Surfing Waves

http://www.surf321.com/longboards.php
From actual experiences, anyone here know anything about this company and if they're boards and prices are good in comparision to others?

hi dispatch,
their existence is news to me. I live and work in Santa Barbara and Irvine. I'll try to visit with them in the coming weeks. All in all, thier prices are very good, but suggest the boards are mass-produced in Asia. It's very difficult to produce longboards, for example, in CA and sell them for less than $600. The red board 321 offers is very pretty. For $425 it is very hard to go wrong and this price is very close to used. I usually buy used longboards, although hand made in CA, for $200 to $375. By the way, now that this has come up. have you looked at Craigslist in the area that you live in? You may be able to find a used board for less than the 321 prices. Just so you know, I have bought three 9-ft long boards and one 8ft 6in funboard from private sellers on Craigslist.
billie

Yes, they told me the factory is located in China. I have looked on Craigslist for my area but I am very weary about buying used due to the things that I read can be wrong with used ones and my lack of knowledge in the sport on what is a good board and what is not. I figured I can't go wrong when buying a new one, especially as you say with the red cross design board looking awesome. I asked them but they told me they do not have dealers for their boards. The biggest draw back..... it cost $100.00 to have one shipped. That much could mean a little better board or some accessories.

Dispatch have a look at the local sellers around your area, there may well be somebody selling similar Chinese stuff on your coast.
PS don't assume that because it it brand new and shiny it will be a good product, look a little deeper, go and handle a few custom locally made boards look at the glass job the shape of the rails if you have a surfing friend go look together you don't have to buy just get the idea of what quality is and then see if your Chinese boards are value for the money you pay, then you can make the call with some knowledge

I looked at the 321 and it says pretty much what any surf shop site would say, so really, go look

Your right. The fact that it has a nice looking paint job doesn't mean its a quality board, that's why I put up this up to question what 321 carries. I have to say... it does bug me buying Chinese made products. As I stated, I'm new to the sport and I'm not sure who is quality and who is not. We have a few surf shops in Daytona Beach and an even bigger on in Coco Beach but I don't want to rely on the salesman for whats good. They will sell you anything.

Dispatch wrote:Your right. The fact that it has a nice looking paint job doesn't mean its a quality board, that's why I put up this up to question what 321 carries. I have to say... it does bug me buying Chinese made products. As I stated, I'm new to the sport and I'm not sure who is quality and who is not. We have a few surf shops in Daytona Beach and an even bigger on in Coco Beach but I don't want to rely on the salesman for whats good. They will sell you anything.

A follow on from my last post.It's true about the salesmen, just go look and get the idea, you do not have to buy, if they start getting pushy just leave by the nearest exit.
BTW there are people in shops who genuinely wish to help you as they will get a return customer over the years.
Avoid pretty salesgirls, pre-adolescent gum chewing punks, and anybody who you don't feel good with.
Just look at lots of shops, several times each, decide outside the shop then go in and cut a deal.

Been thinking about the proposed board though.... I'm thinking a round nosed 9' long board might be more cumbersome than a pointed shorter board like for when dodging under waves and such. Just don't want to sell myself short(no pun intended).

Dispatch wrote:Been thinking about the proposed board though.... I'm thinking a round nosed 9' long board might be more cumbersome than a pointed shorter board like for when dodging under waves and such. Just don't want to sell myself short(no pun intended).

You're right about length and nose shape for duck diving, but at an early stage of surfing you are trading the ability to catch waves and learn more easily on a longer board for the ability to go out under breaking water. you can learn on a shorter board it's just a little more difficult and requires a lot of sessions to get your skills up. If the Coco beach area is where you plan to learn the 321 is fine.
The questions normally asked by the crew in advising , how tall are you? what do you weigh? what experience have you had so far? all of these are pertinent to you board choice.
There is a lot of information among the other posts on this forum about lengths etc.

Have a look too at duck diving and turtle roll tips on the site.

I decided not to go with Surf 321 after all. I'll look at my local Maui Nix and others for what I can actually hold in my hand and feel for myself.

Good for you.

Dispatch wrote:I decided not to go with Surf 321 after all. I'll look at my local Maui Nix and others for what I can actually hold in my hand and feel for myself.

A good decision, right up there with using the Bat repellant sprays
Keep us up to date with your journey

I'm going there later today. Any suggestions on specific brands to look for?

I'd be looking at the global surf industries range I've done an onsite cruise of what comes up on google, most of the shops don't mention their range so I can't help you. In the Globals NSU Walden Mctavish have some reasonable long boards at about $400 or a little more I believe they would be better than the 321s
maybe someone in your area can help you. i'd have a look at the Ron Jon shop too.
Good luck

jaffa1949 wrote:I'd be looking at the global surf industries range I've done an onsite cruise of what comes up on google, most of the shops don't mention their range so I can't help you. In the Globals NSU Walden Mctavish have some reasonable long boards at about $400 or a little more I believe they would be better than the 321s
maybe someone in your area can help you. i'd have a look at the Ron Jon shop too.
Good luck

A little more than that I believe, I have never seen one under 550 pounds, let alone dollars!

Definite there some of the Mctavish models run down to about 600 US and the Waldens dearer sorry the Ron Jon shop has some of its models around the 400 mark. Uncle jaffa's tripping up a bit lately.

Well..... I checked out the local R-- J-- surf shop. I had no idea there was so many board types. I was amazed at the Balsa boards they had, designed in Peru. They cost $5,000! Thats a hell of alot of dough for just a damn surfboard! On the other end, they had some new 9' to 10' longboards with the store logo on them going for about $189.00. They told me these were the ones they use for the school(I had no idea they had a school). Although this type board they said had 'slight imperfections' that were not considered a defect. Conincidentally, a man in the shop approached me and said he heard me saying I was looking for my first board and said he was a local surfboard shaper, that he could make me one from scratch, a board to custom fit me and my needs. He asked me about wave range, wave type, drive, pivot, and ability. All of which I no no clue about what to say. Thats when he said not to worry, that he had 30 years of shaping boards and has shaped over 20,000 boards in his life time. He gave me his business card and said to come see his shop on A1A and we could discuss it further. So... I left the shop and will see what he can show and tell me for more insight....

Hi Dispatch the cheap boards they use for the school are probably soft tops and if you make any sort of progress in learning you will soon outgrow them, they are very floaty and are valuable for a couple of lessons then a hard board is the real way to go. They are cheap but IMO not value for money.
Why not hold off on buying any board and have a couple of lessons ,and also go see the guy that spoke to you, but a custom board is probably a little wasted at this stage of you journey, but going to his shop will certainly help you understand all the technical stuff.
Take your time and also have a few hire sessions after trying the school.
Once you learn what's what, you can haunt Craigs List and Ebay and see what boards come up there and have the knowledge to buy.
BTW there are many good boards for sale from people who just didn't understand how much there is to surfing and dropped out