Lately Iv been swapping between the Barracuda and E3 narrow boards. The E3: I like to use this for SUP foil surfing on the days where there's actual waves that break and people in the water. I find you can maneuver it easy, paddles up without trouble and once on a wave is super fun. I also use it for Winging as the narrow board allows glide but at 23.5 & 23 is still a ton of stability than the dimensions lead you to believe. I feel if your doing airs than the short stumpy boards are great but if you want ease of release than this is the future of the winging side ?? Downwind, I use the E3 in the Bay and lake runs as it fits in the small short period bumps, tacked with a large foil makes for a super comfortable efficient set up as it keeps with the speed of the bump. Barracuda: Iv had the 3 barracuda's for a month now and have used them for flat water, hardly breaking waves, prone and sup. For surf with the barracuda iit's best for conditions where the waves stand up but don't break or they crumble and go fat running down the bank or reef. Being 21, 19.5 and 18.5 wide the increased amount of glide propels you way faster than anything before it allowing you to catch pretty much nothing. Turning the barracuda is not an issue either as the width doesn't catch as it's narrow. The pump will surprise you as it actually projects you forward. (Prone I got a 8 for 1 with a 850cm2 foil) so for sup or prone surfing the barracuda is best in those waves where no one is or hardly breaks. Downwind: definitely shines in the ocean where you need a smaller foil to keep up with the speed of the ocean energy bumps. This also means you have to get the speed of the board up to get on the bump. The narrowness of the cuda allows this and then exits the water and lifts up ridiculously quick. Pitch stability when going fast. The length actually helps dampen the instability when pushing down the bumps at speed. Gives this like suspension feeling (kinda hard for me ti explain sorry) but it's an epic feeling haha. Light wind winging a lot of crew use this but I'm yet to try. Flat water pop up - definitely the most efficient east board to use.
I guess to wrap up my ramble of the two and here's two clips for comparison. The E3 is great in waves, winging, bay downwind. Is more stable to stand on. Comes in 6'5 x 23.5 at 116L, 6'5 x 27.5 at 130L, 6'1 x 23 at 105L, 5'3 at 22 at 83L. Whereas the barracuda is best in flat water pop, light wind winging, ocean downwind and bump catching machine for both prone and sup. Comes in 8'x21 at 112L (most popular) 7'10 x 19.5 at 102L (my favorite at 78kg) 7'8 x 18.5 at 92L
id be interested to hear your experience with these boards or similar.
aweseome man..what are both these models like with Armstrong gear. Are the boxes in the right place for Armstrong mast and Is there enough length in the tracks to be able to move mast forward for MA wings. Thanks
They both use 10" boxes and are compatible with all foil brands. I have customers on all brands with both boards
Hey Hilly, not anymore as we're moving more into the narrower boards through our R&D have found the longer and narrower are more efficient etc. BUT if anyone still wants the E3 in the wing/sup dimensions I can pick up in Maui. The 6'1 and 6'5 both have a wider option too.
Select to expand quotepohaku said..
They both use 10" boxes and are compatible with all foil brands. I have customers on all brands with both boards
@pohaku. I'd really like to get into more detail on box placement in relation to foot placement on the kuda. I know Dave moved his boxes forward with the production kuda. But I'm still a bit gun shy or unconvinced. I'm riding the 6-' 1 x 26, 115L E3 DW board on Armstrong 'performance' gear. I really could use another inch to inch and a half in relation to my desired foot placement. I have a foot strap on the most rearward front foot holes. And my rear foot tends to end up a bit in front of the rear hump on the traction pad. While I can shift my feet slightly back if I'm not using a strap, I prefer the strap in the center of buoyancy does not float well further back. I'm 5'8" 170 pounds and I tend to have a narrower stance which I think is part of the issue.
can you either do some side-by-side comparison, photos or provide some measurements?
I've seen the video which includes the distance from the tail that is kind of a moot point due to the completely different shape a better reference is center of buoyancy, i.e. where the average person wouldn't of standing on the board.
thanks for helping to shed light on these great boards. I agree that they are pretty darn fantastic.
Select to expand quotewanabxtrm said..pohaku said..
They both use 10" boxes and are compatible with all foil brands. I have customers on all brands with both boards
@pohaku. I'd really like to get into more detail on box placement in relation to foot placement on the kuda. I know Dave moved his boxes forward with the production kuda. But I'm still a bit gun shy or unconvinced. I'm riding the 6-' 1 x 26, 115L E3 DW board on Armstrong 'performance' gear. I really could use another inch to inch and a half in relation to my desired foot placement. I have a foot strap on the most rearward front foot holes. And my rear foot tends to end up a bit in front of the rear hump on the traction pad. While I can shift my feet slightly back if I'm not using a strap, I prefer the strap in the center of buoyancy does not float well further back. I'm 5'8" 170 pounds and I tend to have a narrower stance which I think is part of the issue.
can you either do some side-by-side comparison, photos or provide some measurements?
I've seen the video which includes the distance from the tail that is kind of a moot point due to the completely different shape a better reference is center of buoyancy, i.e. where the average person wouldn't of standing on the board.
thanks for helping to shed light on these great boards. I agree that they are pretty darn fantastic.
It's a pity the Armie masts do not have the extra holes any more that would give you that inch.
Impressed as I am with my 6'5 x 23 Kalama custom as a light wind winger I'd like to try a tiny version for my high wind wing board. My 4'9 70L is really too short for fatigued restarts. The E3 5'3 82L is a bit too big but the length is about right. If there was a 65-70L E3 at about 5'3 x 19-20" keeping the same shape I'd buy it. It's basically multiplying the dimensions of the 6'5 x 23" by .82
