Retro fish suggestions

I just put a down payment on my retro fish today. I am 5'11 and 170 lbs I went with a 5'8 x 22 3/4 by 2 3/4 thick its a epoxy so its a bit more floaty than a poly board. I decided to go with the Rasta Keel after I rode a board made my the same shaper with the same specs he had the rasta's on it and they were fast but didnt make to board too squirly but the responded nice without alot of effort

 

Yeah I got the board cause of the width and thick ness cause I mostly longboard and I like a shorter board with some thickness and width so the long to short akwardness is less dramatic

 

just out of curiosity, why a retro fish? what are you riding now? what was the thought process that led you to decide that a retro fish is what you're looking for?

 

Matt -
22 3/4 seems a bit wide, is that a typo?

To the OP if you are set on a retro type fish consider contacting Michael Zippi
http://zippifish.wordpress.com/
he makes really excellent twin keels, with an extremely fast turnaround (made a board and had it shipped in 18 days - during the summer) At your size a 5'8" could work well

Jim

 

as much as i loved my retro fish/flat rockered.. i would not take it in head high surf since 90% of the time its throwing in sand... its hard to stick landings with them. fun as hell in the mellow stuff. what you want is a lost rnf... more refined twin ,2+1, quad whatever it may be. that board will handle a lot of different conditions. addiciting board i've had 2, ill prob have another shaped this winter..at 155lbs id go 5'6 19 1/8 or 191/4 by 2 1/4...thats all you need to know. have brian wynn shape you one in resin-x lokbox'd and you'll love it that much more. end of discussion pm me if you have any questions.

 

For sale from one of the original fish designers of the 70s. Hard to find around here:

http://www.swellinfo.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9858&highlight=brom

 

i live in nj as well ad this is one of my favorite boards. im partially tattooing the logo actually. its 5'10 and the dimensions are like 22 wide by 3 thick at the biggest5 points i believe because you can not make them out exactly. anyway 350 if you want it, message me

 

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

6'3'' 7s superfish. Easiest board to ride. It can ride 1 ft waves or well overhead. Probably most forgiving board and mine is going on 5 years of shallow shorebreak.

GIT IT

 

I'm 5'9" 160 and have two retro fishes i shaped myself.

5'5" x 21" x 2 5/8"
5'10" x 21" x 2 5/8"

They both have more volume than i need but in that kind of board more volume isnt a bad thing and the 5'10" is great for full winter rubber float. These boards are really fast, and work really good in down-the-line waist - chest high waves. I hve seen Brian Wynn's boards but not ridden them...he has retro fishes dialed in, and i know he has a lot of experience with that shape. Make sure you ask the shaper to put the wide point at least 4-6" forward of center for the full (fast) experience.

I would seriuosly consider that Steve Brom board as well...that is a sweet shape and the guy is a legendary shaper of fishes.

 

Since you say you don't have much surfing experience make sure you get a board that you can catch waves with. Longer and wider is better. You should really be looking at a longboard if you want to get the fundamentals of surfing down quick but if you insist on a retro fish get it at least 21" wide and a length no shorter than 5'10" for your size. You gotta catch waves first before you can do those cutbacks so get a board that paddles well.
Twin keels and wide point forward like Mitchell says...

~Brian
www.greenlightsurfsupply.com

 

Greenlight is right....you don't really specify exactly how much actual surfing experience you have, but it sounds as if the majority of your experience is skimboarding. If this is true, you should probably try and gain surfing experience on another shape other than a retro fish. A "fun shape", such as a modern egg would be a much better shape for easily getting into waves, standing up and turning....a longer, wider shape for learning.

Once the learning curve has expanded, then a retro fish is a great board, especially in typical beach break. Don't get confused between "retro fish" and a quad fish, because they both ride differently. The poster with the Brom is a good example of the retro, and the Nectar is a good example of a quad. (off thread for a second....I'd love to know who shaped that Nectar. Is Gary McNabb back in business?)

Generally, your fish should be as tall as you are. The heavier you are, the more thickness the board should have. At 155 lbs, anything from 2 1/2 - 2 3/4 inches thick will be fine.

If you want to get a good look at some of the best fishes on the East Coast, visit the Mollusk Surf Shop in NY. The best Fish shapers in the world have their boards there.

 

x2 on Brian Wynn, but i agree with above. Get the right board. Considering the money and the investment I can't blame you on getting a fish. Just as hard to learn on, no matter what board you get.

 

You catch waves or you skim out and onto the faces?