Hi all. I ride low volume shorties (27 ltr) all summer and have been thinking about getting something like a Sweet Potato for smaller days.
Then I had a thought about maybe an oversized Hypto.
I own a 5'6 Hypto already and am wondering how maybe something like a 6'1 model might go.
I,m after float, ease of paddling and still easy to manoeuvre.
I have a mini mal already so definitely want the shortboard feel.
Any thoughts appreciated.

I have a 5'9" summer board. It has a wide tail. The wide tail means that it floats under the back foot on a hint of a ripple, so you don't have to distribute your weight onto your front foot as much. You can stand 50:50 much easier. The short rail length means it turns really easy. The flat rocker means it planes easy and goes fast. I loved it for summer waves. However, I'm selling it since I am back into shortboards nowadays. But there are some thoughts from me. I think for pure summer boards pinned out tails don't make as much sense as putting foam under the back foot.

Hypto has pulled in tail which is not what you want in a groveller. SP better option IMO.

I have a 5'9 Average Joe at 41ltrs specifically for summer fun. Now its no performance board but I absolutely love it as it gets me out on days when I wouldn't usually bother.

I do love my SP and these days it seems to be all i surf. Mine is over volumed but still goes like a rocket and turns easy. I have seen some very good surfers go to town on them also Sadly thats not me

The amount of people who will comment about the SP in the water is extraordinary. From having had to and loved it, wanting another or people saying they've been looking at them..

Legion is on the money in my opinion and Salty Sea Dog has a classic example of a good summer board.

You've got plenty of options available nowadays as most shapers are offering a range of groveller's in their line up's with lots off foam being they key.

You can stay short and in some cases go even shorter, as long as you have width, some form of area in the tail and thickness.

A full or mid rail seems to be fairly consistent but can come at the cost of getting some rail in the water. you can combat this by having your thickness centrally along the length of a board around the stringer, but that's a personal preference to what your used to. In a nut shell a small wave groveller would be more of a Skimmer, gliding, floating type scenario as opposed to your regular shorty that would be a cutting, driving type.

You local shaper will easily be able to knock something up or if you prefer to grab something off the racks there's no shortage of options including the sweet potato.

Lost by Mayhem have a stack like the puddle jumper, the pier pony by JS, The average Joe by C.I, Pocket knife and Joy Ride by DHD or something like Simon Andersons Nomad.

Literally a bucket to choose from off the racks if there's someone who's templates and approach gels with you or if you have the time hit up your local shaper and use examples of what you gel with as guidance.

I ride a 5'11 Baked Potato. Its 46-47lt from memory

I'm 6'5 100kgs.

Love it in small waves, mushy and clean. Cant speak higly enough of it. You become a serious wave pig on a board like that, it paddles like an 8ft mal.
Actually turns ok also, hard to get on a decent rail, you tend to skate it more.

I'd use the example of of snowboarding. Its feels like your snowboarding in the pow, floating through your turns rather than carving on a groomer/harder snow on the edge of the board.

Its my go to board whenever its 3ft and under.

Another option is a good foamy. Have a look at the TC Pro boards.

Bullsta, have a look at Grant Millers Subx, you can see my rantings on here under the miller subx thread, cannot rate it highly enough for exactly the type of surf your talking about, the thing catches a ripple & i'm 100kg. Get the quad + fin box gives many options & it'll go well in bigger stuff, read grants comments on his site. He had his out at double overhead down south & no probs. He's away again now, so his site says.

I've got a Rusty Dwart, same principle as the rest, flotation. Can handle head and a bit.
Mines 5'6 by 20 something, high 20 litres and i'm about 68kgs.

Just check out the Lost range, best production boards for this area I reckon

Six channel, double flyer twin fin custom made. 5'10" X 20 1/2 X 3. Four inch swallow tail.

Or a Sweet Potato.