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Heather Baus introduced me to Nick Leason at MHL Customs back in October and he went to work on my 14 foot stand up paddle race board, 5 weeks later I was on the water. Everyone who has stepped on to that board the first thing that they say is how solid and stable the board is.
Mid November Nick and I started discussing building an unlimited SUP board and he went to work on a new design for me. So many things to consider when buying a custom SUP board, fin set up, fin box placement, length, width and most importantly what color to paint the stick.
The unlimited SUP class on the east coast has never really taken off and I think a lot has to do with availability and perception. When I ordered my custom 17.6 x 28 wide board from MHL I had a lot of people questioned two decisions I made.
One was to go rudderless and the second was getting a board that big. The size of the board did not bother me but no rudder holly crap how would I turn the board? What about tracking in a side wind or chop? Would I spend my time fighting to keep it on track? I spent a lot of time discussing my decision to go rudderless with Nick and we turned to the finoligist Larry Allison from Allison Race Fins. His solution was use the Sub Dagger fin system which would give me the track I wanted especially in a side wind or chop along with a few other positives.
The main ingredient for Larry’s formula that has been tried unsuccessfully several times before by other board and fin companies is fin design along with box placement be used together. Question is how easily would it turn? The board tracks extremely well but does not stick. The sub dagger fin allows me to get about 30 strokes per side with no issues.
My biggest fear was not being able to turn efficiently but I was amazed how easily the board responded with the sub dagger in place. I was able to steer the board by going rail to rail much like being on my surf board as well as using my stroke.
Funny how things come full circle, last December I was having a different 14 foot custom stand up paddleboard being built and Larry tried his best to get me to put the sub dagger system in the 14. Well I listened to this world class shaper who convinced me not to do it. Wished I had listened to Larry then.
For the past week I have been playing with different fins in the rear and with the sub dagger in and out trying to find the fastest combination possible. Larry is working on a new rear fin that I will update you all in the next month or so.
Make no mistake the MHL boards are super stable regardless of fin system you install in the board. One positive byproduct of the sub dagger is how it controls the lateral movement of the board. You can walk front to back, side to side, stand almost on the tail it remains really stable which is a function of Nick’s design combined with the sub dagger.
The balance point of the board is dead center unlike my prior custom boards on which I had to move forward of center to keep the nose in contact with the water. I thought it would take a lot of effort to get this 17.6 x 28 board moving and I was amazed how easily I got it up to hull speed. The glide is incredible during your recovery stroke and the MHL has an awesome secondary stability.
Tournament director get ready I can see a real growth in the unlimited class here on East Coast over the next year. Yea you’re not going to throw it on a plane and fly to the BOP but my board is as easy to transport and store as my 14. Bottom line on the MHL unlimited it is all carbon, fast and very stable quality board that turns easily and has an awesome glide. If you try one you will most likely buy one!
Here’s another board with the dagger setup: A post by Pope.
Thanks to Nick and Larry you guys are awesome. Keep pushing the envelop somebody needs too.
MHL Customs 787-609-6198
Allison Race Fins 310-530-1383
Pope Out!
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