Buying a shortboard? Pop-outs?

Question

I have never bought a board before, only rented. I'm moving somewhere later this year where I can surf regularly so I'm going to buy a shortboard.

Someone told me to avoid pop-outs if I want my board to last. How do you know if a board is a pop-out?

Is this a pop-out? is it a good deal?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270227238707&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017

Answer 1

This should be an easy board to ride; it's pretty wide and thick, what we would usually call a "funboard".  Since you're a beginner, it might be just what you want.

If you really want a shortboard, unless you're a pretty large person, look for something a bit shorter.  Fish boards are very versatile, and a modified fish (pointy nose, swallow tail, not quite so thick) is a good compromise between a thruster shortboard and the easier riding funboards.  A true fish is usually pretty short, but catches waves easily due to its thickness and shape.  It's your choice, larger, easier to ride, or a little harder to learn (like the modified fish) but will keep you happy longer.

As for popouts, that's a bit dated; technically a popout is not hand shaped, but pressed into shape and then glassed.  There's a lot of variation in quality and durability, and the one you linked to looks OK as far as can be told from a photo and sparse description.  It's not a lifelong commitment...if you surf a lot, you'll be getting dings no matter what you get, and wanting different boards after a while.  That board should be fairly easy to use and learn on.

I don't know about UK prices...that seems a bit high for an internet-bought board for here in California, but I don't know how prices there compare.  Have fun...that's what it's all about!

Answer 2

Yes, mass production is a good thing when it comes to quality control.  I would get this board any day.  The type/size is perfect for a beginner so good luck with surfing.

Answer 3

MAYBE

Answer 4

Popouts are mass produced boards. Some are made using a form of traditional surfboard shaping technology, and these usually of particularly inferior quality. These boards often carry well known surfboard shapers names. The unwitting customer is unaware that the name is no longer under license to the original shaper, but rather it has been purcahsed by some sleazy popout manufacturer. For instance. The name "Challenger" (a great surfboard name) is now owned by a popout manufacturer who builds boards in China. New surf board technology (or old boat building technology co-opted by the surf industry) has enabled other manufacturers to produce mass produced boards at an alarming rate. Read the attached article from a great surf shop website.

The board shown in the E-bay add may very well be a popout, otherwise the seller would probably have listed a brand name (Lost, Rusty, Channel Islands, Bing for example). The fact that it lists double layers of fiberglass on the deck leads me to believe that it is  made using traditional methods and unfortunately, these are the least durable of all popouts, subject to easy delamination, leaks around the fin box etc.

Save you money up, and go to a real local surf shop. Surfing is getting huge in the UK, so I'm sure you will find a real surf shop, not a bathing suit store that sells some surfboards. Talk honestly to the folks there, and they will help you find a REAL surfboard that is affordable (even if it is a used trade-in).

PS. There are places for all things in this world. Popouts do make great rental boards (nobody cares what happens to them), and they are cheap and okay to buy for a 'first board'. If I had to buy a popout, I would probably buy a Bic. They are junk, but VERY durable junk and the shapes aren't half bad.. Unfortunately they only make a couple shorboard models.

Good luck!