Yes it looks like it.
A guy I know told me that the handling feels a lot like the Bark Vapor which is a very good reference.
I am sure that it might be a little bit faster on flat.
He is a heavy guy at over 200 lbs.
Select to expand quoteLucBenac said..
Yes it looks like it.
A guy I know told me that the handling feels a lot like the Bark Vapor which is a very good reference.
I am sure that it might be a little bit faster on flat.
He is a heavy guy at over 200 lbs.
I paddled the 24 wide on flats, very stable and it is definitely faster than the Vapor, which I've always found a bit on the slow side on flat water. The Naish feels more abrupt at the rail, (not as much roll) it's more square and I think that helps it carve better when planing on swell. My friend Russel did 50 down wind runs in the Gorge this year (he worked for Big Winds) and he loved the 14 x 24 enough to buy one. He felt like the 2017 was a better downwind board than 2016 but not quite as fast.
Select to expand quoteYardsale said..
He felt like the 2017 was a better downwind board than 2016 but not quite as fast.
You mean better than the 2018 or really the 2016?
Select to expand quoteLucBenac said..Yardsale said..
He felt like the 2017 was a better downwind board than 2016 but not quite as fast.
You mean better than the 2018 or really the 2016?
Ya sorry, 2018 was better than 2017 downwind but 17 is faster. I couldn't tell in the brief time I paddled the 2018 24" wide.
Select to expand quoteYardsale said..LucBenac said..Yardsale said..
He felt like the 2017 was a better downwind board than 2016 but not quite as fast.
You mean better than the 2018 or really the 2016?
Ya sorry, 2018 was better than 2017 downwind but 17 is faster. I couldn't tell in the brief time I paddled the 2018 24" wide.
Just a note after paddling the 2018 14' x 26" wide a few miles... I really didn't notice any speed difference from 2017 and definitely faster than 2016. Livelier feel due to rail tuck which I really loved, should also help it in side chop. We weighed 2 14 footers ... a 24" w and a 26" w and the weight was essentially the same 26.5 +/- lbs... 26 "wide was actually a few ounces lighter.
Select to expand quoteYardsale said..Yardsale said..LucBenac said..Yardsale said..
He felt like the 2017 was a better downwind board than 2016 but not quite as fast.
You mean better than the 2018 or really the 2016?
Ya sorry, 2018 was better than 2017 downwind but 17 is faster. I couldn't tell in the brief time I paddled the 2018 24" wide.
Just a note after paddling the 2018 14' x 26" wide a few miles... I really didn't notice any speed difference from 2017 and definitely faster than 2016. Livelier feel due to rail tuck which I really loved, should also help it in side chop. We weighed 2 14 footers ... a 24" w and a 26" w and the weight was essentially the same 26.5 +/- lbs... 26 "wide was actually a few ounces lighter.
For those of us that don't understand lbs.. I just worked out that 26.5lbs=9.9kg
Select to expand quoteDavidJohn said..We weighed 2 14 footers ... a 24" w and a 26" w and the weight was essentially the same 26.5 +/- lbs... 26 "wide was actually a few ounces lighter.
For those of us that don't understand lbs.. I just worked out that 26.5lbs=9.9kg
Actually it is more like 12 kg. 10 kg would made the marketing guys really happy :-)
12kg = 26.5lbs is a good weight on the new Maliko but DJ's team board at 9.9kg is better 
Select to expand quoteLucBenac said..DavidJohn said..We weighed 2 14 footers ... a 24" w and a 26" w and the weight was essentially the same 26.5 +/- lbs... 26 "wide was actually a few ounces lighter.
For those of us that don't understand lbs.. I just worked out that 26.5lbs=9.9kg
Actually it is more like 12 kg. 10 kg would made the marketing guys really happy :-)
I blame my stupid conversion app on my phone..
I know 1kg=2.2lbs so I should have twigged that it was wrong.. 
Select to expand quoteDavidJohn said..LucBenac said..DavidJohn said..We weighed 2 14 footers ... a 24" w and a 26" w and the weight was essentially the same 26.5 +/- lbs... 26 "wide was actually a few ounces lighter.
For those of us that don't understand lbs.. I just worked out that 26.5lbs=9.9kg
Actually it is more like 12 kg. 10 kg would made the marketing guys really happy :-)
I blame my stupid conversion app on my phone..
I know 1kg=2.2lbs so I should have twigged that it was wrong..
I still would not mind having one :-)
Select to expand quoteCarbs79 said..
Interested to see how 2018 construction holds up, 2017 was terrible.
I agree Carbs... especially considering what Naish has been asking for the Maliko. That said I think the most durable performance boards that I know of - the SIC Bullet V2, Starboard Allstar and Bic Tracer are all 27 lbs or more (+ or - a few ounces) ... Naish looks like they opted for more standard glass and polyurethane and only a single strip of Carbon on the bottom. They did drop the price $400 so at least retailers maybe can offer them under $3000 MAP. (street price)
Did a longer loop on the 14' x 24" wide Maliko today. Great acceleration on small boat wakes, decent flat water speed, better at handling cross chop than previous years. I felt like the stability was super solid but the volume was a little low for me at 185lbs... felt like I was pushing more water than ideal. If I was only doing ocean downwinders on big rollers I think the 24" would be an option, but for the Gorge cross chop no question it's 26" wide.
Select to expand quoteYardsale said..
Did a longer loop on the 14' x 24" wide Maliko today. Great acceleration on small boat wakes, decent flat water speed, better at handling cross chop than previous years. I felt like the stability was super solid but the volume was a little low for me at 185lbs... felt like I was pushing more water than ideal. If I was only doing ocean downwinders on big rollers I think the 24" would be an option, but for the Gorge cross chop no question it's 26" wide.
Thx Yardsale. Ok, so I weigh about the same. I will use it for 80% in flatwater. What do you think: the 24 or 26 in width? I have the Javelin 14 x 24 now, and in the flats I feel comfortable enough. In (cross) chop let's say 20 to 30 cm I have a hard time to stay on the board.
How about the bottom construction: PVC there? Or is it still relatively soft?
Standy and Kissa took the new 2018 Naish Maliko for a test yesterday, and there was a lot of froth. Sounds like she's very very quick!
JB
Select to expand quoteCarvers said..Yardsale said..
Did a longer loop on the 14' x 24" wide Maliko today. Great acceleration on small boat wakes, decent flat water speed, better at handling cross chop than previous years. I felt like the stability was super solid but the volume was a little low for me at 185lbs... felt like I was pushing more water than ideal. If I was only doing ocean downwinders on big rollers I think the 24" would be an option, but for the Gorge cross chop no question it's 26" wide.
Thx Yardsale. Ok, so I weigh about the same. I will use it for 80% in flatwater. What do you think: the 24 or 26 in width? I have the Javelin 14 x 24 now, and in the flats I feel comfortable enough. In (cross) chop let's say 20 to 30 cm I have a hard time to stay on the board.
How about the bottom construction: PVC there? Or is it still relatively soft?
PVC all around with just a Carbon stringer on the bottom. Weight definitely reflects heavier build. I think the 26" is the better choice in rougher water, I know I liked it better... it felt livelier than the 24".
I demoed the 26 in flatwater and bump/wind. On the flat it was very stable (crazy stable) and has bit of glide. The nose seems to glide over the surface nicely with a little bit of sprinklering. It was easy to maneuver onto someones wash. I am not a good paddler so for most people who would use it on the flat mostly a 24 would be fine. It was a little slower than my SIC FX which is understandable, but not too much.
On the bump I struggled a bit getting used to the looseness of the board. I was paddling into a solid 20 knot wind with bumpy swell and rebound. My stability was ok, and I only fell off when I was turning around. However the board was moving around much more than I was used to. My speed upwind was very slow as I couldn't get going. Likewise on the downwind it was also moving around all over the place which meant I was having trouble getting settled. The looseness of the board is a good thing, I just wasn't used to it. I feel once I got used to the board it would go much better. I weighed the board and it was around 13.5kg with the fin.
All up I liked it. The stability was good, with plenty of improvement available. I am nervous about Naish durability having been burnt in the past with some of their surf sups. However the build feels like the naish quest sups. This is a very hard finish. I surf a naish quest and it is very strong. As I say I am a bit nervous about the Naish build, but the board seems very strong. The trade off is the weight.
The Naish price for the board in Aust is nice, especially compared to the starboards. I thought the similar allstar would be much lighter being carbon, but was surprise to see it is listed as over 13kg. Seems weird when compared to the SICs which are strong boards. My FX is 11.4kg with fin.
I would like to see a pic of the bottom shape with a straight edge so you can see the concave or V in the bottom. If anyone has one or can do it that would be great.
Select to expand quotetarquin1 said..
I would like to see a pic of the bottom shape with a straight edge so you can see the concave or V in the bottom. If anyone has one or can do it that would be great.Select to expand quoteAA said..
Hearing some pretty cool feedback on this board. Time to put one in demo 
How did you go with the board. Im thinking of a demo too.
Im only 5'4 and 68kg intermediate paddler. Love my javelin in 12ft but also feel burnt as its VERY fragile and has been cracked a couple of times.
Select to expand quotetarquin1 said..
I would like to see a pic of the bottom shape with a straight edge so you can see the concave or V in the bottom. If anyone has one or can do it that would be great.
