Mike's search for a Gun

[IB_Surfer]

History: 2 weeks ago on my thruster I missed a couple of almost double overhead waves (about 10ft faces) and started thinking about the boards I have. I have a 6'8" but it's a big boy thruster, so it would not have held up, I have a gun but it's 8'2", too big for big days, it's meant for huge+ days. I need one that could catch waves easily but also duckdive easly, for them big days.

I decided on a 7ft gun, at 200lbs the best glide for the size. I started shopping on craigslist and bought two of them used, I'll keep one but not sure which one yet (means I'll be selling one if you are interested).

Today I tried board #1, 7ft x 18 1/4" x 2 1/4" at SMJ, a fiberglass board made by RAT surfboards, local shaper. It was good and paddled slightly better than my shortboard, but I think it might be too skinny and thin for me, a little too much rocker for my taste too. I did, however, get into a good 9ft face, so it does catch waves.

Board #2 still haven't tried it, a surftech minami 7ft x 19 x 2 3/8", I know the epoxy will float better, but I still have to try her to find out if I like it. (By the way, I dont' like to buy machine made boards from Asia, but since it was used I made an exception. IF YOU ARE BUYING A NEW BOARD PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHAPER!!)

Right now my quiver is 5 custom beauties that I baby and two experimental used boards (the guns). What I will do is test both, sell them after the season and, based on my experiences have a new custom shaped one made from the sale of the two boards. I'll follow up on this post to let you know, just thought it would be interesting to see how I go about buying a new boards.

[heychief]

you need quite a bit of rocker for big waves brah

[IB_Surfer]

entry rocker I agree, but too much rocker overall just drags the board, this one did a little. I've had guns before, just not a semi-gun, hence the search...

Hey, if you don't mind explaining why you need a lot of rocker for big waves I'm all ears, I don't mind getting schooled on stuff like this.

[surferdude_scarborough]

a semi gun should get you up to double overhead at a fairly standar break. if youre talking stupidly hollow or fast or something then maybe you would need a gun. it might be time to face up to the fact that maybe it wasnt the board......

[IB_Surfer]

a semi gun should get you up to double overhead at a fairly standar break. if youre talking stupidly hollow or fast or something then maybe you would need a gun. it might be time to face up to the fact that maybe it wasnt the board......

Actually, I was surfing my shortie on that day, hence my search for the semigun. I've been getting away with my big boy surfboard but it's not really meant for slotting up, and the extra width and thickness makes it a bear to duckdive. The semigun is actually the only board I have not really researched.

I own a gun, had it out at the reefs here in San Diego on Double Overhead+ waves, proably at least 12ft faces or more. But for double overhead, about 9ft, it's just too much board, hence the semigun.

And yes, it might be the surfer, but I refuse to allow for that. My go-to board is a 6'3", this is specifically a 6ft - 10ft board I am looking for.

Thanks

[Aloha]

I'm jealous! My semi-gun is lying in it's rack almost untouched. I haven't had to use it at all at home. Only time it's seen action was in Indo earlier this year. I can't wait for the days that I need to pull that baby out. Come on Autumn!.... it's virtually flat here right now

I'm guessing by "go-to board" you mean your everyday? If that's what it means then your first 7'0 should do the trick but it's probably too thin too, the width sounds right though.

My normal board is 6'0 x 18&1/2 x 2&3/16
My step up is 6'4" x 19 (too wide I'm hopefully going to replace this sometime over the year)
My semi-gun is 6'6" x 18&1/4 x 2&5/16 rounded pin. I have to admit I haven't had many waves on it but it was bloody fast and easy to paddle.

[isaluteyou]

I own a gun, had it out at the reefs here in San Diego on Double Overhead+ waves, proably at least 12ft faces or more. But for double overhead, about 9ft, it's just too much board, hence the semigun.

I think a semi gun in the 7ft range will be perfecto when its spewing 10ft bombs at the cliffs. I used to have a 6'8 and got on fine on big wed 07. Sold that so my biggest is a 6'4 wich aint suited to the cliffs when its big but it works for me which is the main thing

Personally i would go with as small as you can get away with not only for ease of turning and responsivness but also its a nightmare getting caught inside with a board you cant duck. + we get maybe 3-4 days a year that it may be worth using such a big board.

It might be worth chatting with the shaper about the particular break you are gonna be using it i.e the type of board i would ideally use when its big for say ABS is gonna be different to one i might use at blacks...... Then again thats ideally

[IB_Surfer]

I haven't caught the cliffs double, but been there big, overhead and a half, at north and south garbage, luscombs and osprey, but I had to use a fish or my big 8'2" gun because it breaks so slowly, if I got caught on the inside I was able to duckdive and paddle over to the channel.

My biggest problems have been at South Mission, Blacks and OB big, where there are no channels and I could not phathom taking anyting big and thick out there. I got my 6'5" shortie out, but had a hard time making waves. Caught some, but felt I could catch more.

You think the 7ft semigun will work at the cliffs? Hadn't thought about it, usually surf the shortie at ABS or Birdshit, the fish or gun at the others, will have to give it a try. Thanks for the advise.

[isaluteyou]

^^^^I hear you on blacks and OB Especially blacks its probably the most unforgiving break when its big. The trick with OB is Timing - i either use the rip by the pier or jump off the rocks on the south side but ether way you have to duck at some point.

So far this season i have not needed anything bigger than my 6'4 (however i weigh 140 so that is a factor )

I think it is very wise to have a quiver of boards as SD as so many different breaks that often change depending on the swell. Its a good feeling knowing you have the perfect board for the conditions

[IB_Surfer]

So today I tried the surftech, turns out it's 7'1 long, not 7'0", and 2 1/2" instead of 2 3/8" thick.

It was only head high at best, so not a true test as far as size, but I got to feel her out. Felt very longboardish but had a bunch of glide. I think I enjoyed the extra thickness due to my size, but it did not duckdive easily. The surftech has very boxy rails and the rails are not that hard, so I did feel a little bit of slip on some steeper waves, not what I would desire for a gun, feels more like a fun-gun. Will have to wait for bigger surf to really check her out.

Think what I'm going to get out of this is a feel for what I want from both boards and have it made to my specs, slightly thicker and wider than the first but smaller than the second. We'll see...

[IB_Surfer]

See viewtopic.php?f=14&t=13570&p=127317#p127317
for more info
I went with PU semigun, 7ft x 2 1/2 x 19 pintail, 6/5 top 6/6 bottom glass.

Also, my shaper set me up big time with something new: he is getting me a tripple stringer blank, but the wood is dyed RED, so it will have 3 red stringers, totally cool

Buy custom, support your local shaper...