Rusty Heckler

[phung725]

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year everyone!

I live in Texas and I was looking for a good used board until I came across a new 6'2" stock dims Rusty Heckler, 39.5 liters selling for $550.. but unsure about the PU construction. (I have never ridden a PU shortboard, just PU longboards)

I am 5'10", 130 lbs, young w/ good fitness, I am a beginner / intermediate surfer, been surfing 6-7' shortboards for about a year now.
I've been surfing my friend's 6'2" CI Weirdo Ripper (standard EPS construction), 37.5 liters, for quite a while now in a thruster setup, which feels light and responsive, but could use a bit less rocker for more glide/speed. I have been looking for grovelers similar to the Rusty Hecker, CI Pod mod, CI High5, Lost Puddle Fish, just shortboards that are good for mushy gulf coast surf.

The Heckler seems like a good board for gulf coast mushy waves, but I suspect that the PU construction might make it feel sluggish in smaller waves. However, they do advertise the board for small waves.

Any opinions on the board and the PU construction for small waves?

Here are the photos of the board:

heckler.jpg (16 KiB) Viewed 1548 times

[waikikikichan]

1) Why does a "new" board have a traction pad already installed ?
2) Are you able to repair Epoxy/EPS on your own ? Poly/PU is easier for you to do by your self and cheaper at a repair shop.
3) At the Beginner/Intermediate level, can you distinguish the ride/feel between EPS vs. PU ? If you like the feel of EPS, then stay with it.

Before the closing of Clark Foam back in 2005, almost all surfers were riding PU and did just fine in small sluggish waves. ( and long before that people were riding Balsa wood boards )

[hit_the_lip]

I can help you, because I do own, or previously owned all these boards.

Rusty Heckler - I own it. Great board. Works in a wide range of conditions. Probably my favorite board of the list.

CI Pod Mod - Previously owned, got rid of it. The rocker wasn't right for me. The board grovels okay, but struggles in a little bigger conditions. It just didn't work for me in chest-shoulder-head high range surf. I was constantly digging the nose in larger surf.

CI High 5 - Previously owned it. It's a good board. As a beginner, this will be slightly on the thin/narrow side for ya. Wouldn't recommend. This isn't a true groveler, I think it lends itself better to better waves.

Puddle Fish - Currently own it. The board is a dream. Goes in a wide range of conditions.

Get the Heckler or the Puddle Fish.

[phung725]

Thanks for the advice, do you think EPS has a significant difference in terms of liveliness and speed in small waves compared to PU?

And is it easy to generate speed in small surf on the heckler?(knee-waist high)

[surfguruloulou]

A great board that you could use that would probably feel very similar if not a little better than your friends board would be a Fred rubble, which is great for mushy surf, and it has enough rocker not to nosedive, but not too much to the point of which it restricts your ability to paddle well. Also, this board is able to get lots of speed even when there is none at all, allowing you to fly across flat sections and remain in the pocket when need be. I own this board, and I find it to be great in mushy, small surf, but the times I have taken surf trips, it performs well in better waves too, especially since I ride it slightly larger than my normal shortboard, giving me an incredible ability to catch lots of waves. I hope this post was helpful. Also, PU construction is light and flexible, but pressure dings often occur with lots of use, but those don’t affect the boards performance. They are less likely to ding, so that is great as well. Good luck!

[Big H]

The 6.2 heckler is nearly the same size as a board I use in good waves (6.4 x 21 x 23/4). It should have plenty of float for you since I’m 93kg and 6’1”. Again, good waves for me though means starting at head high and coming off the Indian Ocean.

PU vs EPS? You need to try both....each has its pluses and minuses. I like pu in all except my longboards. I like the extra bit (and it is only a bit) of weight; board sits in the water better and is more surefooted for me. Had a FireWire and a surftech epoxy shortboards I liked for a lot of reasons as well.

Outside of that, don’t focus so much on the equipment.....the board being lively or not, able to generate speed is on you......rocker slowing your drive and down the line speed I also wouldn’t worry about at you stage....I’m sure there are other reasons for bleeding off speed rather than the design of the equipment. Get any of those and go surf.