Post number : #1 Topic :  exo wave85 vs UW 78 Date :  3/21/2007 5:03:25 PM Author : jack looking for an upgrade in my medium to high wind board.....have a chnce to get a closeout on a uw 78 2006 but i have also been looking at the new exo 85...... i sail the great lakes and the east coast.....the conditions can get big and narly on lake erie and produce some decent swells as well....shore break can sometimes be difficult....booth these boards get great reviews, trying to choose between the two is confusing.....the exo wave seems to be a little better for my purpose but at4oo$ more the uw78 may be the ticket...... i weigh 185, my smallest sail i would put on this board would be a 4.0 and wouldn't mind being able to sail it with a 5.5 , but have a 105 litter Sumo that handles well in the mid 5's any help with this confused mind of mine would be great....   Post number : #2 Date :  3/23/2007 5:13:06 PM Author : WARDOG Hi Jack, That shouldn't be a very confusing decision... You are not a lightweight @ 185lbs...prolly over 190+lbs with wetsuit and harness on... VOLUME IS YOUR FRIEND... You listed sailing venues as being GL...then East Coast... Tells me, it's mostly GL...fresh H20...less float... VOLUME IS YOUR FRIEND... I'm very familiar with both boards... http://surfingsports.com/images/exocet_uw78_2005.jpg http://surfingsports.com/images/exocet_uw78_1.jpg http://surfingsports.com/images/exocet_uw78_2.jpg http://surfingsports.com/images/exocet_uw78_3.jpg http://surfingsports.com/images/exocet_uw78_4.jpg http://surfingsports.com/images/exo_wave_85_deck.jpg http://surfingsports.com/images/exo_wave_85_bottom.jpg http://surfingsports.com/images/exo_wave_85_nose.jpg http://surfingsports.com/images/exo_wave_85_volume.jpg I replaced my ExoWave 85 with the new USurf 84...and am riding my ExoWave 95 & 105 Pros until their replacements come later this year... I sold my UWave 88...but, kept the UW 78 as a higher wind board... http://www.surfingsports.com/exocet_usurf84/index.html http://www.surfingsports.com/exocet_waveboards/index.html http://surfingsports.com/images/quiver_wave.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/cali_march/slides/cali_march16.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/super_freaks/slides/cali_superfreak.jpg The ExoWave 85 is pretty much a one-design from 4.0m2 - 6.2m2... Just like it's predecessor the OWave II 85...and the Owave I 85... http://www.surfingsports.com/images/owave_105_85.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/images/exocet_m85_03.jpg If you are on a budget...and it sounds like you are...then consider the OWave II 85 that we have on closeout, for $949USD...marked down from $1399... Very similar to the ExoWave... A few more pics comparing OWave II...ExoWave...and Cross I... http://www.surfingsports.com/santa_barbara_windsurf/slides/sb_exocets.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/images/exocetwave.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/images/exocetwave2.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/images/exocetwave3.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/images/exocetwave4.jpg More info and pics... http://www.surfingsports.com/exocet_05.asp Don't know if that's Rx for a confused mind...prolly, coulda made it worse...;-) Warm winds, good waves, & strong strokes...{:~) WARDOG http://surfingsports.com   Post number : #3 Date :  3/25/2007 4:35:15 PM Author : jack Wardog, thanks for all the info......and photos.... a few questions for you or any one wo cares to chime in.... how similar and in what ways different are exo wave and original wave85 in how they sail and perform? also.....what type winds are you talking about that you use with your uw78 in? does the extra width in this board compensate for the decrease in volume? i guess i should have also stated that the board i plan on replacing is a mistral wave 256. does exocet plan on replacing the exo wave for 08? thanks for all your help   Post number : #4 Date :  3/25/2007 5:18:16 PM Author : WARDOG Hi Jack, The ExoWave and OWave II are pretty similar...anyone riding an OW II that jumped on an ExoWave would feel right at home...plug & play... They are a little shorter and wider...and are also offered in a lighter, "Pro", construction... Shorter and wider equate to less "nose wag"...less windage...tighter turning radius...a little more stability under foot with more efficient placement of volume...they seem to plane up a bit earlier...and wider planform seems to make for higher and loftier jumping...and aerials... http://www.surfingsports.com/jalama_goes_off/slides/jalama_wd_airtime4.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/jalama_may/slides/jalama_wd1.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/jalama_may/slides/jalama_wd_airtime1.jpg Yes, the ExoWave will be changing for '08... We're excited about getting them late Summer/Early Fall... My guess is tasteful change in graphics...and incorporation of the faceted squash tail that is utilized on the '07 USurf and '07 Cross II...because, IT WORKS!!! http://www.surfingsports.com/exocet_usurf84/index.html http://www.surfingsports.com/exocet_cross/index.html One of the comforting things about Exocet brand, from a consumer standpoint...is that year to year changes are going to show incremental improvements...they have a history of not putting out half-baked products...except, maybe the Commando...which was an excellent idea...but, poor execution in plastic...this was totally rectified by the Kona concept... I use the UW 78 in high winds...for me, that's 4.0m2 - 4.5m2... I hold on to my 4.2m2 in over 50mph... http://www.surfingsports.com/cali_march/index.html Here is the wind graph this day... http://www.surfingsports.com/images/cali_march_wind.jpg Here is Brian Caserio riding my UW 78 in 4.5m2/5.0m2 conditions: http://www.surfingsports.com/brian_caserio/slides/cali_bc_026.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/brian_caserio/slides/cali_bc_09.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/brian_caserio/slides/cali_bc_023.jpg Width does compensate some...had a conversation yesterday with a very stoked UW 88 wavesailing client, who sails his with a 6.2m2 in light air here in Cali...at 190 lbs...without wetsuit and harness...so, obviously you could do mid-5m2's on the UW 78... "shore break can sometimes be difficult"... hmmmmmm...I heard once from a guy by the name of Robbie Somethingoranother...that...VOLUME IS YOUR FRIEND...;-) Warm winds, good waves, & strong strokes...{:~) WARDOG http://surfingsports.com   *Name : Email : *Message :