Surfing Waves

Hi there,

I'm thinking of spending what little money I have on a new surfboard. Not "new" per se--it would technically be a used board (I prefer the terms

well-loved and up-for-adoption) from someone on an online forum kind of

like this one. This is what the person's e-mail to me looked like:

"Hey,

I have two boards I don't really use that you are welcome to. Both are in

good condition, water tight, without any dings or dents. One is a Byrne

6'1" board that's older so more yellowed , and another is a T.Patterson

6'1" board. The prices are $100 for the nicer one and $60 for the Byrne.

Prices are negotiable -X"
(more or less)


1) This seems like a pretty sweet deal. As a college student, rarely can I

afford surf gear.

2) So my question is what would you do if you were in my position? Which

board would you go for; would you get both??


I'm 5'8", female, able-bodied, probably around 150 lbs and I've surfed

before but not for a while (5 or more years) and that was mostly on long

boards and I think I was too young to appreciate surfing anyway, but now

I think I'm ready for it.

Additionally, from what I've read, you want a board to be two or three

inches above your head when upright, but this board would be a

6'1"-5'8"= 5 inch difference. Is that too much? Be honest, I can take it!




Some other specs: Either board is a short board. I can always haggle the

price. What do you think, should I wait until I can afford a tip-top board

in tip-top shape with all the fixins'?!


Thanks for your replies in advance, and keep up the good surf talk!


MyLadyHaines

too BIG if anything they are too small. But with some dedication you can get by

Nice prices though

I know, right???

Hah, I get your drift with the whole Big VS. Small concept. What your instincts are were my first ones as well. However, I find it interesting that sites like the recently posted "Surfboard Selector" website for a specific line of boards has a chart posting 4 and 5 inches above head height for people who weigh a lot or are taller.

I know it's a risk getting a short board as a first board as well, especially boards so...well...short, haha.

Also, is the tinting on the cheaper board is going to be a problem? could it just be dirty wax i can somehow scrape or peel?

I should probably ask the seller that last one....


more replies, please!

I voted 3.5 inches and that is a nice size for me - I'm 5'9" and have surfed this board for ages though, but as isaluteyou says you should be okay if you persevere on the boards you mention

At worst, buy the pair and sell one or both on later if you don't get on with one or other

yeah, length plays in, but so does width and thickness. i'm 6'2" and just got a 6'3" fish and realize i prolly coulda went a little shorter because it ahs a lot of bouyancy...are there any other specs you can give us on the boards?

id say thats a good length at a GREAT price
they could possibly be too short!

well all i know is that both are buoyant and float well...and hell, here's what the email says directly; i'd rather not misquote him/her:

"I actually have two boards that are in good condition. They have no open dings and are completely watertight. They both float just fine. One is a little more yellowed than the other and would sell for cheaper. The first board is a 6'1" T. Patterson that is 2 3/16 thick, and the second one that is more yellowed is a 6'1" Byrne that is a little thicker. I am looking for around $100 for the T. Patterson, and near $60 for the Byrne. Prices are negotiable."


and my reply, wanting more details, was...
"Wow, this deal sounds almost too good to be true! Do you think the yellowing on the board you mentioned will be much trouble to remove? I.e. is it a resin tinting problem or just dirty wax that can be easily peeled or scraped off? Do you feel it's affected how you surf at all?
Also, can you give me some more info on the fins and whether there are leashes? The more details you can give me, about the boards the better. Not trying to break the deal here, just curious. This is a big purchase for me, and a big risk if it's as short a board as you say, if YKWIM.

Thanks in advance..."


and the seller's reply back was:


"the yellowing cant really be removed too easily but it is more cosmetic than anything. the more yellowed board is still floating as great as the day i first bought it. they both float great and are easily ridden by me (a semiexperienced surfer). the Byrne (more yellowed) has glassed on fins which are not removable. and the T. Patterson (whiter) has fcs G 7000 fins which are removeable and are a good midpriced fin. I can throw in a leash if you would like for the same price. And the boards have had a few dings but they have all been professionaly repaired. The size shouldnt be too much of a problem unless you are pretty tall."


HTH.

im 5'5 i surf a 5'10

well im 5'8 n surf a 6'4
take that ninjas

i'm 5'9" and surf a 6'2" and a 5'6" fish. yellowed board means old and slowly loosing life. they seem maybe a bit too thin, imo. especially for your first shortboard