Educate me on the Basics of Surfboard Dimensions/Shapes

[tomh8]

I've been surfing for about 5-6 years, but only really consistently the past 2 years. I stand up on probably 9/10 waves I get and can do some simple turns and things. I've always just grabbed whatever used board I can find and never paid attention to the dimensions. Right now my main board is 6'0"x18.15"x2.15" (its the JC Hawaii SD-3). I also have a fish that I take out when its 2 foot that is 6'3"x20.5"x2.75". I'm thinking about selling the fish and buying another board. My main board feels a little narrow across the top (the 18.15). I was also thinking of getting something with a 4 fin set up, I see a lot of surfers around here with that (New Jersey). I am 5 foot 8 and my weight fluctuates between 160-170 lbs. What do you think are some dimensions I should look for?

Thanks

[surf patrol]

Your main board is pretty small - 18.15 and 2.15 is narrow and thin particularly for someone who is just doing simple turns - it really seems to be more a board for an advanced surfer. Do you find the fish much easier to surf? What is it that you want from a new board that your current boards are giving you and why do you think your current boards arent giving you that? Those answers will help advise what you should be considering

have a read of this first https://surfing-waves.com/surfboard.htm

[tomh8]

Thanks! That link was a great read. My fish is to large to really get some decent turns, but its fun when the waves are really mushy. As for my main board, I don't think it being thin really bothers me, but I'm starting to feel like the width does. I want a board that is a little more stable than my main one, but is still easy to do turns on.

[waikikikichan]

My fish is to large to really get some decent turns,

Maybe you question shouldn't be " basics of surf board dimensions / shapes " , but more of " basics of turning technique ". You should easily be able to turn your 6'3" Fish. Next time try stepping on the leash plug or as far back into the swallow tail as possible. Board should pivot no problem.
And... I wouldn't go to Quads till you mastered turns on a Thruster set up.

[jaffa1949]

Adding to that, it is you that is unstable, it is you that cannot turn easily, no board will give you skills they just help enhance what you can do.
It is interesting you ask for education on boards and dimension, ask about you can improve your skills instead.

[tomh8]

Adding to that, it is you that is unstable, it is you that cannot turn easily, no board will give you skills they just help enhance what you can do.
It is interesting you ask for education on boards and dimension, ask about you can improve your skills instead.

So why should I continue to try to hone my skills on a board that, according to "dtc", is for "advanced surfers" (which I clearly admit I'm not)? A beginner shouldn't try to understand board shapes and dimensions? And god forbid that beginner asks questions about it, he gets laughed at? I'm only talking about "jaffa1949", the other two responses were courteous and helpful.

[jaffa1949]

I'm sorry you found my reply disrespectful, not meant that way at all.
Since you perceived it that way I apologise
Sorry I'll put it.another way , the thin narrow board is suitable for a better surfer in speed conditions your instinct are already telling you that
The fish being wide for mush for mush but if you follow surf science and the numerous threads on going smaller to be better, you will see it is a myth. It will turn well in the hands of a skilled surfer in mush and was designed with that in mind.
A basic fun board is to go to board to develop skills in regard to the boards you have.... You could persist with the boards you have but you were not asking that. Don't hop on a fashion trend by going a quad, choose the middle road, a basic all round fun board thruster that will enable you to develop the SKILLS you need, following board fashion is a long and difficult path.
NJ surf requires that sort of board to progress well, easy catch and enabling you to do each thing you need to do:

Interestingly waikikikichan suggested much of what I offered.

[waikikikichan]

And god forbid that beginner asks questions about it, he gets laughed at? I'm only talking about "jaffa1949", the other two responses were courteous and helpful.

Interestingly waikikikichan suggested much of what I offered.

Tomh8, basically I said the same thing as Jaffa. Is it the Arrow or the Indian ? So please understand BOTH of us are trying to help you surf better, by improving YOU, so you can ride any board.

Your or anyone's question to learn about boards is great, keep asking. But surfing is a balance between You, your Board and the Wave. Advancing your skills and knowledge of the motion of the ocean will improve your surfing way more than "flavor of the month" surfboard.

[dtc]

It's possible that your fish just isn't a very good board. But assuming it isn't badly made/designed, then it should be easy enough to turn at your height/weight. Longer boards are harder to turn but they are easier to ride; so you develop the skills to turn in an 'easier' environment. Then when you go smaller, you have the skills. If you want a board that is easier to turn that is one thing - there are boards easier to turn than a fish (more rocker, for example); but I f you find the fish is hard to turn at all then that is a skill level thing.

Which is fine; if you want to improve then you need to develop skills and understand where your skills need improving. Kelly Slater doesn't have coaches to simply tell him he is perfect and doesn't need to improve.

If you are dedicated to staying short, I would look for something maybe 20-21 inches wide but a bit more rocker than a fish and around 6'3. There are plenty of boards like this since the hypto krypto is this kind of board and everyone is copying it - a slightly retro egg shape really. Or a shorter hybrid, like the FireWire boards (addvance, dominator) or a McCoy nugget.

Quads can be faster but are not easier to turn - if you have ever been sailing think of the difference between turning a monohull and a catamaran. If you can create and use the speed and overcome the disadvantages of the design then it's all good; if you can't then you are better off with the choice of 90% of surfers ie a thruster

[ManicDaisy]

I'm more of a beginner than you, but I adore my 6'6 Catch Surf Skipper. It's a fish-tailed foamie with a narrower, short-board-esque nose. It paddles and turns great. Since I'm 5'5 and 125-130, I'd been struggling with turning on larger boards. Also, my local beach is more suited to shortboarding a lot of days. So I wanted something small and manageable, but still surfable for someone like me who's only really been surfing 3-6 months. The instant I caught a wave on the Skipper, it felt like I was surfing 100% better. I felt like, "Wow, I'm actually good at this!"

People think foam boards are just for beginners, but I see guys shredding on Beater boards around here all the time. Since you've been riding really small boards already, you could easily ride a 6' or 5'6 Skipper. It has a quad set up and fish tail. At my level of surfing, that doesn't matter much. But it could give you a sense of the benefits of that set up, on a board that's very easy and fun to ride.

Plus, it's cheap. And it doesn't get dinged like a hard board. So it's a great "extra" board even if you eventually buy something else.

Here's a link in case you're interested. And good luck finding your next ride!

https://catchsurf.com/collections/skipp ... ipper-quad

[tomh8]

I'm sorry you found my reply disrespectful, not meant that way at all.
Since you perceived it that way I apologise
Sorry I'll put it.another way , the thin narrow board is suitable for a better surfer in speed conditions your instinct are already telling you that
The fish being wide for mush for mush but if you follow surf science and the numerous threads on going smaller to be better, you will see it is a myth. It will turn well in the hands of a skilled surfer in mush and was designed with that in mind.
A basic fun board is to go to board to develop skills in regard to the boards you have.... You could persist with the boards you have but you were not asking that. Don't hop on a fashion trend by going a quad, choose the middle road, a basic all round fun board thruster that will enable you to develop the SKILLS you need, following board fashion is a long and difficult path.
NJ surf requires that sort of board to progress well, easy catch and enabling you to do each thing you need to do:

Interestingly waikikikichan suggested much of what I offered.

It wasn't what you were saying at all, it was just how I perceived you to say it. Apology accepted, and sorry if I just took your post the wrong way. And thanks for the other responses, I'll be looking out for a used board with some similar shapes and sizes to the ones suggested. If not Ill just keep at with what I have now.

[mg100]

Hey Tomh8, I have been surfing around 3-4 years, for the last 2 years I have been out nearly every other day.

As other have pointed out I am sure it is the technique that needs to be fine tuned to ride any board out there but for us at beginner to intermediate we need all the help we can get and finding the right board has helped me without question.

I have tried so many different boards recently and bought two new ones, the boards I tried with the narrow noses I didn't like so much, my favourite board at the moment is something with quite a wide nose and more volume towards the front of the board and then a narrow tail, https://www.safarisurf.com/custom-order ... lternative this is the board I went for, they say its like a fish at the front to help you get into the wave nice and early but with a high performance tail at the back.
I went from a 6.1 32lt board to this 5'8 28.4ltr one, i thought it was going to be too much of a drop but I even think its easier to surf and catch waves than my older boards, for your reference I am also around 5'8 and 78kg.
It is just so much fun and easy to throw around.
18.15 is incredibly narrow (for me anyway) I think around the 19 mark is perfect.
I too have a 6.0 fish for the mushy smaller days.
My advise is to look for something similar to the one i bought or just go to your local shaper (if you have one) and try as many of thier boards as you can, this was the 5th board I tried and it just clicked on the first wave.