Mick has a new custom DC16 and today I got to paddle it and take some pics.. also compare it to my Naish 17' Glide.
I took heaps of pics.. Here's just a few.. (I'll post some more later).. It's very nice... (both are).. 
.. Mick can't stop smiling.. 
DJ
Wow - nice board huh ?
My new DC 12'6 is just beautiful but to be honest, it's too skilled up for me.
I took it on on the flats today and it's a rocket ship......like driving a Ferrari in peak hour traffic.....too much rocker and too much class for a kook.
If you know anyone who might want an 'as new' DC 12'6, get them to call me.....it's just as nice as this one by the looks. Retail is $2,200 plus $200 for the grip......$1600 get's it.
Select to expand quotesurfanimals said...
Wow - nice board huh ?
My new DC 12'6 is just beautiful but to be honest, it's too skilled up for me.
I took it on on the flats today and it's a rocket ship......like driving a Ferrari in peak hour traffic.....too much rocker and too much class for a kook.
Hey mate what time where you out there?????????
I was at the bar next to the pole at 8am - 10am ,got some really good waves even saw a dolphin!....... and hardly no one out
Boylos
Well DJ ....I'd be interested to here your thoughts as you have now tryed the C4 Vortice XP , dc16 , and with your Naish 14/17fter ...... can you give us a wee bit of a review
All you need now is for someone down your way to buy a S.I.C /Bark and we would have the complete picture!
Boylos
hi micky, went for the gt stripes hey. looks good. i can see the extra nose rocker compared to my ex. mine was the best all round board i've ever had. hope you get a kick out of it
interesting to look at the two shapes. the naish centred back and the dc more forward in outline. both good boards.
cheers.
ps you can push the steering forward a bit if you feel like it
The new board is Sweet.
Only had a brief paddle around St Kilda Dave but first impressions are good.
Slips along nicely in the flat water and punches easily into the wind chop. DJ and I were chasing tiny runners coming under the pier today and it jumped on even the smallest bump. Looking forward to going downwind when we get the right conditions.
Yeah I went with a bit more rocker than your old board Lacey, mainly for the shorter wave pattern we get here in Melbourne, but didn't want to give up too much on the flat water speed.
Thanks for your R&D input and for helping set up the steering. I'll leave the steering in the middle until I've gone downwind a few times and see what suits best.
I'm stoked. 
More pics for those interested.
I was very impressed with the quality and finish and also the attention to detail that Dale puts into his boards.
Next is to get some vid of it on a good down-winder.. .. It looks like it will fly.
DJ
You can't question prices when you see the workmanship - it's a piece of art - just beautiful.
Thanks DJ.
Great looking board and quite distinct to the Naish in terms of tail, outline and nose especially.
How wide is the DC 16?
Yeah you'd expect it to be marginally lighter being a foot shorter.
Thats interesting about stability I thought the square tail would have made it more stable.
To back up what Boylos said it would be fascinating to see the Naish, DC, Vortex and SB Secret in a Downwind comparison.
When i bought my board I paddled both the Naish 17' and the DC17. I had limited experience to draw from except for feeling the flat water glide and riding runners up the creek. I paddled both boards one after the other, swapped back and back and back again.
They were both for sale, the same price all I had to do was choose which one I liked most.
To me it just felt that the DC felt more comfortable and was much much lighter so felt more lively and had a better glide in the flat and picked up the smaller waves easier and had better control.
Keep in mind the DC17 I bought was an older version of the new fangled DC16 and the improvements in every way are many and sundry to my board. My board is still the lightest 17 ever made and I have to baby it around the surf. Under 12kgs!
Also keep in mind that i hear the Naish excels in bigger ocean conditions.
Great pics DJ.
New Board looks great Mick, have to check it out on a downwind Sandy run soon,
interested to know how the tail design works without giving to much away of course
Cam I don't think the tail shape is such a big deal with these big boards.. Round, pin, square, squash, swallow, diamond or bat.. I don't think you would notice or feel what's going on back there from where you're standing.. I like the DC tail shape and I think it's become a sort of trade mark of his boards now.
DJ
laceys lane.. Do you know if the DC rudder will fit the Naish? .. Is it a standard size shaft?
DJ
ok so shorts over wetsuits I am learning to live with...but these shots are now showing polo shirts as well........when will it end?
Go the Pies!!
I think one of the key differences you will find when you compare these 2 shapes is the different approach to riding runs.
The Naish boards, in general, like to ride runs with the paddler standing further back on the board, whereas these newer DC designs are designed to enable the paddler to stand further forward. On these DC boards you want the nose to bury slightly in the back of the swell that is in front of you and keep it there.
I would encourage Mick and DC to have a go at changing your run riding technique slightly with this in mind. You can test this on small runs to start with and see how far you can actually push it on the bigger ones too. I would be interested to hear how you go.
As far as the stability goes on the DC boards you get what you ask for. If you want extra stability then the design changes somewhat. These boards are also custom built for the paddlers weight and ability. I had my DC14 shaped with this in mind as I wanted maximum stability for minimum run riding input.
Have fun...
