volume displacement ideas

34L and your 170ibs worrying about float? that's plenty for you im 210ibs and that's my approx. range I mess with

 

Same situation as me, but my volume is down a little lower. 34 you should be okay with a winter suite on. Smaller/weaker surf (thigh high) and you might run into problems. Standard volume for good waves for 180lbs (170 + wet winter suite = 180lbs) is 30L. The firewire website has a volume calculator that is a little more humbling--- average surfer, average fitness, 180lbs, in weak waves, 37-40L or something like that.

Think speed. Some days you want to move faster down the line than others. 5 fins are really mind blowing. I feel the difference and I am not a great surfer, but being able to try your board with different fins, different ways, in different conditions---thats awesome. Some fishy/small wave boards work good both ways, and some boards there is probably no point.

I'm 168-180, always fluctuating. 180 and a winter wettie and I needs 35+L in small waves and weak waves, 32L in good waves. I have a 30L fish/swsb and its useless, as any wave with enough juice to propel me on 30L in those conditions is big enough to pull out my true short board. At 168, or at high 170s in weight and in a summer wettie or shorts and my 30L is okay in waist high waves.

Take your minimum volume requirement, which at 180lbs WITH A SUITE ON is 30L, and you should be able to surf belly high surf no problem. Thigh to belly, when you're trying to ride a short board or a swsb/fish, you're going to have to add an extra few L unless the wave is punchy or you're an olympic swimmer.

This is a problem mostly for shorter, stockier surfers.

 

Do not get caught up in the volume game...I think it's one of the most important when shopping for a board, along with design. The reason I say don't get caught up in it...don't feel like you have to be like everyone else and get away with less volume...just because pros ride boards in the mid 20's, you should do the same...there are some pros that ride shortboards in good surf between 31-32 liters, jordy smith being one, and I think he is in the high 180's. Foam is your pal, don't be afraid of it...IMO, it will make an average surfer much better.

Iam 180, my quiver consists of 33l hybrid, 32l sb (summer), 35l groverler, and 35l sb (winter or summer step up). I have noticed a 2 liter difference, more so on sb's then hybrids or groverlers and that's because of there designs. I use to surf 30-31l sb in winter and hated the feeling. Tried a few boards in this range during the winter and disliked how they felt...when I jumped up in liters with same design made a difference for me. My overall magic number for me is around 33, summer or winter...but definitely like more volume in my sb's in winter.

With regards to design, when I first took out my 35l shortboard in clean knee high surf, it sucked...couldn't get it going...but my 33l hybrid, I can excel in knee high surf and get it down the line easily...lesson, design...my 35l board, tho bigger in volume didn't surf well in very small surf...reason...pointy nose, and skinnier tail block and a little more rocker...wide tail block is one of the biggest design elements when it comes to small wave performance for speed and drive. But when it gets bigger, the 35l excels.

 

Volume is not the only way to measure paddle ability or how long or short you can go. Far from it IMO. Like Mr. Coop said...volume matters...but its just one of a bunch of things that matter. And not all volume is the same. Remember those channel island biscuits that had that crazy thick beak nose like an inch thick right up to the nose. That volume is a whole lot different than volume in tail width like a dumpster diver kind of shape, or additional volume by increasing middle width like a disk. Rocker affects paddle ability and is pretty distinct from volume, wide point forward vs. tailward affects paddle ability and is pretty distinct from volume. Its complicated.

 

Increased volume doesn't make up for atrophied paddling muscles.

Im also 175lbs and currently riding boards in the 35+ vol range, but i feel they're actually too big. I'll be dropping down to the 33l or so range on my next boards.

If the rear fins are pulled an inch or more from the rail, quads surf similar to a thruster (assuming the fins are proper size). However, timing maneuvers are a little different, so it takes getting used to (frequently switching between quads and tris throws me off). Quads with rears stuck right on the rail are best for really wide tails/grovelers.

 

Get a potato of some kind:

http://www.firewiresurfboards.com/surfboards_volume_calc.php

Heres what my Baked potato came out as. Best groveler around:

 

I appreciate the expertise here. Did the bulk of my surfin in 60s and 70s, then restarted a few yrs ago. I don't think we even thought about volume back in the day. Of course, the Pink Floyd + sinse may have altered those memories a tad.

Have 2 boards, 'cause they were GREAT deals, $200 new each. Can't hand pick boards due to $$$. Got a 7'2" - 21 1/2" - 2 3/4" egg 1st, which is basically my log. I'm 5'9" 135 lbs, 56 yrs, intermediate skill, good shape for a geezer. I know, Mom tells me eat more biscuits and gravy. I estimate it at 47L. Since 1/2 the waves here are waist high, it seems to work ok. Can walk it a little, but not as many steps as a real log. Recently got 2nd one, a 6'6" - 20 5/8" - 2 1/2" swallow tail. Estimate that at 39 L. Use that when it's over waist high. Chest to barely HH is all I've had a chance to do on it. If I go to several volume calc sites, these boards seem close to what I'd want. Of course, if I go to a Guild Factor calc, it says , like, 25L. Can't afford a 3rd board, 'specially for 5 days a year.

Am I even close to having the best setup, all things considered?

Thanks again.

 

http://www.lostsurfboards.net/whats-your-guild-factor-surfboard-volumes-explained/

I used the guild factor tool on there

if no ones ever messed with it I recommend you do its very helpful

 

I agree with coop whole-heartedly! The only thing I would add that a lot of people seem to forget (including me), is that Jordy Smith et al., are professional athletes. By their very nature of being the best at what they do, are going to be able to do more. I'm pretty much the same height/weight/build as Mick Fanning, but having looked at his boards volumes, I would have a really hard time catching waves on them.

My point is volume can be a great tool to use to help you decide on a board, but be realistic about your ability and don't try to match kelly's board volumes. you're not kelly..,.

 

Yeah I am in the 165-175 range and I have found that 34-36 L is the sweet spot for me....which is a liter or two more then all the volume calculators set me at. Once I figured the volume thing out I've gotten better boards. It's definitly not the only factor but it's a good starting point for me. A friend broke his board on a trip so I lent him mine and for ships and giggles borrowed my buddies 5'7" biscuit thinking no way can I ride this...but it floated me no problem. It's 34.6 and that gave me a good starting point. Later I tried a 5'2 sweet potato and it felt a little too small ...yep 32.2 litres. I bought the 5.4 which is 35.7 and it is money for me. My Sharp Eye disco, which is 30L, never gets ridden anymore..and to think that was my main stick for 2 years...yikes

* That firewire developed a pinhole under the tail pad. You wouldn't believe how effed up that board is! Great ride but I am starting to realize I don't love their technology.....but that's for another thread