How does volume and width affect wave catching ability?

[bstein]

Hi,
I am new to this sport and am trying boards out to buy.  I am 6'2" 195 and am considering a 10'6" foot board.  One i am considering is 31 inches wide and 175 liters.  the other is 30 inches wide and 185 liters.  the 175 liter board feels more a little more stable but i am concerned about being able to turn it once i start catching waves.  The 185 liter board feels more "tippy" but tracks well in flat water and is pretty forgiving when it tips over (meaning it can go over sideways pretty far before i get dumped off).  i am leaning toward the 185, narrower board because i think it will provide better performance on the wave once i get better.

what affect does higher volume have on a board performance in the chop (it's choppy where i will be surfing) paddling around and on the wave once i catch one?  what affect does wider or narrower board have?

Insight appreciated.

Thanks,
Brook

[Dwight (DW)]

The narrower board doesn't always mean more performance. Sometimes more width creates a rounder template, making the board feel looser. Other times the narrower board might be faster.

More volume sometimes creates too much thickness for your body weight. Causing the CG to be too high for your weight. It makes the board shimmy unstable. That's why raceboards need concave decks, to get you lower.

There is no hard fast rule for anything. You have to demo where you plan to surf and decide what works best for you.

[werkSUPrider]

DW is right on, it depends on the person's size and ability and of course the type of waves you're riding. Also, the boards shape.

[alap]

and whatever you buy now you will outgrow in a year... and will buy a shorter board.
that said, all other things being equal for the first board i'd personally go with wider and shorter. volume is irrelevant.

[surfnpoppy]

alap and DW are right IMO.
"whatever you buy now you will outgrow in a year..." and  "More volume sometimes creates too much thickness"

If you want performace surfability in your board the thickness makes a big difference in how the board acts while on the face of the wave. My current board is quite thin so much so that while standing on it it floats low in the water and my feet get wet.... but the benefit is the rails are traditional surfboard thickness it surfs like a surfboard not  like a Cessna airplane wing.