BUYING A CHEAP USED BOARD?

[wormybear]

IS IT IN THE REALM OF THE POSSIBLE TO GET A RIDEABLE BOARD IN THE 6 FT. RANGE? OR AM I LIVING IN A FOOLS PARADISE?

[jaffa1949]

WE heard you in every post, the is no need to SHOUT. We know you are desperate, multiple posts and shouting at us won't fix your problem!

[wormybear]

Wow, so sorry mighty and powerful forum king. I didn't know where to put my question. And if you had any reading comprehension skills you would see that it is three different points. And besides, the post in referral wasn't complete I forgot to ask about a price range. So congrats on laughing and trying to make a newbie feel bad loser.

[jaffa1949]

Not trying to make you feel bad!
$40 for a board is mostly going to expose you to junk, selling your traditional archery gear is a start ( I would however suggest hanging on to that) but surely some work some bargaining and other stuff will go further for your benefit than being upset here!

As for the price range, there are a number of questions that come to mind before anyone suggests anything to you!
Things like height, weight, experience and age, will help us help you. Take some time, compose what you really want to know with those things added help will be given

We all laugh at each other here and believe me, if you are just starting out there will be plenty to laugh at.

[wormybear]

Sory about that. Thought you were being "that guy" on me. its kind of hard to pick up on sarcasm in print. I'm not a jerk or anything, promise! Just a guy who should of not jumped to conclusions and for that i'm sorry.

Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated. I have realized that I will have to spend a little more for a decent board. I guess what I wanted to know more so what not to buy for Pensacola, FL. mush, and what are some visual signs on when not to buy a board. All I know is I'm a wiry guy who needs something light and with good float. Thought about a fish or maybe a shortboard.

Once again, sorry and thanks for any advice in the future.

[drowningbitbybit]

Thought about a fish or maybe a shortboard.

Thought you were being "that guy" on me.

Me, on the other hand, I am that guy

Forget about a shortboard, or a fish - they're both unsuitable for learning, particularly on FL mush.
For weak small waves you need volume, and lots of it.
For learning, you need volume.
So you need two lots of volume.

Ideally a longboard, but if you're skinny, then a mini-mal will do.
Don't buy one with discoloured patches (a yellow tint all over is no great drama - that's just age rather than damage) or with what looks like crazy paving fibreglass. A wrecked board usually looks just that.

[jaffa1949]

Thanks for the apology, I don't worry about it, from Australia I don't know the Pensacola area at all ( I do know mushville potential when I see it though) but I googled heaps of surf shops so there is a market for boards.
If you are starting out ( we still don't know that, but reading between the lines????) and having mushy waves look at longboards not something 6ft. You are right you need flotation, short boards are designed to be more functional in surf with power and shape!
Have a read through all the board advice and see. Often longboards are available cheaply, two things don't buy a cheap softboard if you are struggling with money, because you will out grow the board rapidly in skill.
Look to buy a secondhand long board 8ft or 9ft for starters.
Look to see the glass is intact and little or no yellowing of foam as possible. At this stage self repairing would be a nightmare.
Check that it has all fins or fin boxes/plugs go round the surf shops have a look at what they have on offer you don't have to buy but you might begin to understand what you are looking at and what realistic costs are.
Look at Craigs list and Ebay or what ever the sites are where you live, but if you can get a hands on look see at a board even better.
If you see something that you think might be the deal post pictures top, bottom rails and fins the crew here will soon let you know if it is a good deal.
Often a good thing to do is to take some lessons, with a local surf school and they quite often have a non soft longboard or two to sell check out the schools too.
take a little more time be prepared to spend some money to get something that won't frustrate you.
Surfing is a lifetime in mastering Truly.
Like the inner world of archery it is a Zen art

[wormybear]

Thanks so much for all the advice. It's pretty cool that there are good people in the world who don't mind pointing a goober like me in the right direction. I only thought of a fish cause of the advice of a buddy who surfs. Dumb I know cause everyones different, and some power surf and some don't.

I have always wanted a longboard personally. Because I'm relatively passive I would imagine that would come out in my style of surfing. The part of surfing that's always appealed to me has been the ride of the wave not so much the tricks that are done.

When I was growing up it was easier to skate than surf. But I did grow up in a family of ex-beach bums so I got a chance to ride some awesome retro longboard skateboards. That's probably where my love for the classic stuff came from. It was always so cool to dust something off and breath new life into it.

I guess that's what I was hoping to accomplish when I posted here. I was just hoping maybe I could find that one thing, not to come off as an irritating individual. It's just been a persistent thought and wish. Anyways, sorry again everyone.
P.S. Does anyone know where I can find people in my area that are on a forum? Other than just asking. Hardy har har.

[jaffa1949]

It's cool for a while there you came across like a Bear with worms, hey if your family were ex beach bums, look under their houses they may have a board stashed! Have a read of the forum a bit more thoroughly there are quite a lot of Florida east coast surfers on board.

[parrysurf]

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