Early planing boards

rollerrider · Joined: 17 May 2003 Posts: 100

Anyone who is committed to windsurfing and is sailing in a chronic light wind location should seriously consider a board that will also accept a foil. Forget waisting money on big heavy old school boards.

gregnw44 · Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 783 Location: Seattle, Wa

AG80 · Joined: 04 Mar 2014 Posts: 39

grantmac017 · Joined: 04 Aug 2016 Posts: 946

TheAdmiral · Joined: 27 Dec 2009 Posts: 43

Lots of good info in this post and I thought I might add my opinion. Intermediate sailor, 160 lbs. Live in florida so light wind venue. Bic 293,center board hole closed off,24 lbs, 293 long. Planes early but won't release to higher speed due to it's size without good wind. Starboard F155 which planes early (85 wide 270 long) and requires a lot of fin and shallow venue (weed fin) can be an issue and not the best gyber. Thought an Isonic 145 (88 wide 224 long) is short, needs pleanty of sail and likes to be pumped up on plane. Will be selling this board as it requires a lot of sailor imput and foot control. Have a Fanatic Shark130,great board but a little boring. Recently bought a Rocket wide 128 (carbon) and this board is both early to plane and quite fast, floats over chop. I believe 80 wide (+ or -) works and a lighter board that jumps when you enter the rear strap is important. I have a 115 Rocket that planes ok but both Tabou are kind of fragile. Friends I sail with think At 70 wide is tooo wide so preference is everything. Sailed a Exocet 138 planes early and fast.

gvogelsang · Joined: 09 Nov 1988 Posts: 435

gvogelsang · Joined: 09 Nov 1988 Posts: 435

gregnw44 · Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 783 Location: Seattle, Wa

DanWeiss · Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 2296 Location: Connecticut, USA

[quote="gvogelsangSNIP
Please keep us up to date with your Carbone experiences. My read is that it is a fine all around board - great board to ride until you are on a 120 freeride or smaller.[/quote]

The CarbOne is faster more often than not compared to the Kona One for several reasons.

The K1 uses a Tuttle box which will support a more powerful fin. A racing fin of about 48cm is a decent compromise for a wide range of conditions. A 52cm race fin works well for light wind or heavyweights. The Kona One's standard fin is 46cm but a swept model. It would also tend to flex and twist a lot due to its standard construction so it is a tad thicker for stiffness. That helps it work in light winds as well, but it generates a lot more drag than a pure racing fin.

The CarbOne use a carbon fiber construction, meaning one of the manufacturer's high performance carbon layups. It's layup schedule is unique and not shared with the KonaOne. Therefore, the CarbOne holds its shape better when planing, meaning it flexes longitudinally less than the Kona One, and presents a more consistent angle of attack to the water. The CarbOne should hold its rocker line better over the years.

The CarbOne's centerboard is a huge leap in performance from the Kona One. It's a more accurate foil in the first place, much larger and made of carbon fiber rather than fiberglass.

The CarbOne also employs a pedal operated mast track. The Kona One's is fixed while sailing. The benefit isn't massive but you can eek out more from different sails using the CarbOne's mast track.

Also, like all light versions of existing shapes, the board is easier to control in many ways because it transfers less inertia to the sailor than a heavier board. The CarbOne accelerates and decelerates more quickly. It is easier to turn in most conditions.

Planing on the CarbOne using a cammed racing sail and carbon boom feels similar to sailing any high-performance carbon short board. The thing just sails along, ping-ping-ping, while the Kona One tends to feel noticeably less crisp.

In short, the range of the CarbOne is toward the skilled sailor who wants a very high performance board to sail in fun races. It won't defeat an identically skilled racer using a Raceboard, but will offer an easier approach to that level.