Hi all,
looking for stable and forgiving DW board .Can anybody give me feedback between 2014 Naish GS 14' glide and 2014 Starboard Allstar 14' x 28 .This board will be used for DW only , no racing .Me 6 ft 2 & 95 kg .
Thanks
I've got a couple of comments on the glide in this: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/Finally-a-downwinder-on-the-new-Glide/
Add the 14' Coreban Dart to your list.
IMO you can't go wrong with this one.. 
.. (I'm 6'4" and 95 kg)
Hey,
You could also look at the Surftech Gerry Lopez Kaiwi Kai, and the Fanatic 14 x 30 Falcon. I've found both to be crazy stable and fast downwind.
DM
Im a novice so perhaps don't give a lot of weight to my advice, but for what its worth I just compared the 2013 14x26 all-star with the 2014 14x27.25 fanatic falcon. I bought the falcon as it is much more stable. It has high volume 295lt, so I think it would suit a heavier paddler (I'm 82 kg). It really is very stable and a good downwinder by all accounts.
Dart, 2014 Naish Glide 14, WoW GSR. Also Angulo Shaka if you can get hold of one.
The Dart and the Shaka will probably cope with bigger conditions than any other options. The Naish may be faster in small stuff. The Fanatic 14x30 (older shape) is a nice general purpose board too.
I wouldn't bother considering hybrid designs (All Star etc) if you are never going to use it in inland flat water.
Ocean paddling needs ocean boards IMO, unless you usually paddle in very mild (10 knots or less) conditions.
Several of my friends have made the mistake of swallowing the marketing hype that says that hybrid boards are great in ocean conditions as well as flat water. Then when paddling real DW conditions they have had a truly miserable time and ended up having to buy a proper ocean board (the ones shaped like big surfboards like the SIC Bullet, JL M14 etc). It seems to be a costly mistake that you just have to learn for yourself.
If you only DW in bays or protected waters you might be able to get away with something like the All Star. But if you are going into the open ocean, do yourself a favour and get an open ocean board. You'll have a lot more fun.
Lots of people on this forum will not like this view. After all, not many of the big manufacturers make open ocean boards. But please try to demo before you buy in the EXACT conditions in which you intend to use it, in order to avoid an expensive mistake.
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/StandUpPaddle-Race-and-Downwind-Boards/~an9ki/2013-Gerry-Lopez-Manu-Kai-12-6-2825-cm.aspx?search=!!Nzn7reIzRmJ$jIMDrN6g==
Everything that has ever been said about this board is that it's stable and it's built just for downwind..
Select to expand quoteCha8079 said..
Hi all,
looking for stable and forgiving DW board .Can anybody give me feedback between 2014 Naish GS 14' glide and 2014 Starboard Allstar 14' x 28 .This board will be used for DW only , no racing .Me 6 ft 2 & 95 kg .
Thanks
Either of these boards would be an excellent choice for what you have in mind and you have done well to narrow your decision down to just these two. I know the Starboard a lot better and I have no hesitation in suggesting it would be well suited to your size. It features the new direction in downwind shapes where designers have started moving away from substantial nose rocker and boofy noses. In it's place is a more gradual rocker and a piercing nose. I initially assumed this would be more technical to learn, requiring a greater emphasis on footwork to trim the board over bumps. But in fact I'm finding it more forgiving. If you happen to pearl the nose, it pierces the water and in worst case scenario, you slow down to halt gradually rather than find yourself thrown over the handlebars.
Good luck with your purchase but as I say, you will have done well whichever one you choose.
