Al Merrick Black Beauty

[b123]

Hi guys,
I'm looking at a 6'3 Al Merrick Black Beauty (http://www.cisurfboards.com/sb_blackbeauty.asp), but have a question about it. The CI site says that it's mostly for Head-high to Double-overhead, but I live in the South Bay (Southern California, USA), where the waves are relatively small-medium, and break somewhat close in. What would be the problems or drawbacks with using this board here? Should I not get it?
Thanks

[allyoz]

it's a step up board as it says, meant for when the surf gets bigger, not quite a pintail but not built to rip in small surf, basic dimensions aren't too different from a small wave short board but the shape would be all wrong it'd have thinner rails, more rocker, pulled in nose and tail etc
not saying it couldn't be ridden in small surf, you just wouldn't buy it for small stuff.
look at the other boards if you really want a merrick, like fichcuit, k small, flyer etc

[oldgrom]

I'm a south bay surf cat (sucks till winter!!) and NO!!! Nice board wrong surf to use it in, yes you could use it but it will not be a fun or easy stick to use plus the surf conditions would have to be just right. I totaly agree with allyoz the deck profile your looking for is a Flyer,Flyer II or a K-Small these profiles will work in just about all surf conditions here in CA and you can change the whole board dynamics with some different fins. b123 where do you surf mostly?? You should meet the lil crew that's here,we go to Knob,breakwall, etc. and down south seal,bolsa chica,san onefre etc. I surf all over as well as the outher dudes in the lil click, go to (Member Meetings then to LOCAL HERMOSA BEACH,CA meet is over , click in and intro yourself to the crew you'll be wellcomed were always lookin for peeps to drown with hahaha.

[b123]

Just Manhattan Beach, really. I'm not sure I'd even be good enough to drown with you guys yet.

[b123]

Not to sound like I'm obsessed with these models, but I found a Red Beauty for sale nearby, I take it that would be better?

[oldgrom]

WRONG again!!! ..... Sorry I hate to be the one to crash your ideas.... Yes it would be better but NO still wrong stick,You really need to be pritty good to handle it and you'll probably be very discouraged with it sorry....

HA HA HA na your plenty good to surf with us we have a total mixed bag from the newbiee( 2nd time ever) to the years of surfing, male and female so (ya can learn alot and have fun laughin your azz off at the rest of us ) Trust me I eat shizz alot!!! HA HA

If you had to chose between the two then yes Red would be the one, but why are you looking to start out on a short board or pos the wrong short board ya want it to be harder than it allready is ha ha. I recomend ya keep looking. but it's your $$$ Come on out with us some time and I'll slap a stick under your azz to see how well you flounder about and help you pick a stick that will match you now and one you can grow with( just did it with 2 new people never meet before,now they are part of the S Bay surf crew) besides the more people there that could give me CPR is a great asset. haha You allso have to keep in mind our S Bay break (it sucks) fast and on the shore you need stability first, speed second. Hence the Flyer or the likes or you could look into a mini mal/funboard , funboard working well in our S Bay junk.

[justloafing]

Come on out with us some time and I'll slap a stick under your azz to see how well you flounder about and help you pick a stick that will match you now and one you can grow with .

That's what I'm talking about. Get a board that you can surf right away but one to grow on. Not a high performance board but not a cheap a s s popout either. b123 take oldgrom up on that. You wont be sorry.

[b123]

So what kind of boards do you think I should be looking at? What Merrick would be best for around here? The flyer, flyer ii, k-board? What other shapers/models should I be looking at?
Thanks

[oldgrom]

Well If I had to recomend your first kick azz stick and it is in the Merrick lineup I'd say Flyer,Flyer II, or the MX. These are boards that you can surf here now and outher places with bigger waves. These are not wussy boards ither you could be a pro and still need/use them. These would be your best choices and give you the most bang for yer buck.

How long have you been surfing b123???

[b123]

Not too long, about a month or so. I've been learning off of a friend's 6'8ish (it's pretty old, the actual dimensions have worn off long ago) gun, so hopefully that it'll come in to play and help when transferring to a shorter board. I know it's not really an ideal progression, but I really would like to go down shorter and get a feel for it. I went in to a shop today, and was recommended (I don't remember what model) a 6'4 Michael Baron Byrne, do you have anything to say about this brand vs. Merricks, Island Creations, etc.? (For the record, I'm about 175 and 6'0.) Would it work well out here?

Thanks for the help so far.

[the.ronin]

It’s not so much the brand as it is the shape (although I am partial to the CI). What are the dimensions of the Byrne? In any event, 4 inches to spare if very little to spare. You’d need at least 19 in width and 2 and good change in thickness to make up for it.

[b123]

Maybe more like 5'11. Anyway, I wish I could remember exactly, but it was 18-something and 2 3/8.

[the.ronin]

That extra inch in width actually makes a huge difference. I’m going to bet the Byrne is 18-1/4 and 2-3/8. That’s a pretty standard dimension for a higher performance thruster.

Look dude, it sounds to me you’re pretty much bent on getting either the Black Beauty or this Byrne. I say do it. Sure it’ll be tougher to ride but, hey, it’s what you want. I’m the same way. If it’s something I like, I’ll get it even if it may not be the most ideal for me. At the end of the day, I’m happy. You’ll always get the band of purists damning you for not getting the huge barge. Eff em. It’s not their money your spending.