Which assists more length or width?

[Kagey]

Hi new to the forum,

I'm after a new board and trying to figure out which aids best in wave catching in weak waves? extra length or a bit more width?

[Rickyroughneck]

Surface area

-Both.

You don't want to go too wide though.

[Kagey]

Hmm may have a chance to get a nice long longboard for my local break which has slow fat waves, I have a Mct Fireball Evo 9'6" but struggle to catch waves at times. I may be able to gt hold of a 11' glassed Becker (heavy board) or a 10'6" RA Wingnut II..just wondering which one to get. The Becker is 24" wide and the RA is 23" wide?

[jaffa1949]

Hmm may have a chance to get a nice long longboard for my local break which has slow fat waves, I have a Mct Fireball Evo 9'6" but struggle to catch waves at times. I may be able to gt hold of a 11' glassed Becker (heavy board) or a 10'6" RA Wingnut II..just wondering which one to get. The Becker is 24" wide and the RA is 23" wide?

I'm a little puzzled here, the 9'6" Mct Evo should enable you to catch waves easily, so I'm prompted to ask how long have you been surfing, and what do you weigh ( the last is a bit rude I know but I'm guessing technique problems rather than board length. Of course you can go bigger and bigger and bigger but I do think it is something more fundamental. Hope we can help.

[Kagey]

Hey Jaffa, I'm 95kgs and yes I agree it will be something more fundamental, I always have had a problem paddling into waves, I would've got over it but I went to supping 3 yrs a go and have only just gone back to prone surfing. I wanted a bigger (easier) board so I'm not so wave starved due to missing that many. I know time in the water will help but my local break really does have p*ss weak waves and I have noticed not much under 9ft gets much here...of any substance anyway. When I go up the road a bit the waves are far far stronger as the coastline has no islands or peninsula's slowing the swell...so no problems when I'm up there. However at the moment my opportunities are few and far between and as I have a young family my short windows to surf keep me local...of course it could be worse I could be inland! Any suggestions to aid my wave catching will be received gratefully.

[jaffa1949]

Hey Jaffa, I'm 95kgs and yes I agree it will be something more fundamental, I always have had a problem paddling into waves, I would've got over it but I went to supping 3 yrs a go and have only just gone back to prone surfing. I wanted a bigger (easier) board so I'm not so wave starved due to missing that many. I know time in the water will help but my local break really does have p*ss weak waves and I have noticed not much under 9ft gets much here...of any substance anyway. When I go up the road a bit the waves are far far stronger as the coastline has no islands or peninsula's slowing the swell...so no problems when I'm up there. However at the moment my opportunities are few and far between and as I have a young family my short windows to surf keep me local...of course it could be worse I could be inland! Any suggestions to aid my wave catching will be received gratefully.

Hmm you have a problem Kagey, but I think its a combination type problem, I'm of similar weight, can go to 100 kegs if I'm having a little less physical patch so the weight is not an issue sounds like the waves are the major problem and your sense of looking after your responsibilities
( that's good), I would ( and I never thought I'd say this) consider sticking to SUPing at the local weak break and maybe coming down a bit as I got more proficient or if you want to stick with the longboarding go a heavier build .The Becker could be a little long , is there a 10ft heavier old school type board around, single fin ( although more modern in the fin) The RAs look more the go and if you are doing custom I'd go the heavier glass and the Wingnut II would be my choice with a 2+1 set up but mainly riding as a single. I'd also look at the RA "What I ride" and think along the glass and fin lines. Go a little thicker and you may be able to knee paddle.
Difficult choice for you

[Kagey]

Well I'm going to stick with longboarding but appreciate the advice, the RA Wingnut II is a surftech one so will be light and have alot of flex. I'd rather a heavier less flex board but my options are scarce. A custom (new) could cost me more than my budget hence me thinking about the large Becker....hmmm decisions??

[Kagey]

BTW i'm fully supped out, I've had several of them from the big old Laird to learn on right down to a 7'10" shortboard sup. My passion is longboarding now. I'm really keen to get proficient but just thought it'd be easier on a bigger board for my local. what do ya reckon the 10'6" tuflite or the heavy glassed 11' Becker?

[jaffa1949]

Good on you for going with the real thing. Cash up by selling the SUPs.
Can you sit for a little while and look for a similar board to the RA of normal construction? I found that Epoxy boards are a little corky and get pushed around in mushy white water
I see the RA Wingnuts are available as normal non epoxy construction, maybe there are some around at secondhand prices. Had a look at the Beckers, MmMMMM that's me thinking,if the boards are used maybe you can try before buy, that might help.
Beyond that guessing boards in America from Australia is slightly just that, a guess.
Prowl the surf shops, a bigger board second hand may just be selling cheap as they are not the fashion.
Let us know how you go

[Kagey]

Cheers Jaffa will do.