C4 Waterman Vortice XP Carbon Fiber--Feedback wanted

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Permalink Reply by GreatDane on June 14, 2008 at 1:40pm

I have owned the C4 Vortice (not the XP) for one month now. As far as I know they have almost identical dimensions, but with a 8 pound weight difference? I weigh 180 lbs and am 6'2". So far I have not had it in very big conditions. My best paddle on it so far was 7 miles with 10mph winds at my back and 2-3 foot waves rolling under me. I have nothing but good things to say about this board. It is definitely designed for ocean conditions... it has a huge amount of rocker. I suspect it is not the ideal hull design for flat water/lake speed. It will still be faster than a standard SUP, but I believe there are some other designs out there better suited for flat water cruising. This board wants to go fast and wants a paddler who can maintain a powerful, sustained stroke. Once you start connecting waves, it just takes off. It is also very stable, which surprised me. It is 2.5 inches narrower than my surfing SUP but seems more stable. I am sure this is due to its super high volume (this thing is thick) and length and most importantly the double concave bottom profile. I would love to be able to ride some other race boards for comparison, but as this is probably the only race board of any kind within about 400 miles, that hasn't been an option. The XP will be lighter of course and will be faster downwind, but remember that it will also be more affected by side winds and the lighter paddler could be blown all over the place. Good luck, I don't think you will be sorry. The only board that is faster right now(that isn't custom) might be the F16, but it was out of my price range. And then of course there is the whole rudder vs. no rudder discussion....

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Permalink Reply by Liz on June 15, 2008 at 2:24pm

Hey thanks for the info. I will try to digest this in the next few weeks.

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Permalink Reply by Thomas Hendron on August 31, 2008 at 10:22am

Talk with Wardog at Surfingsports in santa barbara to get feed back on the Starboard distance board, "The Point" http://surfingsports.com/starboard_distance_sup/index.html

I'm interested in these open ocean boards too. Like to see a head to head between a C4 and the starboard, see what differences there are between fixed fin and rudder fin.

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Permalink Reply by GreatDane on August 31, 2008 at 10:35am

If you are really going to be in good size swells, then I would recommend the Vortice... but if you are paddling any thing smaller than 3 footers or flat, I would explore other boards with less rocker. The Vortice has tons of rocker that tends to "push" water and not glide on top of it. IMO. It flies in big stuff, but is average in small stuff. The new cruising board by Bark (see Surftech) looks like a fast ride too. Mahalo...

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Permalink Reply by Thomas Hendron on August 31, 2008 at 12:41pm

Also there is the F-16 Here are a few links on this point to Point board

http://web.mac.com/s.i.c/http%3A__web.mac.com_s.i.c_iWeb_S.I.C.20st...

http://www.standuppaddlesurf.net/2007/11/11/f-16-stand-up-paddle-ra...

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Permalink Reply by Buzz Lail on April 25, 2010 at 7:57am

Recently got a standard C-4 Vortice for distance, have had it on Lake Michigan and flatwater rivers in calm conditions and high wind. Really a fantastic board. Have had it in small surf as well and like the handling. Never tried the carbon model, but I would guess that the light weight might have good and bad points.

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