Mark Raaphorst Interview – F-14, F-16 and New SUP Race Boards

Last month I interviewed Maui based shaper and surfer Mark Raaphorst, and he discussed the differences between the F14 and F16's along with other boards being used for downwinder stand up paddling. I shared with him my experience using the F16 while doing a downwinder and how the board became faster when it filled with water. He also gave some really good insight into downwind racing. I learned a lot.Transcript: (Scroll down to listen to the interview)Evan Leong: You guys have a new F-14 coming out right?Mark Raaphorst: YesEvan Leong: You know I look it up in the internet, it said that it's 20 lbs. vs. the 28 lbs. for the 16'. Is that accurate?Mark Raaphorst: No. That's 16' is around 26-27 lbs. (17:20). So it's gonna be around 20 or 21 lbs. People can have it with or without steering. It's gonna be an optional steering kit in there, and so the hard board (00:27:6) is the pounds, so without the steering is probably be around 20-21 (lbs.) and with the steering 22 (lbs.).Evan Leong: What's the difference then between F-14, 15, 16, 18, like what would you recommend? (00:42.5)Mark Raaphorst: There is no 15; there is no mold at 18. There are custom boards. It's got to be a hollow mold boards for the F14. At this point, there's only a 10, a 12 and 16 hallow. In the future there will be one more board for the 14. (0:01:01.8)Evan Leong: What's the difference then between 14 and 16 or is it just because the 14 is going to the stock? That stock class?Mark Raaphorst: 14 is 14, 16 is for the 16' in length and the 16' has a different bottom contour. The 14 is gonna have a single concave versus the 16 has a bit of double concave with some V (0:01:26.9) in there. The 14' is gonna have a drop deck of about 2 inches deep, quite a different board, it's got a lower rocker for the 14'. (0:01:38.2)Evan Leong: What would you recommend? 14' vs. 16', are there several conditions?Mark Raaphorst: Yes. Different conditions apply: if you have to go longer distances I'd go with a longer length, the 16' is probably the stock out there, 14 is more manageable, it's gonna be a little lighter if you're a big gentleman or a lady then 16 foot is better because it has higher volume than the 14.Evan Leong: And the 16 now you can get a drop deck too I saw it on the website (0:02:7.3)Mark Raaphorst: Yes.Evan Leong: Is that a molded one?Mark Raaphorst: That's molded. I basically created a big insert into the mold that sits in there.Evan Leong: Are you finding that more people are getting the drop deck?Mark Raaphorst: If people are willing to take a bit of a new approach, yes, but it makes the board a lot more stable with the drop deck.Evan Leong: Yesterday I did a downwinder from Hawaii Kai to Kaimana on F-16 and then it was really bumpy out by black point (0:02:56.9) I flipped over and the plug fell out at the back and then it filled a bit with water, and it's just like the hardest part of the run and I got water, but it made it faster.Mark Raaphorst: Sometimes is does.Evan Leong: I was having so much momentum at that point, it would punch through everything in the front and I just kept going, like it was my fastest split [time] so I was tripping out (0:03:21.1). It doesn't make sense.Mark Raaphorst: Well you might have been lucky with three compartments inside the board it might have been stuck in the center part, a lot of it. But if you have it on the side it makes the board tippier. It has three strong decks, one center and two where you're standing and maybe the water is stuck in that middle compartment. (0:03:46:.6)Evan Leong: I was draining it for a while when I got out of the water but I was surprised, the weight makes a difference. (0:03:53.2)Mark Raaphorst: Yes.Even Leong: But I've been trying to figure, it's the lightness, this carbon lightness that's been helping, I don't know. This whole downwinder thing is a bit tricky for me. What kind of advice do you ha