wave board for me

[TTAYLOR2639]

My situation is this... the only time there are waves and swell, I am using my 5.5 and down... I sail on lakes, and the wind is usually gusty and the water choppy when these conditions happen. Lake Ontario produces big cumbling waves with dead onshore winds.

I weigh 175 lbs, and have an x-cite 95, but am trying to find out if a classic style wave board, a new stubby (evo, pocket, RRW) style board, or FSW board in the 80ish range would be best. Unfortunately I dont get the option to try alot before I buy....

I like to ride the swell when it's there, I also want control and a smooth ride in 4.7, 4.2 conditions... Any suggestions as to which style of board would best suit me? do the new style wave boards handle chop at all? :!:

[Jrobb]

If you are talking "classic Style"wave board meaning older like80's 90's glass type,I say reconsider what type of sails you have. I have found id hard to near impossible to mix old boards and New sails do to the placement of the mast track too far forward. My 80's wave board while uber turny sticks to the water like glue...so much so that getting it airboarn is near impossible and I have to be careful when landing so as not to perl the nose . My newer sails don't get along with that board...however a couple of my older sails do like it and it is fun to carve on some bigger 3-4 foot swell we get here in the Bay on occasion. I would get an allarounder like a FWS with whatever vol. you think appropriate. Never siled one but have seen plenty guys and gals havin fun on them.

J

[1gtman]

I ride the 88 L Fanatic Freewave in somewhat similar conditions to what you describe, in my case in the Gulf of Mexico (Florida). I am lighter, 160 lbs and that board works down to 4.2 as long as you are not too powered. But 4.2 at your weight would be a lot of wind, and the board might not be comfortable in really choppy conditions (i.e. might be jarring/pounding), although it's pretty easy to control in a lot of wind.

My sailing buddy has a 83 L JP RWW that rides slightly smaller than the Fanatic, and the bottom shape and construction produces a smoother ride...I'd consider that board, especially if your water conditions are chaotic. I'd prefer the Fanatic in lighter conditions though.

I use a conventional wave board, a 78L Fanatic NewWave, in maxxed out conditions, i.e. 4.0-5.0 when I'm super-powered. That combo rips both on the jumps and waves, and if the wind drops a bit I can switch to the other Fanatic instead of re-rigging, it's like you suddenly have a .5 meter more sail. Works great.

If you get a Fanatic (or almost any new board) be sure to get a quality aftermarket fin, big difference.

GT

[Duncan Adam]

Tom,

Some views from across the pond in the UK.

At 168lbs I use an Evo 80 for run of the mill bump and jump/mushey waves from 6.2m down to 4.7m, at which point the stubby gets a bit of a handful.

I have just purchased a second hand trad shape RRD Wave One 76 as my high wind 4.7 to 3.7m wave/b&J board, after consulting the review on this website. Lets hope I got it right!

[Josh]

Duncan,

Translate for us Yanks - by "trad" you mean "Traditional", right?

- Josh

[Duncan Adam]

Duncan,

Translate for us Yanks - by "trad" you mean "Traditional", right?

- Josh


Yes exactly that, long and thin.