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STARBOARD CARVE 140
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CARVE 140
Length: 273 cm Width: 68 cm
Volume: 140 ltrs Weight: 17.5/8.0kg
Upwind: 4.00 Planing: 4.44
Speed: 4.22 Handling: 4.22
Jibe: 4.11 Overall: 4.20
Price: $1,281
Includes: Straps, Pads, Fin
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Like the Carve 99, the Carve 140 is named for its volume rather than its length, because it was designed as a short 140-liter board, not a high-volume 9-0 (276 cm). A bulk of volume ahead of the mast track is provided for tacking and uphauling. Unlike the Carve 99, the vee is consistent, and shallower. The footstrap positions are inward, for the beginner/intermediate. Starboard calls it a good “first-time shortboard,” but, since meanings aren’t what they used to be in board measurement, we wonder if “shortboard” might not need to be redefined—or if a definition simply doesn’t apply in some cases. Like this one.
Of course, it’s certainly not a longboard. These new high- volume boards are making longboards extinct as they make the word “shortboard” meaningless. Maybe that’s why Starboard calls it a 140.
SCORES: (9 ratings)
Upwind 4.0 Planing 4.44 Speed 4.22
Handling 4.22 Jibe 4.11 Overall 4.20
COMMENTS:
“Quick to plane, especially with a Sailworks 6.0 Retro. The Bic Techno 283 was sluggish in comparison.” This sailor readily admitted he was still groping for comfort, and sailed the two boards with three Sailworks sails, 7.0 and 6.0 Retros and then plunging to a 4.0 Revo. [Young]
“Needs a lot of commitment when turning and jibing,” said a more accomplished sailor who used a cambered 7.5 Windwing Synthesis. “Took me a few times to start getting comfortable, whereas the HiFly 282 and Techno 283 were easy from the get-go.” [R Johnson]
“Fun, stable, responsive. Fast to plane, glided through the holes. Jumped and surfed small waves with ease.” [Burnight]
STAFF
Upwind 3.33, Planing 4.33, Speed 3.0,
Handling 4.33, Jibe 4.33, Overall 3.87
COMMENTS:
“Slow, but what a great flyer, a great jumping board,” said John Chao. He noted that he was underpowered, so the 2 he gave it in Speed might not have been fair.
“An excellent blend of speed, acceleration and comfort in both tacking and jibing, which make this an ideal transitional board,” said Mark Archer.
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