Surfing Waves

couple questions about a retro style fish, keeping it a possiblity for further down the road, after finishing my current shape

so, I know they are really loose, are they really wobbly on the pop-up as well?

how is the paddling speed/ power? I would probably ride it intentionally long...like a 6'3-6'5.

I'm just frustrated with the paddling of my shortboard, and really it doesnt catch the waves(or me?) before the wave closes out, so its like, paddle, catch, get up, whitewater left and right....

I think in good waves, I would have a ton of fun on my shortboard, but we just dont get them, so is a fish a good way to go?

huh, kinda missed almost the exact same thread in surfing hardware....

well, its slightly different....sorry folks, still would appreciate replies though.

Welcome to Dr. Fish's Surf Surgery...

tomcat360 wrote:so, I know they are really loose, are they really wobbly on the pop-up as well?

Yes.
A big struggle can be on bigger or closing out waves - getting up can be real wobbly!

tomcat360 wrote:how is the paddling speed/ power? I would probably ride it intentionally long...like a 6'3-6'5.

They're similar to a shortboard, maybe a bit easier. The trim of the board is critical too. I find you need to mess around with weight distribution quite a lot for a particular day.

tomcat360 wrote:I'm just frustrated with the paddling of my shortboard, and really it doesnt catch the waves(or me?) before the wave closes out, so its like, paddle, catch, get up, whitewater left and right....

A fish will be easier to catch waves than a shortboard, and you can generate speed easier, but its also true that a fish loses speed quickly. You cant stand still on a fish! Keep pumping, moving, spinning!

tomcat360 wrote:I think in good waves, I would have a ton of fun on my shortboard, but we just dont get them, so is a fish a good way to go?

Probably. But fishes are best on small/medium but clean waves - as they're so loose they can buck around on the mushy white stuff. You can also have a lot of fun on them on closing out days by grabbing the closing out wave, taking the drop, and then sliding one last crazy throwaway turn. Its a short ride, but if you're on gutless waves its the best way to make fun out of them!

tomcat360 wrote:couple questions about a retro style fish, keeping it a possiblity for further down the road, after finishing my current shape

so, I know they are really loose, are they really wobbly on the pop-up as well?

how is the paddling speed/ power? I would probably ride it intentionally long...like a 6'3-6'5.

I'm just frustrated with the paddling of my shortboard, and really it doesnt catch the waves(or me?) before the wave closes out, so its like, paddle, catch, get up, whitewater left and right....

I think in good waves, I would have a ton of fun on my shortboard, but we just dont get them, so is a fish a good way to go?

I Coach Surfing (20yrs) and I ride a 5ft 10 1/2 Fish, they are a great stable board. You obviously get the most out of a board dependent on your Surfing Skill level. but a Fish will help you.

Generally a Fish is Wide and Thick, which allows greater stability and greater paddeling capability. The Thickness, Width and Length of your Fish is also dependent on your Weight, Height and Skill level. The heavier you are the thicker the board, resulting in a more bouyant board.

Remember Fishes are designed specifically for TURNING, so you must use your legs. PUMP all the time. Hey get a SURF Coach or a Mate to look at what your doing. Sorry I cant help I live in Sydney, Australia. GOOD LUCK and GO OFF.
GRAHAM

A fish is a great way to go if you want an ultra loose board, most of the time you compensate and get a fish way shorter and go thicker and wider. If your problem is that you are having trouble getting a semi long fish will solve your problem but definatly affect the proformance. I ride a 6-4 merrick flyer shortboard for mushy days and a 6-2 custom shape for the steaper days but my fish is only 5'7 and i must say the fish seems to proform equal in all conditions except for when its choppy here in southern cali. When i bought my fish i was skepitcal but its really a blast go ride just ask around and get tips on the best shape.

My own personal experiences with my retro twin fin fish are:
It takes really early on less steep waves. Much earlier than my 7ft magic carpet. It's very fast and on take off it is important to get your feet in the right place. Mine doesn't stop quite so quick as some fishes i've ridden/made but it is 3 inches thick with fairly chunky rails but neither of these things seem to effect it's ability to turn. It's also quite heavy with a cfull length cloth inlay and gtloss coats all adding weight to it.
Without adoubt my own fish prefers less steep waves, clean or mushy it doesn't matter.

KS

Hi kitey,

Where's the wide point on that one (and how wide)?

And how wide is the tail?

Piccies maybe?

-doug

We can always do piccies. Can't remember how wide the tail is but it is quite wide. Photos show it best. Early 70's design with the wide point well forward of half way.









KS

Ok just dug out the design for this one and here are all the sizes.



Here's another one of mine.






And just in case everyone's forgotten what lex's board looks like, here it is again.



KS

I remember that board

I'd think the relatively narrow (for a fish) tail and forward wide point would help make it easier to turn.

-doug

The top one, is that straight from the 1977 design and construction book?

Again, this is a really old post...

Fish is on the drawing board after a classic weight noserider.

dougirwin13 wrote:I remember that board

I'd think the relatively narrow (for a fish) tail and forward wide point would help make it easier to turn.

-doug

Yeah it does turn easy but that tail isn't as narrow as it looks. Almost 13 inches wide across the pintails.
Just finished outlining and rockering my next project.
"The Trinidad Fish"

KS

Hhhmm... That's getting into the ballpark of a mal 1' in from the tail.

Srtill, seen fish wider than that in the back. The fishtail probably helps (fin effect).

-doug

Bump!

Does that work?

Ooh! It worked.

Right...I'm sure I'm repeating myeslf but I haven't asked for advice for at least 24 hours.

I surf a 5'8" fish, a performance style fish, it's the only board I've ever owned or ridden for any long period of time. I find it nice to catch waves on and can pop up quickly and easily (apart from when knackered), I can drop in and pull a bottom turn. On bigger steep waves I can drop in and pretty much ride straight without having to do much, on big mellow waves (like saunton when big) I can catch the waves early-ish and do big arcing turns (sometimes). the rest of the time I find when dropping in I often stall, or atleast slow down enough for the break water to catch me up. And, I am getting better (slowly).

Anyway, I was browsing around and this statement caught my eye:

drowningbitbybit wrote:A fish will be easier to catch waves than a shortboard, and you can generate speed easier, but its also true that a fish loses speed quickly. You cant stand still on a fish! Keep pumping, moving, spinning!

So, is this statement in comparison to other shortboards? My interpretation is fish have a greater potential speed but without the skills they are actually easier to stall on than a thruster, no?