Comments for Surf Ski First Looks: Honcho Oceans Pro at http://www.surfski.info , comment 0 to 20 out of 20 comments http://www.surfski.info Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:01:14 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_1601 One of our women paddlers has raced her Rookie twice now and is very happy with it - we're working on a review article. - Rob Mousley Sun, 21 Oct 2007 21:04:15 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_1597 Has the Honcho Rookie been taken fo a spin yet. With the length of the big boys, and slightly narrower than the EVO, V10 Sport or XT, maybe this could provide a good combination of speed and stability? 21'3" x 18.75" - Txski Sun, 21 Oct 2007 07:35:06 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_1215 Hi Andrew - just another piece of information that may be of use. On my paddle with Rob, being a taller paddler, I had to move the foot plate well forward. In teh forward position I found that the front end of the black rails (into which the foot plate secures itself)was rubbing against the outer side of my leg at the calf position. This could easily be resolved by removing 15mm off the front of the rail or covering it with something less abrasive. Other than that I really enjoyed the comfort of the ski and look forward to giving it another run now that the drainage issue has been sorted. Cheers Damian. - Damian Feuilherade Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:01:04 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_995 G'Day, Again nice to hear about a new Ski, is it the photo or is the bucket forward on this ski? and if forward would this be the problem om the big swell slideing out of the stearn? I love when people today talk about the great feel and there feet are below there runp and paddle angle feels great running, that is the way all ski's were till the new age deep bucket thing came about, and that my freands is what a great ski should feel like not the what am I doing down here feel? Cheers and good luck mabe well get to see one in FL u.s. Joseph - Joseph 666 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:30:16 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_992 HI ROB AND ALL READERS. FIRSTLY ROB, THANK YOU FOR A SUPERB ARTICLE ON THE OCEANS PRO.WE HAVE SORTED THE COCKPIT DRAINAGE ISSUE. ALSO THANKS DALE FOR CONSTRUCTIVE CRITISISM RE THE SHAPE OF OUR RUDDER. I THINK YOU HAVE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD RE THE HIGH ASPECT RATIO OF THE FIN, AND WE WILL BE CONDUCTING TESTS WITH A NEW ELIPTICAL SHAPE SHORTLY. REGARDING RIP OFFS, AND THE FEW COMMENTS I HAVE SEEN, LETS HAVE AN OPEN DAY AT THE HONCHO FACTORY, I WELCOME ALL SCEPTICS TO VIEW OUR ORIGINAL DESIGN WORK (PLUG) IN THE FLESH. THANKS AGAIN ROB FOR A GREAT ARTICLE. REGARDS ANDREW. - Andrew Fyfe. Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:31:27 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_991 Gary, I stand corrected. But surely you can see where I made the assumption? At the end of the day there are only so many ways you can slice a surfski. The more models there are - the more will look suspiciously similar and the people will make the wrong call, as I have just done. I aplogise. As Parksy put it, it will be interesting to see Rob's report on the maufacturer's knock off's views. Now that will be interesting reading? I am sure the guys at Honcho have put the work in and I wish them luck with the ski. - Danny Van Wilder Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:57:22 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_990 Will have the pro and the rookie here in So Cal first part of August. Call to check it out. Can put you in a 6 too for comparisons. Ocean Paddlesports - P Hemmens Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:39:03 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_984 Thank you for making it clear to other people that its not a copy. - Flick. Tue, 19 Jun 2007 10:26:04 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_981 We put the new Honcho and the Fenn Mako 6 next to each other on the beach after the trial paddle in Hout Bay. Different lines, my china. Very different rocker. Certainly feels different on the water too. You're off the mark here. - Gary Kroukamp Tue, 19 Jun 2007 09:02:08 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_978 ROB I EAGERLY AWAIT TO SEE THE INPUT YOU ASKED FROM THE BOAT MANUFACTURERS ABOUT KNOCK OFFS. I BET YOU HAVE NOT ONE YET.WONT HOLD MY BREATH WAITING FOR THEM TO TELL YOU HOW THEY STARTED FROM SCRATCH BUILDING A PLUG. - PARKSY Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:09:46 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_973 I for one will be going onto Honcho`s website when its finished and will make up my own mind then. Intill then, i see 1 cad drawing and 2 photo`s of the acctual plug being made, yet no proof has ever been given by Fenn for how they came up with their newer boats (which i think is fine as no one should have to justify how they made their boat). But, we all know a Fenn6 has the exact size (cm for cm - i have messured) cockpit as a V10 and well as very similair (nearly excact) hull lines. Just because we have manufacturers that we prefer it doesnt mean they are always the one in the know. Sometimes they also take ideas from new comers ;) - Flick. Tue, 19 Jun 2007 03:01:17 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_968 I read Honcho. I see Fenn 6. If this ski was built in Australia they'd be hell to pay. - Danny Van Wilder Tue, 19 Jun 2007 01:17:42 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_963 I noticed the rudder induced roll immediately and it was off-putting at first. After a while though I began to anticipate the roll-effect of applying rudder. I assume the rationale behind such a high aspect rudder is that being longer a larger portion of the rudder remains in the water when back of the ski is out of the water. Although decreasing the roll effect, wouldn't fitting a shorter rudder hasten the loss of rudder control on runs and therefore increase the chances of broaching? - Alain Jaques Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:43:56 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_961 I have taken to leaving the rudder assembly cover off because salt build up (and thus corrosion)is far worse if it is closed. An open rudder box also makes it easier to check reguarly for cable damage and other signs of pending failure. One thing not mentioned in the review is that most of the paddlers who tried the Honcho found that the rudder produced a noticeable roll effect. This does not surprise me as the demo ski had a very high aspect ratio (i.e. long thin) rudder. I noticed that a similar rudder had a similar effect on my V10. It would be interesting to try the ski with a broader eliptical rudder - I suspect both turning and stability would be improved. - Dale Lippstreu Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:44:49 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_960 I have seen nuts with a flip-up semi circular grip, these would be ideal. The aircraft industry may be a good place to find suitable latches. And Gary stop pulling our chain about the 100% copy or we'll reposess your Garmin ;D - Alain Jaques Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:22:55 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_952 I would be a bit concerned about those wingnuts on the rudder assembly cover injuring me should I come off in surf and have the boat washing against me. Can't think of an obvious alternative apart from leaving the cover off completely. But then that would be 100% copy of someone who had taken and left off their Fenn cover... - Gary Kroukamp Mon, 18 Jun 2007 12:02:40 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_951 Great to see the steering being made - so it can be sorted at sea. Also great to see you can change leg length buy turning screw - not key - like traditional steel cable ski's. The quick rudder fix is an excellent, excellent idea. Well done. - GD Mon, 18 Jun 2007 11:44:49 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_950 Is it just me, or does anyone else think this thing looks just like a Mako 6 (just 30% different). Spose not or eveyone would be throwing all the toys out of the cot and wailing like their pants were full and mum was nowhere in sight. Be interesting to know where they got their template. - Karl Treacher Mon, 18 Jun 2007 09:35:29 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_949 The ski we tested had a single drain with a metal "scupper" affixed to the bottom of the hull. I believe that they're making both hole & scupper bigger to improve the drainage. - Rob Mousley Mon, 18 Jun 2007 08:00:54 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/433/156/#pc_948 I think its great to see new ski`s coming out. The ski looks great in the pictures. Rob, you said that they were fitting scuppers to it so it would drain better. What type of drainage system did it have when you tested it? I wish Honcho all the best, they obviously have put alot of work into the ski. Well done guys. - tyrell Mon, 18 Jun 2007 07:31:43 +0100