I'm looking to upgrade from my 11'0 Tyrant thruster to a better quality board and I'm tossing up between the Naish Nalu 10'6 and the 11'0.

I'm 5'10 & 79kg and generally ocean paddle between 2-7km's ( looking to increase this distance) when it's fairly flat and sometimes my children jump on who weigh around 35 kg.

I'm also trying to work out if the GT is worth the extra coin for 3 fins and better grip versus the GS

Gidday benny
i have the 11' and the 11.4 Nalu GT in our family quiver .
I have ridden the 10.6 as well .but opted for the higher volume due to my 97 kgs
yes the GT is better ..lighter ,better grip, three fins ,has a sail insert ,full gloss instead of Matt .stronger construction ..
i reckon if your going to buy one get the best ,if the budget allows ....anyway ..

If you are ,and obviously are looking at doing longer distances the 11.4 is faster due to the flatter rocker .Im just wondering if you have
considered this one .. .? the 11' still paddles good like a long board should .and is easier to use in the wave s .Slightly wider ..

also if its only flat water paddling ,have you thought of a 12.5 or 14'javelin .? Or glide .
even though I still have the Nalu's I still always grab my 14' jav. if its flat .
they really do get along ,and make. 4- 7 Kms seem effortless .

punch in a naish Nalu search ..there has a few photos on a past post with photos .of the two ..

hope I helped.
tardy .

Hey Tardy

Great feedback and advice, looks like I've got some more thinking to do now.

I just grabbed a Naish catalogue from the local surf shop and I'm searching the Naish website now, think I might process it al, and make a decision tomorrow

thanks again

cheers

Benny

Classic , you really really like that board on a serious note I am really really impressed with the glide on those lumps looked effortless wonder how it would go with my 108 kgs on it ?

Brilliant!

Love the video, thanks for posting, its obviously versatile and looks great as well.

Cheers

Benny

If you are taking kids on board you really need the biggest board you can manage. I'd even consider the 11-6 Nalu. The "big barges" are a whole lot of fun for mucking about on, and the 11-6 is a very enjoyable long distance cruiser. The distance boards like the Glide would also be worth considering, but the general shape of them isn't perhaps as easy as regards taking a kid with you, and the Glide weighs a ton. I wouldn't bother with the Javelin or anything similarly exotic for mucking about with kids: too expensive, too fragile, too tippy. You ideally need 30" wide or more. Kids moving around on boards makes pretty much anything feel tippy, and a total load of around 115kg is quite a lot to float.

I have a Starboard iSUP that I can load both my kids on and paddle fairly happily, and they weigh about 100kgs together. But it is 16ft long and 32" wide and 400 Litres volume! It makes a surprisingly nice long distance cruiser for when I'm on my own, and no matter how hard they try, my kids can't ding it, and an inflatable is less likely to ding them. Normally, I'm not a fan of iSUPs, but for general mucking about with kids you just can't beat them. Buying used also makes sense if you've got kids.

Bear in mind that anything big enough to happily take you plus a kid over any distance is going to be a handful to surf. Surfing big boards is a particular skill of it's own. Sure, Travis Grant can surf a 17'10" (and 24" wide) board in overhead conditions. But that requires freakish skills (and large ones in the undercracker department) especially for a relative lightweight like him (or you). So that's something to consider if you intend to surf this board. I've surfed my 16ft inflatable with my youngest on board, and it is even possible to manage slow arching cutbacks with him perched on the nose, but I wouldn't call it a restful experience.

Thanks for all your help Tardy, I'm convinced after reading up and taking on board the advice from you guys that the Nalu 11' GT is what I'm going to get with the 8.0 Makani Vario paddle.

Thanks again!

Cheers

Benny

Hi Benny

My 2 cents. I don't usually get too involved with these but as I've got a Nalu 11 and the vario makani why not. I have the GS, which I purchased mainly for cruising and the occasional surf. In hindsight I wish I had purchased a more flatwater orientated board. I find the rocker of the 11 a bit much. Realistically, the board is really good at what it's designed for I just bought the wrong one. It surfs okay, but for some reason, seems to attract others onto the wave with you. It's like a "party wave" magnet. Hence I don't tend to go out on it too much. I'm selfish.
I like the paddle it feels nice has good flex but I find it slides I bit. I've got the bolts pretty tight but still moves. I don't really care too much but does happen.
Lastly, I've never found the board being slippery grips always been ok. I don't notice the extra weight and if you just cruising flatwater don't really see an advantage in the extra two fins. Saying that, I wish I got the GT as the changeover on a more suitable board would be less in the minister of war and finances eyes.
Good luck.

drainuzzo said..
Hello I'm 80kg for 180cm and I'm tossing up between the Naish Nalu 10'6 and the 11'0 too!

It is better the 11 for choppy water and some waves than the 10'6? Any disadvantages?

Thanks

IMO.. yes and no..

Naish Makani 8

Yes..

matt13 said...
After some advice with these two Nalu's. Am thinking of swapping the Glide for a Nalu, want to have more of a play in the small waves. I'm 6'6 and around the 105kg. I test ride a 10'6, I realise I've only been riding the Glide but the 10'6 felt a bit sluggish, I wondering if it's because of my size and would the 11ft make much difference. The shop doesn't have a 11 to test. Cheers

At your weight I think you will sink the 10'6"x30 too much and find it tippy in choppy water.. IMO you would be much better on the slightly bigger 11'x31 board.