the types of boards... please help

[Rusty44]

i get the basic idea.. I know that guns are for big waves, i know longboards , shortboards.. and all that

However, Ive heard from local shops that the best board to learn on is a funboard.. then on here it says a mini-mal.. whats the difference between a minimal and a funboard? Im pretty sure a mini-mal is a mini longboard (beacuse another name for the longbaord is a malibu) so if someone could confirm that , that would be nice. and i think a fun board is also called a hybrid? mix between a shortboard and a longboard? anyway whats a better beginner board and the difference (although i think the funboard has a pointed nose and the mal has a rounded one.. am i right?)

as for the fish shape ... i know its for like 2 foot waves..c an it be surfed on like 6 foot wave? and about the tail, ive seen some where it reeeally comes in or just a V.. are they both fishs? idk

sry for so many questions.. but if anyone could answer anything, i would greatly appreciate it.. thanx in advance..

[Guest]

You should search before posting questions, these topics have been well covered here & elsewhere.

A fish is (strictly) defined as having a tail wider than 6 inches (that's measured from tip to tip of the swallowtail) usually under 6'4" or so,and wide (more than 20") and a twin fin, traditionally made with varnished marine-ply wooden fins. Look up www.swaylocks.com to get a good overall of fish (they talk about them endlessly).
A hybrid or "modern" fish usually takes the basic design principles of real fish and combines them with modern fin systems i.e. a thruster arrangement, sometimes with two larger outside fins and a small fin in the middle.
These two different fish types are good at specific things, a real fish is blindingly fast but abit weird to ride. Hybrid fish are a nice compromise between these and a normal shortboard.
A Mini-Mal is just that. A mini-mal. Usually 7'-8' in length and very popular with the ladies or those who surf less often as they're easy to catch waves on. A Funboard, well they're a Frankenstein really, a mixture of a mini-mal and a shortboard. Frankly a Mini-Mal and a funboard are essentually the same thing to me...

Go to the swaylocks site & search under each type. You'll get plently of photo's and deep discussions about the merits of them all. Cheers.
Brent
(and I forgot to log-in, sorry)

[gulfsurfer]

a TRUE fish is normally under 6' and really wide, no rocker, and thick with a big ol swallow tail. I'm having one shaped right now

[rusty4]

Brent..

Are us ure hyrbrids are modern fish? because ive been searching sites about boards they make (murphysurfboard.com) and all the hybrids are like a minimal and a funboard... The way i look at it... hyrbids are funboards or a minimal , a fun board is more of a mix between a longboard and a shortboard while a minimal is just a smaller longboard u can noseride.. i dont really know about the fishes but i gotta question for ya.. when u said how fast the real fishes are, are the faster than shortboards? and what is the maximum height of waves they can ride? like if im gonna buy a fish, i wanna also be able to surf in like 5 foot waves... is this possible?? thanx for ur help..
(really rusty44, i forgot to log in too)

[gulfsurfer]

Brent..

Are us ure hyrbrids are modern fish? because ive been searching sites about boards they make (murphysurfboard.com) and all the hybrids are like a minimal and a funboard... The way i look at it... hyrbids are funboards or a minimal , a fun board is more of a mix between a longboard and a shortboard while a minimal is just a smaller longboard u can noseride.. i dont really know about the fishes but i gotta question for ya.. when u said how fast the real fishes are, are the faster than shortboards? and what is the maximum height of waves they can ride? like if im gonna buy a fish, i wanna also be able to surf in like 5 foot waves... is this possible?? thanx for ur help..
(really rusty44, i forgot to log in too)

Hybrids are not a true fish. You will be able to ride a fish in 5 foot waves for sure, ive surfed my fish in a little overhead and it was still awesome. If you get one, you will love it. Theyre really fast in small waves, way faster then a thruster, and theyll catch any wave in sight.