I rode my brother’s 7’4" rocket and the new 6’8" board he got from solo the other day in small waves at Ewa. The Griffin rode better in the small surf, and I know it will handle in the big surf. I thought the wide tailed board from solo would have worked better in the small waves.
If you don’t mind the extra length, the rocket probably could be a one board you need. Great paddling, great riding for someone 5’6" 170lbs.
10 footer
For a single board quiver, I would have to say it its hard to beat a Bing Pipeliner type board. Sort of a gun/longboard. I’ve one that is a great ride in anything, from 2 feet to triple plus. It’s a 10’7 single fin, 15"nose, 23 wide (eight inches up from center) 11 1/2 tail, 3 1/4" thick. It is always fun and always challenging and catches anything but air…
Here’s my latest all rounder I had made custom by Bob Cooper, dimensions are 6’6" x 20 & 1/4" x 3". It should be great for winter surf when I’m wearing a 4/3 wetsuit.
That board looks like a tonne of fun mate. And the dims sound perfect, and a quad too. Jealous mate!!. Its encouraging to see a shaper isnt scared to make a 3’’ thick 6’6’'. Nothin wrong with foam.
Cheers
looks like cooper is using an old logo(the glasses/beard) from his days back in the ventucky/santa barbara area…cool
Bob’s an absolute classic. Weir’s surfshop at Maroochydore often has 1/2 dozen Cooper’s in there and sometimes they are real mad scientist stuff.
Not sure if any other shaper his age is that innovative.
Weir’s Surfshop is like a timewarped surfing Tardis !
Dripping with all sorts of craft. Every time I’m on the Sunnycoast visiting Mum I stick my head in the door for a squiz. Be up there next week and will look out for Bob’s creations.
Cheers
Mooneemick
Brian’s actually been selling off some of his old boards (in the rafters) lately.
His shop and Plantations old shop at Mooloolaba (the old wooden theatre) are my idea of real surfshops.
If you like Brewer guns Beachbeat have a nice one hanging up in their Caloundra main street shop.
While you’re at Brian’s check out his daily driver. You may be suprised considering what it is.
Hey, I think that’s my old board. Not many people I’ve sold boards to have taken them to Israel… Glad you like the board!
Yeah? did we meet in the La Jolla Shores parking lot, maybe 2.5 years ago? spring 2006? The board says “for Jeff Cloud” on the bottom… I’ve had to add a strip of glass over the stringer to fix some cracks, but other than that, its still going strong.
While you’re at Brian’s check out his daily driver. You may be suprised considering what it is.
Still the Boardworks Hynson ?
Man I’d love to take one of those for a spin.( a Hynson not necessarily a Boardworks).
Yea cool. I’m having another made right now, a 5’ 11". have fun. But as far as a one board quiver, I’d go with a 8’ 6" speed shape…My Josh Hall skosh is my favorite…
Brian and his son Damon are doin a few similar to the Hynson, ver flat and wide, mostly twinnies I think…
Old post, but after having my 7'10'' for a while now, im loving it more and more. I've surfed it in knee high windswell, and not long ago in little bit OH face, fast breaking screamers. Paddles great, and turns like a much shorter board, especially with a thruster set up. Trims great on the little ones with a 2+1 setup. Best of both worlds.
It has replaced my twin keel. something i didn't think would happen!!
Hey Mark,
I’m in the same boat so to speak. Bought a Dick Van Straalen 8’ poly all rounder which has the nose like yours and a pintail with a 2+1 and didn’t want to ride my other boards. Then thought about how good it would be in EPS/carbon fibre and had Dick make me one.
One board quiver, Smokin!
I have to add paddling shorter boards causes me weeks of pain due to the back arch when paddling throwing a verterbrae out continually so the 8’er is a pain free experience (especially with its concave deck).
Since then haven’t been reading or posting much on Sways as my board wanderlust is sated. The board keeps blowing me out with what it can do.
Nice board cuttle, i would also like something similar in EPS/epoxy. Just plain hand lay up, just for a stronger glass job, but light weight board ( light compared to what im used to, super light weight is of no benefit to me ).
How is the widepoint etc?. Mine has a slightly narrower nose, and a slightly pulled back widepoint, so turning feels free and easy, but it's still long enough to trim from fairly far up the board.
It's awesome to have a board i can throw in the car and know i can surf it in all the wave shapes and sizes im able/willing to surf in. AND, the board completely changes depending on the fin setup. Thruster setup releases off the top at warp speed!, and 2+1 is awesome for drawn out drivy bottom turns.
Stoked with it!!
Hoo haa. Beery, that reply brings up 1000 posts for you!!!
My board’s very similar weight wise to a poly but it sits higher in the water and so has chined rails.
Never bothered to measure the widepoint or nose and tail dimensions so I’ll have to take a tape to it.
It now has no wax on it, Put a Versa grip full deck traction kit so that heat is no longer an issue for melting wax with the black carbon fibre. Makes it look all the more unusual. The Darth Vader effect.
For me, at the moment, my 5'10" Speed Dialer with an assortment of Lokbox fins has proved to be the most versatile board from 1ft to well overhead, hollow or mush, beach, reef or point. Easy to travel with, too.
The other option is Speedos and fins.
Age has something to with it. I surf where there if quarter mile paddle out. At 75 I have worked my way up to a 10' 9". The board I made and surfed last Winter worked well, making a new one with a few little changes for the coming Winter surf.
