Pro tech 300 vs F@ Thomen 305

[John Snyder]

Ok, now there's another board on the scene [used big boards in my area
and price range], the F2 Thomen 305 any ideas on the F2 compared to
the Pro Tech?
sj99

[B. T.]

If it is at all possible, test ride the boards in the conditions for
which you would be selecting it. About the same time the Thomen 305
came out, I owned a Xantos 305. The Xantos was supposed to be more
durable than the racer aimed Thomen. The Xantos didn't have a Tuttle
box and for me, the OEM box didn't keep the fin firm enough. I think
the Thomen had a Tuttle box (I might be wrong), but they also had a
reputation for being fragile while being incredibly fast under fully
powered planing conditions.

[John Snyder]

Not interested in which is faster, just which is more durable and
sailable, the PT is only $200 and the F2 is $300, last year I looked
at a few of those Xantos boards in that range, but by the time I
decided to get one they were gone.
I don't know from finboxes
sj99

[GrafJ450]

I had the Thommen F2 305. Very fast from 7.0 to 9.5 conditions. And you'll need
a deviator.....they are quite fragile,
but not too much of a problem if you are careful. They fly until wind and chop
come up too much then those big rails catch and its unrideable for mere
mortals. You'll want to switch boards if are in more than about 22 knots of
wind. Powerbox, actually. No problems with fins to 52cm.
I thought it worked really well for San Diego and average days at
Cabrillo. Stronger winds...Nope. But not a bad range for a high volume board.

[GrafJ450]

>Not interested in which is faster, just which is more durable and
>sailable, the PT is only $200

PT 300 then.

[Bill Kline]

Durability was a concern in this post. How well you tune your rig and fins is
critical to staying in control and having more fun. Spinout or get tossed and
you may damage your board.

Fins are a huge variable here. Most reviews never mention fins. What fin quiver
you choose will have far greater impact on performance than comparing boards
only.

Fins are just as important as the fin, as Jim Drake mentioned to me before my
recent Olympic Evauation presentation in Lago Di Garda Italy. He mentioned to
quote him if neeed be.

Peter Thommen who is one designer and the winningest board designer in the
sport's history stated:

"The board is just a device to ride the fin"-

John Parton, who did the other board is advocate of same. His boards have been
influential in our program and his brother's company makes some of the finest
fins the sport has seen.

You can quiet either board down, increase range, plane easier, maneuver easier,
with either board, simply buy getting a top notch fiun quiver.

I do relate how one post mentioned fins are discussed ad nausea in this forum.
In fact discussion is still minimal compared to how fins alter performance in
all boards.

My guess is perhaps 20 to 1 with board comparisons (with no fin even discussed)
to the role of the fin use in those same boards. Change the fin, and you will
change the results of the board review.

I would still guess that there are maybe 20 to 50 posts mentioning boards for
every one mentioning the fin.

The quality of fin discussion when it does occur is far better than even a year
ago, but the fin remains just as important as the board and rig.

In the aircraft industry , for example, they are obsessed with wings. Our wings
(rigs) and fins help make what we stand on fly:)

Bill Kline
Gorge Sport USA
Curtis Performance Fins, Orca Fins, Orca Kite Fins
Hood River, OR USA
www.gsport.com
ph/541 387 2649 fax/541 386 1715