FireWire vanguard ?

[Onda]

I ride the Vanguard 5.2 and the Vader 5.3.
Never tried other sizes of both boards, but I love both
I´d confirm what knotwindy wrote, generally.
The Vader in 5.3 feels really large compared to the 5.2 Vanguard. I can position myself very flexibly on the Vader (further to the front / back of the board), dependent on my actual riding situation. On the Vanguard, I can rest in almost the same position all the time. Both properties have advantages and disadvantages from my perspective. I have never experienced any control issues on the Vader at higher speeds, despite its thickness / volume and agility. Maybe because I ride small mushy waves most of the time (Northsea / Baltic Sea).
I like the surfy, floaty feel of the Vader 5.3, especially in small surf with weaker winds. The Vanguard actually feels more reassuring with more grip and drive, more suitable for higher winds.

[topmick]

Hey, Onda - what is your weight please?

[Onda]

Hey, Onda - what is your weight please?

I´m 75 kg / 165 lb
The 5.3 Vader planes really early at my weight. The 5.2 Vanguard slightly later, but the difference is not significant. This might be due to the very high board speed the Vader reaches really easily.

[zob]

Or it might be due to different tail shape/surface.

[Bushflyr]

Firewire recommends you ride the Vader 1" shorter than you ride the VG. Ideal sizes (IMO) for the VG are 165lbs = 5.2, 185lbs = 5.4, 205 = ~5.6. VD adjust down an inch. In between weights pick the nearest one and make adjustments for how you like to ride. More kite powered or more wave powered. If in doubt go smaller.

Fins on the VG: I've tried a bunch of setups and really like the F4 quads. Cheap and they really work well.

[topmick]

Thanks Onda, I have just sold my 5'2 VG & now tossing up between the 5'1-5'3 Vader (my weight is 73kg). Our local winds are 10-20 knots & was a bit dissapointed in the low end of my VG - still using my Sweet Potato in 10-15 knots. I have heard there was a world of difference in performance between the 5'2 & 5'4 VG,s - thinking the 5'3 V might be the board for me.

[Seawolf]

Does anybody know the weight of a vanguard 5.4 fst?
Just noticed a crack inside the finbox, and think the board has taken in some water.
And is it also possible to extract this?

[magic%20Ed]

Mine is 3.7 kg, bare. But the boards are glassed by hand, so weight might differ.

[Seawolf]

Thanks for the info magic%20Ed, mine is also 3,7 kg with pads and a solid wax job.
Guess it can't be to bad then..It just felt heavier the minute I seen the crack

[Da Yoda]

Does anybody know the weight of a vanguard 5.4 fst?
Just noticed a crack inside the finbox, and think the board has taken in some water.
And is it also possible to extract this?

Is your VG the standard FST or kite FST construction? My VG kite 5'0 weighs 3.8kg with full grip and Thermotech quad fins. I wish I'd weighed it when it was new to have a reference point. I'm really surprised that the weight info is not listed anywhere.
I also got some impact damage at the fin box and incurred some water absorbsion. I removed the fin and stashed the board tail down and slightly angled to let gravity pull any water back towards the fin box area. I let it dry for about 2 weeks. I also used a blowdryer to warm up the deck and core to help with the evaporation. When I took it in for repair, the guy said it was dry, so that process seemed to work.