I am thinking about a new board to add to my quiver. For a few years now I’ve been dropping down in size with each board. Just got a custom Doug Haut, 8’6 Fungun modeled after the Rusty Desert Island boards. Dimensions are 22.5 w, 31/8 thick, and 13.5 tail. Great board and probably the best glass job I’ve had to date. It surfs great in everything, but under head high it’s a down the line kind of board, it really excels in head plus surf. I use this as my beach break board and have a couple of longboards, 9’2 and 9’6. All boards are rounded pins. So…I am excited about what shorter boards can do and want to go shorter. I’m looking for a board that is looser and can turn in the pocket of beach break surf say, in the small 2-6+ ft range anything over that and I’ll pull out the 8’6. I’m thinking of a fish hybrid type of board, and there are several different styles of these boards out there G&S makes an interesting one called a magic fish. http://gordonandsmith.com/newsite/shapingroom/shapingframe.htm Herb has several different versions posted as well that are interesting. My concern with this style of board is the lack of rocker in the nose, thus possibly having difficulty in hollow beach break surf. True or fallacy? I really do like the concept of a swallow tail…or maybe I should scrap the fish and put a swallow tail on a big guy thruster? Another question is how much shorter can I go given that I weigh in at 210lbs and am 6’4? I’m thinking 7’4-7’10?..depending on the rocker and overall volume. Thanks in advance- John Singer
I have always been curious about these Ben Aipa fish shapes. They look pretty wide too. I am almost your size and you should be able to ride something like this: http://www.elporto.com/south_ebay/classifieds.htm …you might think about an egg too.
John, Couple your 210 lbs with your comfort with longer boards, and I like your 7-4 to 7-10 thoughts for small beach break applications, for you. I also think a big boy thruster crossed with a fish would serve you well for a hot, entry level shortboard. You can throw the swallows into the wave for turning. The slightly wider tail and added floatation will get you into steep, small waves early. There’s a reason why you see so many riders on these boards. Just remember to tune your thrusters to match your paddling ability. The industry has had some division in the last couple years over how much nose rocker to put on shortboards, hybrids and fish. If you compare the rides of turned up noses and flatter noses, you’ll quickly see that they both work. Nose rocker is a function of personal preference. I would choose a middle line. It will never be out of style.>>> I am thinking about a new board to add to my quiver. For a few years now > I’ve been dropping down in size with each board.>>> Just got a custom Doug Haut, 8’6 Fungun modeled after the Rusty Desert > Island boards. Dimensions are 22.5 w, 31/8 thick, and 13.5 tail. Great > board and probably the best glass job I’ve had to date. It surfs great in > everything, but under head high it’s a down the line kind of board, it > really excels in head plus surf. I use this as my beach break board and > have a couple of longboards, 9’2 and 9’6. All boards are rounded pins.>>> So…I am excited about what shorter boards can do and want to go shorter. > I’m looking for a board that is looser and can turn in the pocket of beach > break surf say, in the small 2-6+ ft range anything over that and I’ll > pull out the 8’6.>>> I’m thinking of a fish hybrid type of board, and there are several > different styles of these boards out there G&S makes an interesting > one called a magic fish. > http://gordonandsmith.com/newsite/shapingroom/shapingframe.htm Herb has > several different versions posted as well that are interesting.>>> My concern with this style of board is the lack of rocker in the nose, > thus possibly having difficulty in hollow beach break surf. True or > fallacy? I really do like the concept of a swallow tail…or maybe I > should scrap the fish and put a swallow tail on a big guy thruster?>>> Another question is how much shorter can I go given that I weigh in at > 210lbs and am 6’4? I’m thinking 7’4-7’10?..depending on the rocker and > overall volume.>>> Thanks in advance- John Singer
John,>>> Couple your 210 lbs with your comfort with longer boards, and I like your > 7-4 to 7-10 thoughts for small beach break applications, for you. I also > think a big boy thruster crossed with a fish would serve you well for a > hot, entry level shortboard. You can throw the swallows into the wave for > turning. The slightly wider tail and added floatation will get you into > steep, small waves early. There’s a reason why you see so many riders on > these boards.>>> Just remember to tune your thrusters to match your paddling ability.>>> The industry has had some division in the last couple years over how much > nose rocker to put on shortboards, hybrids and fish. If you compare the > rides of turned up noses and flatter noses, you’ll quickly see that they > both work. Nose rocker is a function of personal preference. I would > choose a middle line. It will never be out of style. We’ve made 3 big boy fishes( 7’10",7’8",7’6" for Longboarder mag. photographer Gary Motil and he loves them. He uses FCS TF 1 side fins with a small trailer for the center. He rides them in surf upto 6 ft Hawaiian waves.
Just remember to tune your thrusters to match your paddling ability. Noodle, thanks for the response, but I’m not sure what you mean by the above statement? I’m a pretty strong paddler so in that case you would…? Also, another concern of mine is stalling after a hard bottom turn. My 8’6 occ., does this in smaller surf, but then it is a 13.5" rp. Also, what is your take on wings in swallow tail setup. Thanks again, John
Noodle, thanks for the response, but I’m not sure what you mean by the > above statement? I’m a pretty strong paddler so in that case you would…? For strong paddlers you can tune thrusters to give you sharper turns. Use larger thrusters, and toe them in about 1/4" each, front-to-back. Cant your thrusters 4-5 degrees out from vertical. The drawback, your board will be harder to paddle. Most off-the-shelf boards are already set up this way. For an easier paddle and a faster ride, limit your thruster sizes, toe them in 1/8" each, and cant them 2-4 degrees.>>> Also, another concern of mine is stalling after a hard bottom turn. My 8’6 > occ., does this in smaller surf, but then it is a 13.5" rp. What’s an “rp” again? (Don’t want to leave this posting screen & lose this text). If 13.5" is the tail width, small surf won’t drive it into bottom turns very hard.>>> Also, what is your take on wings in swallow tail setup. I like wings. I think most of their negative press comes from their looks… not smooth or artful. Think of wings as the bar under your teeter totter. In smaller surf, wings allow you to backweight quickly and throw those swallows into the wall. However, wings will affect the skate you naturally get out of a fish…ish board. You really NEED this feedback from a better rider than me.>>> Thanks again, John You’re welcome. Sounds like your ride is already tuned to big fish. You only need to get one. -Noodle
A toe of 1/8" at 2 to 4 degrees? Wouldn’t that make the board prone to track in one direction and/or spin out on bigger wave when bottom turning? I think for a fish, even one this big, the idea is to have floatation with manuverability. If fish is the name of the game, why not go for the twin?
I am thinking about a new board to add to my quiver. For a few years now > I’ve been dropping down in size with each board.>>> Just got a custom Doug Haut, 8’6 Fungun modeled after the Rusty Desert > Island boards. Dimensions are 22.5 w, 31/8 thick, and 13.5 tail. Great > board and probably the best glass job I’ve had to date. It surfs great in > everything, but under head high it’s a down the line kind of board, it > really excels in head plus surf. I use this as my beach break board and > have a couple of longboards, 9’2 and 9’6. All boards are rounded pins.>>> So…I am excited about what shorter boards can do and want to go shorter. > I’m looking for a board that is looser and can turn in the pocket of beach > break surf say, in the small 2-6+ ft range anything over that and I’ll > pull out the 8’6. I have seen boards at Aqua Tech glassing in Marina del Rey called Kingfish.They look like the board you want I think they start out at 7’4" and go up from there.I think they are popular in the South Bay area.ie, Hermosa/Manhattan,Redondo/Torrance. > I’m thinking of a fish hybrid type of board, and there are several > different styles of these boards out there G&S makes an interesting > one called a magic fish. > http://gordonandsmith.com/newsite/shapingroom/shapingframe.htm Herb has > several different versions posted as well that are interesting.>>> My concern with this style of board is the lack of rocker in the nose, > thus possibly having difficulty in hollow beach break surf. True or > fallacy? I really do like the concept of a swallow tail…or maybe I > should scrap the fish and put a swallow tail on a big guy thruster?>>> Another question is how much shorter can I go given that I weigh in at > 210lbs and am 6’4? I’m thinking 7’4-7’10?..depending on the rocker and > overall volume.>>> Thanks in advance- John Singer