Pin tail problem

Man where do i start. First off a 7'-4" Rhino Chaser/ Gun is so wrong on so many levels. That board is meant to have enough rail length to get you down the face of bohemoth mountains of water and keep it pointed in one direction.
If ya bought it new and havent pput wax or or traction on it, and can take it back do so, or hold onto it for surf trips to Wameia.
Honestly to transition to a shortboard I think a high performance type fish with lots of volume or a full volume shortboard with a wider nose and tail would do wonders for you.
How old are you and what kind of experience do you have (years on the fun board and ability) ?

By the way 6'-4" 200lbs isnt huge, you are tall but the average adult surfer is probably 170 to 200lbs.

 

Well you're certainly not going to be punting any huge airs, but it should be fine really. First of all, just about anything is better than a funshape, so you can't really go too wrong. Secondly, you'll catch heaps of waves on a board like that, the only problem being it won't be too snappy for turning. There are lots of different 'gun' shapes, but I would bet yours is at least a little thick and wide in the middle. That's because it's made (among other things) to paddle fast to get into big fast-moving waves. While the east coast doesn't really offer this, the fast paddling will still help you adjust.

Depending on how your skills are developing, it'd be worthwhile to eventually find something more suitable to the waves where you live, but in the meantime it should work great.

 

Wrong. 7'4'' is not a 'Rhino Chaser' by any means. A bigger board is almost always a better a better option while learning. You can't ride waves if you can't catch them. Start bigger, then go smaller if it helps you perform better. As for this supposed board being new...I agree there. I generally wouldn't buy a pintail as an 'only board' living on the east coast, especially as a relatively new surfer. If it's used, who cares? So many young punks on here are caught up in getting "the oh-so-perfect board". It's not that big of a deal to buy something cheap while riding the steep section of the learning curve.

A fish shape is crap for almost every spot I know about on the east coast (with the obvious exception of VA Beach). The waves are small, but they're not usually slow/mushy, which is where the fish shape excels. If I had to choose, I would probably take a pintail over a fish on any halfway decent day. The rest of the days...well...it doesn't really matter what you ride because the waves just suck.

 

well a 7'-4" is a rhino Chaser to me. And I agree Living ALoha to buy a bigger board to learn on, thats why a high performance fish shape would be great, (your idea of a fish being a retro Mark Richards fish is not what I am suggesting) its wide enough to pack plenty of volume for stability and paddling glide but also still halfway manuevarable. Mr. Aloha says a 7'-4" pin tail is great for learning, but you already had a 7'4 fun board, whats better for learning than a fun board? This guy is wanting to laern to ride a shortboard, there are tons of great "big guy shortboard outlines" available. No you dont need a $700 latest and greatest shortboard but dude your 25 years old, so you should be able to paddle a shortboard around and at 6'-4 200lbs your not out of shape. See if you can find a 6'-8 shortboard, not a bigger wave surfboard for a smaller guy, but a big guy shortboard. There are tons of big guys in the line up so they have be selling their used gear, keep an eye out for a 6'-8 x 21" x 2 5/8" or so shortboard. Something you will be able to turn on a chest high wave as you prgress.
By the way I am a 36 year old surfer who knows board choice is important, for learning the basics the fun board is perfect but if you are truly ready to move on then get something you can get up and down the wave face with vertically and actually do quicker directional changes on. Or just go ride the 7'-4 pin tail with Mr. Aloha either way enjoy

 

What was specifically causing you problems with the board?

Like Bushwood said, I think you'll be better off with a big-guy shortboard or a hybrid fish than a gun. Keep an eye on craigslist for good deals and you should be able to get something for under $200. You'll probably have a hard time selling that gun since it has little use in the mid-atlantic, so you may as well keep riding it if it's what you got.

 

this site gives hopeless advice. Call a shop and talk to someone who knows what they are talking about.

Do not rely on this site.

 

The fish is not necessarily a small wave board

I never post on here, but this information is false. The fish was created to be surfed in fast, lined-up, hollow surf. The fish shape works fine for smaller waves as well, but it really excels in fast stuff. The twin keels, fish tail, wide template with wide point forward and flat rocker all combine to allow for incredible hold on a steep face, effortless speed, and relatively quick rail to rail transition (relative to the width of the board).
I've only had problems with large peaky stuff where there's just a very steep drop and not much of a line, because A) the drop is sometimes frustrating with the low rocker, and B)when you make the drop the board is so fast that the wave is over before you know it. Also, backside can be tricky I've found.
By the way, my fish is 5'5" Lis template, twin Gephart keels, about 21 or so wide, 2 3/8 or so thick. I weigh 155 and am about 5'8". It has about 3 1/2" rocker in front and 3/4" or so in back. I've surfed it and had a blast on it in everything from knee high to overhead.
Sorry to side-track the thread, but I really love fishes and feel that they should be properly portrayed.


Chris

 

A Rhino Chaser gun on the East Coast. . . classic. Good luck.

 

it aint gonna work. get a big guy shortboard with volume and relaxed rocker. rhino chaser,please

 

you need at least a longboard to be sane on the east coast. so many good days go by and too many guys sit on the beach because a longboard is beneath them. If you at least got a log your set. trade those boards in and get a used 9' and learn how to ride that first.

 

+1

And when you do purchase, purchase from an east coast shaper, 'cause this is going to be a shaper who knows the waves where you do most of your surfing.

 

BTW: There's plenty of info posted on this site as to who those shapers are.

I say stay away from just wandering into a surf shop & asking what board you should purchase. You could all too easily end up with whatever stick that they're trying to move off the floor (like any retail sales outfit does) & not get the right board for east coast water.
My 2 cents.

 

Well... you've gotten "advice" all right... everything from stick with the gun, go to a log, get a fish, try a shortboard, funshapes are awesome... and the best... don't listen to anything anybody says here. It's official... you have learned nothing. Ha!

And in the end, I'm still not sure you're talking about a true pintail when you say "pintail." I'll bet you're really talking about a rounded pin. Got a pic? Getting to see both boards might help pointing you in the right direction.

 

+1 on the pic...LBCrew always getting to the point of the issue...love it!

BTW, if it really is a big wave boad...its likely that the wide point is ahead of center, but just a real continuous curve and likely vee'd...can't wait to see the pics. Also, what are the rest of the dims...width...thickness. My assumption is that it will work when it is head high (everything works at that point)...but not really ultra user friendly like a fish, LB, funboard, etc. any other time...but let's see this beast!

 

This is a spot on description about real keel fishes. They suck in slow mushy cutback kind of waves, and come alive in speedy hollow lined up walls.

 

if you take this advice then you are also ignoring this advice. trippy.

 

from that pic, that board is not going to work very well on our waves. As state about, a log will be a good addition but not required. a full volume shortboard will work fine for just about anything worth riding. Call it a hybrid fish or whatever, but you are looking for volume (mostly thickness and widths). I'm 6'1" and and 185 and I mostly ride 6'2" boards but in the summer I bump up the thickness to 2.5" and the widths to 20" plus. A local shaper would be able to dial that in for you. Shops are hit or miss. IF you have a good relationship with a shop, then ask for their advise but if you jsut walk into a shop you are most likely going to get sold the most expensive board they have with the claim that 'this kills in our waves'