Longboarder with funboard size question

General Discussion
1

I know these questions are hard to answer, but just looking for some general input. I currently ride a longboard, a 9’10" single fin. I’m a decent surfer, paddle out 3 times a week or so, and weigh 175. On a day to day basis, I surf beach break waves. I’m looking at buying a shorter board to have something different in my quiver. I’ve been looking at used funboard types. Going to look at a Haut funboard, 6’10", 20 1/2 wide, 2 11/16 thick, glassed on thruster fins. The price is right, but I’m wondering about size, and the glassed on fins. Again, I know there are a lot of variables - just looking for some gut reactions.

Thanks

DB

2

Good idea to experiment with something shorter than your log in beachbreak. I think the saying goes something like: if the Haut fits, wear it. Just take care of it so that if it doesn’t work out for you, you can sell/trade/barter/weasel/manipulate in the future. Or, design and shape yourself something sweet, ride it until it falls apart, repeat.

3

Gut reaction/comment at the bottom, my diatribe follows.

I have a 6’6’’ Kies from Encinitas Surfboards. It’s the best shortboard I’ve ever ridden. I usually ride a ‘magical’ 8’6’’ Stewart and purchased the Kies for almost the exact reason you want to get a shorter fun board.

I got the Kies used for $250 but its worth 5 bills.

I’m 6’2" 185lbs.

It’s a hybrid, w/ these specs:

6’6"

19 5/8 thick

19 1/2 wide

Wider fuller nose

Wider tall

Hard double wing swallow

Thruster w/ two Xtra lg outside skags and sm/med middle skeg. (I actually got a much larger center skag for a little more stability and speed)

Less nose rocker

Little less tail rocker

I haven’t specifically checked the bottom contures but I think if there’s an V or concave it’s very slight.

Benefits vs. a standard shortboard:

Easy to paddle.

Easy to catch waves.

Very stable when riding almost feels like a longboard.

Turns like a 5’10".

Can surf it in tiny slop to 10 ft beach break

Fun, easy, fast (since I got this board I actually surf about 2x as much as I used to…surfing will never again be frustating)

Costs vs. a standard shortboard

Harder but not impossible to surf in large steep surf

I can’t ride it in surf over 12ft unless it’s very slow surf

Getting it back from friends when the want to ride it

Definately getting another one.

Gut reaction comment,

Personally, I will never go back to glassed fins. You can get a whole new board…well almost…by changing you skag configuration. For your weight and ability I’d say that board maybe too thick and wide.

4

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it. I’m going to go check it out, to get an idea on the shape. I’m also going to look at an Al Merrick that’s 7’8", 21 x 2 1/2 thick. It’s a thruster also, but has fin boxes. Not sure what model CI it is, but the guy selling it says its a funboard. Should be interesting to compare the two.

5

I surf primarily beach breaks in Texas, am slightly smaller than you (5’10; 160). Got a bruce jones hybrid - 7’4, 21, 2 3/4,; works well for the myriad (and often weak) conditions, with occassional hurricanes (hasn’t actually been a hurricane since I got it.) But I am very happy with the size and shape. And it will be my travel board.