Best Boards

Years ago I started riding Tim Nolte's boards, he's a shaper from NC and makes great boards for the EC. Been riding a 6'6 step up all winter to give me more float with all the rubber Im wearing and its treated me very well, Im 6'2 220 but not fat at all, so I need a little more thickness in my boards. I don't ever plan on riding anything other than Tim Nolte boards unless I'm logging. They are perfect and no other board feels that good when I surf. I do like to experiment with all types of boards. I occasionally buy a small retro fish, or single fin short board to play around on.

 

quiet flight sting fish

get some

 

I just got my custom finished today...a good shaper will let you decide what you want, look through the internet and get a good idea of what YOU want, draw a picture add some dimensions whatever, bring it to the guy, talk it over, size and dimension wise, he will know more about what thickness and length that you will need according to your weight. Ask your shaper if you can watch him shape it, most of the time he will, it really doesn't take too long to get the basic outline on the blank for your nod to go ahead, and in a few hours its basically shaped except for the fine tuning. My shaper wants me there from start to finish, because he knows if I like it, i'm coming back...bottom line.

 

I got 3 boards from the guy who taught Tim N. The "Ever Elusive" Mike Doyle took forever to shape me a board and a week or so before I was to go to C.R., he finished shaping but couldn't glass. He was in Tim's shop on 1st Colonial rd. VB, in the 90's. Tim got his brer in law to glass it in the nick o time. Tim's a great guy. My brother drew a 6' Samarai on rice paper to be put on top. I told him only black indian ink. He put red and purple in the tassels that ran. I gave it to Tim in appreciation. Might be worth something in the future.

 

Another local shaper to check out among others is Phil Taylor. Does alot of custom orders, can remake an exact board or change it to fit your needs for less than any "industry pop out brand will do."

www.facebook.com/philtaylorhandcraftedsurf

One of the best east coast shapers and artists ive ever met!

 

flsurfdog said, and said it best..... Stop buying these mass produced marketing machines! Just because they have a picture of DAne Reynolds riding it doesn't mean it is going to make you magically surf any better! Dane could ride a dining room table..... if it had a Merrick sticker on it most kooks would buy it too!!!

Real surfers buy real boards from real shapers! So drag your happy A$$ down to your areas best local shaper and tell him how much weigh..... (sorry that last part was funny)

Seriously..... your surfing is going to benefit much greater from a piece of custom equipment designed specifically for you and your abilities. When you sit down with your shaper you tell him truthfully your skill level and what it is you seek to do. Where you mostly surf and type of surf helps too. If its a trip board let him know where you are going and when. If you live in Jersey why would you buy a board made in Hawaii or CAli? That's like using chopsticks to eat a steak!