If smaller is better why do I have so much fun on a WindSUP?

brynkaufman2 · Joined: 10 Sep 2002 Posts: 383 Location: Kailua Oahu

John, I know you have sailed both the 10' and the 11'8". Is there a huge difference in planing in light winds between the two?

I was going for the 10' because of my light weight at 155lbs, and because it is close in size to the BIC, which I have a lot of fun on, but I hope I am not buying something too small which won't glide easily onto a plane vs. the 11'8"?

I was kind of disappointed/surprised yesterday when I tried my 7.5 sail in 13mph to 15mph that I was not planing all the time. I kept slowing down. Not sure if 10' will help with that issue or if it is better to get the 11'8" for a more guaranteed planing feeling without the slow downs.

I am also thinking I could rig my sail better, so I am hoping that had something to do with it. The water is very choppy here, so keep in mind it is harder to get planing than on flat water.

Rob, those Curve replacement models seem small to me, and I agree all the raving reviews are about the WindSUP 11'8" and some about the 10'. I don't see reviews of the 9'2" and 10'2".

isobars, I agree, the advice I received stopped me from buying the wrong board.

beaglebuddy, I sail in Kailua Bay, but on the far end at Castle Point. All the SUP surfers and most of the prone surfers stay down at this end because of the waves. I catch them much further out because of the large board and sail, so I am able to stay out of the lineup and away from the shore break.

beaglebuddy · Joined: 10 Feb 2012 Posts: 1120

You are pretty light, the 11'8" is 220L, it's a huge board. Not sure how many liters your Bic is. The 10'2" is only 150L and no daggerboard, three fins, foot straps, this could be a better fit for you.

brynkaufman2 · Joined: 10 Sep 2002 Posts: 383 Location: Kailua Oahu

beaglebuddy, I agree, the 11'8" is huge and I am light so I am leaning towards the 10'.

My BIC is 185l, 80 cm wide, 320 cm long, so the 10' foot is about 6 inches shorter and the width is pretty much the same, the difference being only 1.2 cm.

While I like the no dagger board and the 3 fins seems to work well on the waves, I would rather err on the side of the 10' because I know it glides. I read the review by antonputman on his WindSUP 10' and I really like what he said:

" I noticed the WindSUP goes very gradually between gliding/sub-planing and planing. So not the on/off feeling you get on most short boards."

This is exactly why I want a WindSUP. The gliding/planing allows for maximum fun on waves. I don't want the on/off feeling he talks about, I know it very well from my 130l in light winds. It is either off and not fun, or on and fun.

So my concern with the 150l board is I would be back to that on/off feeling. I am sure when it is on that board is a blast, but it might not be so fun if it does not glide when not planing.

Gliding is fun too, especially gliding onto a wave.

jingebritsen · Joined: 21 Aug 2002 Posts: 3371

the 10'2" has a wide middle, drawn in tail, and lots of rocker. it lumbers onto a plane and hates being driven off the fin. the tri fins make it worse. one has to sail it like a surf board that it is. very front foot oriented.

the 11'5" and wind SUP's 10'0" and 11'8" have parallel rails and a more planing oriented feel. despite that the rocker on the 10'2" is similar to the windSUP 10'0," the 10'2" wind SUP does not upwind as well as its predecessors. not many reviews because it is another specialist board. works best in side off, stinks at side on by compare.

like many board choices today, liters be damned. i've ridden 115 liter boards that plane earlier than 220 liter ones.

jingebritsen · Joined: 21 Aug 2002 Posts: 3371

a friend of mine thought the 10'5" kona/curve would suit his height and weight better than the 11'5". he struggled with the smaller for over a year. he now owns the larger. 145lbs, 5'10" tall. he loves the 11'5" was caught up in the beach/car convenience of the smaller board.

to some degree, some of what we do best on comes from within. and sometimes it's what we are on. the 10'5" kona/curve was very technical to use compared to the 11'5". the 10'0" windSUP falls a little bit closer to the 11'5" than the 10'5". the 11'8" windSUP is by far the easiest to sail, and most powerful of the lot to grab and enjoy waves in the least amount of wind from worst wind angles to the best. price to pay for everything: on the water or beach....

brynkaufman2 · Joined: 10 Sep 2002 Posts: 383 Location: Kailua Oahu

Thanks John, I looked up the specs on the curve 10'5' and 11'5" and agree the WindSUP 10' is closer to the Kona 11'5".

Being your friend, who is the same size as me, loved the 11'5" Kona Curve gives me some comfort that I will love the 10'. Also, the width is basically the same as my BIC, the length just 6 inches shorter, and I really like the BIC, so that gives me some more comfort I will enjoy the 10'.

I realize I might be giving up catching some waves on those days with very little wind, but thankfully those days are not very frequent.

bmoore98 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 76

Bryn, I have a WindSUP 10' bamboo. I also have a Curve 10' 5". I have worn out two Kona One's and now have a Kona Carb One. One of the first things you mentioned in your original post is that you desired more performance than you were getting from your Bic. My feeling is that the WindSUP 10' will perform pretty close to the Bic in the waves. I love mine and it does plane early but it tops out quickly and feels like it has a governor on it.

The curve 11'5" is what you described in your original post. 170 liters, no daggerboard. It's a great shape that works we'll in waves or flat water. If you want more performance get the curve.

You will need to upgrade your fin on either of these boards. They are both fun with a powered up 7.5 on flat water. (The 11'5" will be faster and livelier) I believe you will enjoy the 11'5" Curve more in the waves as well.

Either way you can't go wrong. Enjoy!

jingebritsen · Joined: 21 Aug 2002 Posts: 3371

i keep hounding patrice and steve g. to remake the 11'5" carbon. it is the best i have ever ridden for long board waves. carbone is astounding as an all around, but very spendy.

my thoughts on improving the carbon 11'5" is wider by 3cm. shorter by 3-7" same rocker, same parallel rails, same fin. no thrusters. steve g. says thinner profile yet, i am on the fence about that. rails provide lift.

i even offered to buy the minimum order of 15 pcs at usa wholesale. i am furious at cobra for bullocksing their op's. they have become utterly dysfunctional.

brynkaufman2 · Joined: 10 Sep 2002 Posts: 383 Location: Kailua Oahu

bmoore, if the WindSUP 10' performs as good as the BIC in the waves I am happy, I have no complaints on the BIC in the waves. Even catching waves is very easy on the BIC.

My performance issue with the BIC is no foot strap options for blasting over choppy water. Just having the straps will probably help me stay on a plane longer as I will feel I can push it a little bit more. The straps will also allow me to go out past the break faster, as a few times the board did go airborne and my feet went off the board, so some small jumping on the way out could be done with the straps.

If I can get on a plane even easier than the BIC that would be great too, and I am hoping the step tail helps with that.

I am not concerned to much with top speed, if I am at least planing and not slowing I am happy at that speed.

I think the curve is no longer available, at least I don't see it listed on their website, so I was not considering it just because I would not even know where to get it.

Just curious why the Kona Carb One and the Exocet 10'? I thought they would be some what similar.

When you say upgrade the fin what fin would you recommend, keeping in mind my goal is early planing vs. top end speed?