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
IMG_7570.jpgIMG_7571.jpgIMG_7561.jpg

[Chris]

yeah iggy!!!

Looking good!!!