This boat is different than any playboat you've ever paddled. On a straight front surf it is VERY difficult to pearl the bow, it handles 10-20' seal launches very well - surprisingly predictable. The rails take some getting used to if you're more familiar with standard playboats.

The fins are great, but usually unnecessary unless you're in tall surf. spins, blunts, kickflips nicely. sidesurfing in the wash is very easy and comfy once you're used to the rails and are bracing properly.

they've moved the back band rachets up near the top of the cockpit - so they aren't sitting in sand anymore.

Here's the really great part... you can ride waves so tiny that longboarders can't even catch them. it's pretty fast for such a short boat too. at the same time it's very fun in big stuff too. if your surf is mostly wind slop like we get in south florida you'll take a beating on the inside of the break, but once you get out, you'll have a lot of fun.

You don't necessarily need the fins all the time - usually I leave them out with just the disks in to keep the sand out unless i'm hitting surf above the 6' range.

spend the time to outfit this boat for you - and you'll love it.