Totally agree-I think a lot guys get hung up on this and waste a lot of time, money and good waves...
Great topic, appreciate everyone's input I was in PR second week of December and it was 12-16ft on the biggest day; best sets were 8-12ft + for 4 days straight (never been so lucky) Unfortunately, all i had was my 6'1 18.75 2.3 JC NX-1. (I'm 6'0 205 and in good shape) So all I could do is stare at Tres, steps and Marias on the biggest day. Gun rentals required $800 deposit! My buddy lives out there and explained to me i'd need a jet pack to catch anything on my board. The wave started off super fat then reeled down line; beautiful thing to see. Got to surf Wildos surfers middles dogmans and marias on the other days (middles before the swell arrived). Everyone was out on semi guns and guns. Amazingly fun but needed more board, got hung at the top and missed waves a lot more than I'm used to. Took a lot clean up sets on the head because i didnt have the arm speed to get there while fighting currents I'd like to get something with more volume for jersey's juice. Winter gets heavy here and need some extra paddle power as i dont quite move the same on this board as i did when i was 180 Any suggestions? I'll still use my board 8ft and under but when it's 6ft plus and throwing fast while in a 5 mil I'd like to catch the wave a bit sooner
Everyone... Thank you for the feedback, helpful or not. Couple of points or things I want to clear up after reading through the comments: 1. I only mentioned my hpsb to illustrate the problem I have with my current 6'6".... They are the same damn volume. Which leads to the problem of, do i put more volume in the same length, but probably lose the fluid feel of the board, or do i lengthen the 6'6" to add volume.... 2. This board is strictly for good, hollow, DOH surf. I specifically stated I go down to Negra 1-3 times a year, and its the board for when the HPSB, or the current 6'6", no longer cut it. I'm not asking about big Jersey winter or hurricane surf. Nor am I asking about DOH mushy surf. I'm talking DOH reef break hollow surf. That's it. I guess in the end I have a fear that if I keep the length at 6'6", and add volume, the rails will get too boxy, and the board too stiff. It would take one hell of a shaper to make a 6'6" with 5-7 more liters of volume than what I currently have, and hide that volume so the board is as smooth and fluid as the DT is now. That's why I'm leading towards getting a true semi-gun. The DT 6'6" is great for that "too big for my hpsb, but not big enough for a semi-gun" type of wave. It's long rail and rocker make it perfect for big hollow waves. This next board is probably better classified as a semi-gun versus a step-up. Any feedback after these thoughts is appreciated.
I would get a Stretch 2x4 with a skate deck. It adds some float and paddling power with out losing performance. I actually have a 6'4 2x4 as a good wave board and got a 6'6 2x4 with a skate deck for those heavy bigger offshore days with lots of current and those fast moving bigger cane swell, been perfect combo.
For big reef waves in Central America - your going to need more of a gun shape. Something totally different from what you have. Like the guy mentioned about PR. It's a different wave breaking on the reef- much more power even when it doesn't look like it. Seems like your feeling hesitant to go longer then 6'6- your not going to notice the extra 4 to 6 inches on a 12ft+ wave- actually you might be glad that you have it- You'll be flying sooo fast... Personally I would skip the whole semi gun deal and just get a gun... Then take that and your 6'6 and surf that 6'6 when it's smaller then 10 ft. Then you'll have all bases covered- if it's small you can surf and have fun and if it's huge you can do the same Just my thought process and experience
I would respectfully submit that you are getting a little hung up on trying to create a higher volume version of your 6'6" a tad more than you should. Having a board that it is longer and maybe a hair wider and thicker than your step up is, in my opinion, what you need. A big part of a gun/semi-gun is the added length that gives you that extra paddling power to get in earlier. It sounds like your trying to potentially achieve this by adding volume to the 6'6", which will only work to a point: volume is only one half the equation, length being the other. Just take your 6'6 to a shaper and get him to make you a semi gun based on it. My go to hpsb for when it gets shoulder to solid head high is 6'4" x 18.75 x 2.29 My mini-gun (and I use that term loosely) for when it's 3 ft OH - DOH is 6'10" x 18.75 x 2 7/16. both are rounded pins. A good bit longer, and a little thicker, same general rail outline. The 6'10" has the volume/length to get in earlier, is beefier enough to take a little more abuse, but still has a high performance shape. Ultimately, if you're that worried about loosing a particular feel of a board which complements your surfing style (which is a legit concern), then definitely talk to a shaper, and I'm sure they can give you a much better recommendation than I. Just my 2 cents.
i've only skimmed this thread, so i may have missed it, but one thing i'd add that i haven't seen is that you can gain paddle power w/out adding volume by pushing the wide point of the board forward, so there's more volume under your chest.
I just bought a 6'9" Orion from a buddy for $100. It is a rounded pin, and in good shape with a set of AM fins. It was supposed to a step up. I took it out in overhead surf with hard offshores. It is narrow for good hollow waves, but too thin, not enough volume, and the wide point south of center, so I got into waves a bit too late and got pitched. I only rode it once, but it was a mistake for my skill set, except for the price tag. Anyone want to do a trade? Otherwise, it goes on consignment. I'll get $250 easy.
I realize this is a lot of thought over one board that will rarely be ridden... Guess with no waves, spearfishing season over, and no trips planned 'til April, the mind starts going crazy... To clarify some recent comments, I'm actually leaning towards a board in a 6'9" range, and not a beefed up version of what I have. I don't want to lose the feel the current 6'6" has, and I feel that thickening the board, and especially the rails, will have that effect. I'd prefer to have the 6'6"'s "big brother", not his "fat twin". The reason this has popped into my head is twofold. First, there is a board at my local shop that is 6'6", rounded pin, but with 36 liters of volume. board passes the eye test, feels good, but i know that foam is hidden somewhere, and I wonder how that board will ride. I feel that when it comes down to it, its gonna ride more like an egg than a high performance step up/semi gun. The other reason is watching what a lot of "local pros" are riding in winter surf. these 5'10"-6'2" (depending on their personal size) pintails that hold a TON of volume. Chemistry's 6'2" Chem Zen has something like 35 liters of foam in it. I realize this is the ideal board for dropping in under the lip on a big Jersey wave and then threading the barrel, and not really ideal for a traditional reef break. But seeing the board in the shop, and what the guys are riding these days, has me questioning the traditional move, which is to add a few more inches to the board when the surf gets big...
Per advice of several here and my own research, I'd been looking for a step-up for some time now. Found two this week and they're both mine. My normal HPSB or groveler is 5'10 and I'll go as short as a 5'8 fish. One is a 6'1 rounded pin with good volume put up in the chest. It's made my a CenCal shaper and it's close to mint. Traded a bud my 6'6 FW Alternator for it. Before I could even ride it (2 days later), I found a Rusty Blackbird 6'2 rounded pin at a Marin County shop for dirt cheap. It is mint other than a flawless repair from being broken in half, which could very well have given it a bit more needed strength if the factory glassing was subpar. Scored it for $150 including tail pad and FCS2 fins. Getting a $700 board (if new obvi) with fins for that money was a no-brainer. I'll bring the Blackbird back east for my EC step-up and keep the other out here. Can't wait to hit 20-24s period swell tomorrow on that thing. I'm gonna get my arse handed to me most definitely, and I'll also get a few rides of my life.
