S-Type 137 vs Carve 133

[Loo]

Hi

I'm in the hunt for a new board. I'd like to partner it with a NP 9.0 Rx2 and using it in maybe upto 15 kts. Then downsize to a 7.5 V8. The conditions are bay sailing with chop upto 2 maybe 3 ft. I'm also having fun competing in the local GPS competition and I'm heading for the wooden spoon in the Slalom comp.

Looking at the specs between the S-Type 137 and the Carve 133. They don't appear to be that massively different, the S-type being slightly shorter and wider. However the recommended sail sizes do seem to be different.

The max recommended size for the S-Type 137 is 8.5 and the Carve 133 is 9.0.

I don't gybe that well at all, hence the wooden spoon, the Carve would be good helping with gybing, however the S-Type could potentially be faster in the GPS comp. I am a bit of a speed freak!!!:

Could some light be shed on whether a 9.0 would be useable on a S-Type 137?

[Duracell]

I use my ST137 with a 8.7 and 9.5 (~82Kg at the time), but I&#39;m going to dump it soon (too slow... in < 15kts conditions).
If you want to go fast in < 15kts go for IS145 (FT138) beats ST137 all the time. C133 ZZZzzz... but good to learn gybing.

[Phill104]

I&#39;d disagree with Duracell on the carve front. This years carve 133 can be very fast but has a sedate feel. It is also the best option for improving the gybes.

If you&#39;re fast enough to keep up on the straight then making your gybe will be the most significant improvement to your position in the race. If you&#39;re way behind on the straight and falling at the marks then the carve would be a good board to improve on.

The ST137 requires more user input than the carve but when you get the hang of it it can be faster and although early planing is not quite as good, it&#39;s acceleration is faster and in rough conditions can be faster than the iS145.

The iS145 is superb in light winds and flat water and will, with skill, be the first to plane, fastest and handle lulls with ease. However, it is harder to turn requiring good technique.

[Duracell]

so, this year&#39;s C133 is fatser than ST137 in < 15kts?

[Duracell]

just a little after thought:
learnig to gybe has something to do with opportunity: FT138/IS145 will in <15 kts range give you much more opportunity to practice at feasible speeds than either C133 or ST137 (assuming one is attempting to plane through&#39;em).

[Phill104]

Duracell
so, this year&#39;s C133 is fatser than ST137 in < 15kts?

Where did I say that, I just said it is a fast board, faster than many seem to think and from the number of carve 133s on my local water I have seen this first hand.

I have also seen less skilled sailors struggle to get a decent gybe from the ST but pull off good ones on the carve. It&#39;s just the nature of the board. In the hands of a skilled rider the ST137 is superb, I just feel it requires more input than the Carve.