Quality Board?

[carlosmon]

Hello all,
I'm looking to buy my first real longboard. I started surfing on a wavestorm about a year ago and I've outgrown it. On a college student's budget it's hard to find quality boards on craigslist. I found one longboard priced around $225 9'. the board has a spray paint job that I fear may be hiding some defects. I felt the board throughly and couldnt find anything significant except for a few dents and a small crack on the underside of the board towards the nose.

Is there anything else that you guys could recommend to me to look for? should I be concerned that this paint job is hiding defects? could the spray paint have been used to hide a buckle? could the crack be an issue? im afraid there may be more hairline cracks around the main crack that I cant see because of the spray paint.

Any advice is helpful. Thanks!

[Big H]

More pics of the entire board needed. The bit that I can see (very small bit) is that the stringer is banded over with paint which usually is not a good thing. More pics plz.

[jaffa1949]

Forget the board with the paint job near the stringer, very likely hiding a lot of problems.
Water damage being the major one, a way to check , does it feel heavier than it should be?
Another way look along the board nose to tail, if the board dips either side of the stringer, the foam is shrinking, water damage!
Look for a clean skin, you may see the damage but you will know if it can be repaired.
Extensive water damage is not worth it!

Look further post pictures of the entire board and we can advise

[RobSF]

Thanks for the information about the shrinkage either side of the stringer, Jaffa. Really great advice.

You comfortable letting people know your locale, carlosmon? Maybe people here can help you search out a board on craigslist, or other venue. Used boards are such a crapshoot. I've bought five and have been happy with two and a half, but like you, I don't have the bucks to fork out for brand new hardtop.

[billie_morini]

carlosmon:
don't know where you live or study. However, these look promising in the California Central Coast and SoCAL.

Used $175
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/spo/6149084880.html

Used $200
https://santabarbara.craigslist.org/for/6129123840.html

Used $225, but may take $200
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/s ... 75465.html

New $299
http://surfboardswarehouse.com/products.asp?id=1

[carlosmon]

Thanks for the links and advice! I've decided to stay far away from that board after the advice. I'm located in the SoCal area and surf primarily at San Onofre and seal beach and occasionally Huntington. I've stayed away from San O after the shark attacks despite it being my favorite locations. If anyone in the area knows of a quality used longboard for sale please notify me, I would appreciate it! I'm constantly in Craigslist looking for a nose rider

[billie_morini]

Hey carlosmon,
good to know you are located in SoCAL and where you like to surf. San O is my favorite break in the entire world! Mind you, I have not actually traveled, let alone surfed, the entire world.

I've surfed Huntington Beach a bunch of times. It's imperative to surf alongside the pier in Surf City, USA. But, I prefer the vibe at Newport beach over huntington. It's more mellow. I like Seal Beach for the same reason.

It may be worth stopping in at the Frog House, 6908 West Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA, to see what used stock they have. Between 2008 and 2014, I'd stop in there and was always impressed with all the boards stuffed into this tiny shop. Tell them what you are looking for and they may keep an eye out for you.

I've bought a couple of boards and board bags out of Los Angeles area. All were advertised on Craigslist. Also, check these out.
Used Walden long board, $175 and "San O ready"!
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/s ... 85734.html

One waves surf
http://www.onewavesurf.com/used-surfboards/

Surf with Tyler -- Quality longboards
(310) 903 - 6220
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/search ... iation=sss

San Diego
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/spo/6127212643.html
contact them to see if they have any long boards less than $325

San Diego, used long board $200
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/spo/6141864645.html

Keep the stoke! You gonna find the right board, Bra!

[MartinBlasiusson]

carlosmon:
don't know where you live or study. However, these look promising in the California Central Coast and SoCAL.

Used $175
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/spo/6149084880.html

Used $200
https://santabarbara.craigslist.org/for/6129123840.html

Used $225, but may take $200
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/s ... 75465.html

New $299


http://surfboardswarehouse.com/products.asp?id=1

These links are useful.
Thanks.

[carlosmon]

The links are great, thank you!

Would anyone be able to help me determine whether or not these could be good pickups?

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/spo/6160237374.html

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/spo/6140137562.html

[billie_morini]

The links are great, thank you!

Would anyone be able to help me determine whether or not these could be good pickups?

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/spo/6160237374.html

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/spo/6140137562.html

carlosmon,
Yes, these two boards look like potential purchases. They certainly are not expensive for long boards and they are not factory pop outs. Both ads say the boards are water tight. See comments below. Would I consider buying them? The answer is yes. The prices are good and, at least in photos, the conditions seem all right.

Comments about 1st one:
It's helpful the wax is removed because it makes it easy to view the fiberglass condition. You can see some patches on the bottom side of the nose and some scratches across the width on the bottom side. The patches look all right and the resin applied to the glass when making these patches joins smoothly with the original resin. The scratches are nothing to be concerned about. One nice thing is it comes with a fin. You may be unpleasantly surprised at what fins cost. The one thing I cannot determine in the photo is whether the red item on the tail is a fabric sleeve for protection or is actually colored resin. If colored resin, then it is important to make sure the resin is not all cracked up. If it is repaired area, then it is okay as long as the repairs are made well. This doesn't mean repairs need to be imperceptible. It simply means done well enough. The square tail will provide stability when popping up. This will be appreciated by you, if you are less than an intermediate level surfer. With one large single fin, you'll be able to make arcing or swoopy bottom turns.

Comments about 2nd one (not the blue one): This one has the wax on. Fortunately, the wax is thinly applied. It'll require you look extra closely at the board top, preferably in good sunlight. I can't see any patches in the photos. When you get up close to the board, you may see some slight pressure dings. This is normal. The bottom looks normal. The seller is offering side bite fins with this board, but not the main fin. Side bites help stabilize the board when popping up. This will be appreciated by you, if you are less than an intermediate level surfer. They may prove more important on this board because it has a pin tail. The pin tail is less stable during popups than a square tail. But, a pin tail is desired in big surf (say head high and bigger). Although the seller will provide side bites, you will have to supply the center fin. As stated above, you may be unpleasantly surprised at what fins cost. With the side bits, you'll be able to generate more speed when going down the line. It is less easy to make arcing or swoopy bottom turns with side bites. But, you can remove them when you want to. But, you will not be able to surf without the center fin, with or without side bites.