Does anyone out there have any advice on what would be the perfect all around board? I don’t have a lot of money to throw around and my current board (definitely not an all 'rounder) is on it’s last legs. I have been reading through the archives and most everyone here seems to feel that fish are the way to go for something that can do it all. Is that how you guys feel? If i had the facilities I would be building this and many other boards myself, but I currently do not have anywhere to do that type of work so this board is going to be purchased. Thanks for any advice you guys can send my way. Also, thanks for all of the inspiration I get everyday from all of your different posts.
I’ve been on that quest. Guess main question is - what kind waves, and how you ride ‘em? I like 8’ gun, good for any bigness I’ll do, and I’ll just pose on the small/mush. Good luck. taylor
I feel your situation.
For future reference,
Price of a new fish = ohh $450 -$600
That can net you 2-3 new boards if built by yourself. But like I said your not in that situation…but if you were…
Drew
If you ride shortboards, I’d say go with the Al Merrick Flyer 2 or something similar to that. It has a pulled swallow and full rails. I know a guy who rides his in Indo when he goes on vacation, during hurricane season, in the winter while wearing a 5mm suit, AND in gutless NJ summer slop.
That board will be pricey, but if you can only go w/ one board, that’s probably a safe bet.
I’m still building my quiver, but for now I only ride 1 board.
10’6"x24"x4" soft railed rolled bottom supper tanker.
If I could only have one board it would have to be a longboard.
I do plan to fill a quiver out with shorter boards but for now this
one does it all from 10-12’ faces just before xmas to anything to
can see/feel.
“Modern”/ High performance longboard.
More days per year, more conditions than any other choice.
One board hey. What type of surfing do you do. Short or Long? I tend to use lots of boards, but there was this one time…
It was a few years ago in San Diego and i needed a shortboard for all conditions. I was very poor, however, i was about to embark on a surfing tour of the world, broke (go figure). I needed to get a new board for my quiver but i could only afford the one. I needed a board that would work in 2 foot OB mush, to north jetty barrels, from headhigh sunsetcliffs, to Fijian bone crushers, from Aussie beach breaks to 10 foot Jeffreys Bay. The odds were stacked against me. Some said it couldn’t be done, but i said to hell with the nay sayers. The answer came to me via the superb craftsmanship of one San Diego shaper by the name of TDK.
My dimensions are 6’2" by 160lbs (pretty skinny, but like i said i’m poor). The board is 6’4" by 19.25" by 2.5", easy entry rocker, mild single concave, to a mild double concave with a rounded squash tail. Basically, it is the same length as my standard board with an extra 1/2 inch of width, a little extra thickness brought out to the rail, and slightly relaxed rocker and bottom contours. This recipe enabled me to surf everything from 2 foot slop to 8 foot Fijian barrels. I surfed this board at 8-10 foot Jeffrey’s last year, my first wave of the day and I pulled into the best barrel of my life. J-Bay is really fast and really hollow, the true test for my TDK all rounder. A coincidence that it was my final destination on my trip, but the board killed it.
The moral of the story is this. There is nothing like a full quiver. No, actually, it is this. There is such thing as an all rounder, however, An all rounder will be limited. For example, the ceiling on my board for wave height is about 8-10feet, anything over that and my board simply wont get in. Also, having a good all rounder means that you end up with a mediocre board in some conditions. There are better boards for 2 foot slop than mine, there are also better boards for 10 foot J-Bay than mine, but mine will do it. If need be.
Kudos to TDK for shaping the best board i’ve ever had. Hope this helps.
i think the real question you have to ask is what is the majority of the waves that you will be surfing. if its small and mushy the longboard would be teh answer. becasue when it gets good you could surf it in bigger waves.i wouldnt go as far as 10’6 personaly but maybe 9’0 to 9’6. that way when its pumpin you can make waves. takin a 9 or 10 foot board down a big hollow waves is often a sketchy expereince, especially if you dont have a lot of nose rocker. i think you go down to your local shop and ask them they will have a better answer for you as they know the condidtions and what is really the 1 board quiver for your area. what works at my break might not work at yours, and vis a versa or how ever thats spelled.
Probably bad advice from someone who has 20 bpards and growing as we speak.
But if I really had to I’d lay my money down on a 7-7’4" Vector(depending on your size) from Dave Parmenter.
Pretty an anywhere kind of board, decent volume, front foot drivey, low entry rocker and a diamond tail for tail turns galore.
There’s no magic bullet but a 7’4" vector would suffice for alot of places and it’s easy to travel with. Change fins for different conditions. Float is key in my eyes for being all purpose.
Sometimes it helps to see these things… Like chip says a picture is word a thousand words:
Here’s a standalone shot
I have got to agree with oneula. Unless you ride longs go a performance mal . the 7’0 to 7’4 will sufice . Tell the shaper what you want and if your lucky you will get a magic stick. You wont get a board for all ocasions but it will work ok in some and exceptional in others and down right scary in some.
I’ve had lots of twins over the years and they are perfect boards if you only surf 1’-6’ waves. One with a removable small trailing fin is even better. Over 6’ I always went with a longish thruster though.
Similarly, a modern highperformance longboard like my Harbour Simms in 9’0" will handle 1’-10’ and still turn enough to have fun on. When the surf gets big it’s a lot of board to paddle out on though (if you have a point or good channels then lucky you!)
But right now if I only could have one board it’d be one like my Harbour" spherical revolver 7’4" hybrid/retro/egg/thing. It paddles and catches waves nearly as well as the longboard, turns great of course (with choice of 2+1 or big flexy single fin), and you can even just stand there and let it trim like a big log. No one will think you are “cool” if you have this board but I don’t really care.
It just comes down to what kind of board you like I guess. I have a lot of fun on all three of these types of boards. (and on 6’3" to 6’11" thrusters too but wouldn’t choose them as my only board)
if I had to choose…
I’d go for a 7’ single fin. With at least an 8" finbox.
But with plugs / boxes for two side fins at least, so I could do a thruster or ‘2+1’ setup also.
That would be MY preference… [oh, and me not being a big wave hellman would mean the board would stay indoors, and the camera would come out more]
ben
I would not advocate a 10’6" for everyone, but at 6’2" 200# a 9er does not get me in early enough for my liking, Especially when it gets a little bigger and steeper. I like the early entry.
I was really just advocating a nice longboard and pointing out that it will do nearly any conditions (with in reason).
EKI<
For my 2 cents I preach the Channel islands Machado Single Fin.
Mine is 7’0x22x3" I’m 5’10 185 + 654mil wetsuit. I have surfed it in shin high to head and a half and I am always in awe in the versatility of that board. The single finess of it is always blowing me mind. It surfs the front foot much fun!!
For what its worth…
have a good one…
You wanted a fish ? I like them but I thought they were limited with wave size. Then I saw Rasta on one in Blue Horizon. Incredible surfing and the thing was 5-10" ! So I am more open minded now. Before I would say thruster maybe 4" - 6 " taller than you. DR
Depends… Long, short, retro?
The board i travel with is a stanard shortboard at 6ft2 im also a grom so this is bigger.
or a good light new single fin, i love single fins but ive only rode 70s ones but if they were nice new and light they would make a very great all rounder.
or…
A 9ft2 single fin mal. with a pulled in nose and tail, that could ride anything from 1foot to 12foot with the right surfer.
watch the endless summer two and watch wingnut at 2foot cape saint frances and the 8-10ft cloudbreak.
just my opinion,
josh.
PS… if i only had one board it would be the last option… in balsa though maybe?
if I had to choose…
I’d go for a 7’ single fin. With at least an 8" finbox.
But with plugs / boxes for two side fins at least, so I could do a thruster or ‘2+1’ setup also.
That would be MY preference… [oh, and me not being a big wave hellman would mean the board would stay indoors, and the camera would come out more]
ben
I’m with chipfish61.
Just ordered my new board.
7’ x 17" Beak Nose x 22" Wide (front of center) x 15" Rounded Pin Tail x 3" Thick
Down Railed Retro single-fin
It will handle 2-10’ surf (I currently own a 6’ 8" with similar dimensions that I am selling and it has performed well in this range of surf)
And it is not a hypothetical (sp?) situation for me, this will be my only board.
Onya SFG,
Singles Rock,
1love, 1flag, 1world, 1 fin!
Josh.
9’0" Robert August “What I Ride” w/ 2+1 fin setup.
has served me well in everything from 1/2-foot to 12-feet. and ALWAYS fun.
WOW!! I really don’t know how to reply to all of this information. It was as if i blinked and it all just appeared. First off, thank you all for the great advice. As for the type of surfing (which a lot of people asked about) I currently surf a 6’3" thruster. However, as a an instructor I get to surf lots of different sizes of boards all the way up to 10’ during lessons and also some borrowed from friends. I am currently not too worried about short VS long boards I just want something I can enjoy year round. I surf up and down the southern cal coast from North of Santa Barbara to OC. It goes from non-existent surf to a couple feet overhead (or at least that is usually the biggest I am out in). So, if this changes any of your opinions please let me know. Once again, thank you all so much for the advice