Malcomb boards..San Clemente..whats up?

[chuckyg]

Anybody know anything about these boards??
link to the craigslist ad...
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/spo/1089211261.html

I am looking for my first SUP they have a 10.2
I am 185, 5'10 very strong athlete...surfed all my life but not frequently. (small surf only)
Thanks in advance

[diesel]

chuckyg,  One thing you need to look for if you are going for a smaller board like a 10'2 is the width.  It needs to be like 30" wide and 4.25" to 4.5" thick.  Even with this you will struggle but you can get it.  Any smaller and the board is probably too small.  I speak from experience of getting too small of a board for my first board.  I am exactly the same weight and height as you.  Maybe you should go bigger if they have a bigger one.

[chuckyg]

Thanks Diesel!
Would this good enough....
Length 10.3
nose: 20
mid: 28
tail :16
thick 4.40
I am also looking at this...
http://www.danaisurf.com/hydrosport/103signature.html

[jd]

I'd recommend looking around for a used board from a reputable standup shaper/company for your first board.  Search these forums and you will be able to figure out what boards are good.  You won't be doing yourself any favors by buying a no name import board that has the dimensions you think you are looking for and saving a few bucks.

Two boards with the same dimensions will not necessarily have the same stability.  I had a board that was 30 inches wide from one of these import companies and it was no where near as stable as a smaller 28 inch wide C4 that I owned previously.  The only reason I even bought the no name board was that it was so cheap that I knew I could resell it without any loss.  Lesson learned.  You get what you pay for.

Just because it looks like a stand up board doesn't mean that it is a properly designed and shaped board.

[diesel]

chuckyg,  that board sounds a bit small for learning.  That is the size I tried to start with but it was too small and frustrating to learn surfing on.  I end up getting a 10'8X30"X4.5" super wide tail and full rails type board.  This board was way easier and more fun.  You should try to get like 11'6 C4 or 11'4 Naish as examples.  Keep in mind I come from a strong surfing background of 20 years and it was still tough on that small of a board.  Just my 2 cents.

[sigib]

hey chucky
i too saw that ad, but couldnt find any reviews on those Malcombs.
actually went to hydrosport today! its right by my shop in anaheim. couldnt figure which unit was theirs and no answer on the phone. gonnna go by tomorrow though and see if i can figure out where they are at. ill post my thoughts if i make it over there.
i heard about a guy in hunt harb from wifes friend at work. checked out his site and called him. demo-ed his board on tues at his house in hunt harb. easy demo, called him at noon and was launching from his backyard by 4pm (pretty sure they too are imports,low $$) called "push paddleboards"
tried a 10 8 and 12'. im a lifelonng surfer, 165 6'1"and totally green at paddling. jumped right on and did ok. but when we rouned a corner and hit a little wind, WOW! way tougher than i thought it would be! wind is def a factor!! def need a little more psaddle time(hey new catch phrase!!)
so im ansy, its hot and ive had a itchy trigger finger since december..said F-it, called him today to buy one. really good package deal. figure if i stick with it ill upgrade down the line.
gonna grab it and go straight to my spot tomorrow afternoon. gettin  the 12' since ill be 90% paddling in alamitos bay in the afternoon (read=windy!)
ill post some more details and try a pic tomorrow night.
his website is pushpaddleboards.com, but i had trouble getting thru to him on it...i have his # if u want.

[chuckyg]

Cool. I am looking forward to your report.
I am guessing all these boards are very similar. I understand alot of the posts above..with their words and ultimately keeping the "integrity" of the sport, buying local shaper and companies etc...supporting the local surf shop..but the barrier to entry isn't cheap. Actually it is VERY STEEP! Not like buying a boogie-board.
Some of these "no-name" brands are offering a package deal with carbon fiber paddles at about 30% less than a Name brand board- ONLY, at the local shop. The price is lower than cost of any used board I can find on craigslist.
So the question is, as a rookie, is it better to buy a used board or get the no name new package?

Or is this just kinda similar to the snowbard industry when market got saturated with loads of companies.  The best board was based on the best "marketing" although they were made in the same factory?

[sigib]

Funny, I was there in the early 90's when boarding blew up too! I had a roomate in Newport who started his own "company", basically going to the same manufact who made 51/50 and put his own lam on it. He didn't even snowboard!
Back to paddleboards...Let me first say I can totally dig the take on keeping it local, i agree completly. I have several close, very close  friends in the surf industry; hell I have a shaper 4 doors down. Same deal though, to get a board from him is spendie even at the bro rate. Then i would still need the deck and paddle.
Im not down with all the China stuff these days either, I'm one of the biggest flag wavers out there.
But for me there was a threshold. Either I can get a package deal and get wet tomorrow or search craigs for months to get a used ride (which I have been doing since Nov-Dec). The cheapest ride i found on craigs was still SEVERAL hundred more than i paid.
I planned on demo-ing more stuff but tried this one and thought why not? The price was right and I'll never know the diff (as lond as i dont try any other board!!)
So for me it came down to wanting to get wet. I was sick of standing on the sidelines. You know, it was in the 90's earlier this week! I just want to get out there and start doing it. I'll worry about better equipment as I get better.
Hit me up, you can come demo mine anytime...

[footemaui]

BUY CHEAP.......GET CHEAP

[chuckyg]

Buy cheap get cheap eh?
I see on this forum, the Naish's crack, PSH crack, C4's chip blah blah blah?
I would love to get a 10' C4, but $1450 at my local shop for a first board is a bit beyons me wallet, mate?
What to do?

[Dwight (DW)]

I would love to get a 10' C4, but $1450 at my local shop for a first board is a bit beyons me wallet, mate?
What to do?

Ask your shop to get you the price point 10' C4 that retails for $1000.00

They are new, and in limited quantity for the mainland US.

2.5 lb EPS with resin tint epoxy lamination, I think. No sandwich under the skin.

They sold out quick, so jump on it.

[surfcal]

I've got that C-4 10 on the rack right now but it is $1050.00

[Dwight (DW)]

I've got that C-4 10 on the rack right now but it is $1050.00

Oops, sorry for quoting the wrong retail price. I only knew about the approximate target price.

Somebody should jump on this.

[surfcal]

DW, 
I was just stating what I had it priced  at; it could be higher or lower, we do get a little lee-way

[Tom]

DW, 
I was just stating what I had it priced  at; it could be higher or lower, we do get a little lee-way

Do ya think DW would go for the higher?