Board volume; floater or sinker?????

[coachg]

I don't qualify as a big guy at 160-165 lbs. I am a little on the nimble side and have tacked my 90 liter board in non-planing conditions and also have a 115 L board. Many times in choppy water at Sherman Island I have dropped my sail doing a manuever on my 115 L board and simply uphauled the sail with no problems even in large chop/swell. I also dropped my sail and easily uphauled on a 96 L Vector in Hawaii so I thought I could easily uphaul. Wrong!

There is a huge difference between already standing on the board and trying to get up on the board as I found out last summer at Donner Lake. I was launching my 115 L board with big chop/swell in a cove that created a wind shadow so I was unable to beach start. I tried to climb up and uphaul... Splash! Tried again...Splash! I felt like a total novice. I gave up and swam my board to the wind line, waterstarted and sailed. And later on doing a tack I dropped the sail and guess what?.... uphauled again.

So when a 200 + lber says he can climb up and uphaul a 120 L board in big swell I am impressed. From my experience, at your weight, I would not sail a board that size unless I could water start.

Coachg

[D-wo]

[madmax7]

Hey D,

I have the exocet 103l, I'm 180lbs, it is more of a cross over board than totally wave. But that's what makes it fun, I use it in all situations, its fast to plane, its fast, and turns like a dream. Also very forgiving in turns, good balance to the board. I was actually considering the 117l for lite wind days to play on the waves...

Max.

PS regarding original question for 200 + pounder I would not go much different that the 120l. And learn to water start with floater, you already know that board so you can just focus on getting up.

[willv]

D-Wo:

I weigh 250lbs and have been sailing the Exocet Cross 117 (now have a 118) for about 4 yrs (as soon as the first Cross's came into the US I had one).

I find that it is an EXCELLENT wave board option for guys at our weight, given the proper fin, and footstrap placement. Fin I use is the Wardog/True Ames Freeweed swept fin (10 inch), and the footstraps set inboard (in front) and only 1 strap in back.

I use this setup very effectively with sail sizes 6.8 down to 5.3 - so about 18MPH of wind to 25MPH (depending on wind quality).

There are tons of pics of me on that board - riding waves, not to mention jumping etc... Email if you'd like to see any and I can send you some low-res copies....

Good luck with your sailing!

WillV.

[PeconicPuffin]

It will be a sinker. It won't sink to the bottom of the lake, but it will be under water if you find yourself uphauling it. More important than whether or not it's under water is can you uphaul and shlog a sinker (if you can't yet waterstart it's doubtful you have the skills required).

So this will be a higher wind board for you. Learn to waterstart ASAP (get Dasher's video...it may only be on VHS but it's worth it) and then go out and have fun. It's a great size for you.

[carl]

[D-wo]

Danswright,

Take the time to learn to waterstart. The time you spend learning will pay off one hundred fold over the next years as you continue to sail. As a large sailor, waterstarting will be much easier than up hauling and will revolutionize your sailing experience. You'll be able to use smaller boards, larger sails and sail in a much greater variety of conditions and venues. Watch the DVD, try it and then do it. You won't be disappointed.

David

[coachg]

Try this link:

http://www.calema.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=55

That will give you a visual of a 220 lb person on a 130L board.

Coachg

[jingebritsen]