VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

Time to start looking for a new board. I have an older 130L slalom board and an older 100l slalom board. Looking to get the one board to "do it all" in windier conditions. Any thoughts or ideas. I will get rid of the 100L board and was looking at the Kombat 95, the all purpose board or so they say. I am beginner/intermediate but want to be able to use the board in to progress in all conditions, beside light wind where the 130L will do. Obviously a new board is a lot of dough so I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions from those that know.

My first suggestion is to keep your eyes peeled for a used board. You'll be glad it's a fraction of the price if you knock the nose off or rip out the fin box on a rock (voice of experience talking). The Gorge gear swaps are the best place for used gear shopping - check out the Windance website.

if you weigh 170 like me 95l is a great size for an all arounder, espec if you got the hang of your 100l slalom board. when i was a beginner i had a 95l bic i sailed the life right out of, i had a 95l fanatic too. If you have a small fin to use too you can extend the wind range down into nuke board territory. I second the suggestion to hit the windance swap in may, its a long way off but the deals can be great. Locally, i think theres a nice JP shape in that size at bosuns, and a couple starboard carves in the classifieds.

I donno about one board to "do it all". However I'm no expert, just a schlub trying to get to the next level.

I'm 202 lb (down 10lbs since Jan 1st ... fuck I'm hungry!). Over the past few years I have replaced all my old giveaway boards and $150 special deal for you's with new equipment. I started with a Carve 121 because most of the sailing I do is at Nitinaht and Squamish and it seems like its almost always 6.0 conditions (except when it isn't). I think the Carve is a great all round freeride board with good speed and a penchant for jibing. It handles chop well, and sails nicely from 5.5 to 7.5 which seems like 90% of the time (probably closer to 95%) I am on a board.

I was in the Gorge a couple of years ago and bought 2001 80L board (Drops Carver) for high wind but I have only ever sailed it at Swell City. I had it out tof the bag a couple of times on 5.0 days at Nitinaht but only for an hour or two.

I came to the conclusion that for Nitinaht and Nimpkish I need something below the Carve 121 for 4.0 to 5.5 conditions when the Carve gets to be too much board but bigger than an 80L board which doesn't have enough flotation for a 202 lb fat man. Therefore I have saved my pennies and ordered a Kombat 95 which I hope will give me lots of thrills on the 6.0 days AND 4.5 days as well. I doubt if it will respond well to a 7.5 though and I had a goodly number of those at Nitinaht last summer.

So when I head for Nitinaht next time (soon I hope) I'll have both the 121 and 95 in tow.

If you ever decide to sell your Carve 121 I'd be interested.....

I would also consider myself as an intermediate who is looking to hit the "next level". With that in mind I bought a Tiga 86 litre bump n jump board. I found myself struggling rather than sailing, so unless it's nukin, I don't even bring it out. I did, however, do some research and decided to buy a Carve 99 as the "one board to do it all". I haven't looked back since. It has a great sail range (4.7-6.5), easy to control, and a great reputation. That said, I have nothing to compare it to size wise, but now I'm sailing!

for a lighter person a 90-99L board with a newer shape can pretty much do it all I've found....except when ya got a lardbutt like me, hence I also use the 105-110. It can carry up to 8m2 and down to 5, even 4.5 depending which is great for all the lake sailing stuff. Ya won't sail at Nitinat with a Tiga 86 much unless you weigh 110.

The Kombat I also have been eyeing. My Naish 94L supercross is my alrounder for the ocean...you will find that those lake boards just don't work well in waves or chop. If you are a Nitinat guy I'd stick with the Carve 90's series, for the ocean I'd do the Kombat, haven't sailed the K but the smaller!!! Carves are awesome. I found if you can't get going on a Carve 99 with a 7 at Nitinat, the Carve 130L version won't help and is a freighter....

I wrote the note earlier about the Carve 121 and the Kombat 95 purchase.

I am wondering if the following scaling is appropriate.

Lets assume that a 115 L board is a good "all round" size for an intermediate sailor for Nitinaht type conditions for larger sail sizes (5.5 --> 7.5 say). Since a L is 2.2 lb then the flotation scaling for lighter sailors should roughly follow the table below.

It seems to me that advice on board size from sailors should be scaled using the table below because of this.

-Wt----------Vol
-lb------------L
200---------115
195---------113
190---------110
185---------108
180---------106
175---------104
170---------101
165----------99
160----------97
155----------95
150----------92

So a good all round board for me is probably something in the 111 - 121 range whereas for my buddy George, who weighs 170, a board in the 99 to 105 is more like it.

mb (aka Homer)

aaah, a bit simplistic....and don't forget gear weighs something too apart from that the type of rails, location of volume and width, length of board all play into it. Also, a good sailor can get a board planing with fewer L and keep it there. Then throw fins into it and strap positions, the list goes on. For example at the lake during happy hour I might just change the fin from a mega pointer to a B&J and outhaul the sail a tad and everything's cool. 121 really sounds huge to me and I'm at 215 lbs, might as well go formula.

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I will look for a 95L board. It seems like it will be the best choice if I can only afford one board, and I will still have an older 130L if the wind is not to strong. I believe anything smaller then a 95L would not get used enough because of conditions and my skill level but the 95 has enough volume I could progress comfortably and still hopefully get to Columbia soon on a non-nukin day. My non-children days may be over sooner then I think so I have to get something soon as I know I will not be able to "justify" more windsurf gear when this time comes. Thanks again.

KUS wrote:aaah, a bit simplistic....and don't forget gear weighs something too apart from that the type of rails, location of volume and width, length of board all play into it. Also, a good sailor can get a board planing with fewer L and keep it there. Then throw fins into it and strap positions, the list goes on. For example at the lake during happy hour I might just change the fin from a mega pointer to a B&J and outhaul the sail a tad and everything's cool. 121 really sounds huge to me and I'm at 215 lbs, might as well go formula.

No doubt about the simplistic part. It was the weight/volume scaling that I was thinking about. I know there are many facets to board choice rather than just volume. About the 121 vs Formula comment. The Carve 121 is a "Freeride" board and the Formula is a race board, isn't that right? I would have thought that the Carve is more versatile. Thanks for the feedback though.

yeah, true enough, they're the same to me...once a freighter, who cares if it's a supertanker..... Carve 90's are versatile, wish I had a 99.

I currently have an ancient Screamer and was contemplating a new board. For a 170 lb person, which size Carve would be appropriate for Nitinat? I also have a smaller wave board for the occaisional very windy day.

Budge

well theres no c99 so its gotta be the C101. MBs chart is bang on, and thats final! screamers rule though.

FYI... there is the Carve 94 to consider as well.