right well im confused a bit with all this distance board thing ive got to admit ive been looking at all the lovely boards people keep posting on here but still non the wiser. from what i can see there are two different types the flater more surfboard type and the rounder and thiner more canoe looking ones sory i have no idea what the technical names are for the different types.can any one explain what the difference is between the two.it looks like the rounder ones would be alot quicker but from what im reading it appears not.im gesing the type may be dependant on conditions,i will be looking for a board for out south coast in the uk id emagin it will be used mainly on the flater days on the open water and then mainly on rivers/harbers ect but i do intend to do some racing on it aswell and i way aprox 75kg
so can anyone explan this all a bit to to me as i am a bit new to all this distance board thing.
many thanks charlie
Get the unlimited board thats good for the ocean if you have a surfing background ocean paddling is all time especially if the wind is up its bulk fun surfing the swells. to paddle in the canal bores me to tears. the only time I paddle in a canal is when I'm training on my SUP doing 10 x 1000's time trials
Don't worry about a Catamaran Board (for now...)
The Naish 14' is developing strength as a good all-round board for cruising, down wind runs, small surf, etc. But for racing in any Open Division your probably needing 17' plus !!
For my money, I opted for the 14', which should also be OK for racing in a 14' division, except it would probably get beaten by boards with less nose rocker, if it was flat conditions.
Some places restrict the boards to 'flat bottom'. I've never owned a 'rounder bottom' board but I understand them to be faster, but also a little less stable.
Width = sideways stability
perhaps more correctly
Flat Bottom Width = sideways stability
The 'rounder bottom' boards still tend to have flat portions hidden underneath too.
Spare a thought for lugging it around and storage too, and weight... how easy will it be to manage on your own... The 12-14 foot boards win over 16-20 foot in this department....
www.star-board-sup.com/2010/products/boards/overview.php
Scroll Right, for the long race boards, and you will also notice stability ratings
www.naishsurfing.com/en/boards/index.html
Naish Glide Series are Flat Bottom, and are more orientated to fun, fitness, downwind runners, rather than racing. http://www.star-board-sup.com/2010/products/boards/board_k14.php
Above is the K14. In the top image there seems to be some Naish 14's too.
www.star-board-sup.com/2010/products/boards/board_k15.php
Above is the K15
www.star-board-sup.com/2010/products/boards/board_freerace.php
www.star-board-sup.com/2010/products/boards/board_surfrace.php
Above, 12'6 free race and surf race.
Out of all that, I zoned in on the Naish 12 & 14, because they seemed to be more all rounders, and you could also opt for a bit of a surf on the Naish. I bought the Naish 14 for down winders, and flat cruising, after getting a 12'6/12'5 fish for the surf, from Tropical Blends.
www.tropicalblendsurf.com/
I went with the Bamboo version of the Kai'e'e.
Even more confused now !!! ??? 
Don't waist your money on a 12'6'' unless you're serious thinking of raceing in the Battle of the Paddle series or you're just waisting your money
theirs an awesome downwind board for sale in the classifieds DC17.Dont know who is its though.
ok so if looking at say the starboard range and comparing say the k14/15 to say something like the pin or the point would the pin style board be for more just down winders? im looking for something that will be good alrounder not just for down wind.i have a surf back ground but i will not be using it so much in the waveyer conditions as i will more than likely be out windsurfing or surfing insless there is a race on. im not intirly shore what the rules are like here in the uk as to what board you can use but it seams like alot of people are using k15's
Pin styles boards are probably a little more orientated to flat water. Front end pierces through the water, and pin tail slides through also with minimal drag/turbulence.
I have not owned a pin tail style though....
A friend of mine was explaining his distance (lay down) paddle board to me, which is a displacement hull / rounder hull, pointy ends. He said when the waves approach from behind, he feels that the waves sort of pass around the pin tail without giving you early lift, and therefore missing out on early glide.
I know my Naish 14 square tail gives early glide / lift from any wave approaching from behind.
Get a few thoughts from DJ on here also.
Fins - I think most of the distance boards come with Windsurfing Style Slalom Fins, which improve pointing ability / tracking / maintaining direction...
On my 10'5 Wave Board, I probably paddle 3 times one side, then 3 other (3-3) or 4-4 max. 5-5 makes a bit of snake track. Cross winds probably end up at 4-3, 4-2, 5-2, 5-3, 6-3, 7-3, 7-2.... depending on wind. But the Naish 14 is probably 7-7, and can easily be 10-4, 12-5, with cross wind. Less time wasted changing sides.
I've also said this before - "grab a board, any board, and get out there".... you'll enjoy whatever you get....
Oh, and if you haven't done stand up paddling before, your first hour will be a little tough. Just persist and it will quickly become 2nd nature. Look at the horizon while you paddle, it helps you maintain your balance. Start out on a dead flat lake or river, rather than in choppy water too.
What do people think about the future of 14' boards?
I've heard that this category will probably disappear from the racing scene in the future leaving a 12'6" class and unlimited. With regard to production boards there seem to be more 14' boards available than the other sizes (c4, Naish, Hobie, surftech) If the 14' size disappears will these companies continue to make this size board or are they also likely to become obsolete?
In the 12'6" size starboard seems to be the main producer and in unlimited the only one seems to be the Naish 17' (sic also, but don't seem readily available outside the USA)
14' seems to be a good size as it is bigger than 12'6", but smaller and easier to handle than 16'+ boards and also a whole lot cheaper. Are they (14'ers) worth considering or is it best to go within either 12'6" or go much bigger to compete with the other unlimited big boys?
I still think 14ft will be the main Class and 12'6 will be for Amture or some BOP style races. Unlimited will still be there but more as development and for those races like Molokai and those that just want to go fast.
Just my thoughts anyway
If i had to choose one race board i would take my 14 Naish. They are very fast in downwind runs which is there main use, but the other good thing is they are good training boards and are pretty good in the flat water. They wont win any flat water races but at least you can have the best of both worlds. If you go more of a flat water board then you might miss out on most of the fun that is downwinding.
I agree Jacko.. I think 14's will be the perfect length for most racing.. Down-winders and even flat water.. Can't wait to see the new 14' Naish flat water board.
DJ
I have done a little down wind paddling on a friends 14ft C4.
It was amazing how responsive it was in all condition types.
14ft seems like a great lenght for starting off, for getting your sea legs.
chuck
Racing;
I'm a firm believer in Handicapping / Time Handicap Calculations, like Sailing / Yatching.
You would actually carry 2 Handicaps. 1 for the craft, and 1 personal handicap. Most racing would ignore the personal handicap (no pun intended!!).
Example;
Craft 1 - Naish 12 - Handicap of 100
Craft 2 - Naish 14 - Handicap of 94 (which means the Naish is deemed 6% faster - example only)
So if Craft 2 completes in 30 minutes, Craft 1 needs a time of 31 minutes 48 seconds or better, to win.
It's easy to calculate on a computer !
You always have Line Honours, but you can also have a Handicapped Winner.
DJ - you could do a series of Time Trials on the Naish 12 - 14 - 17.... set a course of 100m, get a few paddlers together, and a time keeper. Each person paddles each craft at least twice. Average the times for each craft. And you could work out % differences for the three....
This would be a fun task on The Yarra somewhere !!
PS - I agree on the 14 Foot Class. Reasonable priced boards, reasonably easy to handle on land and water, reasonably easy to store, and still quite quick.
Here's the 14ft Naish in flat water action
Racing Handicaps;
Each paddler needs to be timed.... Times are then adjusted according to the craft/board being paddled.
"Handicap" will get some funny responses !!!
We should probably start a new thread for handicap racing !
The only problen with naish boards for me is they all look the same and boring.
I have tried 12ft glide.
Felt pretty standard.
I like the look of the new DC14.
chuck
I think the 12'6 class may be the most popular in the future , as races like bop are more exiciting and are spectator friendly and more accessable to the masses.
..There's nothing boring about that board.. 
Not everyone that paddles a stand up wants to have a sexual relationship with a Naish board.
How do you guys tell them apart on the beach? They all look the same.
Sorry some have yellow rails and some have white.
chuck
I would love to get on a 14' or 17' but as Jenks has said before there is really no one here in Perth on anthing over 12'6, and therfore any races are capped at 12'6 to be eligible for any form of prize. In a social sense would you be getting the most out of a 12'6+ when everyone else is on 12'6 and under?
Everyone says demo, demo, demo but when no one owns one and stores are tentative to put a board on demo as there seems to be no market as no one is willing to take that step and commit to buying a big board to set the ball rolling it is hard to demo.
Hey Chuck, when you get your White Naish, go to town on it with some sexually inspired artwork, and you'll be able to spot yours on the beach !!!!
I will be waiting awhile for my Naish to arrive.
Maybe when hell freezes over.
Check out the for sale section here, there are plenty for sale.
chuck
).
I know of at least 20 people who have purchased a 12'6'' racing board & after a month want to get rid of the board to go bigger but can't afford to till they sell there 12'6'' & are spewing because they can't sell there 12'6'' Give me a 17fter anyday with a good 20-30knot SSE wind I luv it Built for speed thats where its at. Everyone who's ever paddled a F-16 or 17ft Naish has never been dissapointed & have never looked back & there is some real dog unlimted boards on the marked
