Topic: Kona Mini Tanker
I am wondering if there are Mini Tanker owners out there who have any experiences and /or conclusions to share about that board.
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Kona Mini Tanker
Posts: 9
Re: Kona Mini Tanker
Assuming that this is for sailing more than surfing have you considered one of the big shortboards - i.e., Starboard 122 Kode or and older Aero or an Exocet Cross? Are you replacing your 9'8"?
Re: Kona Mini Tanker
Sorry i never replied to your question in the thread. Kind of lost track of it. I wound up buying a minitanker, without testing it first. It isn't to replace my 9'8 but to fill a gap in my quiver, which is a 120-135liter light air wave type board that can also be ridden powered up on an 8.0 in flat water. In waves I would use a 6.9 Ezzy wave with it, sometimes a 6.3. Powered up 6.3 and below I can go down to my JP 91liter RWW.
Since I have the Minitanker I still haven't spent enough TOW to decide if I like it or not. Initially I was very put off by the way step tail affected the handling in jibes. I feel its different than most other boards and requires a deliberate change in ingrained habits to master. I am still waiting for the proper conditions to try it out now that I think I have it better dialed in. In case I decide I still don't like it I will be looking for a replacement, and the boards mentioned above would probably be where I would look. I recently heard that RRD is coming out with some new boards in this range. Then there is the Real Wind 135 or the HiFly 135 twinfin, which I had and now wish I hadn't sold.
Re: Kona Mini Tanker
I have a basically brand new Aero 117 if you're interested in trying it. The winds are so light down here in SD that my 9'8" Element has become my "go to" board & the Aero just collects dust.
Re: Kona Mini Tanker
Surely sometimes the conditions in SD are good enough for a short board. Would you give up shortboarding altogether? I would love to try the Aero sometime, but I'm still hoping I can warm up to the Minitanker if I get some good days on it. In an other forum I saw a prototype of a new RRD SUP that is 8'5" and comes with straps, sounds like another potential candidate. Although I am now convinced that sailable SUP's are not substitutes for light air planeing boards. If they were I would just use my 9'8".
Here is how I break it down: 0-10mph wind and waves=SUP+paddle
10-15mph wind and waves=SUP+6.3sail
15-18mph wind and waves=120l board+6.9 or 6.3sail
15-18mph wind NO waves=120l board+8.0 or 6.9sail
18-25mph wind=91l board and appropriate sail
25+mph wind=85l board
This of course is for ocean sailing in SoCal. My Gorge quiver is appropriate for the conditions there.
Re: Kona Mini Tanker
It's pretty rare to get a short board day. I've also got an Evo 80 (never used) that I'm planning on getting rid of. I'll consolidate 2 boards into one - probably pick up something in the 90 to 95 liter range. That new Quad looks pretty cool!
Most days, I can just take the Element to the beach with a 5.8 and a paddle and just decide on the spot which one looks better. So, I'm basically:
0 - 15 Element
15+ I'll let you know when it happens!
That new Hero looks interesting, too. I briefly had a Whopper this summer and, although I appreciated the stability, I would paddle and paddle and paddle and still miss waves - just too much work to get it up to speed.
I'm headed down to surf Shipwrecks for the weekend. There was so much wind forecast that I was thinking that I would have to bring the Evo, too, but they just cut back the forecast. Now I feel comfortable just sticking with my Element one board quiver!
Re: Kona Mini Tanker
Don't sell the Aero before letting me know. I would be interested in principle, as an alternative to the MT.
Re: Kona Mini Tanker
hey laszlo -
i sent you an email, but never heard back. did you change your email address? sorry to say, but i got a good offer and sold my aero. i got a deal on a quad which showed up last week, so i've got an '06 evo 80 for sale if you're interested. want to pop down here one of these days & do a day to raul's? bring a paddle and a sail and see what the conditions dictate? when i went in november, my friends and i were the only ones in the water.
Re: Kona Mini Tanker
Good for you that you sold your board. I am still giving the Minitanker some more time, and each time I get to use it I wind up liking it better. Some boards feel totally dialed in when you first get on them and some take longer, I guess. My email hasn't changed. The next time I get a chance to go to San Diego I'll bring all my toys.
Posts: 9
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