Hi

I currently have a quiver comprising a custom McTavish UFO with some minor tweaks.... yep - that's the quiver and I've pretty much ridden nothing else for about 3 years and have not had any desire to until recently. Am hoping for some first hand experience of another option to suit those days when a 9'2 is just a bit too much board. I am thinking around 8 foot and suitable for bigger beach break days (head high) and possibly a trip OS ie reef breaks. I am in the water 2-3 days a week, surf ok and am 6"3 around 95kg. Due to rooted lower back shortboard is not a good option for me these days.

Any advice from someone who has been down the same road would be much appreciated. Essentially I am after sufficient volume with a performance shape.

Thanks

If you like the UFO 9 footer why not look at the UF8 or Bobsled

Mac - much difference between Bobsled & Carver?

Fleagale I'm in same situation (just a couple of kg on you) crook back & looking for a board for OS in that range

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Dazzler75 said..

Mac - much difference between Bobsled & Carver?

Fleagale I'm in same situation (just a couple of kg on you) crook back & looking for a board for OS in that range

Big difference mate,the carver is a lot less performance board than the Bobsled.I'm sure there are a heap of other options
out there so I just comment on what I know.Steve from Clearwater is making some awesome boards have a chat with him
I'm sure he will make you that perfect board.

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fleagle said..

Hi

I currently have a quiver comprising a custom McTavish UFO with some minor tweaks.... yep - that's the quiver and I've pretty much ridden nothing else for about 3 years and have not had any desire to until recently. Am hoping for some first hand experience of another option to suit those days when a 9'2 is just a bit too much board. I am thinking around 8 foot and suitable for bigger beach break days (head high) and possibly a trip OS ie reef breaks. I am in the water 2-3 days a week, surf ok and am 6"3 around 95kg. Due to rooted lower back shortboard is not a good option for me these days.

Any advice from someone who has been down the same road would be much appreciated. Essentially I am after sufficient volume with a performance shape.

Thanks

Two different kinds depending upon whether you want to surf in a longboard style or a shortboard style in the mid lengths (ie UF8 vs Bobsled).
The scaled up shortboards will be better for duckdiving, barrels and pumping for speed in good waves.
The longboard style will be better for trim, glide and cruisier lines in fuller, less critical waves.
Which appeals more and then go in that direction.

Hiya Fleagle, Cuttle makes good sense, but it is going to depend on whether you want to use you second board regularly or keep it available for that special day.

For my money I would go with the Carver.

But you know what I am an old prick that doesn't know all the technical stuff, I just know what I like.

Have fun on whatever you buy.

ET.

McCoy nugget- easy paddlers/early wavecatchers, my 8'2" is very versatile, but rear foot biased- which I love. Astron Zot 7'1" more balanced design, only single fin but 'bar of soap' fast. McCoys love a steep face, but volume, especially under rear foot means versatile.

Think along the lines of a Custom Tracker from Bob, with modernised rails and bottom, and even side bites.
8'0 x 22"1/4 x 3"1/8 or 3"0, but get plenty of foam left in it... Flat deck, more foam.

Get an EVOII and cut a foot off it,I think I've read it somewhere.

Here's a starting point...

www.mctavish.com.au/collections/trackers

Clearwater Middy!

Get to work on that crook back Fleagle. You'll be flying once you get that sorted. As for boards theres a lot of options. My best ever mid length was a Miller power glide 7'6. Broad nose that you could get 5 on but with a short board like tail and a fairly low rocker . Theres similar boards like that around like the Tak Scorpion and McT 8 Ball. These are very versatile boards that give you the volume to paddle but surf well too. Don't be put off by the broader noses on these boards. They rip. Good luck.

Fleagle, I was in pretty much the same position as you and this is what I got made for me. It is perfect for 3ft+ beachies. Gets me in early, but has a bit more shortboard DNA about it. I have since taken it OS and out on some big days and has delivered everytime. It carries the thickness right thru the board and has just under 60 litres of volume according to CW's computer shaping program.

Cheers

Talk to a reputable local shaper, he should be able to sort it out..have you considered a McT 8ball it might be the answer..and keep working on the back muscles if your able,I've found that stretching and excercises have helped me a lot.

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surfbroker said...
Talk to a reputable local shaper, he should be able to sort it out..have you considered a McT 8ball it might be the answer..and keep working on the back muscles if your able,I've found that stretching and excercises have helped me a lot.

Best advice given so far imo. Also don't listen to simondo the man is tripping more than Dave machado...you will hate the board he is talking about.
Talk to a shaper mate and don't be afraid to surf a big boys shorty,you will not regret it

Thanks for all these replies I am very grateful. One of the reasons I wrote this post was because I had done my head in doing the rounds of the shops and researching on the web. Have spoken to a couple of shapers but maybe not the right one just yet. Some guys (not all) seem to have their "models" and are pretty keen to flog an established shape. Not saying that's bad though cos if they sell they probably work. Still have a couple of calls to make there.

Intending to trial a UF8 next swell and did own a Carver there for a while a few years ago (it was one of the early GSI SLX ones though and we parted ways when it started to go all soft - it did know its way around a wave though and I could live with another for sure). Will have a look at the other McT suggestions also and am about to google Miller.

The post that really made me sit up though was from Daneli - I think this is the kind of board that was somewhere in the back of my mind that I couldn't quite describe.

Coupla Q's - Daneli re those dimensions how much do you weigh? Can't quite see from the photo but looks like a well defined double concave out the back end?? And finally does SDR have an demos? I had a look on his web page and I think maybe not? Anyway I think a trip to the goldie will be in the mix that is a really nice looking shape.

Thanks again to all for taking the time to respond.

Btw, the Pornographique thread just a bit further down the page has some nice mid lengths in it.
On the subject of lower back pain, riding thrusters is often a source of lower back pain for me.
Same board with quad fins no issue.

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fleagle said..

Coupla Q's - Daneli re those dimensions how much do you weigh? Can't quite see from the photo but looks like a well defined double concave out the back end?? And finally does SDR have an demos? I had a look on his web page and I think maybe not? Anyway I think a trip to the goldie will be in the mix that is a really nice looking shape.

Thanks again to all for taking the time to respond.

I'm 95kg's. I have had Carvers in the past and I think they are a good board, and I very nearly got another one. Before the CW I had a UF8 which was a very smooth board but not quite what I was looking for in a mid-length for beachies. It did go very good in the bigger point breaks.

I took my 2 boards to see Steve Del Rosso one night. We spoke for about an 30min about what I liked and didn't like about those boards and what I wanted in the next board. Interestingly enough we didn't really speak much about dimensions. Steve is a bit of a "leave the design to me" shaper. I am now on my 4th CW board and everyone of them has exceeded my expectations. So in summary, find a local shaper who is happy to talk with you and go down that path.

I don't think Steve has any demo's in of these Middy's but you happy to borrow mine anytime if your on the Goldy. I have 2 very similar but with some slight (but noticeable) differences. You may even talk me into selling the green one as I wouldn't mind a trying a round tail in these dimensions.

Cheers

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Daneli said..

You may even talk me into selling the green one as I wouldn't mind a trying a round tail in these dimensions.

Cheers

Mate go the pin you'll love it more.

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62mac said..

Daneli said..

You may even talk me into selling the green one as I wouldn't mind a trying a round tail in these dimensions.

Cheers

Mate go the pin you'll love it more.

You may be right Mac. This CW with the square tail is awesome in beachies but on that all to infrequent perfect Kirra wall that lines up, the UF8 and it's rounded pin and single fin, was in it's element. Such a smooth ride.

I got a 7'6 clearwater 'fun board' in the 3 board quiver. Awesome board, can still duckdive it (sort of!) and it goes really well on the bigger open face stuff. Paddles like a mal and rides like a shorty with a bit more flow than a full on shorty though.

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Daneli said..












Fleagle, I was in pretty much the same position as you and this is what I got made for me. It is perfect for 3ft+ beachies. Gets me in early, but has a bit more shortboard DNA about it. I have since taken it OS and out on some big days and has delivered everytime. It carries the thickness right thru the board and has just under 60 litres of volume according to CW's computer shaping program.

Cheers

Best looking board ive seen in the long-room for a very long time.you could say a breath of fresh air

thanks for sharing