Tail Pad for fish?

[surferchick16]

Hi,

I've been thinking about putting a tail pad on my board, its a 5'10 channel islands hybrid fish (turns quite well and can pull off maneuvers such as floaters etc) . Would this help with turning or is it a waste of money?

Thanks!

[jaffa1949]

OK the board can do those turns quite well and can pull off maneuvers such as floaters, but can you?
The pad can help with defining where you can put back foot pressure to facilitate a turn, but the board with or without pad will not turn unless you can.

Seriously though, what is your level of surfing?

[oldmansurfer]

It's a matter of personal preference

[waikikikichan]

Tail pads Save money, not waste money on a new board. But if your used board has lots of heel pressures and the stringer is popping up, the new pad on a old board might not adhere well.

[oldmansurfer]

They probably also save money in you don't need as much wax. I hear guys like them for duckdiving and I imagine they help with aggressive maneuvers

[yumyumyellow]

They probably also save money in you don't need as much wax. I hear guys like them for duckdiving and I imagine they help with aggressive maneuvers

A $40-50 tail pad saves money in wax? How much wax do you use?

[oldmansurfer]

How much does wax cost where you live? How long does a tail pad last?

[Big H]

My monthly wax bill is around 20 bucks.

[oldmansurfer]

so a tailpad is about one fifth of the area you wax? then you save about 20$ every 5 months

[yumyumyellow]

Wax costs about $1.50 a bar where I live. I bought 4 bars of sticky bumps in April and I'm just now on my last bar. I surf 3-6 times a week for at least 2 hours each, but sometimes up to 6. This is also with the wax constantly melting off with 90 degree air and 85 degree water. I use way less in the winter. None of my boards have traction pads.

[Big H]

I go through 5 bars a month. I surf about every day. Reckon I use more wax than you do.

I guess we are not all the same.... not always a single best way might be a conclusion.

[oldmansurfer]

I don't use tailpads, just never seen a need for them

[Big H]

.....20 bucks a month which I apply to boards long and short, maybe that's the difference....longboards take more wax....

[jaffa1949]

I surf sincerely , which originates from Latin for no wax

[yumyumyellow]

.....20 bucks a month which I apply to boards long and short, maybe that's the difference....longboards take more wax....

I basically never wax my longboard. Can't remember the last time I did. I don't ride it that often and when I do, the sessions tend to be shorter (not sure why that is). So that's probably the difference. Plus, I don't really feel I need a ton of grip on my LB and actually prefer that I don't as it's easier to move around the board.

[Big H]

...and therein lies the difference.... I heavily wax my longboard....I use it on bommies primarily and the extra wax makes me feel secure on the bigger, often choppy drops...

[surferchick16]

OK the board can do those turns quite well and can pull off maneuvers such as floaters, but can you?
The pad can help with defining where you can put back foot pressure to facilitate a turn, but the board with or without pad will not turn unless you can.

Seriously though, what is your level of surfing?

I can pull off maneuvers such as floaters, have been surfing for about 3 years

[IB_Surfer]

I did and I love it. I used to think that only for shortboards but I'm glad I did so on my fish.

The only boards I don't have a tail pad is my longboard and my big wave gun since I usually am not on the tail when I ride those.

[surfripper]

Tail pads are killer!