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Thread: 5'10 or 5'8 Potatonator?

  1. #1
    Elite Slowman's Avatar
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    5'10 or 5'8 Potatonator?

    Is it better to have the pnator with a lot of volume or just around what you are normally using?

    My hellfire is 33.7L and my spitfire is 34.9L, the hellfire has heaps of volume and floats me well and the spitfire likewise but the extra volume is noticeable when duck diving!

    The 5'10 is 36.8L and the 5'8 is 33.9L I'm currently around 90kgs. Do I need this extra volume to ride 1' waves? The spitfire still goes OK in 1' but the pnator looks like it can go better and still handle some juice up to the takeover point of the hellfire.
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    5'8 RF Vanguard 32.2L FCS R2 quad
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    6'2 FST Jacknife 33.3L FCS PC quad front/rear TC Redlines/TC Aqualines
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  2. #2
    I dont think the PN is particularly a small wave board. I liked it most between 3-5 foot. BP for 2-4 for me.

  3. #3
    Elite Slowman's Avatar
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    The video gives me the impression it handles very small waves:
    Jesus is coming, look busy!
    Moving forward or just spinning faster? 6'0 90kg

    5'8 RF Vanguard 32.2L FCS R2 quad
    6'0 FST Dominator 34.8L FCS PC SF4 quad + stabiliser
    6'0 FST Spitfire 34.9L FCS PC R2 quad + stabiliser
    6'2 FST Jacknife 33.3L FCS PC quad front/rear TC Redlines/TC Aqualines
    6'2 FST Hellfire 33.7L FCS PC R2 quad + stabiliser (x 2, yes 1 here, 1 there!)
    6'4 FST Alternator 34.?L FCS PG7
    6'5 FST Hellrazor 33.5L FCS R2 quad + stabiliser
    6'7 FST Hellrazor 36.5L FCS R2 thruster

  4. #4
    Elite
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    Slowman,

    I'm riding my 506 PNator in 1-4ft surf depending on the waves. I had a 508 PNator which I found great to get into waves but found it a little bit harder to turn especially in a wave with a bit of juice due to the width. The 506 is 30.3lts which is around 1.5ltrs more than my other boards.

    I think if you want the board to perform better in smaller weaker waves go the 5'10. Having that little bit extra volume over the other boards will definaltely help you on the 1ft wave days.....the rocker is a lot flatter than your spitfire which you seem to be ok on in 1ft waves.

    There is always a trade off in going shorter even if the board has a lot of volume you still lose that plaining surface area in the length.
    68Kgs l 5'9 l 47Yrs Young
    5'6 FST Potatonator
    5'11 FST LSD Chubby Chedda
    6'0 FST Mini Driver
    5'6 WRF Vanguard - Ordered

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Slowman View Post

    The video gives me the impression it handles very small waves:
    Have you seen the kinds of boards that Pros get moving in small waves?? You only have to look at the US open to see Pros on very low volume boards riding surf the same size as this and getting enormous speed. For mortals like you and I we need more planing surface,volume and bigger waves. I wouldn't take this video as some kind of forecast on how it is going to surf for the average punter in similar sized waves.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Slowman View Post
    Is it better to have the pnator with a lot of volume or just around what you are normally using?

    My hellfire is 33.7L and my spitfire is 34.9L, the hellfire has heaps of volume and floats me well and the spitfire likewise but the extra volume is noticeable when duck diving!

    The 5'10 is 36.8L and the 5'8 is 33.9L I'm currently around 90kgs. Do I need this extra volume to ride 1' waves? The spitfire still goes OK in 1' but the pnator looks like it can go better and still handle some juice up to the takeover point of the hellfire.


    I got both sizes, had the 5'8 first surfed it about 4-5 times in nothing over waist high and went ok, but always had a gut feeling i should be up a size on all my boards (previous boards 5'10 spit,dom, 5'11 elf) so picked up a used 5'10 to try out and sell on if i dont like it. Havent surfed it yet but should do this week.

    The surf at my home break really weak waves nothing ever bigger than head high and thats pretty uncommon really and lots of long flat spells, so for that type of surf,fitness,weight i think it will go best....it will move better across flat sections better and keep up speed.

    Normall days are 2-3ft high tide wind swell so should be the business.

    Better waves with more punch 5'8 would be a keeper.
    6'0 Spitfire RF FCS PC-7

  7. #7
    Elite Firewire Liaison iggy's Avatar
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    Got mine a bit over and it feels just right. Surfing a 5'8" Spit and the 5'8"Pnator and pretty happy so far.
    This board works much better as a quad than as a thruster
    165cms 89Kgs dry...working on that at the moment...but not working!!! :)
    Potato 5'2" /Vanguard 5'6"/Potatonator 5'8"/ Spitfire 5'8" / Quadraflex 6'0" / Flexflight 9'0"
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  8. #8
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    Good to hear Iggy!!
    6'0 - 175lbs - 29yrs - SoCal -
    503 TG Baked Potato - 506 RF Potatonator - 506 WRF Vanguard - 510 FST Unibrow - 600 FST Michel Bourez - 600 FST Alternator - 602 FST Alternator Round - 603 FST Artillery
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  9. #9
    Elite Firewire Liaison iggy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chris View Post
    Good to hear Iggy!!
    Thanks for the advise Chris, you were right. That little extra foam works like a charm!!
    165cms 89Kgs dry...working on that at the moment...but not working!!! :)
    Potato 5'2" /Vanguard 5'6"/Potatonator 5'8"/ Spitfire 5'8" / Quadraflex 6'0" / Flexflight 9'0"
    Fins: Elevons, Solus, Controlllers, Jordy,AM2,

  10. #10
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    yeah especially because you want that board to be a go to in small surf...
    6'0 - 175lbs - 29yrs - SoCal -
    503 TG Baked Potato - 506 RF Potatonator - 506 WRF Vanguard - 510 FST Unibrow - 600 FST Michel Bourez - 600 FST Alternator - 602 FST Alternator Round - 603 FST Artillery
    Firewire Social: Facebook - Twitter - Vimeo - Youtube

    Hey All, use my Firewire email, [email protected] for emergency issues, not my forum inbox. However, please avoid contacting me directly with questions on choosing a board, just use the glorious forum. Cheers!

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