S.I.C. F-18 Full Displacement SUP Race Board vs F-16 – Video with Mark Raaphorst
I took this video when I went to visit Mark Raaphorst at his Ding King compound at Sandwich Island Composites. This was from June when I went there for the Olukai Race. I got to see his workshop and the newest S.I.C. race SUP’s, the F-16 v2 and the F-18. I asked him how to choose between the two.
(click thumbnail to launch video)
Mark showed me the differences among the boards and he talked about the full displacement hull on the F-18. There are no sharp edges on the bottom of the board. The F-18 has a canoe style nose and tail. It’s designed to slice through the water and maintain an easier consistent glide. It’s better in lighter winds and smaller swell.
Mark Raaphorst and his F-18
This F-18 is 18’4” x 28″ and weighs about 31 lbs. It has a displacement type hull instead of a planing hull like the F-16 and F-14. Because of the canoe type nose, the F-18 is designed to cut through the water. I got a chance to ride an older model F-18 and loved it. I can’t wait to get on this new one in Oahu waters.
Sandwich Island Composites F-18 canoe type nose.
The F-18 has a pretty long flat area in the bottom for stability. The earlier model I tried was really stable. In fact, my third downwinder on it I didn’t fall once in the 8.5 miles.
(click thumbnail to launch video)
(click thumbnail to launch video)
More info at the S.I.C. website.
The F-16 v2 is an upgrade to the first version. It’s a tad bit lighter and there are changes to the nose and bottom. The bottom has a double concave with two flat panels on the sides, just like the F-14. The tail rocker was lowered a bit from the v1 and the round bottom in the nose was replaced and thinned and flattened out. The deck has a slight concave for comfort and it has the signature S.I.C. steering system.
Alan Cadiz riding the F-18
The F-16 v2 is going to excel in higher winds and larger swell conditions. Both boards can carry riders over 220 lbs and both are light weight to carry and paddle. Contact Mark with questions at www.paddlemaui.com.
Evan,
Great interview! Everything he says is true when even comparing the F-16 to the F-14. I have been training on both and in flat water with some wind involved the 14 can blow the 16 away. However, in windswells, the glide of the 16 makes it faster than the 14. In order for me to stay with the glide of the 16 on my 14, I gotta paddle like hell and extend the glide by paddling hard to catch the next bump. Another thing that Mark said also holds true when comparing the 16 and 14. It takes a lot more effort to get the 16 going than the 14. I know this by comparing speed and heart rates on the Garmin. Heart rate is higher when paddling the 16 which probably means more effort. Like he says, there is always a trade off.
Ray
Ray – I initially got the F-14 after trying yours. The ability to easily paddle into bumps and accelerate is what got me. I just don’t want to work that hard to pull myself into the bumps and in general.
The difference is even more pronounced with a round, displacement type hull compared to the flat planing hull w/ nose rocker. I’ll have a more insight once I get my F-18, which is supposed to be on Sunday afternoon. I’ve tried a Bark 18′ and Starboard K15. Both have round displacement bottoms and ride much differently than my F-14 or the F-16’s that I’ve ridden. They maintain their glide much better (when you can keep it straight and the right trim) and take less energy to keep at a consistent pace. I’ll keep you posted. I think that a 14′ displacement hull F-14 would be really fun, easy to transport and would give a new dimension to the downwinder. Maybe that will be my next board…
Good luck in Molokai! I hope you guys get good wind and swell.
This series of short interviews is packed with valuable insight…thank you! There is no question that Mark is at the top of a super short list of Distance/Downwind SUP designers…not only superior design skills, but real on water practice – that experience puts him in another league compared to other designers relying on 2nd hand input…I had the opportunity to meet with him this past Spring and he was extremely gracious to take time out of a busy work day to talk with a visiting fan.
I mostly paddle in harbor, calm ocean or light wind chop here in SoCal currently have a displacement F14 on order with Mark. This interview has me second guessing the length I have chosen for my new board…I can’t say Mark didn’t warn me about the shorter displacement trade offs. My current board is an EPS foam, planning 14′. My current thinking is to move to a displacement design for the next board, but I also want to try and stay in the 14′ class for racing the portability issue…I think I might abandon those plans and just go long. The displacement design really seems to be THE way to go out here…thanks again please keep the downwind/distance content coming….
awesome video and really informative. evan, how long have you had your f14? also, how does it do on an average hawaii kai run with ok winds and ok bumps? im in midst of finding/buying me a new race board and im trying to get as much info as i can before i make the purchase.
IMHO the 14 is the way to go. Evan will argue for the rudder. I have one without the rudder and it’s great, fast and easier on the body than the 16. Ave run times 1:20-1:40 depending on conditions. The elite guys do it in an hour.
nice. with the vortice xp, my average times were 1:15-1:25, so im hoping with the F14, i can cut down a few minutes or so….hopefully. i notice i would lose time when rounding kaimana because of the wind. with the vortice, the wind would push the board away and make it pretty hard to turn in. the F14 with rudder, i would assume that you can paddle in much easier without killing your left side because of the wind, lol.
Jensen – I’ve had my F-14 for a few months now. I was fortunate to have one of the first hollow molded ones. I’m right around 200 lbs right now and that makes a big difference. Ray is probably around 150 lbs.
? – “how does it do on an average hawaii kai run with ok winds and ok bumps?”
It really fits in the Hawaii Kai bumps nicely. The F-14 gets exponentially better with increased wind. In winds under 15 mph, I think the F-18 may be better although totally different. The F-14 is much more of a surfing feel and the F-18 is more of a racing boat kinda feel. The F-14 accelerates faster and is easier to pull into bumps than the F-16 I tried.
*Note to readers* – If you are over 210 lbs, the F-16 may be a better option for you. The F-14 feels like it needs a tad bit more volume for my weight and skill level to be at optimal performance. I think at 190 or 185 lbs, the F-14 will be perfect. For a 220 lbs person, the ride on the F-16 will most likely be better…just my opinion though.
? – “i notice i would lose time when rounding kaimana because of the wind. with the vortice, the wind would push the board away and make it pretty hard to turn in. the F14 with rudder, i would assume that you can paddle in much easier without killing your left side because of the wind, lol.”
The XP is a very fast board. It just takes more skill to master it and really get the true benefit. All I can say is that I am substantially faster on a board with a rudder than on one without. I also expend less energy on a board with a rudder. That said, I still get whipped by guys on stock, no rudder boards.
Rainman – “IMHO the 14 is the way to go. Evan will argue for the rudder.”
You know that’s the truth!
Mercer – That is exactly what I’ve been thinking. I think my next board may be a full displacement F-14, like the F-18 but shorter and maybe a tad bit wider if needed. I think it will fit in the bumps nicely for our Hawaii Kai run and it will be way easier to transport and store. My thought is that it may also be lighter and easier to accelerate into bumps but not sure until I ride the F-18 and test it on Oahu. What’s the ETA for your board?
If the wind is light and the swell is small, displacement seems like the way to go. Please keep us posted since you’re getting the board I’ve been contemplating in my mind.
What are the specs on your F-14 displacement board? How much do you weigh?
Evan,
I’ve been looking for a hand shaped F-18 with a flat deck and hard rails. Do you know of anyone selling theirs? My contact info is email: fhyun01@gmail.com, cellular phone 542-8531
[..YouTube..] very good footage…thanx for posting
I’m iprmsseed! You’ve managed the almost impossible.