Hey so I posted here last week and got a lot of great feedback. I was looking for a better board for small-ish waves and maybe also one that works for head high and slightly above.
I decided I want something in the 7’6" range and while visiting a local surf shop I came across an awesome 7’6" board that is like an egg, but has a more pulled in nose and fish tail. I loved it immediately, but it was 500$ and I don’t really want to spend that much. This board was shaped by Jay Novak I think. 5 fin boxes
I then found a board that looks almost exactly like it on Craigslist
I checked out that board today, and it’s in decent shape, not too many dings, but it does have some pressure denting on the top. She said she’d take 375 for it and it comes with a bag, it’s only a 3 fin setup.
So my dilemma… I know little about famous shapers and it’s tough to make this decision. Yancy Spencer is apparently a famous shaper out of Florida. Then there’s Jay Novak. Who makes the better board? They look almost identical in specs, although for some reason the new one that is $500 is standing out in my mind more. But what do you guys think? Is the Yancy Spencer one a better deal and worth the money? Is it a steal? I’m not sure which route to go, need some advice. thanks.
$375 with board bag sounds like a pretty good deal to me, nice looking board, haven’t seen the other one, make your best call and go for it.
You can over think this stuff sometimes. Its not always about making the best decision, sometimes its just about making the best of it, once the decision has been made.
The Craigslist board is not very thick. If you are a Big Guy you will need more foam for Carlsbad and most of San Diego. The board bag will cost you about $100 new...if you feel the need for a board bag.....
so yeah...plastic fins , board bag , and too thin fun board is a good deal for $375.....did Spencer shape it or is it an import? I surf a board just like it......well ,sort of......
you can by a US blank for $100 in Oceanside and make your own.....but you won't get the board bag or the plastic fins
yeah I checked out the craigslist board today and it definitely felt thin, and not as full as the other board from the shop. I just didn’t know if Yancy Spencer was like way better than Jay Novak and that I should jump at the offer. If the general opinion is that one is no better than the other, I’d probably go with the shop board. I don’t know if it’s an import, but it has his name on it so… no way I can shape my own… def not there yet
I'd go with the Spencer board... not because he's a better shaper or that the board is necessarily better quality with his logo on it... just because it's a decent shape, it appears to be in decent condition, and the price is right with the bag.
The KEY element to the whole deal is to get whichever board you decide upon out in some good waves and figure out where the buttons are. It doesn't matter if it has one, two, three, four, or five fins. Skip all the sales pitch you are hearing about all that stuff. With most 'all around' boards it's so much more about good waves than any details about the board.
I'd guesstimate that the board advertised on Craigslist, based solely on the photos, will work in a lot of different conditions. If plastic fins are a turn off, buy or borrow some made of fiberglass. My hunch is you won't be able to tell a great deal of difference between the plastic or fiberglass fins in average 'everyday' conditions.
Not to worry about deck dents either. Most all used boards will have them.
Hey John, yeah I’ve noticed that it’s all about the waves. Sometimes I struggle with my main board, but when the waves are good, I have a lot better time out there.