yugi said...
I would assume that someone who has a Nalu 11'4 (low volume board) and a Blade II would find a Bullet, M14 or similar really stable and yet fast enough to have fun paddling around in flat. I think it's perfectly normal for someone to find a round-hull race board unstable in cold water chop. They are unstable.

Most people I have seen swapping race boards always finds their own the most stable. It's pretty funny. I assume because there is a reflex reaction to learn to learn for the specific twitchiness of each race board. Everyone I know who has a race board and steps onto a DW board is immediately at home and remarks how stable they are.

Dart to a Bullet is another story. Also each person has their learning curve and each board it's weight limit.

The Blade II is very stable for a raceboard. I think you guys are missing the point that the OP is looking for stability. The Bullet and M14 are stable for boards 27-28" wide. But they are nowhere near as stable as DW boards that are 29-30" wide. I own, or have owned, most of these boards, and have tried many others, in very choppy seas, and if you are starting out in ocean paddling, many larger paddlers will find the M14 and Bullet at the limits of what they are comfortable with, and will probably be faster - and find it a lot more pleasant -on something more stable.

But stability is a very personal thing, so as always, demo demo demo. And what one person calls choppy is what I would call flat. I hear inland racers sometimes talking about a race being choppy when there are 6 inch ripples and a few currents. For me, choppy is bumps that are knee-high and above.

Area10 said..

Slab said...
Area 10...... You rate the M14 as a bit advanced in terms of stability? Have to say I find it remarkably stable......but I have surfed and SUPd for a few years.

Compared to eg. a Coreban Dart, Angulo Shaka, or Glide 14x29", yes.

I must have improved

cool Chucky, nice to hear it works

Desflurane said..
Weather looks great this week. When are you free?

Well your have really done it this time. Thanks to Desflurane I am now the proud owner of a Naish 14X28 GX .

We went out Pt Chev way and there were some nice little rollers coming in. I was on the Naish and Simon on my Blade. Well what a lovely feel I got from the big yellow. This was the first 14ft I have been on so what ever happened to demo demo demo ?. Anyway just got such a sure footed feel with the Naish and the way it loved the little bumps just got me hooked. Did some runs up and then down with the wind and really enjoyed it. What a great spot the place is, when I get my GX in a few weeks I think I will be a regular there in the Northerly wind.

I popped into NZboardstore just up the road and met with Brian, we went through some options and in the end I went with same board as Simon and I believe Dave Johns . I think I made the right choice I just have to work out a good way to tell the Misses

cool. Report back how it works.

Desflurane said..
Awesome Jason
It was really interesting paddling your Blade, I found the primary stability very good, much better than the Javelin
However once past a certain point it just went over.
Unlike the Jav, which feels tippy under foot, but has never put me in the drink at sea. Not counting the river run I did, that was nuts
Must stop using the word 'tippy', reactive is much better and I think closer to the truth.
You're going to have such fun on the Jav.
Always better to ask for forgivness than permission.
Anyway just blame that DJ fella, it's what I do :-)

Thanks for all the great feedback guys

Simon that was a great paddle on your board. Just such a thrill when the back would rise up and with a small effort from the paddle the big yellow guy would easily ride the tiny wave. Wow that was magic and when we got to nzboardstore I just had to have one. So two days later the smile on my face has gone and now I have the terrible wait for my own GX. I think I might have to pop in and see Brian and his wonderful shop full of paddle boards. I just hope he understands when I am cought running my hands up and down a Naish and with my fase up against the board ggiving it a big deep smell to get that wonderful new Naish smell.

Back to Thursday with Simon I was glad someone else was a victim of the blades bad temperament on choppy water. I will be keeping the Blade for early morning paddles on glass like water but the misses said I had to lose the old Nala 11.4 as three boards might be a bit much . Hang on wait a minute, what about all her shoes ???

Lose the Blade, keeping the Nalu will give you more options, visitors, surfing, leisurely cruises.
You'll never take the Blade out, it will be the Jav every time.

Area10 said..
Yep that's what I'd do too.

You guys are right
The only board suitable to throw a friend on is going to be the nalu
put em on the Blade and he will cease to my friend and never want to get on a board again. Oh and probably never have a nice word to say about
supping to anybody