Andrew sent me up one of the Hull Paddlers 10-2 x 33 to test out for a couple of weeks here is my review.

First reaction when I saw it was wow it's a BIG thick board....it's has a really interesting Hull shape with a pointed Vee nose. The rails despite the board's thickness are really pulled over and performance shaped, this is achieved with a large chine under the board from the bottom edge of the board to the edge of the rail. The top of the rail is almost a stepped. This is a Hull Paddler not Hull Ripper. The board is designed as a paddling board that still surfs and that's where the interesting Hull shape comes into play.

I took the board out at Cabarita in head high mushy surf with a rebound swell pushing back off the headland just to makes things interesting. Paddling out through the break was the big surprise the pointed Vee nose would pierce through the waves and not buck up it like most big boards , straight away I was able to take on chest high white wash so the paddle out was a piece of cake. The board's stability is amazing and so it should be at 33 wide. A wave came through just as I got out the back, with only minimal pressure on the tail the board kicked turned on a dime.

Surf wise at first the board felt like a hand full as I pushed through the section, it was very easy to over cook your cutback as it only took minimal pressure to get the board over onto the chine. After a few waves I worked out that this board can be surfed without running to the tail. Some of the waves I caught where almost 200m long which is where I noticed how fast it paddled even against the relentless sweep on the paddle back out it was really fast. After the 2 hour session I really had this board dialled in and had a ball on it, I wasn't chucking buckets or getting it vertical but I made some really late take off's and long flowing sections,the board was just fun to surf and very forgiving.

Blane built this board with the new paddler in mind who needed stability and a board for long paddles but can still surf. If you compare this board to the Naish 11-6 or the Starboard 10-4 Whopper, it has the paddling speed of the Naish and better stability and performance of the Whopper IMO and its real big advantage is that nose, anyone that tried to punch out through the surf on the Big Naish or Starboard will know what I mean. It's very hard to compare this board to just one other as there is just nothing like it.

The board feels strong not sure of the actual construction but it's tuff. Price wise with a paddle for $1,299 its 2 boards rolled into one and for someone new getting into the sport or an all round family board, I think you just can't go past it.

This is some shots I took of my mate Brett Williams on the board at Cabarita , check out the nose piercing the wave in the first shot.

Rob

Yesterday I went to Bass Sup's second event down at Ocean Grove and on the way down I popped into SHQ to picked up the new Paddle Surf Hawaii Hull Paddler.

It's the 10'2" x 33" size and designed as an allround paddler with flat water speed and stability and also surfing ability for the recreational paddler.. They come in three sizes and the other two are 9'7" x 32" and 10'10" x 33 3/4".

The thing that surprised me the most was the price.. $1299.. with a PSH colour matching paddle.. Wow! .. Note that this is not the new Hull Ripper.. That's a whole different board and designed for performance surfing.

Here's a few pictures that I took at the shop.















I thew the new PSH on top of my Mana and hit the road.. Almost there.. Ocean Grove is just down the road a bit.



I saw Phil's big pimp-mobile so I knew I was at the right place.. The surf looked small but great.. and very glassy..



Matty Martin rolled up with all his GSI gear.



So.. What board are you going to paddle Matt?



I put the new PSH on a stand while I got my wetsuit on and Rich and Leon checked it out.



Notice the very rounded bottom.



Also notice the Gor-Tex vent plug.. Time to get this baby wet.



I followed Phill down the boat ramp.



Paddling out the first thing that I noticed is that it didn't pop over the white water as easy as my Mana but that may be the flatter rocker and just something to get used to.. I caught the first wave with ease and I didn't expect to catch it because these waves were often a bit fat (and this wave was) but the flat water paddling speed seemed to help get onto it.. Once on it I could also feel the flatness of this board compared to my Mana.. It didn't nose dive or catch a rail.. It cruised along quite nicely as I surfed the wave and paddled out to catch a few more.. It was great fun.. I talked Phil into coming in and having a go.





At 33" wide it had no problem floating Phil and he said how stable it was for him.





Even Kristi couldn't make her dad fall (with a nudge of her paddle).



Phil continued to catch wave after wave and was starting to really like it.







Sorry I didn't get any great action shots but maybe someone else did.. I stayed out on my Mana for a while having a ball in these nice little glassy waves.. After a while I could smell the BBQ so I headed in and took some more pics that I'll post soon. (later)

Gotta go paddling right now..

DJ