I have a friend who is wanting to get back into sailboarding.He used to sail a Hifly 300 back in the 80's and hang onto a 6m in 30kts ( & complain how hard it was..).
he wants a no hassle board he can tour around on in light wind.He likes the idea of a SUP as he can take it in the waves.
Which board points the best for touring and is most user friendly? I know he would like to plane but he's stubborn and doesn't want a high performance board( too much hassle).
Kona or SUP? or..??

Got a Starboard SUPer 12'.Enjoy taking it 4 a paddle on the river.Fun to sail and it will plane but with no footstraps it will always end in tears. Less than 20 knots with a 6.5 or 5.8 on it is a pleasure to sail .In really light winds I found I fell off more than the higher winds cause you (I) tend to lose concentration because it is so easy and effortless and fall off backwards when the wind gusts stop.
Ploppys 12'6 should be faster than mine but a tad less stable.
Dont know about the Kona's but they sure look interesting.Should be faster than both the Starboards i'de guess.

I had a Kona and an rrd long rider. The rrd was the pick of the two. For a SUP the starboard blend is what I'm using and it's awesome. Footstraps aren't an issue for a SUP in 5-15 you won't need them. If it was ever to go into the surf it's about walking around the board not about being wielded to it

I reckon you can't go past the Kona (One or Surf). The KS is a smaller version of the KO.
SUP's with a mast track are a compromise, with greater focus on the SUP capabilities. I don't think they are built as strong as windsurfers, mast track wise, or for the other stresses that you employ in a windsurf dedicated board.
The Kona is cruisy, but if you want planing, then go for the lighter/shorter board. I did my learning phase on a Starboard Carve 120, but have to admit, needs greater winds than I was mostly sailing in. Had more fun in the surf with the Kona than the Carve also. The Kona can carry the bigger sail. The Kona Surf is restricted to the lighter weight sailor (under 75kg) but both (One and Surf) go excellently in a "longboard" wave and on the rolling swells out the back, but no good on the gnarly shorebreak waves (that I use my JP FSW in now). Fundamentally these are the sort of waves you would be using a SUP on also. The Konas are dead easy to waterstart too. If you want slow and cruisy, go the Kona, but if you want fast and planing, go something smaller like the Carve.
It all depends how much energy you want to put into it, and how rad you want to go.
Just my two cents worth.

I went in to a similar search for a Kona - sup board that I could throw a sail on - couldn't get one when I wanted one, so ended up with a Naish Nalu 12'6". I also checked out Mistral pacifico and Fanatic fly. I'm also now looking at a Starboard element as a smaller sup with w/s track option.

I've had a 5.5 rig on the Nalu & although I lost some ground (small fin, light wind & heavy sailer), it was a fun cruiser. Looking forward to trying it out in some small waves.

Do both the Kona + SUP have daggerboards?

I have access to a SUPer 12'6" with a dagger, thanks SB.
Nice piece, beautiful make. Planes OK, great in lesser winds or for teaching.

HOWEVER I have no idea what the previous replier was saying: it doesn't go upwind one bit, with and without the dagger, using either mast inserts (there are 2). I tried every trick in the book - I used to race and should know a little. I lent it to a couple of top sailors here and same no-result. I noticed that the lighter the sailor, the more upwind it goes, so it must be that a heavier sailor (I'm only 175 pounds) makes the rail lose it's little edge. In all fairness, haven't tried anything bigger than 8m rig on it.

So the lack of upwind capabilities can be very frustrating, I hear the same from the few other sailable SUPs I read about. Otherwise it's a real fun board for sub-15 knots, if you can live with the size. Jibes all by itself too regardless of the wind, nice.

In short, any choice is a compromise - go Kona or 1-design.

(Wow 30 knots on a Hifly, impressive.)

Is there a reason that people want footstraps? In light winds why would you bother? Could I ask if anyone in this thread surfs? Or surfs a longboard? Walk the board guys feel the freedom. You aren't going to be jumping or looping when you windSUP. In 20 knts I won't be on a SUP in 5 knots I won't be on a normal sailboard.

I assume you are referring to a Kona One (K1)? If so you really cannot compare it to a sailable SUP, 2 different animals for 2 different purposes. Sure they cross paths as light wind boards but a K1 is a windsurfer first and other things second. SUPs are SUPs with or without a sail and most are designed for paddling or/and waves.

I have a K1, I noticed an earlier thread about the decline of our sport and the praise of the hey day of one-board one-sail ideology of the late 70s and early '80s. The K1 is the noughties version with the benefits of modern technology. This board might still hold the key to bringing back the masses. Speed isn't everything, getting people back on the water and having fun is!

Since I returned to the sport 1.5 years ago I noticed the attitudes of people with hi-po gear has carried on from the very early '90s when I left the sport. Emphasis on speed still remains but gone is the cruising or navigation around wider open waters. Hey I love planing like everyone else but the longboard offers something different. With the K1 you can cruise in sub 10 knots and pull old-school longboard tricks to add to the entertainment...good fun. It glides well too.

But when the wind creeps up to 15 knots I'm nearly planing with a 7.5 (I'm 100kg), I can't even get my Fanatic Cross 140 planing at that wind speed with the same sail, and the Cross is a short wide mutha and was made famous in its day to plane early!

15-18 knots and the K1 lifts its skirt, I've used it in more but a short board becomes too inviting, hook into the harness line, move back into the straps and the whole board rises out of the water and skims on its tail. Bear away with your sail or by foot steering and you can ride its fin all under perfect control. I have no doubt when planing this board won't loose any speed against a Freeride board. And you can carve gybe the thing too!

As a SUP it's doable but requires a bit more balance as it is only 70cm wide with a very bouyant 220 ltr giving useful float for heavier riders, I haven't done it yet but I have no doubts it will go DTL easily with sail or paddle, but I don't expect it to do any squigglies. It just hasn't got the rocker or rails for it but a talented rider I'm sure will surprise...and that ain't me!

Pointing ability is very good in light air, but even in 10-15 knots I use it without a centreboard and loose very little. If I sailed it in a tidal lake with a light wind and current perhaps I'd use the c'board more often. I just ride it like a giant Freeride board with the c'board removed most of the time and still get home. I can even water start it in as little as 10-12 knots, I hate uphauling coz I'm lazy and let the sail do all the work.

The K1 is for someone who wants a windsurfer first with all the construction benefits of one and other duties second. If I was returning to the sport and looking for the buzz windsurfing offered me before I would not hesitate to get a K1 again. It's a keeper too, I've got a shorter 260 board for higher wind duties so I'm well covered. The K1 makes a good teaching board too. I might get a paddle for it for exercise.

Here's a pic of one jumping. Who says long white boards can't jump.

pierrec45 said...

I have access to a SUPer 12'6" with a dagger, thanks SB.
Nice piece, beautiful make. Planes OK, great in lesser winds or for teaching.

HOWEVER I have no idea what the previous replier was saying: it doesn't go upwind one bit, with and without the dagger, using either mast inserts (there are 2). I tried every trick in the book - I used to race and should know a little. I lent it to a couple of top sailors here and same no-result. I noticed that the lighter the sailor, the more upwind it goes, so it must be that a heavier sailor (I'm only 175 pounds) makes the rail lose it's little edge. In all fairness, haven't tried anything bigger than 8m rig on it.

So the lack of upwind capabilities can be very frustrating, I hear the same from the few other sailable SUPs I read about. Otherwise it's a real fun board for sub-15 knots, if you can live with the size. Jibes all by itself too regardless of the wind, nice.

In short, any choice is a compromise - go Kona or 1-design.

(Wow 30 knots on a Hifly, impressive.)

I meant sailing out in 30kts..not 30kts speed!

nosinkanow said...

sboardcrazy said...
I meant sailing out in 30kts..not 30kts speed!

Konas apparently have been clocked at 30knots in some races in Europe. That's fast for a mutha ship!

Cripes I couldn't get that out of my Tabou Rocket( my skill level ..I know others can..).That would be scary!

I have 2 young kids and very little time to sail. I bought a Tabou Windstyler. It's great. It goes on the roof any time we go to the beach along with a SUP paddle, perfect for the whole family to muck around on.

Given my time constraints, I'm often down to the River at Peli Point for a quick one hour session. I'm finding myself chosing this board and a 7.3 more often than not, as my TOW is fun the whole time I'm out, doesn't matter if I'm planing or not.

When it does plane, well it's a bit like sailing a Mack Truck, but it's still quick enough, and I'm planing in around 12 knots. I'm 92+ kg, so this awesome...and I've noticed that compared to your average river sailor on a big freeride board, there's not a heap of speed difference.

I'm really looking forward to getting it out in some small waves over summer, packing the family up, heading to Mettams and rigging up a 5.8 and heading out for some light wind styling...

Can't speak highly enough of the concept, I reckon if more of us had a board like this to drag down to beach when we go with family and friends we might see more people joining/coming back to the sport...