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KINETIC 8-3 Wave
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8-3 WAVE
Length: 251 cm Width: 52.5 cm
Volume: 70 ltrs Weight: 14.5/6.6kg
Upwind: 3.36 Planing: 3.50
Speed: 4.00 Handling: 4.08
Jibe: 4.00 Overall: 3.75
Price: $1,336 Includes: Straps, Pads, Fin
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SCORE: (12 ratings)
Upwind 3.36 Planing 3.5 Speed 4.0
Handling 4.08 Jibe 4.0 Overall 3.75
COMMENTS:
“With my 190 pounds and variable conditions, the Starboard Wave 72 worked better for me today.”
Said a highly technical, 150-pound sailor, “A very nice board. Does everything extremely well in 4.2-4.7 conditions.” Does everything extremely well? A comment that matches the hype!
“Well-balanced and quick. I really had fun jumping, jibing off waves, and front-side riding.” And this was with the soft JP fin. From one of our women, “Easy to sail in every way. It arcs easy wide turns in the strongest gusts and comes out planing. It’s fast and lifts off any excuse of a ramp with ease and control. I was never uncomfortable even though sailing totally overpowered.”
One sailor said it felt heavy, although at 14.5 pounds it’s really not. “A little sluggish upwind. A good board for an advanced wave sailor in windy and wavy conditions,” he said. On the same day, this sailor pronounced the same-sized RRD 250 the best board he had tried so far.
One highly experienced sailor, an instructor, said, “Maneuverable in the surf. Great little chop hopper.” But the very next day, he only gave it a 3 for its performance in chop. He gave a lowly 1 in Upwind, and said, “Overall good but not great handling. Fin was really funky. Spins out easy.” Of course, he also thought the board was a Bic. Maybe his confusion was a result of the sun frying his brain under his shaved head.
STAFF: Overall Rating: 3.20
“Non-skid good, pads good, straps poor.”
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