ok surfboard freaks.
What rocks your socks about your surfboard? I want dimensions.
width, length, concaves, tail types, fin set up. nose shape.
If you could create the perfect size and shape what would it be?
This 100% depends on your weight, height, experience, conditions and style of surfing... Give us yours and maybe you will get a semi-helpful answer, otherwise it's all just useless numbers.
I suggest if you can to go talk to a local shaper, they are usually pretty helpful and knowledgeable on this stuff.
the numbers wont be useless to me. I want a cross section of peoples ideas.
But as far as weight is concerned 80kg. Wave size head to double head.
Unless the people are a similar weight, height, experience and style of surfer to you I can assure you they will be pretty useless...
Well I'm 6'3ft, 85kg of average ability (try and do airs and big punts etc.) mainly I ride kind of head high type stuff and I would say I'm more of a back foot heavy type of guy.
My all-round board is probably my 6'0 x 19 1/8 x 2 1/4, round tail with a slightly wider nose and tail outline and a slightly reduced rocker line to the contemporary short board.
As I said, these numbers are all just bullsh!t though because you could make a million different type of boards with these round about specs...
Still they are usefull to me !
I'm looking for ideas for my next build. Your width of 19 1/8 confirms something I'm already considering.
That is a massive question. Do you want it to paddle, kite or combo. Check out Mat Biolos lost surfboards website
lostsurfboards.net/surfboards/
Listing from performance paddle to fun models....Sub scorcher--sub driver--v2 rocket--blunt. I either have an original or boards based on these amongst others in my racks. I am into shorter boards for both kiting and paddling, even when it's big with a bit of nose width. At 73kg I don't paddle anything over 5'11". The rocket was one of the most copied modern boards in the world. The site give you an idea of dimensions outlines and volume. Buy a board by volume. I ride 25-26 c.u. At the moment I paddle a 5'4" x 18 x 2 1/4 Tomo dark star, and kite a 5'2" x 17 1/2" x 2 Tomo Vader. They are unbelievably good and I have not touched my regular shapes since getting them. Beware the firewire vanguard models, they are having durability issues for surfing, let alone kiting. At the end of the day, it really is a personal taste thing. From most boards looking similar a decade or so ago; there now is some innovative shaping going on. It's all fun. I was once told by mate that was a pro, "stop trying to clone your favourite board, it's gone (snapped); go and try something completely different". Best advice I ever had. It's fun, keeps your stoke, and completely changed my mind with what I thought was 'my best shape'. 
I've got 2 ,5'6x20" for my strapped boards one is wide entry with a wide fish tail set up as a quad ,the main width is just on or slightly forward of the front foot so you can put a heap of weight on the front foot and it will still track straight,the other is a narrow entry narrow fish tail set up as a thruster with the main width just behind the front foot,it's real snappy and will turn with more front foot input,both boards are the same size but perform very differently so as rowdy says there are a lot of variables.
For my unstrapped board I have a 6'2x20 1/2 narrow entry nose/tail.
Your welcome to give mine a whirl if your down this way.
Just got a 5'8 x 18 1/2 as well but haven't had chance to try it yet.
Select to expand quotepearl said..
Beware the firewire vanguard models, they are having durability issues for surfing, let alone kiting.
Well that wouldn't really be a first for Firewire would it... I never understand why so many people stick up for them when all I see is broken or faulty boards. Not to mention I don't even really like how the Firewire boards I've tried surf.
I have played around with a variety of shapes and sizes the last two years to come up with some thing that will work. My conclusion is, and most shapers will tell you this, that all boards will do some thing realy well but its almost impossible to make a board that will do every thing.
A lot of riders are compromising with their riding style.
You will see riders having a realy wide stance on a board that goes up wind well to get the board to turn on the wave due to its flat rocker for instance. others only do down winders with their boards as its to hard to go up wind.
Taking some one elses dimensions of a board wont realy help, you need rocker lines , out lines etc.
Just picked up this beaut from Kim @ S&S Gero, similar outline to the WAM but with a slightly bigger rocker, fitted with FCS PG 5.0's and dakine pad. Will go easy to start with but I'm sure they'll be a few ariels going down soon enough 
Looks a beast, can't wait to give it a thrashing out at Barrys tonight
AL Merrick Flyer 5'10" : Weight: 70kg, Style: Strapless unhooked
N: 11 1/2???
M: 18 1/4???
T: 14 1/4???
TH: 2 1/8???
and just to confuse everyone after they got the shape and size in their mind, I find nothing beats the flex and float of a PU surfboard. Some of the new technologies have recreated the flex of the PU so are the other option.
Ive got a few epoxies and they tend to be a bit corky for paddle surf and different flex. Ive found you have to put a lot more weight on the front foot to get the thing down the face of a wave. So if you going epoxy, then go down a size or two. epoxy is definitely an option for bigger riders,
Ive noticed a lot of the kite surfboards need a slightly flatter rocker than a traditional shortboard for upwind ability. Im not sure if this is just in the central part of the board or nose and middle.
otherwise I reckon concaves are one of the best inventions in the last 10 years.
So many factors 
Once you found what works keep it and duplicate.
Good info men.
What is the difference inride tail ends. rounded, straight. swallow....
Surfers have debated the best board question since surfing began. Shape, design, materials, hand over computer, etc....
ben Wilson on his site dioes board design comments and what he and his test riders like.
My option as a kite board / surfer for surfing waves under 6' is a bit short, I like the feel of bottom turning the longer rail.
If jumping is your thing the shorter wider board would be better.
But they all work
I like a bit of tail rocker, fairly flat from tail rocker to front, wide(ish) rounded square tail, fairly pronounced single concave that produces some lift, shorter board with more stumpy nose 6', quad and thruster options, fin position/ type / cant/ toe so important but so complicated. love super light boards - problem is replacement cost each time..
Basically sections are often way more flattened out kiting so want to keep it moving and want a narrow turning angle, not loose as in slide out though.
Very Interesting to c what people like. That Mulcoy board that BWS sells really is awesome.
mind u sometime at kina road i think i could do with a board with way more rocker when big to slow it down and stay in control, don't ride there often tho.
Select to expand quotePlummet said..
Good info men.
What is the difference inride tail ends. rounded, straight. swallow....
theres a dozen shaper videos on youtube that explain each tail and what it does and why etc. i found it very useful.
you have gotto be better off buying 2nd handers these days anyways. there like cars matey the more effort you put into it and more it costs you the more likely its going to blow up and disintergrate in some freak accident. every time i wash my car i need a new exhaust system or battery or rocker gaskets.
