Does Kona 1 allow smaller sails for same winds

ittiandro · Joined: 22 Nov 2009 Posts: 294

I considering buying a Kona 1 longboard . Currently I surf on a Bic Core 293. I am an intermediate sailor and I am not a speed buff.
I’d like to know the following
1.Would the Kona 1 allow smaller sails than the Bic 293 for the same wind conditions, at least in sub-planing? If the Kona allowed me to reduce the sail size, it would be a big advantage, because normally I have to use a 7.5 or even an 8.5 and I find these sizes hard on my back and arms to jibe and tack in light winds( not to mention uphauling!).
2. Would the Kona 1 plane easier than the Bic 293 in the same wind conditions, perhaps because of its hull design and also because it is narrower and longer? Or is it the opposite?
3. All in all, how would the Kona 1 compare to the Bic 293 in sub-planing and planing. Would it be worthwhile replacing the Bic Core 293 with the Kona 1, also given the price difference?

Thanks
Ittiandro

GURGLETROUSERS · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 2643

Of course you can use smaller sails on the Kona, just as you can on the Bic or any other longboard. You won't readily get up on the plane in light winds, but it will still go anywhere you choose, including sub-planing upwind with the dagger fully down.

Most kona users prefer bigger sails for performance, but it has never been a necessity, if speed is not your priority. In the early 80's, before short boards hit our shores, we often used our old longboards of the day in very strong winds, with very small 'storm' sails. (Of about 3.9 size.) It didn't prevent them from 'going some!'

As to comparitive performance, the Kona should have a clear planing edge (the step tail reduces board length, and peps up the performance) but there may not be much real difference in sub planing glide over the Bic, which is a successful and proven design, especially if you use a smaller sail than you would on the Bic. So it depends, but I'll add that the Kona is the most comfortable planing in the straps longboard I've ever used. On that score alone, it's a winner.

beaglebuddy · Joined: 10 Feb 2012 Posts: 1120

DanWeiss · Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 2296 Location: Connecticut, USA

joethewindsufa · Joined: 10 Oct 2010 Posts: 1190 Location: Montréal

i think Franco is from Montreal and about 80 kilos from other posts i have seen.
Typically we are a light wind spot with some chop.
For "bigger" conditions we go elsewhere - Lake Champlain, Quebec, Sandbanks, Hatteras and les Isles de Madeleines

for winds under 12 knots it feels like longboards still glide better than BIC 293 and the Kona One
Sailboarder and I did the test - Kona One and Fanatic Ultra CAT

at 15 knots it would interesting to see Phantom raceboard beside a Kona with same sails and same skilled sailors Smile

musta bin dun by now ??

for Franco Ittiandro it is a question of investment too - worth the change?
for the 293 the bigger sails require a bigger fin - was that done ??
if not, get a used fin first to see what board can do !!

to help in chop, range, uphauling and my back , this year i purchased a HotSailsMaui SpeedFreak 8.5 - VERY light and GREAT range
NOT much grunt power on the longboard in light winds , but excellent after 15 knots

ittiandro · Joined: 22 Nov 2009 Posts: 294

cgoudie1 · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 7:19 pm Post subject:

I am actually a fan of the Kona, but whenever I see a statement like this it baffles me, because, 15 knots (17 mph) will get me planing on a 100 ltr
RRD Freeride board with a 6.7 easily(and I weigh 180 lbs). So, I always
wonder why I would go to an "excellent" ride on a long board in that
much wind, when I could be having a much more maneuverable “excellent” ride on a short board. In fact, if the wind would just bump up to 18 mph(16 knots) I can pump to a plane with a 5.7 and a short board.

I can see the advantage in a race fleet, or even using the thing on a
wave for surf style longboard rides, but free riding a Kona with an 8.5
sail in conditions that would plane me on a short board, I just don't understand.

I would put an 8.5 (Retro) on a Kona, and drift out to a 12MPH wind line,
rip around for a few hours and drift back, or load it up with a 7.5 (no cam
that will handle surf) and slog it into some 3 ft crumblers in 12MPH,
chicken jibe, and grab some happy surf smiles.

To me that seems the boards use.

-Craig

joethewindsufa · Joined: 10 Oct 2010 Posts: 1190 Location: Montréal

knew that was gonna get me in trouble
personally i longboard under 12 knots
freeformula 12 to 15 and shortboard 15 knots up

people do use the Kona with the step tail as a one board solution
and the races are obviously in bigger winds when available

sorry to distract from the original question
(next time i'll keep my "mouth" shut Smile

)

ittiandro · Joined: 22 Nov 2009 Posts: 294

beaglebuddy · Joined: 10 Feb 2012 Posts: 1120

Franco, if planing is out of the question the Kona will be a better board than the Bic. For sub-planing you want longest narrowest board possible for gliding. Until you are planing the nose of your board will be pushing water creating a bow wave. A board like Joe's Ultra cat would be even better than the Kona. The best board would be a Serenity. You could probably get away with a little bit smaller sail but not 2 meters different, I think you will want to use a large sail anyways, everyone wants to go faster.