Potatonator size v performance

[spawne]

Hi all,
I'm going to get a pn for small days to take over from the 6.0 Dom. The Dom floats me fine at 83 kgs. My question is in small surf would I notice the performance difference (average skill level)of a 5 10 to a 6 0 pn in small waves if I wanted more float. Does the 5 10 pn sit a lot higher in the water then the 6.0 Dom anyway for around about the same liters?

[Fazza]

Spawne,

I had a 5'8 Dominator and got myself a 5'8 PNator. The PNator definately floated and paddled better. On weak waves it was fine but couple of surfs on it with waves with a bit more push it did find it fighting me a little. It was a Rapidfire and got creased so I replaced it with a 5'6 FST PNator and after a couple of surfs i really didn't notice the difference in the volume to the 5'8 and i found it way more fun. It is easy to get into waves and if they have a little push the board manourvered so easily and did not fight me at all.

Your 6'0 Dom is 34.8ltrs and the 5'10 PNator is 36.8ltrs so the 5'10 will float you better than your Dom and paddle way better in weaker waves. You could also consider the 5'8 PNator at 33.9ltrs and even though it is nearly a litre of volume less than your Dominator it will still paddle as good if not slightly better because of its sllightly flatter rocker and its wide point forward of centre and the wider tail.

The PNator is 70% Dominator and 30% Sweet Potato which means it can handle weaker waves better than the Dom as well as waves with some push and even a nice drop. I have found that my 5'6 PNator pushed my 5'8 Dom out to a point that i didn't use it anymore and sold it.

[spawne]

Thanks Fazza 5'10 sounds like the go.

[Fazza]

No worries you will love the Potatonator it is so much fun.

If you get one with FCS fins and you don't have any quad fins the Rusty R2 quads have worked well for me, if you get Futures i think the Rasta Quads work really well......fin choice is a personal preference but that is a starting point at least.

Let us know how you go when you get a few surfs on it.

[spawne]

Hey Fazza, had a couple of surfs on the pn now and well, wow! I went for a 6.0 at the end because I had a spinal fusion and still have a few problems, one is getting up on the board. Problem solved now. I thought the dom had great flow but the pn is unbelievable , even if you stuff up you just keep the speed or creat it very easy, and yet it still has great response. And the great thing is even with that extra volume. It really is super easy fun surfing that will only make me get better. I had the R2 quads in worked well, might try the power base fins next which I liked more on the dom.

[FW - Fan]

Hey Fazza, had a couple of surfs on the pn now and well, wow! I went for a 6.0 at the end because I had a spinal fusion and still have a few problems, one is getting up on the board. Problem solved now. I thought the dom had great flow but the pn is unbelievable , even if you stuff up you just keep the speed or creat it very easy, and yet it still has great response. And the great thing is even with that extra volume. It really is super easy fun surfing that will only make me get better. I had the R2 quads in worked well, might try the power base fins next which I liked more on the dom.

Hey there Spawne, I too had a fusion coming up to 4 years ago..curious how you are going with it. Hopefully better than before you had it. Shoot me a private message or hit me up on [email protected] . Cheers mate.

[Bumper]

I have the 6'0 and I'm at 185 six foot solid intermediate. In mellow, mushy, slower, smaller waves I've been happy with the volume. I have begun to wonder if I should have gone to the 5'10 but I have had a hard time convincing myself that I should go to a volume number lower than my 6'2 dominator. I had the 6'0 pnator in fun, easy drop shoulder to head high waves last weekend and the Pnator ripped. Just before the swell peaked I was happy I had the pnator and not the dom or hellfire. The waves had a little punch but they were backing off a bit due to the tide. The volume on the pnator helped me get into a few fun stomach high lefts and rights. When the swell peaked an hour later I still felt very solid. I'm sure with another year under my belt I can downsize to the 5'10 but for now I'm glad I have the extra volume. I bought the board to replace my fishes that had volume too. It's def outperforming those boards in better waves. Like any shortboard when the waves get junky I pull out my log, sweet potato or just stay home. I still think it's a board meant for good small to medium waves. When it has gotten dumpy and junky I've found it's a struggle to find a good wave on most of my boards. In crap conditions though lately the pnator has still given me a good ride or two in an hour (just get wet) session.

[STC67]

I have the 6'0 and I'm at 185 six foot solid intermediate. In mellow, mushy, slower, smaller waves I've been happy with the volume. I have begun to wonder if I should have gone to the 5'10 but I have had a hard time convincing myself that I should go to a volume number lower than my 6'2 dominator. I had the 6'0 pnator in fun, easy drop shoulder to head high waves last weekend and the Pnator ripped. Just before the swell peaked I was happy I had the pnator and not the dom or hellfire. The waves had a little punch but they were backing off a bit due to the tide. The volume on the pnator helped me get into a few fun stomach high lefts and rights. When the swell peaked an hour later I still felt very solid. I'm sure with another year under my belt I can downsize to the 5'10 but for now I'm glad I have the extra volume. I bought the board to replace my fishes that had volume too. It's def outperforming those boards in better waves. Like any shortboard when the waves get junky I pull out my log, sweet potato or just stay home. I still think it's a board meant for good small to medium waves. When it has gotten dumpy and junky I've found it's a struggle to find a good wave on most of my boards. In crap conditions though lately the pnator has still given me a good ride or two in an hour (just get wet) session.

For me this is a perfect definition of my experience with the Pnator. In waist to head high nice waves that are not pitching, it is so much fun. When it gets bumpy or dumpy, I pull out the Addvance

[iggy]

Side to side comparison between the 5'8" Spit and the 5'8" Pnator...just to put things in perspective
104310441045

[Chris]

yeah iggy!!!

Looking good!!!

[Fazza]

Hey Fazza, had a couple of surfs on the pn now and well, wow! I went for a 6.0 at the end because I had a spinal fusion and still have a few problems, one is getting up on the board. Problem solved now. I thought the dom had great flow but the pn is unbelievable , even if you stuff up you just keep the speed or creat it very easy, and yet it still has great response. And the great thing is even with that extra volume. It really is super easy fun surfing that will only make me get better. I had the R2 quads in worked well, might try the power base fins next which I liked more on the dom.

Spawne

Glad it is working for you its a magic board.

[OceanMindedBoy]

hey iggy, isn't the PN too much volume for you? Just wondering?

[iggy]

Yup, it is an overvolumed board, but when hitting the small weak waves of the East Coast on a 6/5/4 with boots and gloves all that extra comes in handy. For what we get here is a session saver.

[prjwebb]

Has it taken over your Sweet Potato now Iggy or do they both get a work out?

[Bumper]

I'm having a bit of a dilemma. Although I have had alot of fun rides and sessions on my 6'0 Im wondering If I'd be better on the 5 10. I ordered mine so I didn't get a chance to compare boards. My first impression was that it was thicker than I thought it would be. I'm 6 185 maybe a bit more in winter especially with a 543. I'm very very happy with my 6 2 Dom and recently downsized from a 58 sp to a 56 without missin a beat. It def seems a bit more responsive than the 5 8. In the water the pnator sits just above my belly button. I don't know if the volume is influencing my surfing. When the waves are good the board had been spot on but stull feels overly floaty compared to my sp When I have to work a little harder to get up and on the board or keep it on rail in choppier waves I become a bit inconsistent. (i blow a drop or two or dig a rail on a bottom turn). . This is not the case with my sp or fishes in small to medium waves regardless of wave quality. Again good waves = good smooth surfing on the pnator so I'm not sure what to think but the thickness does seem to be a bit too much. Anyway if I drop to the 5 10 will it make sense. My Dom is 38l and the 510 is 36.7. Why would the pnator be better In small waves if the volume is 2 liters less. I picked up the pnator primarily for 2 to 3 ft so I figured 40l of volume would help out. Now I think it's hindering my performance Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[FW - Fan]

Bumper not sure how old you are or surfing ability but I am 41 and intermediate...and 185+ and ride the 5'8 PN. In my view you should probably be on the 5'10 or maybe the 5'8 depending on experience, age and fitness.

[iggy]

Has it taken over your Sweet Potato now Iggy or do they both get a work out?
I still keep the potato for when I need to fit the board on little pockets and go over sections. That's the beauty of it!!, she fits anywhere on the wave. Now when teh wave gets a bit better I take te pnator.. But for sure they both overlap at some point, hence the difference is size. Love the squirty feeling on the smaller potato.
So yeah they both share the love and quality time in the water ;)
Life was definitely simpler back in the days when you had a 1 maybe 2 boards quiver (due to financial matters of course). Today there boards for any condition, fins for every board for every condition etc etc etc

[spawne]

Hey FW- Fan, did u get my email. Icant work how to send a private message.

[FW - Fan]

Hey FW- Fan, did u get my email. Icant work how to send a private message. No mate .. hit me up again . thanks

[kreidel]

Bumper not sure how old you are or surfing ability but I am 41 and intermediate...and 185+ and ride the 5'8 PN. In my view you should probably be on the 5'10 or maybe the 5'8 depending on experience, age and fitness.

Do you feel that riding the PN at such a low volume for your weight hurts the wave catching ability in smaller weaker stuff since it was designed for that? The reason I ask is I am looking at which PN or SP to get and am in that weight range, 40yrs old with intermediate skills.

[FW - Fan]

Do you feel that riding the PN at such a low volume for your weight hurts the wave catching ability in smaller weaker stuff since it was designed for that? The reason I ask is I am looking at which PN or SP to get and am in that weight range, 40yrs old with intermediate skills.

I view the PN as a waist to head high + board and the SP for everything under that. I dont miss many on either.

[Bumper]

Fw fan

I'm 41 and a solid intermediate. In good waves I look better. The 510 should be great in better waves. I just worry that it might be harder to get into weaker smaller stuff. That's why I went with the pn. The 60 has actually felt better in bigger better waves than in the junky smaller stuff. Hoping the smaller board won't dig the rail so much in the chop or feel so tipsy in onshore waves. I love the paddle power of the 60 but it's just too boaty. Doesn't feel this way when it's clean. Why would the 510 at 36l be better in smaller waves than the 62 Dom at 38l?

[Bumper]

Fw fan. FYI

When I mean small I mean waist or stomach. Like u, under waist I too ride the sp.

[prjwebb]

I don't even have that great results with my sweet potato under waist high. To be fair the waves here don't really do anything when it's smaller than that. Either they race off way too fast to surf or hold up in a soft lump until they lap up on the shore line.
There's a couple of other beaches around that shape up a smaller swell better, but when they are waist high or below, my local would be chest high or so.

[surferireland]

Bumper there is always a dilemma on whether you have the right size and volume for the conditions, I'm around 90kg / 200lbs and have a 510 nator on the way I hope to be down to 83kg in a few months as I think at my current weight I'll be on the limit of weight to volume...

[Bumper]

Bumper there is always a dilemma on whether you have the right size and volume for the conditions, I'm around 90kg / 200lbs and have a 510 nator on the way I hope to be down to 83kg in a few months as I think at my current weight I'll be on the limit of weight to volume...


Let us know how it goes. Just had it out in clean fast waist to stomach somewhat closing out session and it went well. I'll keep on it through winter. Im sure more time on it will only help. By next spring I I'll be ready to downsize. Want fst eventually anyway. Right now im on the rapid fire. Like I said I don't worry about the 36 liter board once im in good waves it's getting into the junkier stuff or the faster stuff when I might want that extra foam. More time on the 6 0 should make the transition to the 5 10 alot easier. Same thing happened to my sp. had no problem going down a size to the 5 6 after spending a year and a half on the 5 8. Funny thing is the 5 6 sp is 36 l. The 510 pn will still have a touch more volume than that. I guess it's sometimes about where the volume is than how much.

[Bumper]

Actually the sp is 38l. Still pretty close though.

[FW - Fan]

Fw fan

I'm 41 and a solid intermediate. In good waves I look better. The 510 should be great in better waves. I just worry that it might be harder to get into weaker smaller stuff. That's why I went with the pn. The 60 has actually felt better in bigger better waves than in the junky smaller stuff. Hoping the smaller board won't dig the rail so much in the chop or feel so tipsy in onshore waves. I love the paddle power of the 60 but it's just too boaty. Doesn't feel this way when it's clean. Why would the 510 at 36l be better in smaller waves than the 62 Dom at 38l?

Bumper its not all strictly about volume..the whole volume thing is a bit over rated in my view. You can have 2 boards of the same volume board but if one is wider with more nose area it will out paddle the other every day...one up and riding you often dont want volume, particularly forward volume which will make the board surf flatter so it all a bit of an equation with many variables. If I were you and wanted to perform better on smaller waves I would go the 5'10 PN but if you were happy to catch more waves and perform at the lower end then stick with the 6'2 Dom as that will out paddle the PN all day due to having better planning area up front. Hope that helps.

[Bumper]

Fw fan

Thanks. I definitely agree. It all made sense when I compared the sp 5 6 and the 5 10 pn volume. I'll be downsizing soon. I think the 5 10 will feel more like its attached to my feet. That's what happened when I went from the 5 8 sp to the 5 6. I really don't think I'll notice the paddle power difference with the 5 10 and 6 0 pn. Maybe in the thigh high stuff but I didn't get the pnator for that. I think the pn is built for getting into weak or punchy waist to chest waves as Long as I don't go below my volume number. It has me at 36 on the low end and 40 on the High end. Sp at 38 floats me just fine in thigh high junk. Pn at 36.7 should be perfect in waist plus not to mention once up and riding I'll have better control and maneuverability. I'll put it up for sale over the winter when my days in the water are more limited. Usually ride my Dom much more as the waves get punchier and more powerful. thanks again. Chris, if u get a chance to read the thread I'd love to hear your input.

[surferireland]

Hi Bumper, Ill have the 5'10 out this weekend - nationals are on & Ill be competing - surf looks like its going to favour the nator

[Chris]

thanks for all the good input folks!!