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CrabStick wrote: Hi and welcome to the forum! You didn't mention if you are keen to get some regular downwind action or continue with general ocean and harbour paddling.
If downwind I'd recommend 1 or 2 seasons in a beginner boat with BlueFin and V8 the usual suspects. If you're in no rush for that, it sounds like you are ready for a transition or intermediate boat. Whatever you do, try before you buy and that means in the ocean for at least 45min or so.
Lucky that you're in a SLSC and may have access to a few boats there. Fenn XT(S), Epic V8pro or V9(downwind), Stellar SR, Carbonology Boost, Think Zen /Six. Basically anything designed for the ocean and 48-50cm wide.
The more stable it is, the more conditions you will be able to get out in and enjoy remembering Winter is almost here. Rougher water and more consequences when take unintended swim!
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mickeyA wrote: Fenn XT gets my vote. If you were only riding swells or waves near the beach (shore break can become risky), a spec ski is best. Fenn Tarpon S deep seat, which is more stable that Fenn LS, works great. If you were only doing flat water, Swordfish (or “S” version) is good. I do not think you will like spec ski on flat water over distance, and I do not think you will like SF in the rough ocean (unless just directly downwind). The XT can do both (and downwind), plenty fast on flat. I have all 3. I would skip the beginner version (bluefin in the Fenn lineup). I also have V10Sport, which I use for flat/chop long river/bay races, but occasionally use my very old XT and do not notice much of a drop off vs my competition. Epic v10Sport or V8Pro would be equivalent, stellar SR, etc. XT is a fantastic all around ski, has withstood the test of time. With new “S” model out, the old ones could come cheap used. Good luck.
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MCImes wrote: I'm a bit torn on this one. I went from a Stellar SR on flat water (inland lakes) to SR on the ocean, then a Fenn XT on the ocean, then a Swordfish S on the ocean.
As others asked, what's your goal? Are you happy on flatter water or do you aspire to downwind and paddle rough ocean in the semi near future?
I could handle anything small water could throw at me in the SR (any boat wake, river rapids, sea wall, etc). Coming to the ocean in the same boat humbled me greatly. Even medium size days sent me swimming somewhat regularly. I traded the SR for a XT. After paddling 2-3x a week for a year I mastered the ocean in rough conditions in the XT. Then I moved to the SF-S (at this point I was 3 years into paddling ski and 8 years into paddling tippy boats). THe SF-S is a very stable advanced boat, but its exactly that - an advanced boat.
If you aspire to downwind or paddle rough ocean sooner rather than later, the advice to get a wider boat is wise. Best to start in something 48-53cm until you master the roughest 80% of conditions you intend to paddle in somewhat regularly. Struggling with stability in waves just means your form sucks, you arent focused on reading waves and linking runs, you probably arent having fun, and you're definitely not going fast. a 'slow' boat becomes the 'fun' boat the larges the waves build.
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Dicko wrote:
Just remember "lots of Numbers" that a lot of the replies you get on this forum are from guys who live in the USA. In winter, falling out of your boat is cold and dangerous. You're in a SLC so I assume you can swim. The waters warm, even in winter. You can pick the days you go out to sea. Go the Swordie. In 3 months you will want to sell the beginners boat. When I started, I bought an XT because it was the beginner boat. I owned it a month before I bought a red7. Sometimes you just have to challenge yourself. The Swordfish is the stable boat that all my mates use in any conditions. In 3 months it will be the same for you. So buy a Swordie, pick the days you go out to sea. I still don't see why everyone buys a ski for the 10% of paddles when stability is challenged and ignore the 90% when a faster boat is so much more fun.
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If you are relying on a big rudder for stability purposes, then maybe you are on a too tippy ski, as a big rudder also brings with it extra drag. This may be ok when you are transitioning, but as a regular ongoing use in regular conditions then its more a sign of the wrong boat.
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