bic techno classic m 112 L

Question
QUESTION: Patrick,

My main board is a refinished 112 custom rouge wave slalom 1997.
Sail range 5.0-6.7. I enjoy sailing this board as it is light %26 quiet but I suspect I could be better off on a more "plug a play" type free ride board as I am intermediate who probably makes only 10-15% of jibes on the rouge wave. I have an older bic veloce 157 l %26 make a majority of jibes on the bic.

I suspect my ability to get better on the rouge wave is hampered b/c this is an older style board, it has lower volume %26 it is more technical. I just want to sail(plane quickly) when I am on the water %26 want to make jibes more often than not.  

Would a bic techno classic m 112 L have enough of a modern shape to do this compared to the rouge wave, or do I just need to spend more time on my 157 l veloce and work on jibes? Does the shape make a difference in this case? I could use the fins from the veloce on the techno %26 there are some good prices on the boards right now. I just do not want to get caught up in buying an older style board(techno) if newer styles make sailing significantly easier. I think I may be able to get a better sail range from the bic 112 l %26 have sails ranging from 3.7,4.2,4.7,5.1,6.1,6.7 %26 7.5.(I have some other smaller, older boards but do not sail them too often.

Thanks.

Steve A.
205 LB
NC Coast Harkers Island/Beaufort/Hatteras- weekends when time permits)

ANSWER: You need a lot of wind for a 112 liter board at your weight. Smaller boards do take more skill and practice to learn to jibe.  That being said you may be able to improve your jibes by experimenting with different shape fins. The English magazine Boards has fins size calculator.  See link below.

http://www.boards.co.uk/equipment/finsize_calc.asp

If you do not have one already, I would try a slightly raked, curved fin using the correct fin size as calculated by the fin size calculator.

Try this first before buying a new or new used board.

I still sail my 125liter custom hollow race board that was designed and made over 15 years ago and I can still go as fast as the newer designs.

While the newer boards do have some major improvements, it may not always be the fault of the board that is holding you back from achieving what you want to be able to do.

Hope this helps.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Patrick,

As a follow up, the fin I've primarily been using is a weed fin that is very raked with no curve whatsoever. How does using this type of fin affect the ability to jibe?

Thanks.

Answer
Actually the weed fin should jibe better than a more vertical fin but not as well as a curved fin.  If the rogue wave is a wave board that is also an easier to jibe shape so if jibing is your main concern,  I do not think a newer board with more volume is the real answer.  Whenever I get a new/used board it takes a lot of practice to get my jibes wired on the new board.  I tend to practice jibes on the new board a lot before I feel comfortable sailing in high wind with it.  My advice would be to keep your current board and spend more time practicing on it.  Unless you think the board is compromised in some way (taking on water and getting too heavy) just spend more time getting it wired.