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Post: #1
Topic :  Where does the ONE fit in your quiver?
Author :  rod    Date : 4/9/2008 4:13:37 AM 

I've had my One now for a while, most of that time it has been my only board. It has been by far my most used board and has provided a lot of enjoyment, mainly as a baffing board, but there has been a few harbour cruise sessions, and a couple of light wind sail flip sessions as well.

Recently, to get a little more "mainstream", and to enhance my whole windsurfing experience, I bought a 113L freeride board to use with my current 6.2 and soon to arrive 7m sail. Ironically the One probably has more high end range than this board but I'm hoping, (haven't used it yet) that it will provide that small board sensations that the One cannot give.

I also do a lot of my sailing in and around the 8m / 9m sail sized wind strength, and this is probably my biggest complaint about the One. It's light wind marginal planing ability is not great. Fully powered it performs well, but in marginal conditions it feels heavy, slow to plane, and slow to accelerate. So I've gone and bought a Go170, to use with my 9m and possibly my 8m sails.

Now my "one board does it all" is going to sit in the middle of a 3 board quiver with a huge overlap between the 3 boards, and Im starting to wonder if I'll ever use the One, and whether an older full on raceboard would better round out a 3 board quiver to cover all sub-planing requirements.

I realise that I am considering 3 boards to replace one One, and that shows just how good the One is.

It seems to me that the main strength of the One was as a board that could do most things pretty well, but not great. When you start to add other more dedicated boards, each performing better in their ideal conditions, they take a slice out of the One's pie, and diminish it's strength.

How does the One sit in your quiver? Does it sit well?
Post:  #2
Author :  Windpig   Date :  4/9/2008 5:43:19 AM 

Well... It's not a Kona, it's an RRD Longrider (will post full review shortly in RRD vs. Kona post)... but it's close enough

Gorge sailing.. pretty Much all out east.


Experience 1500?? days.... (mostly Gorge.)
Tabou Dacurve 73, Fanatic 77 & 86, Angulo Supergu 102... and now LongRider 180

3 days so far... last Saturday verified why I wanted a board like this.. and IT ROCKS!

Gusty-holey 5.2... 2 minutes of 20-25.. followed by. 2 minutes of 5-10

I was on it for an hour or so, then 3 of my friends ( who were just sitting on the beach, rigged and waiting, but not going out) took it out for 45 minutes or so each.

We had a blast! Screaming reaches, learning curve (longboard) high speed jibes, it was great.. wind would drop.. put the dagger down and cruise for a couple till the next wind wave came through. One of my buds was trying sail flip tricks in the lulls (which is the other reason this is gonna be cool... in low wind... but the 45f water, 55 degree air, and clouds, kinda held me back on this for the moment)

Meanwhile couple other friends rigged 5.7- 6.0 and took 130 ltr. boards out
.. Plane,slog, plane, slog, plane, fall down , waaaiit for waterstart, slog..... come in and complane how bad it was.

Funny thing is, we didn't notice it was "bad"


THIS is what makes Konas, or any longboards COOL!!

Windpig
Post:  #3
Author :  John I   Date :  4/9/2008 4:37:57 PM 

So, rod, you've decided to do the whole circuit of short board for this, that, and the other conditions. Step tail long boards fill in the cracks between all of the S/B moments of brilliance with some great strengths of their own. Overcoming the frustration of having lots of gear, time to enjoy the wind, yet not have the right breeze is the largest strength that Windpig wrote so well. You'll see what you've been enjoying first hand soon enough.

I use the Kona One as a flat water alt to short boarding in flat water conditions when the wind is puffy yet strong enough to plane occasionally. Also, it is my coaching platform or teaching someone. Coaching when I'm getting novice wave sailors out thru the break on my 11-5 while I follow on the One. Teaching, I'm following on the 11-5, the student is on the One.
Post:  #4
Author :  matt   Date :  4/10/2008 12:55:47 AM 

I dont have a quiver just the Kona, if I had the money though I would have a SUP board with mastrack a GO or something similar to plane. I doubt I would use the Kona much on the coast with those two. On flat water I would be on the Kona all the time and wouldnt consider other boards. Beggars cant be choosers however and im well chuffed that I can have fun in the water whatever the winds doing.
Post:  #5
Author :  iBerger   Date :  4/10/2008 2:31:30 AM 

For the past few years, my main board for the Hudson River has been a Go 165. It's a nice board for certain conditions and the right sized sail, but it had some severe limitations. It's upwind ability, especially in marginal winds, was pretty sad. When you throw in a current or a tide working in the same direction, I sometimes had problems getting back to my launch site. If the Go had a daggerboard, this wouldn't be such a problem, but I had a lot of problems with this. I'd go on a ten minute jaunt down wind and spend over an hour getting back to the site. When the board planed it was a lot of fun, though.

I started longboard sailing last year. First it was on an old F2, and even that ancient board was more versatile than the Go. A few months ago I got a Kona. I haven't sailed it yet because the river's still too cold (44º F), but I'm pretty excited about trying it.

-Ian

http://www.hudsonwindsurfer.blogspot.com/
Post:  #6
Author :  Pc45   Date :  4/10/2008 3:44:29 AM 

Being inland like you, meaning river sailing (St-Lawrence), you're right: it's hopeless at times.

Guys are really stressed going out under some conditions - they just about don't have fun trying to come back. I take out the dagger board under adverse conditions, and it's fun again.

I'll drive down the I-87, let's meet half-way one of these days.

Cheers,
P.
Post:  #7
Author :  rod   Date :  4/10/2008 4:31:24 AM 

Where I sail it's an upper harbour inlet with a narrow entrance, could probably be best described as a coastal lake with a tide :-). It's 99% baffing, and apart from a mate who has a One because I talked him into it, I'm the only longboarder while everyone else is on primarily baffing freeride / freerace boards.

So apart from the occasional open ocean sesh when the local tide is too low, the One is used as a baffing board and doesn't NEED to be a longboard, which is why in the past boards like the Go have provided a lot of good times.

If I graphed the enjoyment factor of the relative boards, my view is that the One is a flat line somewhere in the "above average" range, while, for me, boards like the Go and the 110L freeride are more of a sign wave, peaking above the One at times, dropping below the One at times, but providing an element of changeability?.

I was really just interested whether the One would have a place in such a quiver where theoretically both the other boards could cover all of what the One provides....obviously you think it does, so for now the One stays
Post:  #8
Author :  more force 4   Date :  4/10/2008 5:25:10 AM 

Kona One,
Hyfly 266 Freeride 108,
*bd Evo 80

Plus a couple of ancient boards I don't sail anymore but keep for my one windsurfing kid to use. I sail the kona through most of the conditions I used to have the Hyfly for. It has to be really quite windy and steady for me to bother with the Hyfly now, though it is beautifully light and responsive compared to the Kona, and it is fun to be able to jump or feel instant acceleration with a gust. I can't rely on it to get me home if the wind drops though, and the Kona's slow loping motion over bigger waves and insane downwind speed through big chop is fantastic fun too. The Evo is for when its cranking; I could just about sail the Kona comfortably up to the point where a 5.0 on the evo would work and I think the Evo with a 5.8 and a bigger fin will pretty much overlap with Kona conditions. I'll keep the Hyfly for now, but it sure isn't getting much use compared to two years ago!

Post:  #9
Author :  rod   Date :  4/10/2008 5:44:19 AM 

Especially since you knocked the nose off it in your vid :-)
Post:  #10
Author :  JB   Date :  4/10/2008 9:19:18 AM 

I know this is a kona site...however sailed the kona last summer and it was fun and a good board....but it was not for me(tooo big) so I went with the RRD longrider and just went out for my first sesh. of the season in 20+ with a 6.5 a it rocked my world....all longboards are cool and fun...but some are just a bit more tweaked/refined than others(no offense)....much love....JB
Post:  #11
Author :  Ben   Date :  4/10/2008 12:01:05 PM 

I used to stack my car with my four board quiver, ranging from 110litres-220liters, head to the beach and then spend a chunk of time working out which board was best for the prevailing conditions. I had conditioned myself to think that more boards = more options = more time on the water and better time on the water.
I am now in my 3rd year of Kona sailing and down to 2 boards. 1 old school Fanatic Ultra Cat, which I will never sell, Its more a piece of art than a board (you got to love them old school graphics!) and the Kona. The Kona goes out in all conditions between 5m and 9m. 5m is F6 and above for me, i'm a big guy. I have found my technique gets better, the more I try to push the Kona. I have found it a good measure to test yourself against 1 board, rather than what I used to do, buy another board to fill my skill gap. So my quiver (for now) is 1 board. I can see myself being drawn into a 10.5 or 11.5 in the near future, but right now its fine tuning the Kona, after all the Kona Gold Cup is coming.
Cheers
Ben
Post:  #12
Author :  Ian Berger   Date :  4/12/2008 6:41:10 AM 

Pierre,

It would be fun to sail together. I'm frequently in the Albany area. There ain't much sailin' up there unless you go south to Kingston or north to Lake George, but the nice thing about longboards is that the conditions aren't as important. I'll be up sometime in the early summer.

-Ian
Post:  #13
Author :  more force 4   Date :  4/12/2008 8:18:13 AM 

Hey Rod;
THe nose has been fixed for a few weeks now - actually, I quite enjoyed fixing it, enough to want to think about building a foam/fiberglass plug for the Kona's tail. An extra knot or two for SUP or in very light wind would be fun!
Post:  #14
Author :  Gregg   Date :  6/20/2008 5:04:26 PM 

One of the benefits to racing is the challenge of sailing to all points of wind.

I have a 170L Go, a 135L and 110L JP, all great boards. However it is the versatility of the Kona One that is amazing. Wind is constantly changing, especially here in the midwestern plain states. Lots of wind lines!

Kona One
Upwind it points very good.
Straight downwind is remainds me of my snowboarding (very loose and reacts to the slightest of puffs and foot pressure).
On a beam reach in chop and through crud, the Kona One a silky smooth.
It builds confidence even when over powered in a header gust!
The board is a blast to carve a planning jibe.

I understand why it has such a great following...

I am glad I got one!
Post:  #15
Author :  John I   Date :  6/20/2008 8:24:30 PM 

Lately, I've been using a Aerotech Daytona 11.0 sail with my One. That's the best work out I can do within short driving distance to my house for the Gorge Blow Out. That will be held the last week end of July starting in Stevenson, WA and ending at the Hood River OR event site. I believe it's a wind dependent decision, best forecast kinda determination to be announced which day on an short notice basis.

I hope to use a One or an 11'5 with a sail on or about 7.2 to 8.0 in sizes. The 11'5 rocks my world in rough surf conditions where surprise winds come up and I keep on sailing. Oughta work great for the downwind race of 17 or so miles. The Kona One is also very good in the same applications, but the 11'5 may be a slightly better gyber.
Post:  #16
Author :  BONC   Date :  6/21/2008 5:45:02 PM 

I normally have a 3-5 board rotating quiver, always with a beginner board to teach others on and I normally sell that board to newbies ever year or so, currently its a *board RIO 205.

I love sailing though and longboarding is always a good option to have when its lite or fluky so I had a Kona ONE for me. The Kona lacked the mid wind handling and lite wind early planning, as I recently had sold my *board carve 161, so also added a *board GO 139 to fill the gap. My buddy approaced me last year about my Kona and said he was interested in buying it, so I sold it to him. Was missing the Kona quite a bit, but was wishing some of the initial design qwerks were updated, saw the RRD Longrider and decided to try something different as I didn't need the 220 volume and extra weight of the Kona. Now really like the Longrider and am looking to sell the GO 139 as it was needed (for me) to complement the Kona, but it is not needed to completment the Longrider.

Also have a *board free sex for the big wind/waves and freestyle, now my oldest board, but don't think I'll ever give that one up until it explodes.

RIDE ON!!!
Post:  #17
Author :  Earthsurfer   Date :  9/10/2008 7:54:49 PM 

I have a Kona One here in the Gorge in Hood River, OR. Although this is typically short board country I am having a blast on mine and it is my only board since I started windsurfing 2 summers ago. In fact I picked up the first Kona when Excocet brought it to the gorge for its debut at Windfest in 2006. I wanted to learn to windsurf and as everyone knows learning to windsurf is no easy undertaking. After several frustrating weeks, lessons and swims from the middle of the river I was about to give it up when a long time windsurfer suggested a long board to learn on. About that time along came the Kona! The Kona made windsurfing much more user friendly and I became hooked, not only on windsurfing but the Kona board as well.

I definitely have more time on the water in a wider variety of wind conditions than on a short board and I only have 2 sails. I can sail in winds up 25 -28 mph no problem . I have a big sail for lighter winds. With the dagger board, I can also sail the Kona all over the place without having to worry about getting stuck out in the middle of the river. There is no slogging with the Kona, it just cruises. Bump and jump short board sailing is really cool, and I like to watch those guys, and I may obtain that level some day, but for now I am having a great time on my Kona and a lot more time on the water, which is what its all about!

BTW - the Kona is also really great SUP board for no wind days.

Cheers!
Post:  #18
Author :  carlsson   Date :  9/23/2008 10:23:31 AM 

I sailed now for the first time on my KONA - it provides a lot of fun....BUT what a hassle: the daggerboard - design / mechanism is absoluteley no fun (definiteley not fine engineers work!...even my former HiFly 700-daggerboardmechanism worked better 20 years ago).....and why did they not spend an adjustable mast track ? These two things are really a lack...This would have been all a longboard can offer!!...and additionally the cool KONA- feeling ;-)) This could not have been really a price issue...!? Has it been more a product-range issue (KONA ONE - WARP X 380 ?)..?

regards
Post:  #19
Author :  carlsson   Date :  9/23/2008 10:33:38 AM 

...not to be misunderstood: I like my KONA!!
but I must admit selfcritically: with my lonboard experience 15-20 years ago...I would have designed these two main criteria for a longboard in a different way (these two issues are THE differences between longboard and shortboard -unique selling point!!- additionally to that the other main unique selling point: KONA feeling AND future as a OD-class....both togehther would be the ultimate Longboard INCLUDING :lifestyle, family, ...simply KONA.

best regards
Post:  #20
Author :  PG   Date :  9/23/2008 11:34:48 AM 

Hi Carlsson,
Have you lubricated your daggerboard with silicon spray? The kind that is used for the rubber around the car doors is fine.

When the dagger is unlubricated it is a pain to use. When lubricated it still has to be used with some force, but works well. It makes sense to use it in to positions only: fully in, and fully down (that prevents the rubber lips to lock the dagger halfway).

The lack of masttrack is another issue. It is at least simple without it. And if you have a sail that produces a lot of lift (Sailworks Retro is a high lift sail, while Simmer sails typically have low lift) then you can keep it fairly far forward in the masttrack (forward of mid point).
Post:  #21
Author :  carlsson   Date :  9/24/2008 5:04:59 PM 

Hi PG,

I have ordered now PTFE Spray (teflonizing the surface of the plastics...hope that will work)...but nevertheless...the KONA should be able to summarize 30 years of longboard experience: that is what is called evolution...and we should also keep in mind: EXOCET is a big one...just have a look on the WARP X 380...and it must be allowed to compare these two boards...because we are only talking about details:
a well devellopped/engineered daggerboard-mechanism and an adjustable masttrack...nothing else to complain.

keep on KONA-ing

best regrads

by the way: has anybody experiences in using PTFE-Sprays? Maybe also to reduce the friction between camber and mast?
Post:  #22
Author :  Ian Berger   Date :  9/24/2008 10:32:08 PM 

I agree with the daggerboard issues. I have a 20 year-old F2 board which is inferior to the Kena in almost every way except the daggerboard. The daggerboard system is a snap to use. It pops down and up with ease without lubrication. I haven't noticed any spraying either on the F2 during planing either. The Kona is such a well-designed board in so many ways. It's strange this aspect is done badly.

I've got pics of a comparison of the two boards in my blog:

http://hudsonwindsurfer.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html

-Ian

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