Hey Hugh,
I replied offline first, but see that you posted same so I gave it a bit
more thought:
Yes, I jump the MADD 165 with a 7.4 or 6.8 and it works really well in
lighter air (in-board foot-strap position is key here). I need the extra
board size in order to "pump the board" either onto a plane or onto a wave -
so you need even a bit more volume than necessary as you're driving the
board along (and into) the water when board-pumping.... The MADD's will
also handle a good amount of wind in the sail too - the extra size actually
seems to help it balance out overpowered sailing...at least that was my
impressions while on the 6.8 on a 5.8 day this week. You are pretty tall so
you have a larger than avg. "lever-arm" - and thus I would think you could
take advantage of getting farther-away from the rig (boom higher, longer
lines) and squeezing out everything you can from the 7.X size sail.
Also, even at a slow-plane, the board will go upwind nicely...tons of nose
flip so you don't have to worry about pearling it either....
The CROSS 117 is an awesome board as well - but I don't think it's as good
of a choice with a 7.4 on it....maybe if you were going with 6.8 or 7.0 -
but 7.4 just seems out of it's comfort range - especially slogging... the
extra volume of the MADD 135 will balance out better, IMO. Just seems like
the words "most comfortable" come to mind when I'm sailing the 7.4 and the
MADD 165... Now, in flat-water I will run the footstraps outboard on the
CROSS and the 7.4 Phantom and probably be just fine...remember, the CROSS
does jibe sweeter so if I can be on the CROSS, I will do that.... it's just
that in open-ocean conditions, I like bobbing on the MADD/7.4 combo more
than the CROSS/7.4 combo... now, if there are REAL waves with power and I
can go DTL, then I'd probably go for the CROSS/7.4 and deal with the
unbalanced feeling and thus, slower overall reaching speed in exchange for
going DTL with a single, rear-strap board (CROSS).
That's about it I suppose.... good luck bro and feel free to email me
offline again...
-WillV-
Quote:
> Thanks Will, I'll have a look. Gurlie is looking for a board in that range
> anyhow so maybe
> we can
> kill 2 boats with one stone. I'm 6'3" and 180 wet btw.
> Have you jumped this board? Rumor has it you are throwing it down pretty
> *** its bigger
> brother,
> the 165, so I'm assuming this board can standup to my abuse.
> Hugh
>> Hugh,
>> You really out to consider the MADD 135 - talk to Wardog about this - but
>> I'm pretty sure you can get a lot more low-end out of the 135 and a 7.5M
>> sail than the CROSS 117 with a 7.5.... Easier to pump and handles more
>> "grunt-power" especially if you "bag-out" the sail.....plus you can "get
>> away from the sail" (outboard) I think, better on the MADD - run your
>> booms
>> a bit higher to get more leverage and earlier planing.... I find this to
>> be
>> the case with my MADD 165 and 7.4 Phantom recently...but I think I'm
>> heavier
>> than you at 250lbs...
>> Just my $0.02
>> -WillV-
>> -WillV-
>> > In the effort to mitigate adrenal faculty atrophy during this
>> > confounded
>> > spring, I've
>> > decided to lower my planning threshold from 15 to 12. To this end I'm
>> > shopping for a new
>> > stick and motor. I'm thinking I can clear the bar with something in
>> > the115-118 liters +
>> > 7-7.5 m range.
>> > First of all, is this realistic? We're talking planning in 12 and
>> > feeling
>> > juiced in those
>> > gusts to 16?!?
>> > The board needs to be 1. jumpable, 2. surfable, and 3. fast. I'm
>> > hearing
>> > good things about
>> > the Exocet Cross 117 so thinking this might fit the bill. Also am
>> > considering the HiFly Madd
>> > 115. Any other candidates?
>> > The sails main criteria is ballz-on low-end juice. Crisper is better.
>> > And
>> > for hang time,
>> > cams are a HUGE plus. Not really concerned about cut as foot drag
>> > prolly
>> > won't be a problem
>> > in our mushy waves. The caveat: boom needs to be <210.
>> > So wondering, what has more juice out of the following:
>> > 7.0 Sailworks Retro (7 battens, 208 boom)
>> > http://SportToday.org/
>> > 7.4 NP Excess (5 battens, 208 boom)
>> > http://SportToday.org/
>> > 7.0 Aerotech Air (5 battens, 206 boom)
>> > http://SportToday.org/
>> > Would appreciate any feedback.
>> > Thanks in advance.
>> > Hugh
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