Hi guys,
Hope someone can share experiences with the Dragonfly Surf in big sizes, or similar "stability-priority" DW-boards with flattish bottoms.
I'm trying to figure out the sweet spot for models and sizes, when added stability no longer helps as the board gets too hard to get out of the water.

My conditions are almost entirely short period swell, and often the local wind waves direction differ with 20 degrees. Far from optimal. Some nice double ups on reefs though, and the waves are are quite ok for me to ride while winging.
I'm 87kg 190cm and rather new to DW-foiling with paddle. I finally managed the flatwater start late autumn. Had two good sessions with repeated micro-DW runs with my round bottom KT Dragonfly V1 8'2 21" 121L, when conditions all of a sudden were mysteriously good.

But I really can't progress with this board in my rather messy normal conditions, so I'm getting another bigger one. More volume alone should only help I hear. But I worry that some extra width, and particularly a flatter bottom that might stick, will all together make it too hard. Except for days with much stronger wind and a bit steeper waves.
I'm really after those medium days with slight offshore wind and a bit cleaner swell, so a pure surf-SUP is not right either.

I would prefer to hear that the KT Dragonfly Surf 8'4 22.75" 145L is not overgrown with too flat bottom, then the choice is simple for me. But I have also considered the step smaller at 8'2 22" 130L, or Dragonfly V2 in 8'4 22" 135L, or even the AFS Blackbird V3 8'8 20"1/2 135L.

The Dragonfly V1 is the only pure DW board I have tried. I suspect that the flatter bottom helps a lot for stability. When lightwind winging, as wind drops but some swell remains with a little mess, I found the 121L Dragonfly less stable than my much flatter bottom AK Nomad 90L 6'6" x 20.5".

Most of all I'm curious about the Dragonfly Surf flatter bottom shape, or similar boards, will even flatwater start be considerably harder?

Thanks!

PeterP said..
Try the AK 7'6 x 21 115L Nomad Carbon plus - it should be heaps more stable due to flat bottom and much harder rails. I use it for flat paddle ups, surf, downwind and light wind winging - no problem unless you need to get up on small foils in big fast moving ocean swells - then you might want to look at something longer and narrower. I think stability of AK will be night and day compared to KT.

Thanks Peter, I guess the narrower Nomad Plus model makes more sense for combined use, compared to V1.
Good to have confirmed that flatter bottom might be the way to go in my conditions.

Also found some directions in this great thread www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/Foiling/Downwind-foil-board-vs-SUP-surf-foil-board- User ninjatuna shared experiences with different and bigger boards in less optimal conditions.

In case anyone should find similar interest for the biggest DW board sizes, I should say a little more about my local conditions. The home area has smooth rock slope, in ridges alongside and outside of the coastal line. Some of these ridges in shallow location are quite long, some almost connect. While we usually don't have world class waves, coming from really faraway, these slightly offshore areas can fire very nicely and be such a joy.
In large, the regions are a mix of open sea downwinding waves (shorter/medium period ocean swell or/and bigger wind waves, deeper location), plus the shallower areas with ridges with steeper/bigger/slower waves (a bit like sandbanks).
Have been winging to enjoy waves here. Only recently with DW-SUP attempts.

The catch, when winging, is that wind will often drop a lot when waves are at its best, and soon my pumpable waves are also gone if not much contribution from ocean swell. Getting back to shore (300-2500m) in messy waves and very little wind can be hard work for an intermediate guy like me, particularly if going with a board with volume less than body weight.
Even harder of course, when going with a pure DW board and a paddle.
Still, I have taken challenge, started with good areas closest to shore, will later try to connect stuff for longer reach. A lot to learn and drill, and of course my idea of the best board will change over time.

Just ordered the Dragonfly Surf 8'4 22.75" 145L. Mostly because I have a feeling that high volume, medium width and partly flat bottom is needed for me (injuries) and the conditions (mixed). And got a nice price for being able to wait the 2 months shipping from factory (being the 2 months sea temp is below 3?C, severe paddling in thick suit is not quite right).
Can post my experiences with this one, in a while.

I'm trying to decide between the KT dragonfly 2 and the surf. So I'm curious how you feel about the surf.

I'm 6'2" and 200 lbs - I've got a Gong Sirius 3XL foil, and I've tried to do a flatwater paddle up on a Starboard takeoff (7'0'' x 31'' 130L) and on a Starboard Ace Lite (7'0" x 20" 100 L). I had zero success with either of those. I couldn't keep my balance on the 100 L Ace Lite - I sink it just bit underwater when standing.