Does anyone know?

[slicktrigger]

Hey all,

I'm going to get a fish made: 6'4 x 21 x 2"5/8
I've been talking to Wegener Surfboards on the Sunshine coast. They make some wicked retro style boards -

http://www.wegenersurfboards.com/

However, if anyone knows of any fish "specialists" please let me know.

[betelnut]

the fish is a fickle beast. can be your best friend or your worst enemy. i've had a couple and can strongly advise to be sure not to make the tail area too wide otherwise you can forget surfing vertically and you can shitcan any roundhouse cutback from your bag of tricks. they can be just too difficult to turn in a tight arc as they don't seem to get up on the rail as well, especially if you are running a concave through the bottom. because of this they can spin out easily and its good to use some really big fins, TC redlines are good. i tried putting a small rear fin in to loosen it up but it made the board a bit flicky. they are a fairly fast board especially good through fat or flat sections and can be a lot of fun to ride but don't make it your only board. you must be a fairly large bloke for a fish that size, or you are planning on taking some business from the straddie barge. i have found that a fish is only good in waves from 1 to 3 or 4 foot although they can handle some larger waves but hard to control unless you are tom curren. see if you can get it as light and short as possible so you can throw the bastard around. most shapers can shape something resembling a fish but some will only turn out something that looks like one of those old lazer zaps that cheyne horan persisted in riding. DO NOT get an ultralite blank.
best of luck
betelnut

[slicktrigger]

Thanks man, that helps a lot. Just some further advise if it's no too much trouble. My normal short board is a 6'5 x 19'1/8 x 2'1/2, single/double concave shaped by Brendan Milch from HIC. To date it's the best board I've ridden. I'm thinking in line with just making this board shorter and fatter for the fish. Does this make sense or have I got it wrong?

By the way, I'm not that big - 6 foot, 80kg :wink:

[ljw]

I got myself a fish last year. Usually I ride a 6"3 so I got a 6" x 19 x 2 3/8 fish. The slight increase in width and thickness compared to my other board makes a big difference. There isn't a whole lot of rocker which makes the board fast but sometimes a bit tricky in suckier waves. Once it gets a bit bigger the board can be a bit harder to control, difficult to put on a rail with the extra speed and width.

Its great when the waves are right, but I agree, don't make it your only board.

[Broady]

I often ride a 5'9" fish - a replica of an MR Twin, made by a mate of mine who's into shaping his own boards. It's flat as a tack, not real thick, with large old-school type fins, rails are real low and flat.....In fact it looks pretty ordinary but goes like a rocket. Adds credence to Betelnut's comment that Fish are a fickle beast - I've known more duds that good ones.

Definitely worth getting a fish if you can though - gets ya thru the summer months and turns sh!t surf into somethin' fun. (The big fins in mine means it holds ok even when there's a bit of size).

Saw a bloke rippin on a step-deck fish the other day - anyone tried one of those?

[slicktrigger]

I'm trying to shape my own board at the moment. Total novice and I'm sure it will take me a long time to get it right but hey, I love it and it has given me a whole new appreciation of surfing again.

However, I'm only shaping and not glassing yet. Does Anyone know of a shaper that would be interested in glassing only?

[betelnut]

slicktrigger:
don't fall into the trap of over-analysing the situation because you will get confused and in the end nothing will make sense. Talk to a reputable shaper, somebody who has a few fishes on the rack and not a backyarder. Take your current board in and tell them why you want to try a fish and what you want your fish to do and roughly what standard surfer you are and be honest. They know all the stuff to put in the board, just be sure to give them enough information and ask the shaper to confirm all details with you so that you both understand what he is going to shape you. sometimes the information gets misinterpreted or forgotten in all the excitement and you end up getting something that you are positive you didn't order.

best of luck
betelnut