Hi all. My first post but I'm a regular reader and a newcomer to sup boarding. I've gleaned that providing the regular experienced people on this forum with as much relevantiinformationto be able to answer one's question is helpful so excuse me ifI overkill.

I only very recently started this sport - about 2 months ago - and like many, it seems that I overestimated my likely skill level when assessing what board to start with. I'm a reasonably fit 56y/o male, 6'2" and around 97kg. I've got a pretty bad knee which is getting close to replacement time thanks to many years of rugby and multiple surgeries - the relevance of which I'll explain later - but I've always been active and keen to try new things (and aquire new toys much to my wifes displeasure). In terms of balance and being in the ocean I have a background of some surfing (mainly mal's) but primarilly surf club stuff. I rowed and ultimately swept surf boats competitively for many years and precceding this I also paddled racing skis so I'm comfortable in the ocean and waves and thought I had reasonable balance!

The first time I stood on a sup board was the one I bought so obviously mistake one from me was not to try before you buy. I got an older model Naish Hokua 9'10" x 30" x 3 7/8" - 155l and I started on a lake. I managed to paddle it around reasonably competently but the constant balance correcting caused my bad knee to loudly complain (it's down to bone on bone). This has diminished bit I still find it tippy. Of course then when I took it out into the surf, it was a whole new world. Falling off and struggling to get back up was my constant state, and whilst I get that that's just part of the learning experience, a voice in the back of my head said - you dumb s#*t, you should have started with a more stable board.

So going forward I think I'd prefer to first go backwards and get a board that is a more suitable starting point and for me this means greater stability (and hopefully less knee pain). I'd be using it for both lake and surf but hope mainly surf. I'm thinking a board around the 10+ft range and 33- 34" width. Id prefer something reasonably light as I'll often have a long carry and my wife may use it too.

From a bit of research and board attraction, I've sort of narrowed to
Sunova 'the one' (love the look and handle)
Starboard whopper or avanti
Naish mana or nalu

Thoughts?