From memory these boards are rarely mentioned, never for sale in the second hand gear and never seen on the water.

This would be because of:
a) they are crap to use;
b) it is such a small market that this topic is of little relevance;
c) they are great boards and people hang onto them and need not tell others;

Would like to hear some general feedback from any owners out there as to their opinions as to how they handle, what conditions they use them, construction...

Have been onto the Kona forum however would like to hear a Aust. opinions.

shi thouse said...

... never seen on the water... because of:

They are used in such light wind that you probably wouldn't even think about going to the beach hence you would never see one.

Sailed a Fanatic 10.5 SUP a few times throughout summer when it was super light but the swell was up. It's a while to get a hang of it but once you do it's great fun. It's a different type of wave sailing and you sure piss of most surfers as you pretty much manage to catch any wave from way out the back.

Sweet pic Waterloo! They definitely look like that great wind alternative for those marginal days. The 11'5 has been on my radar for some-time and had almost considered the kite option for those light days. Having recently blown my knee out while windsurfing and am currently looking at a long-ish recovery + surgery I am now thinking the whole kite idea is not the way to go (learning to kite with a dodgy knee) and am instead looking at meeting that marginal wind day on these boards.

Do they get up on the plane al-right and what size sail would you need on a 10 - 14 knot day?

I have a Kona Surf and wouldn't part from it for quids. I go out virtually every day in any condition (on/off/side shore) in the surf. A very solid board for the surf bashing it gets. Before work in the mornings wind rarely gets above 10k (using a 6.7m Hotsail Maui Superfreak mostly in up to 15k, Ezzy 6.0 or 5.0 in 15-20k etc.), but have also been out in big (and I do mean BIG) wave surfing, and in strong winds up to 33k. Great wave board for the glide in longboard type waves, but doesn't do gnarly very well. Dead easy to get out through chop. Trial Bay has the best waves I have found so far. I also like sailing along the coastline in the surf zone. On low wind days, very zen experience going for a long sail out the back, with seagulls, rays and sharks for company, sometimes penguins and turtles. Often have dolphins tag along...I think they have become accustomed to my presence. Maxes out my time in the water. I also have a JP FSW, I surf a mal and shorter board, and also bodyboard, on those days when I want to take it easy.

Nice review Gidget, sounds like you have the spectrum covered - thus being an issue that I have had with the sport for many years... how to maximise time on water. Like the idea of gliding along and getting in amongst the surf on those light wind ordinary days. Ta!

I forgot to mention, that luff panel allows the sail to depower quicker when you need it to and a good thing when in wave riding.

Yep, pretty sure that was me that sold the 10-5 and it went pretty quickly. They are a great board, especially for someone that needs to get out on the water in less than ideal conditions. Mine hadnt been in the surf so I cant comment on how it would go. Regularly had a 7.5 or a 6.5 on it without much of a problem. The one thing I found was it was difficult to get into the straps, I have since changed over to a futura 133 and its way easier to strap up. I didnt give up the whole longboard thing though as I got a starboard 11-4 SUP with mast base holes in it. Awesome there is still something about just going for an extra long sail in little wind. Spent an hour and a half just touring around Jervis Bay over Christmas, the big change though is that I will only use a 5-8 or smaller on the SUP as its more a surfboard than a sailboard.