Need comments Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9"

Need comments Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9"

Post by Fran?ois Gaude » Sun, 10 Aug 1997 04:00:00


I want to buy a Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9".
Any good or bad comments about those boards ?

Also any suggestions about fins for those boards (prefer True Ames) ?

Sailing profile: -sailing since 1983
                 -190 lbs      
                 -mostly bump and jump condition (lakes), at best                         lake
Champlain NY, up to 4' to 8' waves
                 -sail quiver 3.5  3.9  4.4  5.1  6.2

 
 
 

Need comments Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9"

Post by <bbense+rec.windsurf.. » Mon, 11 Aug 1997 04:00:00

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Quote:
>I want to buy a Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9".
>Any good or bad comments about those boards ?

- - I don't know of anybody that owns an 8'9" and complains about it.
They are one of the most popular boards for SF bay sailing. I've only
seen the 8'3" used by lightweights, the 8'6" is pretty popular among
the hard core types.

Quote:

>Also any suggestions about fins for those boards (prefer True Ames) ?

- - You'll want one relatively big pointer fin ( 33cm-35cm ) and an
10" or 11" b&j fin. (At least, I use 6 different fins on my board).
You can change the feel of the 8'9" alot by moving the straps and
changing fins. Some people swear by this year's True Ames convert.

Quote:

>Sailing profile: -sailing since 1983
>             -190 lbs

- - You won't sail the 8'3" much at 190lbs. It will be a total sinker for you.

Quote:
>             -mostly bump and jump condition (lakes), at best                         lake
>Champlain NY, up to 4' to 8' waves
>             -sail quiver 3.5  3.9  4.4  5.1  6.2

- - The Seatrend 8'9" will handle all these sails quite well. I like mine best
when it's 4.5 conditions. For me(#175) it has just enough volume so I can
get out to the wind and still have fun while I'm out there.  Rumor has it that
the design is changing for next year, not IMHO for the better. It will have
less nose scoop and be narrower. These changes will make the board much more
of a "slalom" board and less fun in the chop. Oh well, I don't plan on replacing
my 8'9" anytime soon....


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Need comments Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9"

Post by Jeffrey Feeha » Tue, 12 Aug 1997 04:00:00

Quote:

> I want to buy a Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9".
> Any good or bad comments about those boards ?

> Also any suggestions about fins for those boards (prefer True Ames) ?

> Sailing profile: -sailing since 1983
>                  -190 lbs
>                  -mostly bump and jump condition (lakes), at best                         lake
> Champlain NY, up to 4' to 8' waves
>                  -sail quiver 3.5  3.9  4.4  5.1  6.2

I have owned a Seatrend 8'9" for the last two seasons. i weigh
~165 lbs and use it mostly for bump/jump conditions, usually with
a 5.9 m^2.  for me, the board sails a bit "bigger" than i expected.
in rough water, with a 5.2m^2, i is a bit chattery through the jibes.
i use wave fins in the 8 to 9 inch range. i also have a 13.25 true
ames teardrop which i bought to see if the board could handle a
6.5m^2 slalom sail. i tried it once but the wind was a little light
and i don't know if it will work.  does anybody else have experience
with this?

i don't want to give the impression that i don't like the board,
it works quite well with the 5.9, and i'm sure it would work well
with a 6.2m^2 single cam convertible-type sail. in such winds, it is a
very comfortable board to sail.

the rails on the 8'9" are pretty thick towards the rear, and it
seems to have quite a bit of volume. for someone heavier than i am it
might work great in higher winds. but i prefer to use my clam sandwich
8'4" when it is windy enough for my 5.2.

jeff feehan

 
 
 

Need comments Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9"

Post by Michael T. Wazensk » Tue, 12 Aug 1997 04:00:00

Fran?ois,

I've owned a Seatrend 8'9" for about 1.5 years now and love it.
At 175 LBS, the board is a perfect blend of wave and slalom for me.  I
take it in the surf in under 25 MPH winds and have no fears of
sticking the nose or charging back up a wave.  In flat water, the
board is fast and fun.  Either way, the board planes way early and
carves jibes with ease.

There are some drawbacks to the 8'9".  One is the construction.
While I feel structurally the board is solid, it dings easily and I have
spun a footstrap screw.  The second is that the board does not have the
best range.  I use the board from 6.2 to 5.2 and find that the board
gets too bouncy below 5.0 (I need to try a smaller fin though).  

The footstrap screws require a lot of torque to keep the straps from
spinning.  Moving the straps around for different conditions is
cumbersome.  I keep the front straps in the middle and adjust only the
back straps for wave conditions.

The setups I've had the most success with are as follows:

Light winds (12-18 MPH): 6.2 Three cam sail with a 12.5 Rainbow swept
pointer.  Cranks to windward and does well against racing folk.

Medium winds (15-20 MPH): 5.7 single/double sail with a 10.5" True Ames
wave fin.  I use this setup the most in the waves.

Higher winds (18-23 MPH): 5.2 single/double sail with the same wave fin.
Can get bouncy in waves.

Mike

Quote:

> I want to buy a Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9".
> Any good or bad comments about those boards ?

> Also any suggestions about fins for those boards (prefer True Ames) ?

> Sailing profile: -sailing since 1983
>                  -190 lbs
>                  -mostly bump and jump condition (lakes), at best                         lake
> Champlain NY, up to 4' to 8' waves
>                  -sail quiver 3.5  3.9  4.4  5.1  6.2

 
 
 

Need comments Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9"

Post by Fran?ois Gaude » Wed, 13 Aug 1997 04:00:00

Quote:
> - - You won't sail the 8'3" much at 190lbs. It will be a total sinker for you.

Thank you for your advices, I really appreciate.

I know it will be a sinker it will replace a Bic Saxo 253 (75 lts) witch
was perfect for 4.4 m2 and smaller (when I'm in 4.4 you'r probably in
3.9 or smaller considering our weight difference).

Seatrend also confirm me yesterday about new design for next year.

 
 
 

Need comments Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9"

Post by xt.. » Wed, 13 Aug 1997 04:00:00

Quote:

> I want to buy a Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9".
> Any good or bad comments about those boards ?

> Also any suggestions about fins for those boards (prefer True Ames) ?

> Sailing profile: -sailing since 1983
>                  -190 lbs
>                  -mostly bump and jump condition (lakes), at best lake
> Champlain NY, up to 4' to 8' waves
>                  -sail quiver 3.5  3.9  4.4  5.1  6.2

I tried both those boards in Maui and loved them both. I think they're
good bump & jump/onshore wave boards. They're fast, light, and slashy;
very fun rides.

Tae

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Need comments Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9"

Post by Jerr » Thu, 14 Aug 1997 04:00:00

Quote:

>I want to buy a Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9".
>Any good or bad comments about those boards ?

I own both. I weigh 140 and use the 8-9 with 6.0 to 4.6 sails. When it
gets solid 4.6 or better, I switch to the 8-3. I was having trouble
with the 8-3 spinning out in 3.5 wind, but a small wave fin cut down
on this problem.

The 8-9 can produce major air, and both do great in the swell.

The 8-3 was harder to get dialed in, but then the conditions were more
difficut in general.

I'm pretty *** them, they no longer look pretty, but I have had
only one problem--the vent***broke when I tried to loosen it for a
long road trip (normally I never back it out).

Having said all this, I am considering trading them for an 8-6 and an
8-0. What are they coming out with next year?

Jerry

 
 
 

Need comments Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9"

Post by WINDSURF » Fri, 15 Aug 1997 04:00:00

Quote:
>I want to buy a Seatrend 8"3" and 8"9".
>Any good or bad comments about those boards ?

I own the 8-9 and 8-2 Seatrend. The 8-2 is the version before the
8-3,  very close as i have sailed the 8-3.
I like both boards a lot.
I am 6-2 and 180lbs.
The 8-2 is for 4.5 and windier, kicks butt, needs alot of wind.
Fast and turns very well, sailed it at Pistol River last week in 3.5 wind
and medium surf and had a total blast. Very good in the gorge. Downside is
that it is the worst slogging board in captivity, will not slog, I drop
into the water and wait( or swim). The 8-3 is a little better. The 8-2 is
very good with a 3.0 but the Seatrend Rep. said the 8-3 will only go to
3.5 but will carry a 4.7/5.0. I use a 8.75 X Core fin.
The 8-9 has been great, has lived up to its reviews. I have sailed it with
a 6.0 with a 12.5 Rainbow RS and have quite a few days at Pistol River
with my 4.2 and a 9.25 Naish Wave Killer.Typically I use a 11.75 Wave
Blade which has been good. I love this board.
The downside of newer Seatrends is just now becoming apparent. Ive got
some water in my 8-2. While in the gorge 2 weeks ago, I talked to a repair
man and he called them seasponges, soaks up water lke a sponge and won't
give it back. He had a spinner but he said Seatrends wont give up there
water when spun. There where a lot of Seatrends in his shop with
delaminations between the deck and mast track or fin box , which lets
water in, He thought Seatrends had very poor construction, which keep him
very busy.
I still like my boards but would hesitate to buy another