Picked up a new toy on Saturday - a custom LahuiKai 12'6 with the new square tail design. It's my first Aussie made board and she goes sweet. I'll try to do a review when I can paddle again, but here's a few pics for now.
27" wide and very stable, handles chop well - plenty of times I thought I should have fallen off and didn't.
I should have it with me down at Merimbula next week for anyone who wants a closer look
Howdy Ali,
I have ordered a 14. Is your board painted externally or is the colour in the resin?
Hey is the square tail a design they are using on BOP only or is the the go now?
Regards,
Scott
Looks nice Ali!! AA lent me his 14 footer (LahuiKai) yesterday and I did my first proper DWer with my mate Dan - loved the whole experience. Board felt great was able to catch runners on and off most of the way (about 7 km). We swapped half way as Dan has the 12'6 and that was great too! Fell off about 10 times though - back to being a beginner again.. LOL.
Is this one much different to the molded version?
Hey ScottyMac, this one's painted externally, but I think the moulded 12'6 and 14's have the colour in the resin (but I'm not 100% sure).
From what I know, they made a square tail prototype 12'6" a few weeks ago for testing against the pin tail, I tried out both of flatwater and found the square tail version didn't seem to lose any performance in terms of speed and glide but was more stable when it comes to quick turns and I figured this meant it would also be more stable in the surf.
I think a few people who've tried out the square tail proto in the last couple of weeks have been impressed as there were at least 3 new one's at yesterday's race. Last week they also finished a new 14' square tail board which Mick raced to 3rd place in the over 40's yesterday.
Goaty, other than the obvious difference of the square tail, the board is also much lighter than the moulded version (but the moulded board is probably a bit tougher if you're someone prone to damaging boards). I haven't paddled the 12'6 moulded board so it's a bit hard for me to make a full comparison.
Try keep that deck out of the sun when you are not using it , Flouro colours do not like the sun at all .
Nice board .... will be interesting to see how it goes in the Merimbula- Pambula downwinder .....anyway if you get lost it will be easy to spot you!
Boylos
