I am a 120kgs fella wanting a board that will get me up on an early plane.I am sick of not planing! I have a fanatic bee 164 litres and it's just not doing it for me.I'm looking at getting a jp xcite ride 158 litre will this do it or does anyone have any suggestions?
Help, I'm open to all ideas.
I'd recommend a board of 85cm width minimum and 130litres plus, most brands have something in that range, proobably go for something with a bit of water line length too, so at least 240cm long. The new JP 154 Lightwind slalom might be just the board?, if ya want something less fragile a Starboard Go?
Hello, GB,
Could you give us some more help by answering these questions, please?
How long have you been windsurfing?
Do you sail in a group or just by yourself?
If you sail by yourself, are there other windsurfers from whom you can ask questions?
How are you measuring the wind strength?
What strength winds are you trying to plane in?
What size sails do you have?
What size fins do you have?
Am sure that with answers to the above, we can offer you some help.
^^^ +1
No insult but I suspect a technique problem, not a gear problem. The Fanatic should get you up and planing in about 12kn quite easily (given an appropriate fin and sail size of course)
sail power is better i have found out.. i would not get a bigger board.. you should be able to plane with a big 115 L wave board in light wind even like say a big rrd freeride board.. big boards with duel foot straps suck big time, you can never really jump proply and they feel soooo bad in chop wide foot straps.. if i were you i would go smaller not bigger, and get a 110 - 115 rrd board with a single foot strap, and use a big 6.6-7.5-8- freeride sail with it.. fins play a really important part too with early planing..
i have a excite 120 litre and i totally hate the board, i have gone down to a 102 now and love it, i will never go back to a board that size.. i can sail my 102 in light wind and i am 90 kilos.. big boards stop you from improving they really do.. there ok for learning on, but then ya best to flog them off.. And i think formular boards should be banned..
Gearbraker,
Sad to say all you need is more wind...or a bigger sail. I'm 100 kgs and know for a fact when I'm planning on my superlight 154 with an 8.5 in about 12-15 my mate is ripping on his freestyle 98 with a 5.8, he's about 65 ringing wet. Unless it's 15-20 knots i don't even bother with my normal kit, 20knots and above I'm on my 95...if there is enough wind you'll plain. If your in the market for a new board because your ready for the next step then get something about 20-30L above your body weight, you will still be able to uphaul if you need to but the board will still be ok in stronger winds. The fin that comes with big boards is big enough...it should be about 50cm for that board(unless the board had a center fin as well), you'll need a smaller one for higher winds. There is a small threshold for us bigger guys to break onto the plain, unless you have good technique that is. You can be slogging about while everyone else around you is ripping, 1 more knot and your off....learn to pump, this can often be the difference for us guys. A 130-140 xcite would be a good board, I love my 120...the superlight requires some technique to ride and would limit you in higher winds, the 130-140 would help you progress and with a smaller fin be ok in higher winds. Keep the fanatic if your still learning and get the JP as your intermediate board, having 2 boards in your quiver will give you the flexibility to move forward and if necessary go back to the bigger board and revisit something in light winds on a floaty board.
Throw a weight jacket of 30-40 kilos on a sailor that can plain on wave gear in 10-15 knots and see how they go, bigger guys just need a little more wind then most but when the winds up the playing field becomes even.
Cheers and good sailing to you. 
But alot of the times, i have seen you leman get on a plane the same time as me, with your 6 m ezzy freeride sail and little 90 litre starboard acid, when i was on my 5.3 and 120 jp excite, with a single foot strap set-up and huge 34 inch fin too.. big wide boards dont help that much, its more the power of the sail..
Hi GB, a mate sent me this article awhile back and found it very interesting...
hope it helps...
www.guycribb.com/userfiles/documents/HavingItLarge.pdf
What they all said , failing that get a super maxi, and a few friends, looks awesome on the tv.
Sorry fellas for not being more specific. I have been sailing for about 10 years but not getting out as much as I would like because of work. Yes I do sail with other people and their suggestion is a wider board and bigger sail. I measure the wind with a wind gauge. The wind I would like to plane in is 10 to 16 knots as this seems the most predominate in my area. My sail sizes are 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, and my fin is 48. I haven't had my 8.5 for long, I've only used it about two times.
A guy i sail with at my local is 120kg+ and has been down the same road as yourself. he bought a longboard for $28. he describes it as the best $28 he's ever spent. he runs it with an 8.5m sail and is now planing all of the time.
if you want to plane in 10-16knots then i see 2 options. formula board with 9.5m+ or longboard with your 8.5m
if i were you i'd go the 2nd hand longboard, not a kona one or one design but a race board with a fast tail. (but that's just me). you could also maybe look at a kona 10'5" if you wanted to spend a few more bucks but not sure how it would cope with an 8.5m sail.
i also am a heavyweight at 100 kilos.
i used to longboard on a lake for about 10+ years @ the chalet b4 starting shortboarding about 4 years ago.
step one = patience
step two = TOW/time on water
step three = re-evaluate equipment
in the last 4 years I purchased my 160 liter board, an 8.5 and a 10-oh
the 10-oh is for winds in the 10 to 15 knot range
it was purchased AFTER getting comfortable with the board and the 8.5
used the 8.5 about 40 % and the 10-oh another 40 % of my outings in 2010
so, use the 8.5 until comfortable
will plane in over 13 knots about - try downwind runs
if you are strong, try pumping
the first time i planed, i just thought i was going fast, butt heard select fin sing and knew i was planing..
i also consider going back to longboard, cuz i just love being on the water, butt will keep the 160 cuz it is great in 15 to 20+ knots !!! after that need a smaller board :-(
donut give up :)
also, i started to lose weight cuz it means the equipment will work better :)
my avatar is me not planing yet - 160 AHD FF with an MS Pursuit 8.5
oh yeah - harness required and footstraps strongly suggested, butt you are talking light winds :-(
Gearbreaker, at 110kgs I went from a longboard that I borrowed to a 165lt JP xcite. Top board & I got my 1st planing experience with it (sadly traded it a couple of days ago, but just too many toys!)
With the board you mentioned, and a 7.5 sail you should get going. If possible try to get to a shop that hires gear, or a demo day...other than that, lessons. The instructor will match you with appropriate gear & that should give you an idea of what you need, also will sharpen up your technique, and a smarter investment than buying gear first.
