Another Beginner Board Question!! Fanatic Viper vs. Funster

andreafuentes99 · Joined: 12 Jan 2016 Posts: 27

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Debating between a Fanatic Viper 80 or 85 and a JP Funster 180 to get my first board to learn and progress on.

Had a couple lessons, been sailing sporadically borrowed boyfriend's boards with various rigs etc. I have pretty good balance and can uphaul etc no problem, not so great on tacking and gybing (more lessons planned once I get my own board!!)

Live in Miami FL with light wind conditions most of the time. Not sailing in big waves just want to have fun and eventually get planing/harness/etc.

Really liked my BF Formula 100 board because it's so stable, but getting advice that Formula or race boards not the best to learn, sloggy in low winds. Rented a Funster 180 and liked it OK, but didn't love it. It was pretty beat up and I couldn't get the dagger board to go down. Sailed the big planks and also a JP Xcite 135? that I got stuck and couldn't get back upwind on.

The Fanatic seems great to progress on but not sure if a shorter board would be more maneuverable? Unfortunately I haven't been able to rent or borrow a Fanatic. So, Fanatic Viper or JP Funster???? Thanks again Exclamation

gvogelsang · Joined: 09 Nov 1988 Posts: 435

Whichever one you can get cheaper?

The Funster is wider, and will give some of the stability that you experienced on your BF's Formula board.

The Viper, being longer, will glide better in non-planing conditions.

You may outgrow either.

Another idea would be to pick up a used early Starboard Formula board, like the one that I have, which is 270 cm long, and 85 cm wide. Being longer than a modern Formula board, it is much easier to tack. It would probably plane earlier than either the Viper or Funster, if that is something that is important to you. That is a thought, but the dagger board in either of the Viper or Funster will be helpful in being able to cruise around upwind and downwind in non-planing conditions.

When you get the hang of being able to go upwind, you will probably want to try the JP XCite Ride again, or something like that. I know of a few lady windsurfers around here that use that board as their main board.

andreafuentes99 · Joined: 12 Jan 2016 Posts: 27

Appreciate your thoughts! I forgot to put that I'm somewhat athletic but not young, 5'8" about 150+ lbs so I think any of the boards discussed would be OK as far as weight,

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

i like gvogelsang's suggestion ...

it is NOT necessarily a Formula, but rather what I call a FreeFormula
the most user friendly , but not always easy to find is BIC Techno Formula
http://joewindsurfer.blogspot.ca/2012/07/bic-techno-formula.html

older ones had trimm fins (not around any more) and later tuttle or DT/deep tuttle
i put a smaller fin and smaller sail on and people of your weight were GOING on their first outing

another board in the same class is the JP SLW
newer and more expensive, but they do come up used ...
http://joewindsurfer.blogspot.ca/2014/09/jp-super-lightwind-slw.html

am sure your BF will have some good suggestions as well Smile

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

The big downside for a beginner starting on a formula board is that the footstraps are all wrong for someone learning. However, as a wide stable platform using a small sail and fin, it would work to develop the very basics in non-planing mode. Not having a daggerboard makes things a bit tougher staying upwind, but with the ample width, it's not too tippy. Quickly though, once you start thinking about planing, you would soon need a more practical board where getting into the footstraps is relatively easy.

In addition to the Fanatic and JP boards, you might want to look into the Starboard Rios.

gvogelsang · Joined: 09 Nov 1988 Posts: 435

Arrgh · Joined: 05 May 1998 Posts: 864 Location: Rio

As to the question: Viper or Funster? Realistically, you will be spending a lot of time off the plane; the longer Viper will be faster, especially upwind. Either board will plane up in a good puff but the Viper will make the transition more smoothly. I would go with the 75 or 80. Also, JP makes a virtual knockoff, the Explorer.
http://jp-australia.com/2015/products/boards/

Brian.bigfella@gmail.com · Joined: 11 Jun 2012 Posts: 127

Check out the big Starboard Atom IQ with a dagger or center fin. It won't outgrow it nearly as fast. You may even consider a Fanatic Gecko or JP Magic Ride in their heavy duty construction. They don't have daggers but they do have beginner footstrap inserts.

wynsurfer · Joined: 24 Aug 2007 Posts: 940

Have you considered a longboard? I've been windsurfing 30+ years and still use one quite often on the east coast where we have a hundred + days of sailable winds of 5-15. Longboards are so much more enjoyable to sail when the wind drops below 10 mph, which is 90% of the time where I live on the east coast.

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

i was "afraid" to suggest a longboard
although it is my MOST USED board
almost impossible to buy new and difficult to find used
on the other hand others in FL are using Exocet WindSUPS and X-longboards
from what i have read here

also, someone used to a wide Formula may prefer width

tough call