New guy longboard to shorter board question

hi - IMO for a guy who is 190 w/ 1yr experience that board is about right for thickness but will be frustratingly short _on the East Coast_. And I personally don't think duck diving should be a huge concern either way.
For frame of reference I am 49, weigh 185, terminal intermediate, Gulf of ME beach breaks.
I think what you describe is more of a "step up" board for an aging shortboarder
I can tell you what worked for me as a step down was a 7'6 "big guy fish" _IN A QUAD CONFIG_.
I think what you called a 2+1 is probably a thruster (all fins the same size , vs a 2+1 most people mean center fin is larger), and a thruster requires pumping which is very challenging for longboarders stepping down. Whereas a quad will simply flow without pumping.
You will not usually duck dive a 7'6 but rather turtle it like a long board, no biggie.
My 7'6" does not paddle in a straight line as fast as my longboard - you can't fight physics! - and the "window of catchability" on a wave is a bit narrower, but IMO wave catching between the two is almost a wash. Reason being the same hydrodynamics/aerodynamics that enable a noseride on a long board can also cause the board to hang up on a wave. And the ride to me is what it is all about, and the ride of a fat fish is a ton of swooping, speeding fun.
I could go on and on about a big guy fish, it totally opened up a new world to me, anything above knee height with reasonable cleanliness this is my go to.
I have an Isle 7'6 epoxy.
Here is a good review from another step down talking about 7'6 being magic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SChgRjNLRTk

 

spoken like a true intermediate.

 

good one, and you forgot "terminal". But my point is, this guy doesn't need to worry about duck diving any more than he needs to worry about high performance ASP-style surfing, at least right now. He doesn't need advice on what works for young hot-shot shortboarders - he's a middle age East coast long boarder with 1 year experience. I think buying a board he can duck dive might very well result in a board he can't ride.

 

There you go, making sense and giving sound advice. Why don't you get along with the forum mode and assume high ground while being a total az9hole?

 

lol it's fine bro, like I said, I do the same thing with Carvers. I just get a kick out of it every time you post bouts it because you're so damn stoked on it. I hope to hell it never breaks on you. Watch out for cepriano on his tour though bro. He might shott a hole through it dropping in on you. Keep your rusty shank close by ready to cut the bastard's leash.

 

spoken like a true intermediate.

 

It does put a smile on my face ever time I ride it. However, I sort of wish I had a slightly shorter and less voluminous version for the good swells. Someday...

 

Ok so I know I am late to this but I started surfing at age 48 and 185. Now at age 55 and 174 I can tell you you are not at a "now or never gonna do it" point. I went from a 9'6 to an 8'0 to a 7'6 to a 6'4 fish and now I ride anything from 9'2 down to my 5'10. I will share that a big mistake I made was switching up boards every day or sometimes twice a day...once you step down, stick with it until it feels comfortable and then make a change. That fish sounds really full that you were looking at and it may be easier to go a little longer as you learn how to get your feet under you with each step down. We don't compress as quickly as the young guys out there. Also get some yoga under you to keep you progressing. ;-)

 

I am with you Inland. I had a 7'8" 3" thick wrv fun board. I liked it I got mad wave count but I turned like a pig.