kode 87

[NORTHY]

Hi

what kinda float does the 87 give....it seems pretty wide for a 87liter board at 61cm?
thats wider than the quad 92, right? or is it a typo?

im looking for a light wind wave board - that can be good for float-n-ride in clean swell as well as powered up 5.7 and 5.3....that works for 85kg....more like 90kg in a wet winter wetsuit!

i think the nuevo will be too narrow...as i used a goya 92 that is also 59cm and i spent most of my time (admittedly on a very light, clean cross off day) with my back leg upto the knee in water!

Or the Quad 92.....but i heard mixed reports on them, as being less than quick to plane...which doesnt work for a light wind board?

Thanks!
Steve

[NWF]

Hi Steve,

I have just bought one for all the reasons you have stated and I am also 85kgs plus the versatility of single fin..... I will be able to confirm width tomorrow as I have seen conflicting info as the boards in the shop waiting for my collection.

[NORTHY]

Thanks Allan - look forward to hearing more (just linked you via Facebook as well)

PS
this will be my biggest board....i see you also have the 103 and more....so maybe its too small
I would definately say 87 was too small but the 61cm width (thats about the same as say a Fanatic freewave 95 ish) seems to suggest otherwise.

[BelSkorpio]

I think that for these smaller volume boards and not enough sailpower, the width is not that important anymore with regards to the carrying capacity.
A narrower board will carry you in the same way as a wider board if the the total volume is the same and as long as you can centralize your body weight distribution.

The difference will be the ease of planing in waves and the ability of going through chop.

[NWF]

Hi Northy,

Just for your info as stated on the board is 60.5cm wide.

I have exactly the same question, although I am a slightly lighter than northy (80-82kgs and would also like to pick this board as my biggest wave board, only being worried about the declared volume).

An additional question would be the effective sail range of this board: 6,2 - 4,7 with a 5,8 - 5,0 sweetspot?

I would really appreciate if someone from starboard team could reply and give us some feedback of the actual feel (in terms of size) of this board.

Thanks,

[Ian Fox]

A few key factors in discussion here, maybe all heading in the same direction by different paths..

Kode87 is a (relatively) wider front/narrower tail outline with a relatively fast rocker line
(dare I mention "efficient" in the same sentence as wave board ? but yes..)
Stepping onboard you immediately sense a narrower tail feel more than actually see it,
which tends to add a reactive feel to the board at speed, which thanks to the shape tends
to come relatively early and quite reasonable.
(Damn, there is that efficiency trend I was avoiding!)

Another critical factor in “light wind” performance will be fin choice; running default twinzer mode
will certainly give you the slidy tail tweaked aerials bonus a certain young champion is renowned for
- but ultimately won’t do wonders for light wind or marginal planning..
That’s to say you can dig even more bottom end out if you want to change out the Twins..
Plug in a decent “25cm” US box single and the efficiency (did it again) and light wind range increases.
So the rider definitely can further influence the early planning/bottom end in that regard.

Not 100% on what Bel is saying that width matters less – and in fact the comparison of say a
NuEvo and KodeWave of identical volumes gives some (limited) example of that in real terms.

Let’s exaggerate ; Think of sailing a log. And then a door. Both 87Lt.

One will be super reactive and roll in easy and tight.
One will plane up better and (once planning) carry sail loads equivalent to a higher volume board (or log..)
One ends up giving a more reactive ride, one has a wider effective wind range.

Mixing and matching the magic is really where the design/ers come in,
and in our 2013 range both the NuEvo and Kode87 both hit hi spots in their own rights..

In my (9xkg) limited time on the Kode87Wave it "feels" and “carries” very much like an 87.
That's to say, it feels noticeably bigger than Kode82 - but not mid 90'ish either.
On my ratings 5,8 - 5,0 sweetspot is definitely on the money even for large/r riders.
And yes with lighter riders extending the large sail range to 6.2 is quite real.
Is the board usable with 4.7 ? Not personally tested but certainly and realistically
based on other board testing in this model and size range, yes.

Cheers ~ Ian

Thanks Ian for your very complete and honest answer (no marketing "bullshit" mixed), that absolutely clarified my queries.

This is the kind of input Starboard Forums are known for. I will definitively buy a kode wave [whether (i) the 87 as my light wind wave board with only a small(ish) board or (ii) an 82 as an allrounder, to pair with a bigger 95-100 FSW and a smaller (72-75) high wind 3,7-4,5m board]

Cheers and I hope everyone has fun on the water,