Looking to get into downwinders and ocean racing more and just picked up the SIC Bullet-14 fixed fin on Monday and had a couple of flatwater paddles and wanted to tap into the wise heads on seabreeze about boat trim.

Noticed from a FB pic just how far my nose is raised up on the new board, which has a lot of rocker. I'm used to a Javelin which is the complete opposite. Admittedly, I was probably a half step behind the handle at the time the pic was taken. The handle seems to be the balance point on the bullet.

I have moved forward and aft to experiment but I haven't had it long enough to work out where to stand to get the best speed on flat water as yet. I'm about 82-83kg and it is a big volume board (296L).

Would be keen to get some advice on how much to get the bow down. Also, does it matter if there is lift in the tail and should I move the fin forward as far as it can go so it is fully in the water when I move forward?

Thanks for any advice.

Jradedmondo said...
i have the same "problem" with my 17foot glide, i find it has a substancial amount more rocker than flatwater boards, as i also paddle flatwater on it i find that it doesn't matter to much where you stand but i do like to stand a little further foward than i would regularly just to get the nose down a little bit, this also helps if your paddling into chop, as i find with a great amout of rocket and the boards being so long they tend to bounce more of the chop and thud on the next on and it slows you down, you can try moving the fin foward and seeing if that would help you i spose, you will love the board when you start downwinding on it though
hope this helps

Jarryd

Yeah, I would move forward in that case (again opposite of the Jav where I'd need to stand back and lift the nose in chop).

My photo looks like I've got 2' out of the water. Seems way too much for flatwater.

I should say I've done OC1 & OC6 for a number of years and have a fair swag of ocean experience. Different kettle of fish though.

Snowie said...

Looking to get into downwinders and ocean racing more and just picked up the SIC Bullet-14 fixed fin on Monday and had a couple of flatwater paddles and wanted to tap into the wise heads on seabreeze about boat trim.

Noticed from a FB pic just how far my nose is raised up on the new board, which has a lot of rocker. I'm used to a Javelin which is the complete opposite. Admittedly, I was probably a half step behind the handle at the time the pic was taken. The handle seems to be the balance point on the bullet.

I have moved forward and aft to experiment but I haven't had it long enough to work out where to stand to get the best speed on flat water as yet. I'm about 82-83kg and it is a big volume board (296L).

Would be keen to get some advice on how much to get the bow down. Also, does it matter if there is lift in the tail and should I move the fin forward as far as it can go so it is fully in the water when I move forward?

Thanks for any advice.

hi snowie, i've had a 17'4 bullet, a 12'6 bullet and have paddled a 14' bullet. i've got a carbon 14' bullet on order to compliment a new narrower lh 14' being made now.

the lh is my f/w, in's and outs, moderate dw board with the bullet being for the big stuff.

fast comfortable board in real dw conditions- stand back and surf

the lh is designed to have a lot of the nose in the water and dwing it can go under with the least affected speed out of any board i've ever paddled.


the bullets are a different matter altogether. there is no point in moving forward burying the rocker and creating drag up the front especially in the flats. they aren't designed for flatwater so don't lose too much sleep. i reckon somewhere over the handle is the best spot for the 12'6 and 14. the 17'4 back a bit.

one thing you need to do on the bullets dw ing is stand back as much as you when on a runner.

they go faster. no other board does this like the sic bullets

cheers

lh = Lahui Kai?

G'day Snowie he BULLET is not a flatwater board OK Snowie just wait for some 20-25 Knot Winds and take it for a test run I guarantee you'll get so excited you'll wanna pull ya pants down and fire a rocket. Have a listen to good friend Mark Raaphorst



This is my Bullet I love this SIC Board it's a custom 17'6'' NOT FOR SALE I got second to Dave Kalama in the 2010 Molokai Race in the over 40's SOLO stokeds


Surfing Maliko

yeah, is it true you didn't like v2 some much

Scotty Mac said...
hey downwinder, what you rekon about the 2 versions of the 17'4" bullet? Seems to be some agrument about which one is the better board? V1 or V2?

G'day Scotty Mac
the V1 is a very fast Board. If you like speed go the V1
the V2 is slower but the Glide is much longer. If you like Glide go the V2

Mark accidentally made me a custom 17'6'' V2 last year 2012 I liked the board it went really good in the Pai'lolo Channel. But I like the V1 better because I like speed. Mark has sold the V2 and is making me a Custom Blue and White camouflage V1 for July 2013

Yes Please Mr Wizard

This post has gone fully sic bros.

You guys are killing me though. Getting all this info before I can do the deed is like taking viagra just before your girlfriend calls to say she has to work and can't come over. Yeah, I trawled the net on these and the videos had me keen to try one out. As fate would have it a board came up for sale the next day.

Any of you guys keep using the stock fixed fin? Seems okay to me. I like how you can step back and lean on the rail to deepen the turn.

Cheers!