I’m looking for a new SUP board that I can start windsurfing with… (I am trying to keep it under 10’ - only so that I can lock it in my car :)
So far I have considered the following, and was wondering what anyone’s opinions and advice were, or if I have missed any good other possibilities?
Thanks!
BIC ACE-TEC Wind
Exocet Wind SUP
Fanatic Allwave
Fanatic Fly
JP Windsurf SUP
Nash Nalu SUP SB Element
Sealion XL
Starboard Silver AST
Starboard WindSUP SUPer
Tabou
I've got a JP widebody 9'9" and have used it for both SUP wave riding, windsurfing, and wind riding on small waves. Its a decent all round board and very affordable but don't expect it to excel in any one area.
It is a ton of fun to windsup in light winds and smallish waves though.
Select to expand quoteDanonearth said..
I’m looking for a new SUP board that I can start windsurfing with… (I am trying to keep it under 10’ - only so that I can lock it in my car :)
So far I have considered the following, and was wondering what anyone’s opinions and advice were, or if I have missed any good other possibilities?
Thanks!
BIC ACE-TEC Wind
Exocet Wind SUP
Fanatic Allwave
Fanatic Fly
JP Windsurf SUP
Nash Nalu SUP SB Element
Sealion XL
Starboard Silver AST
Starboard WindSUP SUPer
Tabou
I agree that unless you get a board with a centreboard you have to make some compromises. I have experience with Naish Nalu, Naish Alana(Mana in girls clothing) which I put an additional finbox in underneath for learners, the JP Widebody and now I have a 2015 Tabou SUPAWIDE 9'4 x 32.
In the length you are looking for you really want a good amount of volume and also relatively parallel rails and sharper towards the tail and flattish rocker. The Tabou has the best combination of these features while still being SUP surfable. Without the thrusters and a good fin it can plane nicely and will get you as high upwind as anything else without a centreboard or centre fin under 10'. The wide nose and tale make it a great family board due to its stability as does the 180lt volume. One of the other guys I know with one has had an awesome session with his at Avalons charging down the line in over head high waves and he reports its really fast and smooth to turn. With the added option of thrusters it can be loosened up a lot if you want to snap it around a bit more either surfing or wave sailing in light conditions. Mine is currently on Gumtree in as new condition to pay for sails but you can get them new from SUP Addiction.
At the end of the day you sort of have to know what you want to do with it and then research what its actually capable of. Horses for courses. There are some awesome inflatables out now that have the extra length and removable centre fin but you can roll them up and transport without a worry! All the shops I deal with have great inflatable options.
Hi Dano
I supped and sailed a bunch of boards. Critical in your choice will be the selection of fin to go with these boards: they will kind of plane (this is important when you ride the wave with a sail) if you pair the right fin with them. An old wave fin with a good chord and plenty of bass width should be fine.
The boards i've used:
The starboard 11'2 - sails a bit like a one design, but can be ridden in the waves (small). Last weekend i sailed it at Crescent Head in 2-3ft and 20kt NE (onshore) with my 5.5 wave sail - I didn't have my short board. I was absolutely stoked with the fun factor... and i guess its performance. Long carved turns on the wave, planing gybes (back down the face) great punch out through onshore slop. I had a great time. I also sail this regularly on Brisbane Water with my 4year old. he loves to cruise around. The 11'2 is great for cruising. If you want a planing board you should consider something like the Exocet Windsup.I haven't sailed one, but they have a centreboard and a powerbox fin which probably helps them sail like a detuned race board.
The 10'5 Drive (starboard) also sails very well (quite similar in many respects to the 11'2, these bigger boards do fine in smallish on-shore waves, but in the down the line performance they struggle to do turns off the lip like a shorter board, you kind of redirect them rather than cutting back! if wave sailing is your preference then i'd look at the 9'1 pro.
The starboard 9'8 element/fish or pro is a great board for sailing. it is the longest of the starboard boards to get footsteps. i love sailing with the front footstrap for the down the line sailing. the reality for bottom turning a board this size is that you need to take your back foot all the way across to the far side to pressurise the rail.
I also loved my 9'1 pro. this surfed well and windurfed really well. a great gerroa board. I'd definitely think about getting one of these again.
My current board is a fanatic pro wave 8'5 which surfs the best out of all the boards above, and windsurfs on the wave really well. I have put front footstrap inserts into this board and it rocks. but only for wavesailing in light wind. At all other times I will use my short board...
Ive surfed all of these boards: the bigger ones don't turn like the shorter ones, but you don't need me to tell you that.
I think i'd get an SB 9'8 pro if i could have only one board, but which my family would use as well. If i wasn't going to surf it i'd consider the fanatic ray or starboard free ride sup - with the fin, not the centreboard.
I also have a special heart for the AHD sealion which i secretly covet, i haven't sailed one, but they look great - i must admit i'd get the 115litre one, not the biggest. I've sailed an older bic jungle which sailed well, but didn't sup great on the wave.similarly the older Fanatic allwives and the older wider tabou sups just didn't surf that well. Fanatic pro wave is great, but didn't sail that well on the flat water (desperation will lead you to try anything!).
I have sailed and supped the JP surf 9'2 - my brother used to tear the wave apart, but i couldn't get it to work like he could: it was too big for me.
I haven't tried the naish boards for sailing.
Good luck in the search.
The absolute best SUP/Sailboard is the WINDSURFER One Design. I've paddled and sailed mine off Long Reef and a lot around Pittwater.
Super easy to learn on and very stable. And because they're not exactly latest technology - when you leave it strapped on the top of your car - it won't get stolen!
You can buy the whole kit new for less than $2K [plus the cost of a paddle] or find the kit second hand for $300 to $500.
It's not really suited to wave riding SUP - more of the lake and long distance SUP.
For sloppy /bumpy sea conditions you can leave the centreboard in and rake it back about 45 to 60 degrees.
I SUP only when the wind is less than 5 knots - after that, its much more enjoyable to get your exercise sailing it.
The newer Fanatics including the fly look more geared towards wind supping and not so much planning... I have a 9.6 2011 Fly and love it, perfect for supping and gets up on the plane really easy - great for sailing!. The nose is a little shallower than other sups but once you get used to stepping back a little as the wave picks you up its fine.
Still haven't been game to wave sail on it yet but at the 2 ends of spectrum, supping and sailing its great.
I've been SUP sailing for 5 years. There are some good boards available but my advice would be a board 10-11 foot long (don't go too small!), stepped rails and some tail rocker 31-32" wide with thrusters, 5-6 metre wave sail. Sail in 5- 10 knots of wind. JP Fusion 10' 2" is my favourite after 6 boards.
