my head's a bit of a mess. Let's organise a paddle or SUP/surf on the weekend maybe?

mmm I like the look of the 9'7. Reckon these would be Ok for someone weighing in at 93kg? Measurements sound right

AA where will these be available for a demo on the Gold Coast?