Best board for the East Coast

I always say if you only have one board, you want it to work good when the waves are good. When the surf is garbage, just deal with it... you ain't missing much anyway. But when it's good, you don't want you board to hold you back... you want it to take advantage of that rare, good day. So whatever that is for you, that's what you want, IMO. For me that would be a 6'6 EPS/Epoxy round tail hpsb, thruster/quad convertible - as a quad it works good from about chest on up to head high or so, and as a thruster from head high to a couple feet overhead.

Outside of that, a basically flatter, wider slightly thicker version of a typical shortboard (a "modern fish," of sorts) would be best in small garbage up to about shoulder high. Bigger than that and I'd be frustrated...

 

I think its kind of a a non-starter....lumping the whole east coast together into one wave category, and then choosing the best board for that broad category. If i lived in Cocoa Beach, Rhode Island cobblestone point waves wouldnt factor into my hypothetical "one board" selection.

hows that for an irritating response??

 

good point, when the waves aren't working, I should be.

 

it is a good question but a bit non specific. I think it really depends on your style. Shortboarders are going to tend to go to the shortboard realm and longboards the longboard realm. Ex: hp fish for shortboards and a semi hp longboard for longboarders like a magic model walden. I personally, like I have said before, like my mini simmons which works well in anything over waist. My longboard works in everything smaller than that.

 

i've had a ton of different boards.. as of now im LOVING my xtr lost f1...id need that and a 5'4 or 5'5 rnf... anddddd a whiplash... and throw a bonzer egg in there haha. 4 boards i could not live without.

 

12 year old CI 6'2 sashimi or my 5"10 quad retro fish

 

too hard to live on one stick!

 

If I could only pick ONE, it would have to be a fat, wide, twin/quad fish. I surf my 5'10, '2 1/2, 21' (as a twinnie) most of the year in FL. Even on a lot of the hurricane swells we get (usually doesn't get too too hollow down here). Whenever it gets critical, I'll put in the quads and it's more than enough. Having extra thickness/width makes for easier paddle outs, and helps with positioning and getting into waves early.

I've never been a fan of the 'thin and narrow' modern shortboards. I don't like having to stand in one direct spot. Seems like with my fish, I can fall way back on the tail and throw spray, or move up, and do cheater-5's through weak Florida sections. It's surely for the lazier, more content surfer. Groms and many aggressive surfers will feel like they're surfing a heavy plank.

It's not for everyone, but once you master it... it's an insane amount of fun.

 

I agree 100% - NJ surf can vary a lot. I've ridden a lighter weight 8.0 thruster in just about all conditions (knee high to overhead) - it doesn’t excel in any one type condition but it doesn’t totally suck either. It’s a good choice if you don’t know what the conditions will be and you can only take one board.

 

I have to agree on the higher volume shortboards. I love my dumpster diver and my WRV Mulhern (basically a neckbeard). Also the mini simmons kicks a** if there are decent lines, and any size.

 

6'-2" to 6'-4" (150 - 180 lb) Webber afterburner SLX. Lots of pop, flat enough, but rides the steeps quite nicely. Second option is my trusty 6'-9" rounded pin! Can't beat it for getting in early on those cold winter days. Tomorrow looking sweet for all you south and east facing folks!!!

 

Need 2 boards; seasonal

My opinion is you need two boards, one for every season and another for the summer. The east is similar to other areas that has variable surf. Summer knee bangers require a longboard to keep a smile on your face. Fun to log with friends. An all around, wider board such as The Rocket works well in any season. However, I prefer my stealth for an all-around board because it works in waist high to overhead waves. The rocket starts to drift in head high waves because of the wide tail.

 

I agree with the fish. I have a 6'4" Matt Kechele stub fish that works great in basically all conditions. It's a few years old and is showing some signs of use, so I think i'll have to contact mr. kechele and get another made with the exact specs as this one. True love.

 

lost rocket

 

I think you get away with a one board quiver although that board wont last very long. I think you need a two board quiver as well. One for warmer water small wave fun and one that has enough volume to float you in full rubber but can be used as a good wave board in fall as well.
I recommend the Tommy Moore Slop Rod for waist high and under (although its really fun in head high raked out crumbly walls) and for stomach high to 1 -2 foot overhead the TOmmy Moore S.i.D. Vicous. The S.i.D. stands for "Step it Down" its Tommy's Viscous shortboard model with a wider outline, but a defined hip near the tail to reduce the tail size so the tail is more high performance shortboard but the outline helps carry a bit more voume than a typical HPSB.
If you had to only have one I guess the hybrid shorboard thing would work a Tommy Moore Tweaker would work.


Slop Rod
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Tweaker
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I agree totally with the three board quiver. If just one board however it would be my 7'7 fish hybrid. Do all board.

 

Damook has been quoted...

 

My Al Merrick 6' fishcut is da bomb...rode like a champ in 6 - 10 ft Pavonnes this summer and and rocks on Southern North Carolina/Northern South Carolina ankle high to waist high mush. Makes you feel like a million bucks on ghetto waves!!! Go out and get one!!!!!