200lbs Retro fish sizing

[RichD14]

Yea so I'm 200lbs and recently picked up a retro fish it's 6'0 x 21" x 2 9/16" with full rails, nose and tail are both 16 1/2". I can catch waves fine but it seems like I'm not getting very long rides or not getting enough speed. I've been surfing for about 2 1/2 years and I'm used to riding a 6'4'' performance fish. Anyone know if this is too small for your average east coast waste to chest high stuff? I'm thinking maybee I should have gone with a 6'2''.

[kitesurfer]

How tall are you? Over 6ft then yes 6ft2x21x2.75 would have been a better choice, under 6ft then 6ftx21x2.75 would have been my choice. The extra volume the thickness gives helps the board glide more. Also speed, it should be quick enough, unless you're trying to pump it?

KS

[RichD14]

I'm just over 6'1'' in pretty goood shape and 90kg, It seems to have more volume than my 6'4'' but still wondering if I might have gone too short. Waves have also been shitty lately might just be bad luck.

[trifish]

I would of went then same length as my height or a inch longer but its all just preference. You will figure it out after putting some sessions on it. They surf alot different then a normal shortboard. I hardly ever push on my tail when riding mine and most of my driving comes from my weight really forward on the nose. I use mine from waste to head high and usually just do some slow pumps on mine and cruising. Might want to try some different fins on there also. My Pavel Keel Hauler Lokbox fins was good in bigger surf but really hard to get moving in small weak surf. The CI Keel Templates was a night and day difference in the small surf without sacrificing much in the bigger surf.

[RichD14]

Yea I was thinking I might be putting a little too much pressure on the tail, I tried leaning in a little more and staying a bit lower yesterday and seemed to get more speed. How much do you weight and what size board are you riding? Have any friends around the 200lb range?

[trifish]

Ive lost about 15 lbs from when i originally got my fish. Now im around 5'9" 170 and add another 10 lbs for a heavy wetsuit and booties and my fish feels to floaty for me. When I first got it I was around 185, and with all the winter gear I would imagine I was close to 195 and I thought the board felt perfect. I have a 5'11" x 20 3/4 x 2 5/8 Gary Hanel Twin with thin rails. If I was going to buy one today I think a 5'9" x 20 3/4 x 2 1/2 would be more appropriate for my current weight. Im sure you have seen guys ripping it on retros in ankle bitter waves but they also usually weigh just about nothing so every wave to them is easy to get them going. I usually dont bring mine out in anything less then waist high.

[themathteacher]

This is a great question, one I'm still trying to figure out. I'm 200lbs like you.

I owned a great 6'1" x 2 7/8 x 20 3/4 retro fish and it had plenty of glide and I caught waves easily, but the thick rails where a bummer in anything steep. I had fun but it was not high performance, so I sold it and have been trying different iterations ever sence.


My small wave fish is 6'10" x 21 3/4 x 2 1/2 epoxy quad with really small trailers, I use it instead of a longboard. It just glides, it doesn't turn sharply but shure is fun.


I just bought a 6'6" x 20 3/4 x 2 1/2 and have been playing around with it, even took it out in the wrong swell just to try it, it held nice and it was super great glide. Again, not high peformance, but I catch everything.



I just had a 6'1" x 20 3/4" x 2 3/4" made and it had good glide but poor performance, so I sold it almost new, just last month


Right now I'm having a 6'1 x 20 3/4 x 2 5/8" epoxy made , lighter board with the same float, But yeah, sometimes it's just not the right and you have to move on.

So, to answer your question, you have to try different boards to get something you like, it's just the nature of surf progression.
Lastly, and as an aside, I have to ask what I always ask. What kind of fins do you have? Specific numbers, if Future fins you'll have to take them off to tell us.

[themathteacher]

Oh, and to comment on your canyon, and please don't think I'm being a hater, Canyon, far as I know, no longer opperates, but the trademark name is being used by some importers, it might partially be the shape. The rails are not full, they are rounded, thicker than a shortboard but definitely thinner than most retros. Since they are thinned out you will loose some float which at 200lbs we need. Also, the nose and tail are thinned out, again not a retro design but a performance fish design, again at the expense of some needed float. So, you get a fish that surfs like a beefy shortboard, which is not what you where after. Like I said, not trying to dog your ride, might just be wrong for you. The 6'1" x 2 7/8" x 20 3/4", the white and blue one pictured first, what super easy to paddle, it was my first fish experience and loved it, maybe you need to go in that direction.

Hey, don't forget to post the fins, I'll give you my 2 cents on that.

[RichD14]

This board came with DFS fins, apparently it will fit FCS's also(looks like same fin box), I usually ride future's though. And yea it is a little bit more performance oriented than your average retro, but still has a wide nose and tail just thined out. The rails may not be all the way full but close, I'm used to alot more tapper but I suppose a try retrofish would have slightly fuller rails

[themathteacher]

Well, don't know much about DFS fins, sorry. If FCS fins fit you might want to try a small trailer center, it will make it glide easier, your wave count will go up.

If you think it's too small you are probably right, after a long time surfing you know what works for you. I know I'm not being much help but I think you already knew the answer to your question. Sell it for as much as you can and try a different iteration, perhaps 6'2, maybe same size in a thicker retro twin, something different.

Also, see if you can find a shop that lets you test ride. Even if you don't the exact board they are selling it will give you an idea of what you might like.

Lastly, if you are still progressing as a surfer put it away and break it out next year after you get better.