MB thickness

[Bergie]

Hi


Im riding a 5'8 hellfire and looking for a MB 5'10 and undecided with the thickness the thin or thick? I love the hellfire on mostly soft waves i ride especially during winter with the full5/4 with hod and gloves but wonder if the thinner MB will be better when i thin out the rubber or when i travel south in boardies Im 5'7 150 lbs(without wetsuit) intermediate i rode a few 24 ish volume board while travelling so i wonder if i should keep same volume than hellfire or go a bit lower as the hellfire is really versatile for most of my time at home.

[prjwebb]

I'd be looking at the thinner version if it's going to be a good wave board.

[Chris]

yeah they are both ripper boards, but yeah the thinner will be a bit more sensitive.

Regarding volume, i think its safe to say you want to be close to that of your hellfire. Its important to remember everyone has an ideal range, it doesn't have to be 1 single volume because, frankly, that's impractical. So i think the best thing you can do is weigh all the variables and move forward from there. at 27.2 in your hellfire and 25.8 in the thinner 510, i think you have to go thinner. I know I like less volume in my shortboards the nI do in my hybrids.....

hope this helps.

[Bergie]

Thanks it help for sure the thinner seems better for all year surf especially while travel. I just cant make my mind about having more thickness on my high perf than my hybrid oh well if the thinner doesnt work i still can use my hellfire...:)

[Bergie]

I also wonder how thick wetsuit affect the volume of the boards I surf in 45 degree(7C) in winter and around 57 in summer in Canada i just wonder with all the rubber how bigger my board should be.Did people keep the same board from boardie or 2 or 3mm suit to full survival kit?

[Slowman]

I've never given it much thought but I suppose a full steamer wet has got to weigh around 3kg but they too seem to be getting lighter and lighter with the new neoprene advances and absorb less water and so on. In Sydney I guess we are lucky I've never worn anything thicker than 3mm as the water temperature rarely gets below about 16degC. There are days when the air is colder, especially early say around 5-7degC but by midmorning it would be back into double figures.

These new super quick drying wetsuits must work by not absorbing water in the first place so theoretically they should be around the same weight wet or dry and if that is around 2kg (guestimate) I don't know if it would make that much difference, unless you are already undervolumed to the point that go below the "critical floatation mark" (they ought to have Plimsoll marks on our wetties!).

[Chris]

hey bergie,
I definitely am more comfortable on less volume in less neoprene. I am from maine and would surf in the full arsenal, and definitely wanted more volume than i do here in california. That being said, I ALWAYS buy boards to suit me at home because a trip is exactly that, a short trip. So if getting a liter or 2 extra means it might float a little more in warmer conditions, but that you'll have ripping sessions when it fires at home, I would buy the board for home ALL DAY!! Plus you'll be so familiar with it, I am sure it will go well for you on your trip.

Cheers!

[Bergie]

hey bergie,
I definitely am more comfortable on less volume in less neoprene. I am from maine and would surf in the full arsenal, and definitely wanted more volume than i do here in california. That being said, I ALWAYS buy boards to suit me at home because a trip is exactly that, a short trip. So if getting a liter or 2 extra means it might float a little more in warmer conditions, but that you'll have ripping sessions when it fires at home, I would buy the board for home ALL DAY!! Plus you'll be so familiar with it, I am sure it will go well for you on your trip.

Cheers!

Thanks Chris im totally between both volume so it will be a last minute decision Cleanline surfshop ordered both of them for me to choose so it's good. What is your position about going shorter or thinner with epoxy board should we lower a bit the volume on firewire becuse they are lighter and give more floatation?Thanks

[core personal training]

treat as normal bergie...float is too close to worry about...

[Chris]

yeah core is right.

I would decide more based on whether you want the extra length in the rail of your high performance shortboard.

[Rick]

Hey there.. :) here is my question, after finding the alternator 6'0 a bit too thin for me (but the 6'2 too wide, stiff) and the Taj 6'2 too narrow in the tail... I have my hopes high on the thicker version of the Michel Bourez 6'0. I'm around 1.90 mt tall and weigh around 78-80 kilos. been surfing for 20 years, age 34, favourite boards have the following dims: 5'10 x 18' 3/4 x 2' 3/8; 6'0 x 18' 3/4 x 2' 3/8. But i have other boards (5'7, 5'11, 6'2, 6'4), but those are my main hi-perf sticks. Am i finally gonna get it right with the thicker MB? I luv the firewire materials, just need to get the right shape.. i'm getting tired of normal PU boards, cuz they are so fragil and don't last long.. and are still expensive. Greets from Portugal!

[prjwebb]

I'd be thinking about the thinner of the 6'0" MBs. It's going to pack more foam and have thicker rails than the 6'2" Taj you've surfed and fit right in dims wise with what you've been riding at 6'0" 18"3/4 2"3/8.
That said the 6'0" Alt is the same dims and you found that thin. Worth getting a comparison between the thinner MB and the Alt because I think the thicker version carries a fair bit more thickness than the Alternator.

[Chris]

the thicker version of the Michel doesn't have a ton more thickness, but it does bring a bit of volume out to the rails. we can get away with it because the board template and rocker profiles still allow for a progressive surfing style...

The alternator does have thinner rails but it also has a bump squash and flatter rocker so full rails would feel a bit more inhibiting!!

CHeers

[norberg]

Hey Chris

Not sure if you have answered this before but I am wondering if the thicker and thinner 6'2" has the same amount of rail and tail volume and that the added L are placed in the middle of the board?

Cheers,

[Bergie]

Hey Chris! Are the rails on the MB are the same on both thin and thick version?

[Petoven]

Hi all: Got my first session on a 6.0 MB thicker version on a glass 3" lefts (my backhand). I'm 78 Kg and used to ride thinner boards,Fexfires, Quadfives,Fuegos,Predator(Formula Energy). I have been riding quads for a while, so i decided to try again a standard shortboard, and though the MB would fit me perfectly. The only one available was the thicker version which i though was going to have too much volume at 29.9 lts. In my hands, the board felt a little boxy,but i took in anyway.....
Let me tell you that on the first wave all those concerns disappeared.... The board is Magic!!!. Paddles very well and has a combination of nervousness of the Taj with an easy ride hard to describe. Very fast, goes to top when you order for it, like an extention of your feets. It still feels very solid at top speed, hard to understand,having those fat rails. Can't recommend it enough!!!

[Bergie]

Thanks Petoven for your post. what is your average volume? Is the MB at 29L is overyour optimum? Still easy to ride and dig the rail?

[Petoven]

Yes Bergie, i normally ride boards between 27 to 29L, but in the MB you only feel the volume in the paddling, which is good.
Seems that the volume is well centered at the middle of the standing point so the board respond easily when you get over rails. However, it likes hollow powerfull waves because of its rocker, not a board to surf mushy, small, flat waves. It is a shortboard anyway. One of the nicest and easiest to ride i've ever had.

[Bergie]

Thanks Petoven yeah mine is for good waves i have my 5'8(27.2L)hellfire for small mushy waves so i will get the thin MB 5'10(25.8L) for good waves.

[dawnbuster]

Thanks Petoven yeah mine is for good waves i have my 5'8(27.2L)hellfire for small mushy waves so i will get the thin MB 5'10(25.8L) for good waves.

Bergie,petoven is right.This board is a gem.I have had a 6ft (29.9 l)Michel for the last few weeks and surfed it mainly in beach breaks and the thing is fast,loose and yet still paddles me well at 80kg.I have read a lot of posts from people being concerned about the thicker version being too much volume .This board hides the volume really well.It doesn't feel like a thick board once up and riding.Again it's fast and turns on a dime.You will be stoked on this board.

[dawnbuster]

Hi petoven,what fins are you running in your Michel bourez board .I have a set of michado fins and wanting a second set of fins for different conditions.The michado are a great fast fin with plenty of drive.

[Bergie]

Thanks dawnbuster. do you think i should go thin or thick? My hellfire is great but might want a little less volume on my high perf. is the thin still paddle well?

[dawnbuster]

Thanks dawnbuster. do you think i should go thin or thick? My hellfire is great but might want a little less volume on my high perf. is the thin still paddle well?

Hi bergie,I can't comment on how the thinner board paddles as I have not been able to ride one .I have been riding the thicker 6 ft board.

[Chris]

Hey Bergie, what do you weigh? I think you can make arguments for both boards. I think for me it would hinge on how versatile I wanted it to be. Its a World Tour board so eventhe thicker model is going to perform like a champ. I know here on the West Coast, I like the thinner version, but at home on the East coast I will be on the thicker version all day because the waves are a bit weaker and I am often in a thicker wetsuit....

[Bergie]

Het Chris im 5'7 150lbs my optimum volume in summer will be around 24-25L and in winter around 27L so i just think at 25.8L im fitting right in the middle but the best waves are in winter.I plan to go to Indo for 2 months next winter so i think of going thin and maybe get a hellrazor when i get back.This last winter i spend the whole time on my hellfire and loved it that might just give me a reason to shop for another stick later...;)
Here on Vancouver island waves like you said on the east coast are a bit weaker(but warmer water and air temp) most of times and the hellfire is a perfect board for those kind of waves.I still totally in undecided.My surfshop order me both so i can decide when i see them both together.I wish they can get a demo for me to try...

[Bergie]

Hi Guys

Just picked my new board,i finnaly choose the thin one after comparing both 5'10's. After almost a week of stormy messy northwest i finnaly took the board out.It float me perfectly and paddle good and catch waves easy in punchy head high beach break(not so clean condition) easy to duck dive and easy to ride im really stoked cant wait to try it on clean condition or on good point break.