Boards for small weak south florida surf

[fstblkgti]

background:
I've been riding a 9'2 for about 1.5 years now and i want a shorter more manuverable board. most of the surf we get in miami is knee high to chest high wind chop. occasional cleaner and bigger days, hurricanes, and sebastian is only a few hours away.

what i'm looking at:
I'm trying to decide on a merrick flyer, mongrel or a twin fin (doesnt have to be a merrick). I'm also interested in a retro single fin but I've never ridden one and done know if it turns like a long board (pivot) or banking from rail to rail like a short board.

I'd like a board that isnt THAT loose since i'm not really used to it but i want something that i can lean into turns.

me:
I'm not a super strong paddler but i'm not weak either, i can catch ways from way outside like all the other longboarders.

i'm 6'0 and 175 lbs.

 

[1689]

go with a single in roughly these dimensions.
6'
x2.5
x19.5-5 inches above center. Full nose, low rocker, and decent sized diamond tail. Either that or a single fin pill would probably be pretty fun around 7'0

 

[000]

lost rnf, or rusty pirrana, or someones copy (all modern concaved twin fin)

 

[dk]

000,
all of those are ridden as thrusters... <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/shrug.gif" alt="" />

im sure they could double as twins..but no matter what anyone says the ride better tri.

small weak south florida surf huh....
Go fish. canard quad fin setup. if you make it a little north ill let you ride mine....always willing to share boards with bbers. Fish rip in florida... <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 

[LaJollasurfer]

i would say something like a Rusty Pirahna squash or fish...fuller nose, boxy rails , low entry rocker etc...

 

[000]

ive seen both those models as twins.

 

[fstblkgti]

what size do you guys recommend for the RNF my local shop has a few in stock. they have a 6'4, 5'11 and 5'9 not sure about the rest of the dimensions. keeping in mind this would be my first shortboard i'm thinking the 6'4 would be much easier to ride, but i'm afraid its too big

 

[NYB]

I'd have to say I agree with DK. I came from almost identical circumstances to you FstBlkGTi – surfing for about 1.5 years on longboards in the 9’ range and I’m about your size. I picked up a used swallow-tail thruster in the fall and had some fun but also a lot of frustration on it. Just recently I picked up my quad canard fish (from a local NY shaper) and it is unreal. It paddles as well as my longboards and quickly picks up speed and it has the perfect balance (for me) of maneuverability and stability. And I have had no trouble riding it backside, which can be more difficult on a twin keel. I really think traditional Lis-type outline fish (modern everything else – mine has a double concave bottom and hard rails through the tail, etc.) is a great board for someone transitioning down from longboards. I also know several very experienced longboarders who never took to thrusters but who have come to love fish. I went with a 6’0”x 22x 2.75 which is technically a little big for me but if you are coming off of a 9’ board it is going to feel really loose (you can definitely lean into turns – it really is sort of point and go) but retain a degree of stability you won’t find in a more postmodern “fish” or swallow-tail thruster.

Get DK to make one for you. You’ll save money compared to off the rack and he knows the waves you surf.

 

[dk]

rnfs can be hard to ride.

Going from a freakin log to a minature little chip with a round nose is tough. I have a buddy who tried to do that. he still cannot surf the thing right. I think the rnf is better for an avid shortboarder who wants to get something smaller for small-medium sized surfer. people who dotn shortboard much that try these things may be in trouble. It is liek goign from 1 extreme to the other. Skipping the whole middle fase of funboards and md sized shortboards.

 

[denis85]

I used to surf in Boca Raton, before moving to French shores in a region where the surf compares to Florida, most of the time...
Knowing that, I brought my 6'0" J. Lucas twin fin fish along with my longboard. These boards where the nicest combination, so I kept the idea as a quiver basis.
Now, ten years later, I've expanded my quiver...
I have a 5'8" Mandala Canard Quad for about everything (it handles size) depending on my mood, a 6'0 Merrick Flyer for mush and weakless waves, a 7'2" Gun for bigger mush or travelling and a 9'2" Pearson Arrow Log for step crossing when the conditions are idyllic.
But, to start a transition from a Log to a shortboard skipping the funshape part, I recommend you a canard quad fish. They are suited to beachbreaks and can be really funny in snappy short south Fl.windswells
Have fun!...At least you don't need a wetsuit in Miami <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/socrazy.gif" alt="" />