best longboard setup for New England

Hey Folks, The web company I worked for has gone bust, so for me, B to B means back to Boston, where I’ve accepted a job offer (yes, remember those?) (11 degrees daytime high, vs. 81 in Santa Monica). But it’s not all bad, that’s where I’m from originally, and started surfing there, but back then I didn’t know a single fin form a yellow fin. Also, the Celtics rule, the glory days will return!! Anyway, any thoughts for the faster beach breaks in Rhodie or Cape Ann? I surfed up in Gloucester a few times, and I’ll be based not far from there. Some of the locals were complete dicks, and kooks to boot, others were very nice. I have a 10’0" Tyler, I’ll bring it back too, it’s my baby, but I think it will be a bit big & stiff in those conditions. I’m thinking a Jacobs 422? (Hap rules!) or a McTavish/ET (Pat’s the Man!) God, I’m gonna miss SoCal, but the surf spots can really fire there during hurricane season. I guess I’ll have to start snowboarding. Thanks, John

thought you were someone else in previous posts . … the exact same boards - jacobs and et by Pat fit the name as well . … I also used to live back east. D.C. but thought Boston was so much better. Hope its not too cold and you sound like one out-of-towner that L.A. could keep.

Hey Folks,>>> The web company I worked for has gone bust, so for me, B to B means back > to Boston, where I’ve accepted a job offer (yes, remember those?) (11 > degrees daytime high, vs. 81 in Santa Monica).>>> But it’s not all bad, that’s where I’m from originally, and started > surfing there, but back then I didn’t know a single fin form a yellow fin. > Also, the Celtics rule, the glory days will return!!>>> Anyway, any thoughts for the faster beach breaks in Rhodie or Cape Ann? I > surfed up in Gloucester a few times, and I’ll be based not far from there. > Some of the locals were complete dicks, and kooks to boot, others were > very nice. When you get the chance, head on down to Gansett Juice and take a gander at what I send for New England surf. Umteen jillion New Englanders can’t be wrong.>>> I have a 10’0" Tyler, I’ll bring it back too, it’s my baby, but I > think it will be a bit big & stiff in those conditions.>>> I’m thinking a Jacobs 422? (Hap rules!) or a McTavish/ET (Pat’s the Man!)>>> God, I’m gonna miss SoCal, but the surf spots can really fire there during > hurricane season. I guess I’ll have to start snowboarding.>>> Thanks,>>> John

When you get the chance, head on down to Gansett Juice and take a gander > at what I send for New England surf. Umteen jillion New Englanders can’t > be wrong. Didn’t that used to be Watershed? Good shop. I love Rhodie! I’d like to bring back a Cali board as a souvenir to my fabulous days in Cali. Remember Visceral Surf shop in Gloucester? Any word from Jimmy P.? Awesome guy, but whenever there was surf, the shop was always closed. The surf reports were a bit optimistic as well. 5’ onshore storm slop would be described as ‘epic’ and ‘going off’. Classic, but we loved Jimmy anyway. This will sound silly, but I’d like to bring back something that’s uniquely Californian, but will work in N.E. I’ve developed an emotional attachment to the Golden State, alot of good folks. But then again, surfing is an emotional thing. My question: I’m thinking about a Jacobs 422. Any feedback? I’m 205 lbs, 6’1". I could never get too jazzed about Peter Pan Slugs, which seem to be the official boards of New England surfing. Some folks swear by them, and I saw some guys in RI rip with them. OK, I’m heading out to do some Super Bowl Sunday surfing. Cheers & Aloha, John

i have a bunch - northeastern surf, as you may recall, has many faces. 9’6" tyler zeke is a great all around type board for anything below head high (although i have often taken it out in hurricane surf) – a 7’0" parmenter vector is a new addition and very fun when the waves get punchy and overhead – on those walled up days i will take out my liddle hull – on small peelers my 10’0" wegener noserider – for totally flat days i have a paddleboard – and i always always take one of my neumatic surf mats with me (if you haven’t already, you def should consider including one – no two – for pretty much any condition – especially those windblown NE days which are many)

Thanks, your right, there are many faces of NE surf, especially with a 9-10 foot tide. Kook, where to you live, surf? I was pretty sure that i’d have the only Tyler in N.E. See you out there, Aloha John

Thanks, your right, there are many faces of NE surf, especially with a > 9-10 foot tide.>>> Kook, where to you live, surf? I was pretty sure that i’d have the only > Tyler in N.E.>>> See you out there,>>> Aloha>>> John John H., 1st, welcome back to New England. On the west bay area of R.I.(west of Jamestown & Newport bridges)you will see more of Jim Philip’s long boards.“slug’s” are more of an entry level board.I was surprised when you mentioned a long board for beach breaks here, only because of the amount and quality of point breaks that we have here. Hey, different strokes, right. Gansett Juice, is owned by Ted Pan, Peter’s son. The “Watershed” is no more. Peter’s old partner in the “Watershed” is building his own boards, here in R.I. One of the guy’s that I surf with has 2 Tyler’s. 1 more of a nose rider, the other he uses for storm surf. You may want to take Jim’s advice, as he is not only a hell of a shaper, but he also lived and built boards here. My 2 cents, whats better than having a master shaper, building boards for surf that he knows ??? Again, Welcome back.

save the money for a new wetsuit, as you might recall its a little bit colder up here then Socal, get a good warm one. Plus what your riding will kill at any of the RI points.

save the money for a new wetsuit, as you might recall its a little bit > colder up here then Socal, get a good warm one. Plus what your riding will > kill at any of the RI points. current water temp. off of “Buzzard’s Bay” buoy 34.7F John H, needless to say a 6-5-4 wet suit 7mil boot’s and 5 mil gloves will be in order and tonight’s low’s somewhere around zero with wind chill’s in some area’s of minus 20 degrees. One more thing, skiing & snow boarding takes a pretty close 2nd & 3rd to surfing.

current water temp. off of “Buzzard’s Bay” buoy 34.7F John H, > needless to say a 6-5-4 wet suit 7mil boot’s and 5 mil gloves will be in > order and tonight’s low’s somewhere around zero with wind chill’s in some > area’s of minus 20 degrees.>>> One more thing, skiing & snow boarding takes a pretty close 2nd & > 3rd to surfing. i second the wetsuit comment.i know alot of guys who have 6 boards,and one 4 year old crappy 5 mm . get a 6 mmm ,and get a new one every 2 or three years. two saturdays ago i surfed pre dawn patrol.we got in the water 6:40. the air was 25degrees wind chill -7 ,ocean temp mid 30s.the ocean was steaming all the way to the horizon. when the sun came up it looked like a volcano because of the steam.i have NEVER seen a more beautiful sight while surfing. the waves were small but fun,and we were warm. welcome back.

Thanks for the warm welcome, I’m stoked. Got no problem wearing thick rubber, whatever it takes to get me in the water, after all. Thanks for the tips too. Nothing like a local board shaped by a local shaper for local breaks. All for helping the Rhodie economy as well. I bought a great used hooded 6/4 at Redneys’ back in '96. Sold it on ebay before moving here to a guy who could have bought a new one for less (a bidding war in my benefit). I’ll get a 6 mil O’Neill or something when I get back. sometimes there are good sales on Winter rubber at season’s end. In the menatime, I’m thinking that my 4 mil w/boots & gloves will do when I get back in April. I only surfed 1st & 2nd beach in Rhodie, but am looking forward to exploring new spots. Don’t worry, I’m on my best behavior at new spots, and I know how to keep a good secret under my hat. Thanks for the advice! Look for a big yellow Tyler, that’ll be me.