sonic 85/95 or isonic 87

kvda · 21st January 2009, 01:25 AM

I'm planning to buy a board to complete my quiver. Quiver is F155, isonic 125, Futura 101. The board to buy is being used for highwind and GPS surfing. My specs: 1.90m, 90kgs. I will use the board with RS4 6.2 and RS4 5.4. Choppy conditions - of course, in high winds...

My local shop gives me some affordable options: sonic 85/ 95.
But I could also go for the isonic 87. I have searched the forum, but couldn't find anything about a comparison between these two shapes. Seems to me, the isonic 87 is newer, maybe better than the sonic 85, but the sonic 85 is cheaper and I don't think I will use the board very often because of the moderate climate conditions in the Netherlands.

Can you tell me anything about the sonic 85/ 95 character compared to the isonic 87? I know they are fast, controllable.
Is the sonic 95 an option, or to close to the futura 101?

tnx in advance

Jesper Orth · 21st January 2009, 07:00 AM

Hi KVDA

You have the Futura 101 (that is a awsome board, and great choice for speed sailing off the wind,,), and the 95 Isonic will be to close to this, and 85 / or 87 will overlapp easily to the 101 Futura.

Form your information of how much you will use the board. I would reccomend you to get the sonic 85. The money you save, you could put towards a board in the bigger range (125+) - in the future. (as I guess this is the boards you will use mostly in your conditions?)

The difference between the 85 and new 87 for GPS sailing / free sailing is very small. If you do full on slalom competition, for sure the 87 would have a little edge on the 85.

Regards

Jesper

kvda · 21st January 2009, 10:51 PM

tnx Jesper,
The boards I use the most are the isonic 125 and futura 101. Really love those two shapes, to my opinion the 125 is one of the best SB shapes of the past years. (have also tried sonic 125, isonic 122 2007 and 2008, but didn't find them better than the 125 isonic, so did not change the 125).
The Formula 155 I do not use much, due to its length its great in planing early with a 10 m during the summertime. When the wind picks up, I get on isonic 125 and 8.4 RsSlalom - great!

The futura 101 indeed is also a great shape, especially with 7.8-7.2-6.2. Maybe the upwind performance could be better - I've heard the 2009 101 does this job better due to slightly sharper rail.
But in really overpowered 6.2 conditions, the F101 gets to big due to its width of 65 cms.

I've been told that the sonic 85 is more relaxed to sail compared to the isonic 87. To your opinion, is that true?

PeterCee · 24th January 2009, 07:08 PM

I had a sonic 95 and I've now got an iSonic 87.

In my opinion the iS87 is one of the best boards I've had in a long time - quick and very easy to sail and gioes upwind like it's on rails - miles better than sonic95 which got bouncy when the wind got up and didn't have the ultra secure locked in feeling that the iS87 has.

It would be perfect with a 6.2 fully cammed slalom sail.

If you are 90kgs and want to go fast then the iS87 is the one to go for.

Jesper Orth · 26th January 2009, 06:28 AM

Hi Kvda

The Sonic 85 is not really more relaxed than the Isonic 87. But I might follow what you have been told, that it should feel a bit more "relaxed". The 85 don't have the small cut-outs, and the board trim will be a touch more "steady". The small cut-outs on the Isonic 87 allow the board to ride a bit more "free" on the tail. This can might bee seen as a little more "reactive" sailing, but I would not say it’s a harder ride than the 85. It al comes down to the trim (track position, fin, boom height etc).

Again both boards are very good.

kvda · 27th January 2009, 01:40 AM

Tnx guys, took your advice Jesper!

I got the sonic 85. Very good condition for a good price at my local dealer. Good price, but without a decent fin.

I normally use Tectonics fins. Would the tectonics falcon f1 be a good choice for the sonic 85? Or would the goldwing be a better option... I already own a 28cm goldwing and a 28cm northshore slalom, also 32 cm drake slalom pro wich I do not like. So need a good 30 and 32 cms...

Jesper Orth · 27th January 2009, 06:00 AM

I would reccomend the Vector Fins Canefire 32cm, or Rockit 32cm (both in G-10). They are fast and slippery and you will have super control. Goldwing 32cm is also an ok 2'nd option.

nonopr · 27th January 2009, 09:12 AM

I will also recommend VEctor Fins Canefire and Rockit BUt more incline to Rockit 32cm/
www.vectorfins.com

kvda · 27th January 2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesper Orth

I would reccomend the Vector Fins Canefire 32cm, or Rockit 32cm (both in G-10). They are fast and slippery and you will have super control. Goldwing 32cm is also an ok 2'nd option.

you think the size 32 is better for the sonic 85 then a 30 cm fin? Reason of this question is the board comes standard with a 30 cm drake.

Of do I need to buy both?

tnx again

Jesper Orth · 30th January 2009, 07:23 PM

The 32cm fins is probably best for slalom conditions.

30cm would be all right for speed sailing.

If you only want one fin, then 32cm is best.

21st January 2009, 01:25 AM	#1
kvda Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 173	sonic 85/95 or isonic 87 I'm planning to buy a board to complete my quiver. Quiver is F155, isonic 125, Futura 101. The board to buy is being used for highwind and GPS surfing. My specs: 1.90m, 90kgs. I will use the board with RS4 6.2 and RS4 5.4. Choppy conditions - of course, in high winds... My local shop gives me some affordable options: sonic 85/ 95. But I could also go for the isonic 87. I have searched the forum, but couldn't find anything about a comparison between these two shapes. Seems to me, the isonic 87 is newer, maybe better than the sonic 85, but the sonic 85 is cheaper and I don't think I will use the board very often because of the moderate climate conditions in the Netherlands. Can you tell me anything about the sonic 85/ 95 character compared to the isonic 87? I know they are fast, controllable. Is the sonic 95 an option, or to close to the futura 101? tnx in advance

21st January 2009, 10:51 PM	#3
kvda Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 173	tnx Jesper, The boards I use the most are the isonic 125 and futura 101. Really love those two shapes, to my opinion the 125 is one of the best SB shapes of the past years. (have also tried sonic 125, isonic 122 2007 and 2008, but didn't find them better than the 125 isonic, so did not change the 125). The Formula 155 I do not use much, due to its length its great in planing early with a 10 m during the summertime. When the wind picks up, I get on isonic 125 and 8.4 RsSlalom - great! The futura 101 indeed is also a great shape, especially with 7.8-7.2-6.2. Maybe the upwind performance could be better - I've heard the 2009 101 does this job better due to slightly sharper rail. But in really overpowered 6.2 conditions, the F101 gets to big due to its width of 65 cms. I've been told that the sonic 85 is more relaxed to sail compared to the isonic 87. To your opinion, is that true? Last edited by kvda; 22nd January 2009 at 12:45 AM.

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21st January 2009, 07:00 AM	#2
Jesper Orth Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 44	Hi KVDA You have the Futura 101 (that is a awsome board, and great choice for speed sailing off the wind,,), and the 95 Isonic will be to close to this, and 85 / or 87 will overlapp easily to the 101 Futura. Form your information of how much you will use the board. I would reccomend you to get the sonic 85. The money you save, you could put towards a board in the bigger range (125+) - in the future. (as I guess this is the boards you will use mostly in your conditions?) The difference between the 85 and new 87 for GPS sailing / free sailing is very small. If you do full on slalom competition, for sure the 87 would have a little edge on the 85. Regards Jesper

24th January 2009, 07:08 PM	#4
PeterCee New Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 15	I had a sonic 95 and I've now got an iSonic 87. In my opinion the iS87 is one of the best boards I've had in a long time - quick and very easy to sail and gioes upwind like it's on rails - miles better than sonic95 which got bouncy when the wind got up and didn't have the ultra secure locked in feeling that the iS87 has. It would be perfect with a 6.2 fully cammed slalom sail. If you are 90kgs and want to go fast then the iS87 is the one to go for.

26th January 2009, 06:28 AM	#5
Jesper Orth Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 44	Hi Kvda The Sonic 85 is not really more relaxed than the Isonic 87. But I might follow what you have been told, that it should feel a bit more "relaxed". The 85 don't have the small cut-outs, and the board trim will be a touch more "steady". The small cut-outs on the Isonic 87 allow the board to ride a bit more "free" on the tail. This can might bee seen as a little more "reactive" sailing, but I would not say it’s a harder ride than the 85. It al comes down to the trim (track position, fin, boom height etc). Again both boards are very good.

27th January 2009, 01:40 AM	#6
kvda Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 173	Tnx guys, took your advice Jesper! I got the sonic 85. Very good condition for a good price at my local dealer. Good price, but without a decent fin. I normally use Tectonics fins. Would the tectonics falcon f1 be a good choice for the sonic 85? Or would the goldwing be a better option... I already own a 28cm goldwing and a 28cm northshore slalom, also 32 cm drake slalom pro wich I do not like. So need a good 30 and 32 cms...

27th January 2009, 06:00 AM	#7
Jesper Orth Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 44	I would reccomend the Vector Fins Canefire 32cm, or Rockit 32cm (both in G-10). They are fast and slippery and you will have super control. Goldwing 32cm is also an ok 2'nd option.

27th January 2009, 09:12 AM	#8
nonopr Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico Posts: 572	I will also recommend VEctor Fins Canefire and Rockit BUt more incline to Rockit 32cm/ www.vectorfins.com

30th January 2009, 07:23 PM	#10
Jesper Orth Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 44	The 32cm fins is probably best for slalom conditions. 30cm would be all right for speed sailing. If you only want one fin, then 32cm is best.