Im going to upgrade my current 2002 Freestyle Wave 105ltre board to a Tabou Rocket (2nd hand).At the moment my 125ltre Rocket is great for 5 - 18kts.I use it in 20kts as I love it so much but although its very well behaved I find it very tiring .. probably because of its size.I was aiming for a 105ltre but not sure if thats the best size.I want it for 20kts + .In the summer NE"s the 125 is a bit big.It would be good if it would suit 20 -30kts+ but I do have an old 85ltre waveboard for those conditions if needed.Will I notice much difference in sailing difficulty/gybing? ( I know it will be better than the old 2002 narrow board).Im 65kgs. My budget is restricted so i don't know if I'll have much chance to choose a perfect size but Id like a few opinions anyway.

SBC,
I reckon that at 65kg, you should definitely go smaller than 105lts. I know it's probably tempting if you've got a 105 lined up, but I think a 95 lt Tabou (or similar) would be perfect for 18 knts and up, and would hold in better as you get toward the top end of your wind limit.

You may lament the fact that the 105lt is too close to your 125.
- Why have an extra 10 lts bashing through the chop and trying to bounce out in the gybes, when you don't really need it?? (remember, you're only 65kg. .....I'm 85kg and get on my 95lt as soon as it gets to 18kts!)

Be patient and look around a bit.

Hi SBC i'd be surprised if a tabou would let you down. they are great shapes.

i tend to agree with the other guys about volume. now excluding old school narrow shapes and sticking with modern wider shapes typically your volumes work out around the folowing.

lightwind board is your body weight plus 20-25 and that gives you the litres. so for you at 65kg an 85-90lt board will float you and get you home and a 95lt board would just make that more certain and be uphaulable with practice.

your high wind board is your body weight plus zero or your body weight minus 5
so around 60-65lt

your nuclear board is your body weight minus 20 so 50lt for you. i guess that's a kids board.

although stepping down from a 125lt board to a 95lt board will feel a bit shakey at first. it is the thing to aim for and once you get used to it and start using it in 12knots and up you probably will only use your big board on really light days.

my 125lt board (my weight +20) gets used from 5 knots to 25 knots. at 20 knots i can easily sail a 95lt (my weight -10) and use it up to 35-40 knots. if the wind dies though it's a struggle to get home.

edit** p.s. if the 105 is a really good deal then just do it!. they're great boards and there is only about 3cm difference in width. the main difference looking at the tabou site is the tail width. the 95 is narrower so it will stick better in the higher winds.

Gestalt said...

Hi SBC i'd be surprised if a tabou would let you down. they are great shapes.

i tend to agree with the other guys about volume. now excluding old school narrow shapes and sticking with modern wider shapes typically your volumes work out around the folowing.

lightwind board is your body weight plus 20-25 and that gives you the litres. so for you at 65kg an 85-90lt board will float you and get you home and a 95lt board would just make that more certain and be uphaulable with practice.

your high wind board is your body weight plus zero or your body weight minus 5
so around 60-65lt

your nuclear board is your body weight minus 20 so 50lt for you. i guess that's a kids board.

although stepping down from a 125lt board to a 95lt board will feel a bit shakey at first. it is the thing to aim for and once you get used to it and start using it in 12knots and up you probably will only use your big board on really light days.

my 125lt board (my weight +20) gets used from 5 knots to 25 knots. at 20 knots i can easily sail a 95lt (my weight -10) and use it up to 35-40 knots. if the wind dies though it's a struggle to get home.

edit** p.s. if the 105 is a really good deal then just do it!. they're great boards and there is only about 3cm difference in width. the main difference looking at the tabou site is the tail width. the 95 is narrower so it will stick better in the higher winds.

exactly

sboardcrazy said...

Gestalt said...
[

95 seems to be the way although I hope it will suit gusty conditions as we don't get wind like WA over here.Im still glad I got the 125 even though by everyones calculations its miles too big for me ( weight + 60). I must be a clutz as I woudnt want much less volume to easily uphaul ( esp 6.6m) or sail home when the wind dies..

my guess is you need about 75lt you wont be needing a board you can uphaul in 20nts anyway i have a 95 slalom and i'm 75kgs and it feels like a big board, so my guess is if you get a 95 you will be looking for something smaller

you know sboardcrazy if your not wet your not improveing