Does board weight really matter?

gopher38 · Post by **gopher38** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 1:51 pm

Hello all,

I have a question - perhaps a little stupid, but you never know unless you ask.

Does board weight really matter?

I'm looking into getting a wider board that accepts a bigger sail for light-wind days. I met a guy where I was sailing, and he recommended that I check out the RRD Spitfire. I checked it out at a shop, but it's a bit expensive. Later on the internet, I saw the Mistral Explosion, which had similar dimensions and was a bit cheaper (on promo). I decided to mull it over for a while.

I met the same guy sailing the next weekend, and he said he'd spend the extra for the RRD, because it was quite a bit lighter, and would plane earlier. I 'tend' to believe him, because he's a much better sailor than I, and when I went home and checked on the internet, he was right that the RRD is quite a bit lighter in %, but that means a couple of kilos, which is maybe 5 or 6 pounds max. Knowing that I weight between 170 and 180 (depending on the day), and adding in the weight of the sail, wetsuit, etc., I wouldn't think that a couple of extra pounds in the board matters much. But maybe weight in the board is somehow different from weight on my torso? I wouldn't think so, since they are moving together basically as a unit, but I haven't opened my physics books in 20 years. As I said, a better sailor than I seems to think so (on the other hand, judging by his car, he might just have a looser grip on his money). Opinions?

While I’m at it, does anyone have any experience/opinions on the Mistral Explosion 145? Or RRD Spitfire 151? Or other similar boards?

Thanks.

garrett · Post by **garrett** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 4:06 pm

Hi gopher,

I'm not a sailor, but I got out of jail ... i mean .. college, not too long ago.

I really am skeptical that a slightly lighter board will help you plane faster, you're on the right track with comparing the overall difference in weight (since the board has to lift itself + you + stuff + water).. An extra 5 pounds on top of 170 is only like a 3% difference in weight.

One other thing, I bet the bigger deal for getting a lighter board is the maneuverability. A heavier board will feel harder to move due to the extra torque on your joints. In this sense, a lighter board would probably help you plane earlier (since it's easier to control).

What do the real sailors think?

davec · Post by **davec** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 2:43 am

I think the benifts in earlier plaining would be minimal but the maneuverability and handling of the board would be noticiably better especialy for jumping. In the auto world one of the best ways to improve the handling of your car is to lighten what they call unsprung weight ie. rims, tires, rotors. Just a pound here and there can make drastic differences. Lots of unspung weight saps the energy and kind of bougs down the suspension system, it doesn't react very well. Your legs are like the suspension system the heavier the board the more it will hinder your ability to react. The heavier an object is the more it will oppose a change in motion. The rest of the car is all sprung weight (supported by the suspension system) and it takes much more signifacant weight changes to have noticable effects on performance. Your body is like the rest of the car that is why a 2 lb lighter board makes a big difrence while a 2lb lighter wetsuit would be very minimal. I think a lighter board makes a much better ride in choppy contions, some guys will arque that a heavier board sticks to the water better in those conditons making for a more controlled ride but I'd have to disagree Me and my budy have the same board I think mine has water in it cause its nearly 2 lbs heavier. I rode his the other day and I can honestly tell you it rode much better than mine. I went right home and started working on getting the water out of mine.

Some other things to consider is that the weight claims that the manufactures claim are usually not very accuaret. Lighter boards also usually mean more fragile boards.

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 10:20 pm

There is no doubt that a lighter board will plane out before a heavier board in the same wind with the same rig. It will also require more attention at speed as there is less mass holding it down in the water.
It will also not last as long as it will wear out faster, less weight + less strength= fragile.
If you're racing go light, if you're playing get the explosion, it's still a good performer.
If speeds your friend, you get off by overtaking slogging sailors, money is no object and you can replace boards every one or two years, get the light board.

SteveJ · Post by **SteveJ** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 12:13 am

Not sure where I got this info but I recall from way back that 1 pound of board weight was equal to 5 pounds body weight. If this is at all close to acurate then the 5-6 lb difference in board weight would be fairly noticable. Somone 25 -30 pounds lighter will plane up much sooner if on the same equipment. I always thought it was easier to loose 5-10 lbs. than pay the extra for a board a few lbs less. Getting older now I am not sure that is true anymore. Good luck with any new board. Either one should give you a great time.

gopher38 · Post by **gopher38** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:45 pm

Thanks for the feedback. Good to hear that someone likes the Explosion, cause I'm leaning that way.