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6' 0" x 22 3/8" x 3.2" - El Brotato
Volume: Marked 48 liters, but is probably more like 46-47L (based on surfing it).
Blank: Marko Enviro-foam (partly recycled foam, recyclable but you have to strip the glass before putting it in the bin).
Glass/Lam: 6 oz bottom, 6 x 6 oz deck; epoxy (glassing by John Calivas); purple halo. The deck lam is heavier than most custom boards for durability (normal custom lam for a big guy is 6x4 deck), but board is still lighter than poly with lighter lam.
Hotcoat resin: Epoxy, with Goretex vent to allow for safer storage when it's hot (less likely to delam in hot car, or in airline cargo).
Features: Modeled after the Lost Couch Potato with a slightly pulled in tail and minor tweaks to tail flip and nose roll, this is a very nice daily-driver/small-wave board for a surfer 165-210lbs depending on ability level. I made this board for myself and was very happy with how it got in, and how it paddled, but it was maybe a few liters too low volume for me at 218 lbs (48 yrs old, surfing 4-5 days a week). For being lower volume to the rider (me), this board got in very, very well & handled nicely, with very good trim/planing speed. Would have been my small wave board for every day surfs if it had a few more liters, I think. I was very happy with the combination of planing speed & pivot.
Fin recommendation: This board will work well with Merrick fronts and Stretch SF4 rears; Rainbow Merricks ("CIS" or another name, recently) are preferable to the new "Arc" FCS to me. My favorite fins on this board were FCS MR-TX. John Calivas installed these awesome boxes that will take both the new and the old FCS (thanks, John!), so the fin options are very open ended. I recommend MR-TX FCS as a starting point. This board will even do well with FCS FK2s in the back boxes; very flexible & adaptable finwise.
Best use: Very nice small wave board whose range is limited only by the rider's comfort; personally I would use this design for up to HH+2, then switch to a step-up or semi-step. I really liked this board on my favorite less-surfed peaks (mushier and less walled, thus less heavily crowded), but it will do better and better according to the quality of the waves. Best for a beginner under 180lbs, intermediate-advanced 185-195 lbs, advanced 190-215lbs (depending on paddle power and age, as well). Paddles and gets in very well for the volume and length.
Volume: Marked 48 liters, but is probably more like 46-47L (based on surfing it).
Blank: Marko Enviro-foam (partly recycled foam, recyclable but you have to strip the glass before putting it in the bin).
Glass/Lam: 6 oz bottom, 6 x 6 oz deck; epoxy (glassing by John Calivas); purple halo. The deck lam is heavier than most custom boards for durability (normal custom lam for a big guy is 6x4 deck), but board is still lighter than poly with lighter lam.
Hotcoat resin: Epoxy, with Goretex vent to allow for safer storage when it's hot (less likely to delam in hot car, or in airline cargo).
Features: Modeled after the Lost Couch Potato with a slightly pulled in tail and minor tweaks to tail flip and nose roll, this is a very nice daily-driver/small-wave board for a surfer 165-210lbs depending on ability level. I made this board for myself and was very happy with how it got in, and how it paddled, but it was maybe a few liters too low volume for me at 218 lbs (48 yrs old, surfing 4-5 days a week). For being lower volume to the rider (me), this board got in very, very well & handled nicely, with very good trim/planing speed. Would have been my small wave board for every day surfs if it had a few more liters, I think. I was very happy with the combination of planing speed & pivot.
Fin recommendation: This board will work well with Merrick fronts and Stretch SF4 rears; Rainbow Merricks ("CIS" or another name, recently) are preferable to the new "Arc" FCS to me. My favorite fins on this board were FCS MR-TX. John Calivas installed these awesome boxes that will take both the new and the old FCS (thanks, John!), so the fin options are very open ended. I recommend MR-TX FCS as a starting point. This board will even do well with FCS FK2s in the back boxes; very flexible & adaptable finwise.
Best use: Very nice small wave board whose range is limited only by the rider's comfort; personally I would use this design for up to HH+2, then switch to a step-up or semi-step. I really liked this board on my favorite less-surfed peaks (mushier and less walled, thus less heavily crowded), but it will do better and better according to the quality of the waves. Best for a beginner under 180lbs, intermediate-advanced 185-195 lbs, advanced 190-215lbs (depending on paddle power and age, as well). Paddles and gets in very well for the volume and length.
5' 10" x 22.125" x 3" - Brotato for Casey
Volume: approx 44 liters
Blank: Marko Enviro-foam EPS
Glass/Lam: 6 oz bottom, 6 x 6 oz deck; epoxy (glassing by John Calivas); clear / conventional EPS foam glassing schedule (with spackle) / no color.
Hotcoat resin: Epoxy, with Goretex vent to allow for safer storage when it's hot (less likely to delam in hot car, or in airline cargo).
Features: This is a board modelled after the Lost Couch Potato with a slightly pulled in tail and minor tweaks to tail flip and nose roll. I made two of these, one for Casey and one for myself, same length different volume, and was happy with the results. The one for me (Casey's is too small for me, which is why I made one closer to my own volume) got in very well for the volume and handled nicely, with good trim/planing speed for the volume (I made the one for me a little too low in volume, so I would think Casey's gets in even better for a rider of intended weight (190 lbs).
Fin recommendation: This board will work well with Merrick fronts and Stretch SF4 rears; Rainbow Merricks ("CIS" or another name, recently) are preferable to the new "Arc" FCS to me. My favorite fins on this board were FCS MR-TX. FK2 twins in the back boxes also worked very well, and were fun in waist high waves. John installed these awesome boxes that will take both the new and the old FCS (thanks, John!).
Best use: Very nice small wave board whose range is limited only by rider's comfort; personally I would use this design for up to HH+2, then switch to step-up. I really liked this board on my favorite less-surfed peaks (mushier and less walled, thus less heavily crowded), but it will do better and better according to the quality of the waves. Best for a beginner under 180lbs, intermediate-advanced 185-195 lbs, advanced 215lbs or less (depending on fitness and age, as well).
Volume: approx 44 liters
Blank: Marko Enviro-foam EPS
Glass/Lam: 6 oz bottom, 6 x 6 oz deck; epoxy (glassing by John Calivas); clear / conventional EPS foam glassing schedule (with spackle) / no color.
Hotcoat resin: Epoxy, with Goretex vent to allow for safer storage when it's hot (less likely to delam in hot car, or in airline cargo).
Features: This is a board modelled after the Lost Couch Potato with a slightly pulled in tail and minor tweaks to tail flip and nose roll. I made two of these, one for Casey and one for myself, same length different volume, and was happy with the results. The one for me (Casey's is too small for me, which is why I made one closer to my own volume) got in very well for the volume and handled nicely, with good trim/planing speed for the volume (I made the one for me a little too low in volume, so I would think Casey's gets in even better for a rider of intended weight (190 lbs).
Fin recommendation: This board will work well with Merrick fronts and Stretch SF4 rears; Rainbow Merricks ("CIS" or another name, recently) are preferable to the new "Arc" FCS to me. My favorite fins on this board were FCS MR-TX. FK2 twins in the back boxes also worked very well, and were fun in waist high waves. John installed these awesome boxes that will take both the new and the old FCS (thanks, John!).
Best use: Very nice small wave board whose range is limited only by rider's comfort; personally I would use this design for up to HH+2, then switch to step-up. I really liked this board on my favorite less-surfed peaks (mushier and less walled, thus less heavily crowded), but it will do better and better according to the quality of the waves. Best for a beginner under 180lbs, intermediate-advanced 185-195 lbs, advanced 215lbs or less (depending on fitness and age, as well).
6' 3" x 22 1/2" x 3 1/8" - Batato
Volume: approx 48 liters
Blank: Marko Enviro-foam
Glass/Lam: 6 oz bottom, 6 x 6 oz deck; epoxy (glassing by John Calivas); blue halo.
Hotcoat resin: Resin Research Epoxy
Vent: Goretex vent to allow for safer storage when it's hot (less likely to delam in hot car, or in airline cargo). Does not need to be unscrewed before use! Just leave as is, and check for proper function once or twice a year (fill vent with water, put board in sun -- if it bubbles, it's working, if not it needs a new goretex filter (your glasser will have one).
Features: This is a board modeled after the Lost Couch Potato with a slightly pulled in & thumbed tail and minor tweaks to tail flip and nose roll. Bottom contours (concaves -- single to double to vee -- were slightly attenuated to make the board more single-fin friendly). The 5-box set up will allow for quad, tri, twin, twinny, single fin, 2+1, and even Bonzer variations. Lots of volume in a more performance oriented rail thickness for a bigger & heavier surfer. Deck channels are handy for grabbing rail, catching your board on finless days & not accidentally dropping your board while shivery & tired at the end of a session.
Fin recommendation: Works well with Merrick fronts and Stretch SF4 rears; Rainbow Merricks ("CIS" or another name, recently) are preferable to the new "Arc" FCS to me. My favorite fins on this board were FCS MR-TX (with adapter for the trailer) and either an 8.5" Rainbow TK Flex single pushed all the way forward in the box or a 6.5" Rainbow TK Flex further back in the box. John installed these very excellent boxes that will take both the new and the old FCS two-tabs and new FCS as well (thanks, John!). A wide variety of fin set-ups worked well in this board, including keel twins in the rear boxes.
Best use: Very nice small wave board for waist-high to a bit overhead, that can either be surfed as a high performance simmons-variant groveller, making tight, pivoty, vertical turns, or as a single-fin cruiser, drawing long, smooth lines; works well for both. I really liked this board on my favorite less-surfed peaks (mushier and less walled, thus less heavily crowded), but it will do better and better according to the quality of the waves. I would have kept it for myself it were a few more liters in volume. Best for a beginner under 185lbs, intermediate-advanced 195-215 lbs, advanced 225lbs or less (depending on fitness and age).
6' 7" x 20.75" x 2.88" F4 Stoke Frog
Blank: US Blanks "Red" PU (70A LUI)
Color: Light blue halo
Glass/Lam: Epoxy resin lam, 6 oz bottom, 6 oz x 4 oz deck (pro glassing by John Calivas)
Volume: ~42L .
Fin configuration: Tri/Quad/Single/combinations thereof -- the boxes are set for proper quad and tri use, with the option of a 10" single fin box (insert adapter for tri fin set-up). My personal preference was 8" single (start with fin all the way forward in the box, and move it back toward the tail to suit taste), or 7" single with small, shallow runners in the front boxes (start with front of single horizontally aligned with the rear edges of the runners, slide single forward or back to suit taste). Thruster (PC7 fronts with Rainbow 4.5" or Pearson trailer) for good waves. For quad, your favorite quad fronts with a slightly larger trailer than your normal quad trailer.
Features: This is an '80s style HPSB with a modern bottom; the foil & rails are thick & full (increasing volume & forgivingness) but the bottom is a conventional modern single-to-double-to-vee, but with milder concaves to make the board more adaptable to more wave conditions & more fin configurations (especially single fin). Foil and volume slightly forward to make the board single-fin friendly, and to drive well when surfed with feet a bit forward from the tail. Relaxed rocker, high volume for the dims. This board was originally made for an intermediate, medium-heavy (175-195 lbs) rider who mostly wants to catch a lot of waves, drive fast down the line, but also have enough performance to develop a more vertical style of surfing. The planshape is essentially from a CI Whip with the rail line lengthened & straightened (blending with a Stretch F4 rail line) for more "down the line" speed and drive. The rocker is a mellowed/relaxed CI Whip rocker (reduced and flattened for flatter faced waves & to make it more single-fin set-up friendly). Very well suited to an intermediate-advanced surfer who wants to draw long, "ol skool" style lines and to surf in the pocket.
Blank: US Blanks "Red" PU (70A LUI)
Color: Light blue halo
Glass/Lam: Epoxy resin lam, 6 oz bottom, 6 oz x 4 oz deck (pro glassing by John Calivas)
Volume: ~42L .
Fin configuration: Tri/Quad/Single/combinations thereof -- the boxes are set for proper quad and tri use, with the option of a 10" single fin box (insert adapter for tri fin set-up). My personal preference was 8" single (start with fin all the way forward in the box, and move it back toward the tail to suit taste), or 7" single with small, shallow runners in the front boxes (start with front of single horizontally aligned with the rear edges of the runners, slide single forward or back to suit taste). Thruster (PC7 fronts with Rainbow 4.5" or Pearson trailer) for good waves. For quad, your favorite quad fronts with a slightly larger trailer than your normal quad trailer.
Features: This is an '80s style HPSB with a modern bottom; the foil & rails are thick & full (increasing volume & forgivingness) but the bottom is a conventional modern single-to-double-to-vee, but with milder concaves to make the board more adaptable to more wave conditions & more fin configurations (especially single fin). Foil and volume slightly forward to make the board single-fin friendly, and to drive well when surfed with feet a bit forward from the tail. Relaxed rocker, high volume for the dims. This board was originally made for an intermediate, medium-heavy (175-195 lbs) rider who mostly wants to catch a lot of waves, drive fast down the line, but also have enough performance to develop a more vertical style of surfing. The planshape is essentially from a CI Whip with the rail line lengthened & straightened (blending with a Stretch F4 rail line) for more "down the line" speed and drive. The rocker is a mellowed/relaxed CI Whip rocker (reduced and flattened for flatter faced waves & to make it more single-fin set-up friendly). Very well suited to an intermediate-advanced surfer who wants to draw long, "ol skool" style lines and to surf in the pocket.
7' 0" x 20.75" x 3.125" Hi-Stepper
Blank: Arctic Foam PU
Color: Blue resin stain, directly on foam, brushed-on
Glass/Lam: Epoxy lam, 6 oz bottom, 6 oz x 4 oz deck
Hotcoat resin: Composite Resource epoxy
Volume: Marked 47L but surfs more like 49-51L. My CNC mock-up for this board listed it at 47L, but it's over that. It catches waves like a board of 49-51L, minimum -- very good wave catching range for the length and dims.
Fin Recommendation: For quad, FCS GAM fronts, Stretch 50/50 rears (good for all conditions -- use larger Stretch rears for increased drive if desired). For thruster, FCS PC7 for head-high and smaller, FCS Rusty fins for overhead and situations where you want to slow the board down a bit. Quad is best for small wave conditions, thruster for overhead waves.
Features: Template was pulled from a Stretch "Skate" step-up model, with a relaxed rocker -- very flat rocker but with volume beefed up so that early entry allows for less critical drops. 5-fin layout, and both quad and tri set-ups work well, quad for smaller waves to generate more speed in small waves, tri in bigger waves to slow the board down in waves of consequence. This is probably the fastest 7' shorboard you'll ever ride, and it can be almost too fast (rare, but not the worst consideration in the world to have to ponder) in overhead waves. The only conditions this board performed poorly in, for me at 212 lbs, was chest high and smaller waves where conditions were very junky and weak, with a lot of slosh and backwash.
Ideal rider: Intermediate-Advanced or Advanced rider in the 205-220 lb. range. This board's got very beefy rails, so under 190 lbs it will be very fast but hard to turn sharply. Over 195 lbs, a more advanced surfer will be able to bury the rail and benefit from the "bounce back" effect when weighting and unweighting. This board's an ideal daily driver for an advanced big guy of 210-225 lbs, or a great step-up that is still duckdive friendly for an intermediate-advanced or better surfer in the 205-220 range.
Blank: Arctic Foam PU
Color: Blue resin stain, directly on foam, brushed-on
Glass/Lam: Epoxy lam, 6 oz bottom, 6 oz x 4 oz deck
Hotcoat resin: Composite Resource epoxy
Volume: Marked 47L but surfs more like 49-51L. My CNC mock-up for this board listed it at 47L, but it's over that. It catches waves like a board of 49-51L, minimum -- very good wave catching range for the length and dims.
Fin Recommendation: For quad, FCS GAM fronts, Stretch 50/50 rears (good for all conditions -- use larger Stretch rears for increased drive if desired). For thruster, FCS PC7 for head-high and smaller, FCS Rusty fins for overhead and situations where you want to slow the board down a bit. Quad is best for small wave conditions, thruster for overhead waves.
Features: Template was pulled from a Stretch "Skate" step-up model, with a relaxed rocker -- very flat rocker but with volume beefed up so that early entry allows for less critical drops. 5-fin layout, and both quad and tri set-ups work well, quad for smaller waves to generate more speed in small waves, tri in bigger waves to slow the board down in waves of consequence. This is probably the fastest 7' shorboard you'll ever ride, and it can be almost too fast (rare, but not the worst consideration in the world to have to ponder) in overhead waves. The only conditions this board performed poorly in, for me at 212 lbs, was chest high and smaller waves where conditions were very junky and weak, with a lot of slosh and backwash.
Ideal rider: Intermediate-Advanced or Advanced rider in the 205-220 lb. range. This board's got very beefy rails, so under 190 lbs it will be very fast but hard to turn sharply. Over 195 lbs, a more advanced surfer will be able to bury the rail and benefit from the "bounce back" effect when weighting and unweighting. This board's an ideal daily driver for an advanced big guy of 210-225 lbs, or a great step-up that is still duckdive friendly for an intermediate-advanced or better surfer in the 205-220 range.
5' 8"x 22.5" x3.125" ~49L Biebert
Blank: Marko Envirofoam, nylon-epoxy stringer (25% recycled foam, 100% recyclable foam EPS)
Glass/Lam: "Epoxy construction" with sealing layers - 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck.
Hotcoat resin: Resin Research Epoxy
Fin Recommendation: For twins, FCS MR-TX, converted Futures T1, or converted Futures "Sea Shepherd" in front boxes (blue Probox inserts for more drive, red for skatier and more hull-ish feel). For quad, FCS M5 or M3 fronts, FCS Stretch (aka SF4) rears; quad boxes (rear four rail boxes) are unusually far back, so you can go as much as two sizes smaller than your normal quad set-up. At 200-215 lbs, my own choice was FCS M3 fronts with SF4 rears, fins all the way back on the toe side and slightly forward (about 1/4") on the heel side.
Features: Tri-plane hull, deck channels, bat tail, Probox boxes set-up to accomodate quad and twin set-ups . Excellent flatwater paddle, very high volume for the length -- plenty of float for up to 220 lb advanced surfer, more than generous under that. Not a typical mini-simmons hybrid, this board turns well and surfs vertically well, pivoting tightly; it improves as wave size increases, rather than having a tendency to track at high speed. Very good planing speed when the board is flat, so it's appropriate for a beginner, but a more advanced surfer who can make her/his own speed will experience much more of what the board can do in small waves. In a good, juicy wave, you'll likely get more turns per wave than on any other board in your quiver. In small summertime waves, you'll be able to fit turns into waves where your normal short board can really only go straight; the board will even nose ride the last crumbly bit of ankle-high waves. Very stable ride due to the volume and width, so the board is particularly foam climb and floater-friendly, as well as very stable on steep drops despite the Simmons-esque rocker (although flip in the tail is much greater than a typical Simmons hybrid). Ideal weight for an advanced surfer with good paddle is probably between 190-220 lbs, depending on how much volume you like. Intermediate surfer should be in a slightly lighter range, approx 175-205. Beginners in the 135-165 lb range will find this board like a long board in terms of wave catching range, and very skatey, riding high up in the water.
Blank: Marko Envirofoam, nylon-epoxy stringer (25% recycled foam, 100% recyclable foam EPS)
Glass/Lam: "Epoxy construction" with sealing layers - 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck.
Hotcoat resin: Resin Research Epoxy
Fin Recommendation: For twins, FCS MR-TX, converted Futures T1, or converted Futures "Sea Shepherd" in front boxes (blue Probox inserts for more drive, red for skatier and more hull-ish feel). For quad, FCS M5 or M3 fronts, FCS Stretch (aka SF4) rears; quad boxes (rear four rail boxes) are unusually far back, so you can go as much as two sizes smaller than your normal quad set-up. At 200-215 lbs, my own choice was FCS M3 fronts with SF4 rears, fins all the way back on the toe side and slightly forward (about 1/4") on the heel side.
Features: Tri-plane hull, deck channels, bat tail, Probox boxes set-up to accomodate quad and twin set-ups . Excellent flatwater paddle, very high volume for the length -- plenty of float for up to 220 lb advanced surfer, more than generous under that. Not a typical mini-simmons hybrid, this board turns well and surfs vertically well, pivoting tightly; it improves as wave size increases, rather than having a tendency to track at high speed. Very good planing speed when the board is flat, so it's appropriate for a beginner, but a more advanced surfer who can make her/his own speed will experience much more of what the board can do in small waves. In a good, juicy wave, you'll likely get more turns per wave than on any other board in your quiver. In small summertime waves, you'll be able to fit turns into waves where your normal short board can really only go straight; the board will even nose ride the last crumbly bit of ankle-high waves. Very stable ride due to the volume and width, so the board is particularly foam climb and floater-friendly, as well as very stable on steep drops despite the Simmons-esque rocker (although flip in the tail is much greater than a typical Simmons hybrid). Ideal weight for an advanced surfer with good paddle is probably between 190-220 lbs, depending on how much volume you like. Intermediate surfer should be in a slightly lighter range, approx 175-205. Beginners in the 135-165 lb range will find this board like a long board in terms of wave catching range, and very skatey, riding high up in the water.
5' 8"x 22.88" x2.88" ~47L Biebert ("R&D experiment" -- 1st Biebert)
Blank: Marko Envirofoam, bamboo stringer (25% recycled foam, 100% recyclable foam EPS)
Glass/Lam: "Epoxy construction" with sealing layers - 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck. This board was ride-tested prior to a second final sanding, and second final hotcoat; it has some mild hull fisheyes in the second hotcoat but was nice & clean after the first (fisheyes are caused by wax contaminants in 2nd hotcoat). The second hotcoat was added to experiment with the concave. It could have been sanded smooth, but the extra resin adds strength and the weight was good.
Hotcoat resin: Resin Research Epoxy
Fin Recommendation: For twins, FCS MR-TX or converted Futures T1 in front boxes. For quad, FCS M5 or M3 fronts, FCS Stretch (aka SF4) rears; quad boxes (rear four rail boxes) are unusually far back, so you can go as much as two sizes smaller than your normal quad set-up. For twinzer and twinny sets, add MRTX center trailer or Rainbow fins twinzer fronts. Twinzer overlap is traditionally about 3/8".
Features: Tri-plane hull, deck channels, Probox boxes set-up to accomodate quad, twin, twinzer and twinny set-ups . Excellent flatwater paddle, very high volume for the length. Not a typical mini-simmons hybrid. It's fast on rail, but is very "in the pocket" -- not good for a beginner, questionable for a "go straight" intermediate, because you have to put this board on rail as soon as you drop in or you're getting left behind by any wave but the slowest-peeling crumbler. This board gets better and better as wave quality improves. In a good, juicy wave, you'll likely get more turns per wave than on any other board in your quiver. This board's not a typical "Biebert," but for an advanced surfer that loves to stay in the pocket, and who can generate his own speed, a very fun board that can be surfed very undersized as far as length but is best when little over-volumed (5-10% more than your normal grovel board). Ideal weight for an advanced surfer with good paddle is probably between 185-212 lbs, depending on how much volume you like. Intermediate surfer should be in a slightly lighter range, approx 175-205. As a twin, the board will still feel loose -- even too loose for some -- for surfers in the 175-185 lb range.
Blank: Marko Envirofoam, bamboo stringer (25% recycled foam, 100% recyclable foam EPS)
Glass/Lam: "Epoxy construction" with sealing layers - 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck. This board was ride-tested prior to a second final sanding, and second final hotcoat; it has some mild hull fisheyes in the second hotcoat but was nice & clean after the first (fisheyes are caused by wax contaminants in 2nd hotcoat). The second hotcoat was added to experiment with the concave. It could have been sanded smooth, but the extra resin adds strength and the weight was good.
Hotcoat resin: Resin Research Epoxy
Fin Recommendation: For twins, FCS MR-TX or converted Futures T1 in front boxes. For quad, FCS M5 or M3 fronts, FCS Stretch (aka SF4) rears; quad boxes (rear four rail boxes) are unusually far back, so you can go as much as two sizes smaller than your normal quad set-up. For twinzer and twinny sets, add MRTX center trailer or Rainbow fins twinzer fronts. Twinzer overlap is traditionally about 3/8".
Features: Tri-plane hull, deck channels, Probox boxes set-up to accomodate quad, twin, twinzer and twinny set-ups . Excellent flatwater paddle, very high volume for the length. Not a typical mini-simmons hybrid. It's fast on rail, but is very "in the pocket" -- not good for a beginner, questionable for a "go straight" intermediate, because you have to put this board on rail as soon as you drop in or you're getting left behind by any wave but the slowest-peeling crumbler. This board gets better and better as wave quality improves. In a good, juicy wave, you'll likely get more turns per wave than on any other board in your quiver. This board's not a typical "Biebert," but for an advanced surfer that loves to stay in the pocket, and who can generate his own speed, a very fun board that can be surfed very undersized as far as length but is best when little over-volumed (5-10% more than your normal grovel board). Ideal weight for an advanced surfer with good paddle is probably between 185-212 lbs, depending on how much volume you like. Intermediate surfer should be in a slightly lighter range, approx 175-205. As a twin, the board will still feel loose -- even too loose for some -- for surfers in the 175-185 lb range.
5' 6" x 21.5 x 2.75 "Biebert for Jas"
Volume: approx 38 liters
Blank: Marko Envirofoam (25% recycled foam, 100% recyclable foam EPS)
Glass/Lam: "Epoxy construction" with sealing layers - 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck. This board was ride-tested prior to a second final sanding, and second final hotcoat; it has some mild deck fisheyes in the second hotcoat but was nice & clean after the first (fisheyes are caused by wax in the deck). The second hotcoat was added to experiment with the concave and to add some strength against deck "pressure dings." It could have been sanded smooth, but that would have made the deck more subject to pressure dings, and I felt the small amount of added weight was probably a positive rather than a negative, after surfing the board.
Hotcoat resin: Resin Research Epoxy
Fin Recommendation: For twins, blue Probox inserts in rear boxes, FCS MR-TX or converted Futures T1 in rear boxes. For quad, blue inserts in front boxes, red inserts in rear boxes, FCS M5 fronts, FCS Stretch (aka SF4) rears, push fronts to back of boxes and rears to front of boxes. Quads will also work well with Stretch rears in front, M5s in rear boxes (keeping same insert set-up as normal quad).
Features: Tri-plane hull, deck channels, Probox boxes set-up to accomodate both quad and twin set-ups (blue inserts in front for quad, blue inserts in back for twin). Excellent paddle, excellent wave-catching for the volume It catches waves and paddles very well for a ~38L board.
Ideal rider ability/weight ranges: Beginner-Intermediate 125-145 lbs.; Intermediate 130-165 lbs.; Intermediate-Advanced 155-180 lbs; Advanced 165-195 lbs. The best possible match is probably an intermediate surfer in the 125-145 lb range, seeking a high performance hybrid Simmons. The planing speed is great for a rider of that weight. Speed on rail holds for all weight ranges, but as weight increases the board planes lower in the water so speed in flats will decrease as rider weight increases. For a rider over 195 lbs., this board will only surf well in juicy waves with good shape. For a rider under 145 or 155, it will go fast in anything.
Volume: approx 38 liters
Blank: Marko Envirofoam (25% recycled foam, 100% recyclable foam EPS)
Glass/Lam: "Epoxy construction" with sealing layers - 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck. This board was ride-tested prior to a second final sanding, and second final hotcoat; it has some mild deck fisheyes in the second hotcoat but was nice & clean after the first (fisheyes are caused by wax in the deck). The second hotcoat was added to experiment with the concave and to add some strength against deck "pressure dings." It could have been sanded smooth, but that would have made the deck more subject to pressure dings, and I felt the small amount of added weight was probably a positive rather than a negative, after surfing the board.
Hotcoat resin: Resin Research Epoxy
Fin Recommendation: For twins, blue Probox inserts in rear boxes, FCS MR-TX or converted Futures T1 in rear boxes. For quad, blue inserts in front boxes, red inserts in rear boxes, FCS M5 fronts, FCS Stretch (aka SF4) rears, push fronts to back of boxes and rears to front of boxes. Quads will also work well with Stretch rears in front, M5s in rear boxes (keeping same insert set-up as normal quad).
Features: Tri-plane hull, deck channels, Probox boxes set-up to accomodate both quad and twin set-ups (blue inserts in front for quad, blue inserts in back for twin). Excellent paddle, excellent wave-catching for the volume It catches waves and paddles very well for a ~38L board.
Ideal rider ability/weight ranges: Beginner-Intermediate 125-145 lbs.; Intermediate 130-165 lbs.; Intermediate-Advanced 155-180 lbs; Advanced 165-195 lbs. The best possible match is probably an intermediate surfer in the 125-145 lb range, seeking a high performance hybrid Simmons. The planing speed is great for a rider of that weight. Speed on rail holds for all weight ranges, but as weight increases the board planes lower in the water so speed in flats will decrease as rider weight increases. For a rider over 195 lbs., this board will only surf well in juicy waves with good shape. For a rider under 145 or 155, it will go fast in anything.
6' 2" x 20.25" x 2.5" Stoke Machine
Volume: approx 34 liters (6' 7" version carries approx 43L)
Blank: US Blanks 1.5lb EPS
Glass/Lam: "Epoxy construction" with sealing layers - 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck
Hotcoat resin: Epoxy
Features: Originally inspired by the CI Whip, with a tweaked, long double concave into spiral vee bottom, deck channels, and a widened outline, this is a daily driver with a shortened profile and extra width, but with the tail pulled in for tight, pivoty, vertical surfing; it will fill all of the space between mini-simmons territory and step-up territory, overlapping both. Rocker is uniquely wave-catching friendly -- when it feels like you're going to barely miss the wave, just put your chest down and almost always the board will magically put itself into the wave. Liter for liter this design catches more waves than any other I've ever surfed (whether boards I've bought over the years or boards I've made), without sacrificing versatility in a wide range of conditions or quick response. Big boy versions have a slimmer nose profile than most big boy hybrid HPSB outlines, yet still carry enough volume to size down your board length by as much as 5" as compared to normal HPSBs. In most cases, for big surfers, board length will be 3-5" shorter than "your normal shortboard."
Fin recommendation (for 185 lbs and heavier -- go down one size on front fins for under 185 lbs): V2, Slater model, and M5 fins will all work well with the smaller versions of this board (155-180lb surfers) and for heavier surfers (180+) PC7s will fit well for tri and GAM fronts with Stretch rears for quad.
Best use: daily driver, in knee high to well overhead waves for lighter versions; daily driver in waist high to well overhead waves for big guy versions.
Volume: approx 34 liters (6' 7" version carries approx 43L)
Blank: US Blanks 1.5lb EPS
Glass/Lam: "Epoxy construction" with sealing layers - 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck
Hotcoat resin: Epoxy
Features: Originally inspired by the CI Whip, with a tweaked, long double concave into spiral vee bottom, deck channels, and a widened outline, this is a daily driver with a shortened profile and extra width, but with the tail pulled in for tight, pivoty, vertical surfing; it will fill all of the space between mini-simmons territory and step-up territory, overlapping both. Rocker is uniquely wave-catching friendly -- when it feels like you're going to barely miss the wave, just put your chest down and almost always the board will magically put itself into the wave. Liter for liter this design catches more waves than any other I've ever surfed (whether boards I've bought over the years or boards I've made), without sacrificing versatility in a wide range of conditions or quick response. Big boy versions have a slimmer nose profile than most big boy hybrid HPSB outlines, yet still carry enough volume to size down your board length by as much as 5" as compared to normal HPSBs. In most cases, for big surfers, board length will be 3-5" shorter than "your normal shortboard."
Fin recommendation (for 185 lbs and heavier -- go down one size on front fins for under 185 lbs): V2, Slater model, and M5 fins will all work well with the smaller versions of this board (155-180lb surfers) and for heavier surfers (180+) PC7s will fit well for tri and GAM fronts with Stretch rears for quad.
Best use: daily driver, in knee high to well overhead waves for lighter versions; daily driver in waist high to well overhead waves for big guy versions.
6' 3" x 22.75" x 3.25" Batato
Volume: approx 48 liters
Blank: Arctic Foam
Glass/Lam: 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck; Epoxy by Stretch Factory
Hotcoat resin: Epoxy by Stretch Factory
Features: Big boy "bar of soap"-type egg shape, very thick foiled, inspired by Firewire's Sweet Potato and the Lost Lazy Boy and Couch Potato models, beefed up even more for bigger surfers. Double concave barrels extend nearly up to the nose; concaves flow into vee out the back. Volume is probably well over 48 liters after Stretch's glassing, so this board has plenty of extra float for a big guy, yet will still feel light & smooth to throw around for a surfer over 200 lbs. This board surfs well as quad or tri. While it's grovel-friendly down to knee high, and will allow bigger guys to make turns in tiny waves that previously only seemed to have enough energy to go straight, performance actually improves as the surf gets better. Very thick nose which is fun in smaller waves up to head-high, but can be a bear to duckdive in larger surf, even at 6' 3" for a 200+ lb surfer.
Fin recommendation (for 185 lbs and heavier -- go down one size on front fins for under 185 lbs): FCS MR-TX Twinny set-up for small, weak or mushy waves, FCS GAM tri set up for better waves up to well overhead. GAM fronts with Stretch rears for quad set-up when surfed in better waves.
Best use: Lazy day board for small days, especially for a taller (over 6') and heavier (210 lbs+) surfer. Recommended for same conditions as a Mini-Simmons, but will turn tighter, and more elegantly, staying more "in the pocket," especially as wave steepness increases. This board will work comfortably in mushy little grovel board waves, with plenty of float and paddle, but will wake up and surf nicely off the tail as wave quality improves.
Volume: approx 48 liters
Blank: Arctic Foam
Glass/Lam: 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck; Epoxy by Stretch Factory
Hotcoat resin: Epoxy by Stretch Factory
Features: Big boy "bar of soap"-type egg shape, very thick foiled, inspired by Firewire's Sweet Potato and the Lost Lazy Boy and Couch Potato models, beefed up even more for bigger surfers. Double concave barrels extend nearly up to the nose; concaves flow into vee out the back. Volume is probably well over 48 liters after Stretch's glassing, so this board has plenty of extra float for a big guy, yet will still feel light & smooth to throw around for a surfer over 200 lbs. This board surfs well as quad or tri. While it's grovel-friendly down to knee high, and will allow bigger guys to make turns in tiny waves that previously only seemed to have enough energy to go straight, performance actually improves as the surf gets better. Very thick nose which is fun in smaller waves up to head-high, but can be a bear to duckdive in larger surf, even at 6' 3" for a 200+ lb surfer.
Fin recommendation (for 185 lbs and heavier -- go down one size on front fins for under 185 lbs): FCS MR-TX Twinny set-up for small, weak or mushy waves, FCS GAM tri set up for better waves up to well overhead. GAM fronts with Stretch rears for quad set-up when surfed in better waves.
Best use: Lazy day board for small days, especially for a taller (over 6') and heavier (210 lbs+) surfer. Recommended for same conditions as a Mini-Simmons, but will turn tighter, and more elegantly, staying more "in the pocket," especially as wave steepness increases. This board will work comfortably in mushy little grovel board waves, with plenty of float and paddle, but will wake up and surf nicely off the tail as wave quality improves.
6' 5" x 21.25" x 2.95" Fug 2.0 "Fat Pug"
Volume: approx 44 liters
Blank: Arctic Foam
Glass/Lam: 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck; Poly
Hotcoat resin: Poly sanding coat, epoxy gloss coat
Features: The first version of this board was based on a Stretch Pug -- for a long time my personal favorite shortboard. The Fug has a more relaxed rocker, and the width, thickness and foil are all tweaked to increase volume in a shorter length. The single concave to spiral vee is mild, leaning toward flat, for better planing in small, gutless waves and a wide variety of conditions. This version has a slightly wider, thicker tail block than the original Fug, and than the Stretch Pug, for a fish-ier ride and more lift in weaker waves. This board is right in between a board like a Simmons and an HPSB daily driver, leaning toward the latter. It will generate more of its own speed than and HPSB, while surfing a little more top to bottom than a Simmons in small waves, and having more versatility than the Simmons as well. 5 fin Probox set-up.
Fin recommendation (for 185 lbs and heavier -- go down one size on front fins for under 185 lbs): FCS MR-TX Twinny set-up for small, weak or mushy waves, FCS GAM tri set up for better waves up to well overhead.
Best use: Daily driver for surfer in 190-225lb range (beginner at the lower weight end, advanced at the higher), in knee-high to overhead conditions, or a grovel board for days when you don't want to just go straight or work too hard to catch waves in less than good conditions. This board basically fits the same slot as a fish, but with tighter pivot and a tri-fin's responsiveness, and can handle big, powerful surf very surefootedly with a switch to the GAM (FCS's Merrick) thruster set-up.
Volume: approx 44 liters
Blank: Arctic Foam
Glass/Lam: 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck; Poly
Hotcoat resin: Poly sanding coat, epoxy gloss coat
Features: The first version of this board was based on a Stretch Pug -- for a long time my personal favorite shortboard. The Fug has a more relaxed rocker, and the width, thickness and foil are all tweaked to increase volume in a shorter length. The single concave to spiral vee is mild, leaning toward flat, for better planing in small, gutless waves and a wide variety of conditions. This version has a slightly wider, thicker tail block than the original Fug, and than the Stretch Pug, for a fish-ier ride and more lift in weaker waves. This board is right in between a board like a Simmons and an HPSB daily driver, leaning toward the latter. It will generate more of its own speed than and HPSB, while surfing a little more top to bottom than a Simmons in small waves, and having more versatility than the Simmons as well. 5 fin Probox set-up.
Fin recommendation (for 185 lbs and heavier -- go down one size on front fins for under 185 lbs): FCS MR-TX Twinny set-up for small, weak or mushy waves, FCS GAM tri set up for better waves up to well overhead.
Best use: Daily driver for surfer in 190-225lb range (beginner at the lower weight end, advanced at the higher), in knee-high to overhead conditions, or a grovel board for days when you don't want to just go straight or work too hard to catch waves in less than good conditions. This board basically fits the same slot as a fish, but with tighter pivot and a tri-fin's responsiveness, and can handle big, powerful surf very surefootedly with a switch to the GAM (FCS's Merrick) thruster set-up.
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6' 8.5" x 20.5" x 3" - "Choco-SAK" (Big Guy Hybrid Step-Up)
Volume: approx 48 liters
Blank: Arctic Foam Poly
Glass: 6 oz bottom, 6 x 6 oz deck; UV Poly (Solarez)
Hotcoat resin: UV Poly -- ridden first, resanded and hotcoated again (color is in second hotcoat)
Features: Medium rocker, big-guy foil, concave deck (skateboard-like), deck channels, 5-finbox tri/quad set-up with adjustable fin position and cant. This board will come alive in fast-moving, powerful waves above shoulder high, and surf in the pocket. Serviceable as a daily driver or groveler for a big guy, but its strong point is excellent wave catching ability and balanced speed in overhead surf; it will actually feel like it catches fast-moving, overhead waves better than it does weaker smaller waves under head-high. The better and meatier the surf gets, the better this board performs.
Fin recommendation (for 185 lbs and heavier -- go down one size on front fins for under 185 lbs): PC-7 FCS for tri-fin set-up in powerful, fast-moving waves that aren't peeling extremely quickly or sectioning unusually quickly; GAM FCS fronts and Stretch FCS rears for quad-fin set-up for everything else.
Best use: Step-Up board for chest-high to head-and-a-half-high intermediate surfer 200-225 lbs or intermediate-advanced or higher 205-235 lbs.
The name: The original plan for this board was to be a big, floaty, friendly daily driver -- a Swiss Army Knife (SAK) -- that is delicious. And I thought the logo was funny. It can be a daily driver, but turned out to be best delegated to fast moving, powerful days at spots like Rockview and Pleasure Point -- waves with power and speed where one's not constantly racing sections and there is space and time to surf top to bottom.
Volume: approx 48 liters
Blank: Arctic Foam Poly
Glass: 6 oz bottom, 6 x 6 oz deck; UV Poly (Solarez)
Hotcoat resin: UV Poly -- ridden first, resanded and hotcoated again (color is in second hotcoat)
Features: Medium rocker, big-guy foil, concave deck (skateboard-like), deck channels, 5-finbox tri/quad set-up with adjustable fin position and cant. This board will come alive in fast-moving, powerful waves above shoulder high, and surf in the pocket. Serviceable as a daily driver or groveler for a big guy, but its strong point is excellent wave catching ability and balanced speed in overhead surf; it will actually feel like it catches fast-moving, overhead waves better than it does weaker smaller waves under head-high. The better and meatier the surf gets, the better this board performs.
Fin recommendation (for 185 lbs and heavier -- go down one size on front fins for under 185 lbs): PC-7 FCS for tri-fin set-up in powerful, fast-moving waves that aren't peeling extremely quickly or sectioning unusually quickly; GAM FCS fronts and Stretch FCS rears for quad-fin set-up for everything else.
Best use: Step-Up board for chest-high to head-and-a-half-high intermediate surfer 200-225 lbs or intermediate-advanced or higher 205-235 lbs.
The name: The original plan for this board was to be a big, floaty, friendly daily driver -- a Swiss Army Knife (SAK) -- that is delicious. And I thought the logo was funny. It can be a daily driver, but turned out to be best delegated to fast moving, powerful days at spots like Rockview and Pleasure Point -- waves with power and speed where one's not constantly racing sections and there is space and time to surf top to bottom.
6' 7" x 20.5" x ? Jackbooted Peacefrog
Volume: approx 40 liters (I remember the volume, but not the thickness, and the board's happily on the other side of the continent, now).
Blank: US Blanks PU
Glass/Lam: 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck; Poly
Hotcoat resin: Poly
Features: This board was based on an Ultraflex MAC that I liked, with more width and thickness, to bring down the length to 6-7 from 6-10; it was made for my buddy Jas with a squashtail and hips at the rear of the front fins. Very nice rocker, feels very, very good getting into waves.
Fin recommendation (for 185 lbs and heavier -- go down one size on front fins for under 185 lbs): PC7 for heavier surfer; FCS V2 for surfer under 180 lbs. I preferred this as a quad, and I think Jas did as well.
Best use: Daily driver for surfer in 170-190 lb range, daily driver to step-up for 160-180 lb range.
Volume: approx 40 liters (I remember the volume, but not the thickness, and the board's happily on the other side of the continent, now).
Blank: US Blanks PU
Glass/Lam: 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck; Poly
Hotcoat resin: Poly
Features: This board was based on an Ultraflex MAC that I liked, with more width and thickness, to bring down the length to 6-7 from 6-10; it was made for my buddy Jas with a squashtail and hips at the rear of the front fins. Very nice rocker, feels very, very good getting into waves.
Fin recommendation (for 185 lbs and heavier -- go down one size on front fins for under 185 lbs): PC7 for heavier surfer; FCS V2 for surfer under 180 lbs. I preferred this as a quad, and I think Jas did as well.
Best use: Daily driver for surfer in 170-190 lb range, daily driver to step-up for 160-180 lb range.
5' 10" x 22.5" x 2.88" - "Swallowtailed Orca"
Volume: approx 44 liters
Blank: US Blanks PU
Glass/Lam: 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck; Epoxy
Hotcoat resin: Epoxy + Poly shell
Features: Mini-Simmons based board with arc-swallow, pulled-in tail; Simmons-esque rocker with slightly narrower nose, a bit more tail rocker than a Simmons, retaining the S-deck Simmons idea. Pulling in the tail allows board to feel less boxy and overly wide in the back, and gives a more top-to-bottom feel (goes vertically better) than most mini-Simmons designs. Excellent, fast groveller in weak and flat faced waves; will outgrovel any big-guy fish of similar volume. 5 fins, Probox set-up (FCS compatible), but this board goes best as a twin (up to waves of size), or as a twin with nubster in center box when powerful waves get this board moving very fast.
Fin recommendation (for 185 lbs and heavier -- go down one size on front fins for under 185 lbs): To get full advantage of the speed this board can generate, either keels in the back boxes (the better the keel, the better the result) or a custom T1 (Not made for FCS -- T1 is a Future fins model, has to be altered or made custom to fit Probox). I have some custom T1 copies made for me by Rainbow Fins that were my favorite with this board. The FCS MR-TX is a very similar fin, but feels subtly different from the custom T1 to me. When waves get larger, this board may feel too fast as a twin, and hard to turn; adding a "guitar pick" or "nubster" in the center box will slow the board down just slightly, and bring back that rail to rail comfort and predictability. For quad, red inserts in front, blue inserts in back; for twin, either red or blue in back, with blue being a bit more upright and drivey, red being a bit more canted out and looser.
Best use: Flat-faced waves, small waves and waves where extra speed is needed; BUT, as the waves improve, so will the board. It will outgrovel most grovel boards in tiny and weak waves, but it's not just a small wave board -- it is excellent up to waves of size. At a certain point, a few feet overhead for me, it will start to be too fast for bigger waves, though adding a nubster, or switching to a quad set-up will extend this range. Not ideally suited to very steep, bowly waves like pitchy Sewer Peak, but an excellent performer in everything else on the East Side.
(Photo: Batfish "Sworca," awaiting hotcoat)
Volume: approx 44 liters
Blank: US Blanks PU
Glass/Lam: 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck; Epoxy
Hotcoat resin: Epoxy + Poly shell
Features: Mini-Simmons based board with arc-swallow, pulled-in tail; Simmons-esque rocker with slightly narrower nose, a bit more tail rocker than a Simmons, retaining the S-deck Simmons idea. Pulling in the tail allows board to feel less boxy and overly wide in the back, and gives a more top-to-bottom feel (goes vertically better) than most mini-Simmons designs. Excellent, fast groveller in weak and flat faced waves; will outgrovel any big-guy fish of similar volume. 5 fins, Probox set-up (FCS compatible), but this board goes best as a twin (up to waves of size), or as a twin with nubster in center box when powerful waves get this board moving very fast.
Fin recommendation (for 185 lbs and heavier -- go down one size on front fins for under 185 lbs): To get full advantage of the speed this board can generate, either keels in the back boxes (the better the keel, the better the result) or a custom T1 (Not made for FCS -- T1 is a Future fins model, has to be altered or made custom to fit Probox). I have some custom T1 copies made for me by Rainbow Fins that were my favorite with this board. The FCS MR-TX is a very similar fin, but feels subtly different from the custom T1 to me. When waves get larger, this board may feel too fast as a twin, and hard to turn; adding a "guitar pick" or "nubster" in the center box will slow the board down just slightly, and bring back that rail to rail comfort and predictability. For quad, red inserts in front, blue inserts in back; for twin, either red or blue in back, with blue being a bit more upright and drivey, red being a bit more canted out and looser.
Best use: Flat-faced waves, small waves and waves where extra speed is needed; BUT, as the waves improve, so will the board. It will outgrovel most grovel boards in tiny and weak waves, but it's not just a small wave board -- it is excellent up to waves of size. At a certain point, a few feet overhead for me, it will start to be too fast for bigger waves, though adding a nubster, or switching to a quad set-up will extend this range. Not ideally suited to very steep, bowly waves like pitchy Sewer Peak, but an excellent performer in everything else on the East Side.
(Photo: Batfish "Sworca," awaiting hotcoat)
6' 3" x 22.5" x 3" - Batfish
Volume: approx 43 liters
Blank: US Blanks PU
Glass/Lam: 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck; Epoxy
Hotcoat resin: Epoxy
Features: For this board I combined a favorite tail outline with my favorite hull design at the time, along with the rocker from yet another different board (my favorite daily driver at the time). The outcome was a unique fish/Simmons/HPSB hybrid that turns extremely cleanly and sharply, and is very, very fast on rail. The details: wide, fishy outline; double-winged battail; single to double-concave to vee; thick, big-guy foil; forgiving, tucked under rails; 5 fin box layout (but runs best as quad).
Fin recommendation (for 185 lbs and heavier -- go down one size on front fins for under 185 lbs): This board has kind of a unique, McKee-esque quad layout, and runs best as a quad; placement is crucial, so for a new rider it may take some experimenting (forward and backward) with fin placement in the Proboxes to get the placement just right; if it's off, the board will feel slow. My favorite combination on this board is FCS GAM fronts with Stretch rears.
Best use: Very versatile board, good in almost anything and nearly unperlable in waves up to well overhead; the main thing is that this board will perform best when surfed on rail. Grovels well down to knee high and tops out at a few feet overhead. Good groveller for surfer in 190-220 lb range.
Volume: approx 43 liters
Blank: US Blanks PU
Glass/Lam: 6 oz bottom, 4 x 6 oz deck; Epoxy
Hotcoat resin: Epoxy
Features: For this board I combined a favorite tail outline with my favorite hull design at the time, along with the rocker from yet another different board (my favorite daily driver at the time). The outcome was a unique fish/Simmons/HPSB hybrid that turns extremely cleanly and sharply, and is very, very fast on rail. The details: wide, fishy outline; double-winged battail; single to double-concave to vee; thick, big-guy foil; forgiving, tucked under rails; 5 fin box layout (but runs best as quad).
Fin recommendation (for 185 lbs and heavier -- go down one size on front fins for under 185 lbs): This board has kind of a unique, McKee-esque quad layout, and runs best as a quad; placement is crucial, so for a new rider it may take some experimenting (forward and backward) with fin placement in the Proboxes to get the placement just right; if it's off, the board will feel slow. My favorite combination on this board is FCS GAM fronts with Stretch rears.
Best use: Very versatile board, good in almost anything and nearly unperlable in waves up to well overhead; the main thing is that this board will perform best when surfed on rail. Grovels well down to knee high and tops out at a few feet overhead. Good groveller for surfer in 190-220 lb range.