Author Topic: Laird SUP gun  (Read 6180 times)

Josh

  • Malibu Status
  • **
  • Posts: 68
    • View Profile
    • Email
Laird SUP gun
« on: January 15, 2019, 04:27:05 PM »
Hello SUP’ers,

Curious if anyone has paddled/surfed a Laird SUP gun? If so, can you provide some thoughts on performance, paddling, speed, stability... I currently have a 8’10” Laird Surrator which I love but want something with a little more paddle speed for when some of the far reefs break by my house.

Thanks,

Josh

Area 10

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 4057
    • View Profile
Re: Laird SUP gun
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2019, 05:51:56 PM »
They look great. They look narrow. But they also look low volume, and this may compromise their paddling speed and ease.

I’d still love one though. But have you tried a Jimmy Lewis Bombora? It would be an obvious choice for what you are talking about, I’d think. The 12’0″x27.5″x4.5″ (165L) one is a great board for getting to offshore reefs and bombies. But there are shorter ones too, and they might be a little more comfortable than the Laird to surf in poor conditions.

Josh

  • Malibu Status
  • **
  • Posts: 68
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Laird SUP gun
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2019, 06:54:51 PM »
Thanks for the JL recommendation Area10. The board looks similar to the Laird, just wider, which might be better  The 12’ seems like it would be a good option. The 10’6” is 1” wider than the 12’. Tough decision.

Area 10

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 4057
    • View Profile
Re: Laird SUP gun
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2019, 12:19:49 AM »
Thanks for the JL recommendation Area10. The board looks similar to the Laird, just wider, which might be better  The 12’ seems like it would be a good option. The 10’6” is 1” wider than the 12’. Tough decision.
You are welcome. I tried one after having already bought one of the classic PSH 12ft guns. The PSH is wider so more stable, and better for me in chop because my balance is poor. But the JL was a monster for getting into waves, better for late drops, and was easier to control in medium-sized waves. I think if Jimmy made one that was an inch or two wider he’d have sold bucketloads of them, to people who want an all-round small-wave-tour-outer reef type board. But he’s kept the design more for the serious bombora-hunter, perhaps.

The JL construction is soooo good, and they look gorgeous in the flesh. It’s really a board you can be proud of to have under your arm. The 12fter feels smaller than that in the water, and would be the one I’d go for - my offshore waves are fat and slow and never get particularly big. So it’s nice to be able to get into them early, and cover some serious ground in the session, without being knackered by the time I’ve paddled the mile to get out there.

805StandUp

  • Sunset Status
  • ****
  • Posts: 401
    • View Profile
Re: Laird SUP gun
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2019, 08:39:11 AM »
I surf the 8'10 Surrator too and love it!  I have wondered about the Laird Gun too (so it will be interesting if anyone responds) especially since there was a point after Nidecker dropped Laird where they were being cleared out for low prices but I didn't get myself to pull the trigger.  There is a JL sale going on.  Maybe you can get one of his guns for 50% off...

Josh

  • Malibu Status
  • **
  • Posts: 68
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Laird SUP gun
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2019, 11:49:17 AM »
Yeah, the Laird and JL Guns look similar. I like that the JL boards are a bit wider. I don’t think staying on the Laird would be an issue when it’s clean out but stability might become an issue when it gets lumpy. Determining the right size is rough. The off shore reefs by my house can produce some size but it’s not a super steep wave so I’m contemplating the JL 12’ so I can have some speed to catch the wave early or if it gets mushy or a section flattens out I will have the speed to carry through. Wish I could demo both boards and different size to make the correct choice.

Area 10

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 4057
    • View Profile
Re: Laird SUP gun
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2019, 03:47:03 PM »
IMO all the brands should have a 12ft (or maybe even 12-6) gunny-shape board in their range. They are simply so versatile - in many ways they are more versatile than your standard 11ft spoon-nosed all-rounder that they all sell. People are still seeking PSH 12ft Guns, even after all these years since they were available. And guns just look so incredibly gorgeous...

Naish used to make one, back in the day. But they overdid the rocker on it, for most applications.
« Last Edit: January 17, 2019, 03:48:57 PM by Area 10 »

Luc Benac

  • Teahupoo Status
  • ******
  • Posts: 1872
  • Super Natural British Columbia
    • View Profile
    • When not paddling...
    • Email
Re: Laird SUP gun
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2019, 04:34:12 PM »
A post on the Breeze back to 2009:
https://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/The-real-Gun?page=1

I hope that I never get seriously into SUP surf and I stay happy with the Nalu in small sloppy waves. SO many boards.........it looks like a $$$ bottomless pit.
Sunova Allwater 14'x25.5" 303L Viento 520
Sunova Torpedo 14'x27" 286L Salish 500
Naish Nalu 11'4" x 30" 180L Andaman 520
Sunova Steeze 10' x 31" 150L
Blackfish Paddles

RideTheGlide

  • Peahi Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 620
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Laird SUP gun
« Reply #8 on: January 17, 2019, 05:22:35 PM »
A post on the Breeze back to 2009:
https://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/The-real-Gun?page=1

I hope that I never get seriously into SUP surf and I stay happy with the Nalu in small sloppy waves. SO many boards.........it looks like a $$$ bottomless pit.

I day dream of really getting into it, but I want open ocean touring more and I spent my recent allowance on that. TBH, as far as surfing goes I should probably just get a Wavestorm and call it a day. It would probably not hold me back; more likely the other way around. We mostly get small waves in NC. Lots of days I can probably enjoy them on my battleship. But if a gun or gun like board was available at a crazy cheap price I would jump on it. You do see some ridiculous prices on CL and FB sometimes; people have boards gifted or whatever and have no idea what they are worth.
2017 GoPlus 9'9"
2018 Hydro-Force fastblast 12'6"
2019 BKC 12'

exiled

  • Peahi Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 533
    • View Profile
Re: Laird SUP gun
« Reply #9 on: January 17, 2019, 05:31:44 PM »
Yeah, I ended up with my Naish 11'6 gun like that. Someone had it forever, never used it, then listed it for cheap. Like the linked post mentions, its got a ton of rocker, more than needed for most applications. I still think the PSH gun is the gold standard in sup guns. I loved my 10'6 PSH gun too, but the bamboo construction on those boards was dodgy.

Badger

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 2662
  • Seacoast NH
    • View Profile
Re: Laird SUP gun
« Reply #10 on: January 18, 2019, 05:40:38 AM »
King's Triple Treat looks interesting.

https://www.kingspaddlesports.com/collections/surf/products/triple-threat?variant=29516577925

King's really needs to upgrade to a better handle IMO. Those old fashioned FCS handles are useless with gloves/mitts. I think you can have any handle you want if you go custom.
Kalama E3 6'1 x 23" 105L
Axis HPS 980 / PNG 1300
Sunova Flow  8'10 X 31"  119L
Me - 6'0" - 165lbs - 66yo

Area 10

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 4057
    • View Profile
Re: Laird SUP gun
« Reply #11 on: January 18, 2019, 06:29:20 AM »
King's Triple Treat looks interesting.

https://www.kingspaddlesports.com/collections/surf/products/triple-threat?variant=29516577925

King's really needs to upgrade to a better handle IMO. Those old fashioned FCS handles are useless with gloves/mitts. I think you can have any handle you want if you go custom.
Nice board, but it doesn’t look very “gunny” to me.

805StandUp

  • Sunset Status
  • ****
  • Posts: 401
    • View Profile
Re: Laird SUP gun
« Reply #12 on: January 18, 2019, 09:46:59 AM »
Yeah, the Laird and JL Guns look similar. I like that the JL boards are a bit wider. I don’t think staying on the Laird would be an issue when it’s clean out but stability might become an issue when it gets lumpy. Determining the right size is rough. The off shore reefs by my house can produce some size but it’s not a super steep wave so I’m contemplating the JL 12’ so I can have some speed to catch the wave early or if it gets mushy or a section flattens out I will have the speed to carry through. Wish I could demo both boards and different size to make the correct choice.

As I understand it a lot of guns try to keep relatively low volume and narrower width.  The Laird Gun seems to fit this with its aggressive rocker, relatively narrow width and lower volume.  The challenge with the 8'10 Surrator is that that when it gets big it also gets choppy and windy sometimes.  If you are after stability and paddle speed and don't mind the increase in volume, while not a full gun length I have thought that the 9'10 Surrator might fit the bill...this is the size Laird used to shoot the pier in Malibu.  I owned it once and loved it but it was a little long for the point break I surf so traded it down for the 8'10... now am thinking it could have been good to have in my quiver for those big days.

mrbig

  • Cortez Bank Status
  • *****
  • Posts: 2465
    • View Profile
Re: Laird SUP gun
« Reply #13 on: January 18, 2019, 09:52:05 AM »
Dave can put any handle you want in there.

If it isn't gunny enough make it narrower.

I owned a 9'4" King's SS Model affectionately known as the Monsterpiece that didn't look like the one in the catalogue at all.

Carvomatic on the open face of DOH Hurricane and Noreaster swells.

Had no issues with the handle even with 7ml gloves.
Let it come to you..
SMIK 9'2" Hipster Mini Mal
SMIK 8'8" Short Mac Freo Rainbow Bridge
SMIK 8'4" Hipster Twin
King's 8'2" Accelerator SharkBoy

BrentP

  • Rincon Status
  • ***
  • Posts: 163
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Laird SUP gun
« Reply #14 on: January 18, 2019, 11:59:16 AM »
Talk about "guns" I don't want anything to do with these! SUPs for Kai.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsyTYP3jJcO/

 


SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal