I'm hoping that a few other users on this forum are still using McCoy's Nugget style boards and looking for some advice...
A couple of years ago, I had a Nugget Potbelly, 5'10" x 21" x 2 3/4" PU construction with a thruster set-up. I can't recall the nose and tail dims, but it's fair to say it had a wide planshape! It was off-the-rack rather than a custom from Geoff.
Unfortunately, I sold it as I bought it with intention of using it purely as a small-wave weapon and I found it seemed to like slightly bigger stuff and felt a touch unwieldy in tiny mush, maybe because of the weight.
I say 'Unfortunately' as with hindsight, I bought it with what I think was the wrong expectation and maybe didn't spend enough time to find out it's merits. I can remember getting a little perplexed on occasion when it didn't quite respond how I anticipated, but I also remember thinking that I would have loved to try it as a single, rather than a thruster, as the weight may have suited a smooth, drag-free flowing experience...
Anyway, the reason for my post is that I am considering trying another nugget as more of an all-rounder and would like to get some feedback from guys/girls who are riding the shorter-style nuggets such as the Stumpy or maybe even the Lazor Zaps.
I have searched through the 'locks archives and while there is some interesting stuff from guys riding them in bigger sizes, some 'coming down' from longboards and some using them as they have not been happy with low-volume boards, there is scant info from people surfing the 'micro' size boards.
I have emailed Geoff, who was very helpful and suggested that I could surf a Zap/Stumpy/Potbelly from 5'10" upwards if I wanted to stay short. I have taken his good advice on board, but I just wanted to get a few more points of view from anyone out there riding small nuggets.
I'm 34yrs, 80kgs, 6'1" with 23yrs+ surfing experience. I have competed as a grom and through my 20s, but not now. I love my regular 6'1" x 19" thruster, but just want a different experience. Average surf in my neck of the woods is waist-to-head beachbreak in the summer, normally with some wind on it and bigger, cleaner beachbreak in the winter with the odd sheltered pointbreak working in bigger winter swells.
A few questions:
1) Single or thruster? Any limitations in context of type/size of surf for each?
2) Nose vs tail area? I noticed the Potbelly in thruster form liked to draw turns out a little. Not always the best thing for sucky beachbreak for me....
3) How do you deal with some of the idiosyncrasies of that wide tail? I found the Potbelly hard to control in some top turns on occasion, particularly if the fins were free. Will a singlefin setup be beneficial in this context?
I understand (and hope!) that any board from Geoff will not ride like a 'regular' thruster shortboard, so I guess I'm also looking for tips on how to get the most out of any nuggetty design.
Thanks in advance for your help. :-)
Your talking with the master himself. There is not much any of us could add to anything he might tell you. Since that is pretty much all I ride or sell....I think Mccoys all work best as single fins because that is what Geoff is partial to and in my opinion how he originally designed them. Ride it for at least six months and nothing else before you give it a grade. You may never go back to multi fins if you figure the single out.
Good luck..tell Geoff I said hello.
BTW: Go stumpy or potbelly if you want a bit more projection..even the all around nugget is great in smaller sizes. The zaps are pocket rockets.
The killers in high places say their prayers out loud
doubled up
Hey Noel, make sure to keep the pics up mate. I love seeing the McCoys, and the revolution boards. They look great!
Many thanks for your input guys, I really appreciate it.
Some nice looking boards on that revolution site, Solo. I'm particularly drawn to the 5'11" Horan and a couple of the Zap boards.
Geoff is extremely helpful, as I am sure that anyone who has corresponded with him will attest to, but I think it's always good to hear other's experiences.
I do regret not giving my old Potbelly a bit more time and I think your comments have pretty much reaffirmed what I was thinking, so thank you!
Of course, any other comments/advice are more than welcome!
Hi Strychnine,
I've got a 5'11" McCoy Zap and a 6'0" Potbelly, both single fins, both customs. The Potbelly is one on the best boards in the barrel I have ever had, definitely not suited for tight pocket turns though. I usually use it when surfing points, I love the smooth drawn out lines it's capable of. The Zap goes really well in "fatter" lined-up beach break conditions.
I definitely echo Solo's single fin recomendations with Geoff's designs.
I think ultimately it comes down to how you want to surf on them, I typically use the Zap in the conditions you described. The Zap has a nice combination of looseness and hold.
I'm sure Geoff can translate what you're looking for and can recommend the best design to suit your needs, he did for me.
Thanks Psychobilly, appreciate you sharing your thoughts also.
I've spoken to Geoff again and have got a 6'0" single Nugget on the way... Initially, it was going to be a a slightly smaller Stumpy model, but when I described the range that I wanted the board to work in, an allrounder was suggested as the one to go for.
Geoff's input and interest in my order surpassed my expectations - he answers emails quickly and takes a real interest in what you need while still having very definite ideas about will/won't work for you. A really professional and reassuring service.
All of the McCoy threads got me looking for one in New York. Finally found a Mint Rogers shaped Nugget from 99, only surfed once or twice. Board is 7'2" X 21x 3 1/8. I'm 59, 5'5",140lbs.wet. I usually ride a single fin MR that's 6'4" or a standard thruster 19 1/2 x 2 5/8. My impressions after 3 surfs ranging from 3ft. to 5ft beach break are: In small longboard waves I can easily catch as many waves as longboarders in the same lineup. I can cut back and bury a rail off of the tail with no problem given enough wave speed. As the waves get overhead my problem has been in where to paddle the board for optimum wave catching. I tend to be aggressive and paddle forward on the board to get in, that doesn't work well as the nose tends to pearl. This may just be a learning curve. Once in the wave, the board turns like a dream and I can do whatever I want,including hitting the lip. I've never outrun the wave. My home break is a left although this board goes so well on rights that I've been forcing some. All in all the board is too big for me and is a bitch getting out in fast beach break sets but it handles better than any board this size I've ever ridden. I'll still go to my single fin MR in clean head + but this may be a board I get more use from. As mentioned many times it rides off of the tail and does that splendidly. I'd love to find a smaller one.
would you put up a pic for us? thx
Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught. - Winston Churchill
Will do tomorrow.
Hi Alainguitars
Great to here your story with the boards you are riding and your Mccoy experiences, I know the start of this posting happened some time back but i wanted to add to original posts as well with regard to single or 3 fin debate, on Mccoy design. I consider myself as a recovering single fin addict, i love single fins but they dont love me in return, and they dont do my surfing any good except on a longboard. But i find myself drawn to small singles and i keep thinking that i can get some of that feeling back that I had when i was young in the 70s, and i have had a few brief moments here and there but nothing consistant. But strived to have more of those moments and been let down more times than most, why cant i just walk away from them and admit that they dont work for me and stick with a milti fin board, why am i drawn to something that does do me any favours, wondering if anyone if anyone else has these problems. For me Mccoy 3 fins are much easier to use and allow for a much better alround performance.
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