Im getting a travel board shaped and want to know what tail would be best for waves head high and over, mostly for beach breaks and point breaks. currently all my boards are swallow tails. Will a swallow work fine or should i go round. What would be the pros and cons. the dim of the board are 6’6 12x20x14.5x2 5/8 Im 5’10 190. also what do you think of the dim for me, you any imput would be great. I know i should get this info from my shaper which i do, but i just want to get other shapers opions also to consider- thanks-
Get what you like, what feels good, what looks good.
In reality, tail shape is less than 1/6 the equation between width, rails, tuck, rocker, tail rocker, tail with, profile, etcs…
I’m with veteran LeeDD on the tail thing… adjustable/removable fins would be a higher priority in my book. With plugs (whatever brand you like) for side fins and a short box for the trailer you have lots of room to play. With a 4" and a 6.5" trailer fin to fit that box you could have a “twin”, “2+1” or “thruster” capability with superior fore and aft trailer placement options.
If your board dimensions are close to what you’re riding now and you’re comfortable, go with it.
Don’t forget your fin key and screwdriver.
I usually surf a swallow on my 6’1" in 2-4 ft So Cal beachbreak, but when it gets overhead, or when I travel to Costa Rica, Hawaii, or Indo, I prefer a rouded pin or pin tail to maintain speed (I also surf a 6’6" in head high to overhead and a 7’2" if I grow the huevos to surf the bigger and heavier stuff on the north shore and in Puerto). I also go narrower in the tail. Where are you planning on traveling? I can send you the dimensions of my 6’6" if you are interested. Diddo on the removable fins - lets you cram more boards in your bag and avoid carrying finrope, fiberglass, and resin to fix glass-ons.
…yes, like LeeDD and J Mellor…but directly, the tail go with your type of surfing; I mean, how you push the tail into the water, some tails go deeper (more area) into like square tails, etc…