Volume Advice
Ok, so I actually took the time to look properly through the forum and found this is a pretty popular topic. Anyhows, any advice from someone around my size and weight would still be good. From what I read though it does seem 33litres is at the upper range for me.
While volume is one factor, rocker and foam placement are equally important to paddle power. A flatter rocker will paddle better as will more foam under your body/chest.
Personally didn't like the Sweet Spot, it rode nicely just felt like it pushed water when paddling into a wave. Just couldn't click with it, but a mate has one and loves it so it might be just me.
It's a big tradeoff, long paddles back up the reef in the tropics you want as much paddle power as you can get.....until you stand up.
Thanks for reply. Yep, I hear you, that's exactly my problem... getting something I can paddle more easily but not a boat.
I don’t think you really need to worry too much about long paddles back, you’ll just cruise in the channel, it’s no race.
Not to confuse you more but Have you ever considered something like Gary Mcneill’s ‘Entity’, excellent all rounder, he’s great at hiding a bit of foam and even smaller boards paddle well.
I'm 65kg, about the same height as you and have a 33.5 litre board and find it easy to duckdive. I also have a 31 litre board that is super easy to duck with and a 37 litre board that is a battle to duckdive on. Hope that helps a bit.
Hi leniam, I'm 50 and pretty much the same height and weight as you, only difference is that I surf 3-4 times a week but still just average Joe. I noticed you mentioned a Stuart S-Bolt as an option. I have one in a 5'10" that floats and paddles fine. I'm not really into literage that much, only as a loose guide but I think it comes in at around the 27lts mark.
As an option, have you thought about a Bender mini gun? I'm taking a 5'9" to indo in a few months and while that seems short, there is more volume and paddles like a dream. Also has a flatter entry rocker that helps get into waves a bit earlier with the added benefit of not having to throw around too much length. Very stable too. Anyway, just a thought.
Sounds like I should have more of a look around. I hadn't looked at the mini-gun before but one of them in a 6"1 sounds like it would do the job. I'd at least get to use it more at home, not just on trips.
It also sounds like it's realistic for me to ride something in the 31 to 33 litre range.
Hey Solitude. Where did you get your Gary Mcneill board? Do you speak to him direct and get a custom? Did you have a swallow tail on your entity?
Hi All. Sorry if this topic already has been done to death.
I'm 47, weigh 70kg and am about 168cm (so not huge). I only surf a couple of times a month but do a reasonable amount of other exercise (swimming, riding etc) so I am at least average fitness. Surfing ability is nothing special, no huge lip smacks but I can get by in anything up to about 6ft (depending on the paddle-out). I'm looking for a board for an upcoming Indo trip but one that will also be ok for 3-4ft Gold Coast beach-breaks from time to time. Lately I've been riding a 6ft Weber Sonic (31litres). I've had my eye on something like a DHD sweet-spot 2.0 or a Stuart S-Bolt.
When I use all some of the online volume calculators my recommended volume is anywhere between 28 and 34 litres. I know the 28litres will be hard for my older arms to paddle for very long so I'm thinking around 32 or 33 is more realistic. The Sweet-Spot 6"3, for example, is 33litres.
Has anyone around my size and weight ridden anything similar to a 33 litre Sweet Spot 2.0? If so, how did it go, was the extra paddle-power a bonus or was it too corky, difficult to duck-dive etc?
Any advice would be much appreciated.