Surfing Waves

Hi to All,
67 y.o, 5ft 6in, 160 lbs, decided to return to surfing after 50 years off the board. Expecting a left hip replacement next April, fitness not to bad, flexibility not good ( pop ups ).
Current board, described as minimal 7ft 2in, 211/2, 21/2 thick. Can paddle o/k but still very unsteady.
Any thoughts on the shortest long board, 8ft 4in , would be nice, that I could paddle on my knees. I feel knee paddling with be an advantage due to my hip, age and fitness/strength and pop up.
The expected wave size would be 2-6 ft, depending on how I progress with a frequency of 3 times per month.
I hope you my be able to suggest a suitable board dimensions from your personal experience.
After becoming more experienced with this new board is there much likelihood that I may progress to my current board.
Hard question I know, but some old guys may have gone through a similar experience. I would prefer not to have to return to the bodyboard.
Many thanks
John

Johnny, I feel your DOB, I'm 68 just rebuilding my surf body after prostate surgery and radiotherapy , not hips. But I never stopped surfing so some difference there.
First, hope you have success with the surgery!
The good new is modern longboards means you can get something. I would suggest 9ft as they knee paddle well and you will,be surprised how well,they perform now. Head towards the 3" thick type with a 2+1 fin set up, you can lighten the board up by going the epoxy EPS type.
But then too the normal glassing is ok.
Just enjoy the rehab and natural hydrotherapy, one of my contemporaries has had both hips done and he rides his length well and holds his own in the line up. Flat pop ups and all

Two boards come to mind:
1) Hobie Peter Pan Slug model, especially the 8'6" Surftech model which is a molded-epoxy and can handle the knee pressures. They were built really full, the nose and tail were as thick as a most longboard middles were.
Sadly, they don't make that model anymore, so check around for 2nd hand ones.
2) NSP Soft School Wide Surf. 8'4" x 23 2/3" x 3 3/4" 94.6 Liters. It so wide, there's a carry hand slot in the middle. And the soft construction will hurt less on your knees and hips.

This probably isn't what you had in mind, but somebody told me Jeff Clark, the original Mavericks guy, has gone more or less to stand-up paddleboards now because of a number of back injuries over the years. And loves it. My source isn't 100% reliable, but Wikipedia does confirm he rides SUPs.

I saw a guy down at Steamers once who didn't look a day under 135, just riding down the line like a god on one of those things.

Hi to All,
Many thanks for the replies. I am using this time in buildup and flexibility mode and watching the second hand board sales.
Oddly enough the first time that I saw a SUP it did nothing for me, nothing has changed since. Worst scenario will be returning to the bodyboard.
Regards
John

I'll admit I haven't acquired any SUP jones myself yet. If it were a last resort, who knows?