Due to shoulder problems I’ve started thinking about getting a board that floats my 155 lbs (+5 mm suit) well enough so I don’t need to drag my feet in the water anymore. A one that really glides when paddling. Because of extensive travelling I’d prefer a ninefooter, won’t go over 9’2.
I’ve tried a Tak DT-3 and it was nice, not too floaty, but because of flatter rocker (?) paddled better than my beloved Hobie PSD 9’0. It was less agile though.
Out of modern style Surftechs the VELZY 9’0 pintail seems to have a lot of volume. JACOBS 9’0" PRO PERFORMANCE too? Others?
Is it a always a serious compromise in turning and handling steeper/juicier waves if you go up in volume enough to have the deck “floating dry” when paddling? At least in my experience it seems to make an enormous difference in paddling efficiency. Thanks.
You can greatly increase paddling efficiency by shaping a light concave down the middle of the board, morphing into a double concave or “V” at the tail. By doing that, you effectively reduce the rocker in the center of the board while the rails stay more rockered for turning. Also, concaves make the board plane on top of the water more. Any shape that has belly in the middle will tend to slow you down, even with increased thickness.
There are several ways to look at “paddling well.” Clearly a longer board with more volume may be better at long distance paddling back to the lineup with a well defined channel or a point break.
But I find that my more “performance” oriented, narrow nosed 9’0"s are of course much quicker up to speed so can catch waves with fewer or lighter strokes, take less time to spin around, the lightness makes them less a chore to hang on to, the shape and lesser volume is easier to punch through waves when paddling out at beach breaks, the narrower fronts allow me to get my arms deeper in and get more out of each stroke and overall I’m less tired after a session on that kind of board than a long, thick, wide board (unless i’m at a point break where paddling back out is smooth).
There are several ways to look at “paddling well.” Clearly a longer board with more volume may be better at long distance paddling back to the lineup with a well defined channel or a point break.
But I find that my more “performance” oriented, narrow nosed 9’0"s are of course much quicker up to speed so can catch waves with fewer or lighter strokes, take less time to spin around, the lightness makes them less a chore to hang on to, the shape and lesser volume is easier to punch through waves when paddling out at beach breaks, the narrower fronts allow me to get my arms deeper in and get more out of each stroke and overall I’m less tired after a session on that kind of board than a long, thick, wide board (unless i’m at a point break where paddling back out is smooth).
Good point MaraboutSlim. It all depends of the spot&swell. IMHO pushups are easier on a floaty board, whereas turning turtle with a slim one (I’ve even properly duckdived my ninefooter a every now and then). When there’s decent intervals between the sets or when the whitewater is just too much to manage with any longboard, the sheer paddlespeed comes useful paddling back. At some reefs getting caught inside has been the end of session anyhow…
How is it with the Walden Magics, they claim 69 litres volume for the ninefooter and 76 litres for the 9’2", which sounds like a lot (my Hobie PSD 9’0 is claimed at 60 litres). If the figures are correct, the Waldens should float me allright. But if I weigh 72kg/160lbs and choose a 9’2 with 76 litres of volume, will I be able to bury the rail enough to enjoy modern style longboarding turns and hold my line in juicy waves?