opinion on surfboards

[edjunior2015]

Im thinking of buying a used surfboard and I have 2 options the first one is 6'8 and its $130 and it includes the leash and fins. And the other one is 6'4 but I have to laminate it and it includes the fins $50. How much would it cost to add a layer to laminate it in a surfshop? which would be a better buy, im a beginner btw and I weight 160 lbs if you need to know.

[oldmansurfer]

The top board looks like it has had some serious damage and was poorly repaired. I would want to try the boards out first if it were me. I guess also it depends on what your skill set is and what waves will you be on and your size.

[edjunior2015]

What do you think about this one? its 7'3 x 21 x 2 3/4 and its $180. does it look good and is it worth it. I live in puerto rico so the waves arent huge.

[oldmansurfer]

what board are you currently using? The value of the board depends on who the user is. A board might be good for one surfer and not for another. I would like the board above but it is nearly a foot shorter than the board I currently use so I would anticipate some problems getting used to it. Also just from a picture it is rather difficult to tell if it would be good. Buying used boards is always going to be tricky. They should have a used board purchasing section in this forum. Initially I just bought a board that was long enough to help me get into waves easier (9 foot 6 inch big wave gun), then after surfing that enough to know I wanted to surf I bought a board based on the recommendation of my shaper friends wife who sold boards (9 foot 6 inch longboard). Then I got one made for me brand new (8 foot fun gun). I think what you want initially is enough volume (long enough, wide enough, thick enough) to help you catch waves. Once you get used to it and get to where your board is limiting you then get another board that is made more for the type of surfing you want to do. Listening to this forum it seems many people want a board with less volume so they can duck dive because they aren't fit enough to surf without that. I don't really know how that works out. I have never been good at duck diving. I think the problem many new surfers have is they get discouraged by buying a short board and find the process of learning to surf so difficult they never learn to surf. However when I initially learned to surf (18 years old) I had a brand new made for me shortboard. I learned on that and never had a problem but I was super fit and ocean savvy from years of bodysurfing and paipo boarding. In my old age (also over weight out of shape) relearning I realized that I could do that again but knew also if I had a bigger board I would be catching more waves sooner and chose a bigger board. So what kind of board are you used to?

[edjunior2015]

I learned on an 8 foot board and I think I did pretty good. It was a friends board. And actually this will be my first board and I think it will be a good one since I can learn on it and its not so big.