CI "Fishbeard" Twin Fin Surfboard Review by Noel Salas Ep 97 211 7

Reviews 4 years ago 12,768 views

Where to buy: the Surf Station: https://www.surfstationstore.com/products/channel-islands-fishbeard-surfboard Jack's Surfboards: https://jackssurfboards.com/collections/surfboards/products/channel-islands-fishbeard-shortboard-surfboard Surfboard Empire (Australia & NZ): https://surfboardempire.com.au/collections/channel-islands/products/fishbeard Surf Ontario (Canada Only): https://surfontario.ca/collections/surfboard-deck-pads/products/deck-pads-creature-of-leisure In this episode I put the new Fishbeard twin fin by CI through the paces. The model is a blend of the Neck Beard 2 from the middle to the nose of the board and the back third is a twin fin fish design. The Fishbeard offers excellent performance in tight transitions like a high performance short board (HPSB) due to it's sleek outline in the nose area. I pushed this Twin Fin like a HPSB every chance I got and it did NOT disappoint. The Fishbeard carries excellent down the line speed, great rail to rail transitions, and flow. I highly recommend the Fishbeard for Intermediate - Pro Level surfers in 1-6' Surf. Beyond the 6' wave range still needs to be tested as I think this model would be epic in 6-8' point breaks. This model performs best ridden longer and narrower compared to your typical Twin Fin Fish. If you loved your NB2 then go roughly the same size. My height: 5'9" My Weight: 160 lb or 72.5 kg Custom Board dimensions tested in this review: 5'4" x 18 7/8 x 2 1/4 Liters 24.9 (PU / Poly) 5'5" x 18 7/8 x 2 1/4 Liters 25.5 (PU / Poly) Britt Merrick's Height: 6'6" Weight: 220 lb or 99 kg Board DIMS: 6'0" x 20 1/2 x 2 3/4 Liters 36.7 Fin recommendations: Futures Fins: Al Merrick Keels (Excellent hold and projection) Futures Fins: EN Twin Fins (Quick pivot in tight transitions)

Advertising

LuxoGear Emergency Whistles with Lanyard

Shop now »

NOCO Genius GEN5X2, 2-Bank, 10A (5A/Bank) Smart Marine Battery Charger

Shop now »

ADVERTISING

LuxoGear Emergency Whistles with Lanyard

Shop now »

NOCO Genius GEN5X2, 2-Bank, 10A (5A/Bank) Smart Marine Battery Charger

Shop now »

RHINO USA Boat Trailer Transom Straps (2PK)

Shop now »

LUCKY Kayak Portable Fish Depth Finder

Shop now »

Seaview 180 V3 Full Face Snorkel Mask

Shop now »

Most popular comments
for CI "Fishbeard" Twin Fin Surfboard Review by Noel Salas Ep 97

Live comments
Comments on YouTube

elb2018 - 4 years ago

Hey Noel which board do you think makes the most out of small waves but can still step up if needed in overhead surf between fish beard and MR cali twin?

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

elb2018 Fishbeard with AMKeels

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

Mark Yoshida I’m trying to get a couple for review. Hang tight

Kai - 4 years ago

black baron vs Fishbeard

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

Kai Two different outlines but a good comparison. The FB will look and feel more like a HPSB due to it having a longer rail line, and performance mid section and nose. Because the FB has a longer rail line and maybe a little more tail rocker it can handle bigger surf. The BB might paddle a little better due to all the surface area in the nose. Keep in mind that surface area in the nose on the BB will cause it to catch if you don’t surf it hard off the tail and buy it too big.

Jon Salvador - 4 years ago

Another epic one Noel, thanks mate. Very intersting RE: lenght discussion and having Brett was just cherry and choco on top of the ice cream, thanks man.

Tommy Philp - 4 years ago

Dan you do mayhem driver 2.0

cat in the hat - 4 years ago

fish hair

lammykins09 - 4 years ago

Hey Noel! Great review! Your surfing looks awesome on it. Any chance of you doing a review on a Firewire Baked Potato? Would love to see your approach to it. Cheers

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

lammykins09 Not sure... still waiting for the EVO and El Tomo Fish

Rall Naude - 4 years ago

@Noel are you aware if there will be a Fred Rubble 2 coming out in the next few months?

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

Rall Naude Not that I know of...

Richard Thiele - 4 years ago

Hey, Noel. Love the reviews. I finally broke down and started riding a 5' 6" quad last summer and love the down the line speed, but I don't like that I can't ride it like a normal shortboard. I just can't get over that full nose on my quad and maybe it's just a mental thing. I usually just ride this board when the waves are micro. My quad is 5' 6" by 20 1/8 by 2 7/16. After getting used to this board, I really wish I would have gone shorter and thinner. I'm turning 54 years old this month and still love riding my shortboards. I'm 5'9" and 150 lbs. The shop by my house has the fishbeard in 5'6" by 19 by 2 5/16,but the CI website recommends a 5'4" or 5"5" based on my size. I know you mentioned longer is a little better with this board and you don't know how I surf, but what do you think about the 5' 6" for me? Do you think I will be happy with that or wish I would have gone smaller? Any input would be much appreciated. I'm in San Diego, so I do surf a lot of different beachbreaks down here. Thanks, Rich

Richard Thiele - 4 years ago

@Surf n Show Reviews Thanks for the fast reply, Noel. You just confirmed what I was thinking. Thanks again as I'm looking for the 5'5" now. Keep ripping and putting out the reviews!!!!!!!!

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

Richard Thiele The 5’5” FB at 25.1 liters is perfect for you. I’m 10 pounds heavier than you so the 5’5” will be perfect. The 5’6” will be to much float...

10. comment for CI "Fishbeard" Twin Fin Surfboard Review by Noel Salas Ep 97

Max Drewe - 4 years ago

What pad was on the stick

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

Max Drewe My favorite... Creatures Jack Freestone pad

Roger Pye - 4 years ago

another excellent review. How would you compare it to the Rocket Wide - looks like it has a very similar outline ?

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

Roger Pye No real comparison to the RW in board design and they surf nothing alike.

Gavin Alexander - 4 years ago

Another smashing review!!

Yorky surfboards - 4 years ago

10:32 BEST EVER, Soul Brothers bahaha

Eric Papa - 4 years ago

How come you don’t stick to stock dims? Probably falls more in line with what they were going for

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

Eric Papa I do my best to go stock on every model I review. Sometimes custom is what happens when they don’t have stock Dims dialed yet.

martinwajda - 4 years ago

Hi Noel, Great informative review as always. I have a question for you, I am about the same weight as you so if you wanted this type of board but as a groveller for surfing in small, weak waves around waist to max chest high would you go a bit more volume than your standard HP shortboard?

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

martinwajda I would go Spinetek with same liters. If you don’t like EPS then go up maybe 1/2 liter

Ferdinand Arcinue - 4 years ago

Great review as always! Who’s the dog though? She looks like she’s enjoying a sunny patch in your living room.

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

Ferdinand Arcinue That’s Roxxy... and yes she is chasing the sunny patch.

IzandEva Inmyheart - 4 years ago

Hi Chief, is the Lost Swordfish in the wings for review? Corey rips on it but even he admits that he isn't great at analyzing the actual design.

IzandEva Inmyheart - 4 years ago

@Surf n Show Reviews psyche!

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

IzandEva Inmyheart Yes... Swordfish review is coming. I just got a couple.

Tim Johnson - 4 years ago

Noel’s surfing always looks good on a merrick
Probably muscle memory or something

Joey Churchin - 4 years ago

Awesome review, thing looks sick, I have a black baron that I have been really stoked on recently but the thing can not handle any overhead surf. Do you think it would be worth trying keel fins in it instead of the power twin fins? Or do you think just fully upgrading to the fishbeard for bigger surf is better?

Joey Churchin - 4 years ago

Thanks man!

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

Joey Churchin Get the Al Merrick Keep fins first. You will love them in both boards. After you get the Keel fins sell a different board in your quiver and get the FB so you have two sick Twinies and then you can ride them both and make a solid decision. That’s what I would do.

The FB will handle bigger surf for sure... make sure you get it in PU for bigger surf.

20. comment for CI "Fishbeard" Twin Fin Surfboard Review by Noel Salas Ep 97

Will Davis - 4 years ago

great review - do you think they plan on making this in spine-tek? if so - do you think you would gravitate to that construction or are you stoked on the PU?

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

Will Davis It will go excellent in Spinetek for 1-4’ surf... and I’m sure you can custom order it. I would be stoked to shred the FB in Spinetek. I heard that CI will NOT be stocking the FB in shops in Spinetek at this time.

Henry Jacups - 4 years ago

ah wonderful. could you do a dad mini twin. thanks noel!

Ken Kohncke - 4 years ago

Yeah the Mini twin II, I'd love your take on that one Noel.

Henry Jacups - 4 years ago

DHD*

Jose Ande - 4 years ago

Hey Noel, your surfings looking great in this one. It seems like a great time to by buying boards from Al Merrick and pyzel with soo many great designs. What's your thoughts on main differences on the CI fishbeard, CI neck beard and Pyzel astro pop?

Jose Ande - 4 years ago

@Surf n Show Reviewsthanks for the insights noel, all super interesting boards: my savings account is getting anxious. Great to see that your fine tuning your ideal dimensions, this is something most of us average Joe's really find hard to do when buying new so your doing some great work helping us figure out what dims will work for each board. Come for a surf trip in NZ!!

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

Jose Ande 3 Completely different designs with nothing in common except wave range. The NB2 is a Small wave performance board / Daily driver that goes best in 2-6’ surf. It’s fast, agile, and wants to boost. The Fishbeard is a performance Twin fin that shreds in 1-6’ surf that draws completely different lines compared to the NB2 due to it being a Twin Fin only... with no pivot fin and it has a fish tail. The AP is a performance Fish for 1-4’ surf. It shreds in multiple fin setup options and grovels really well in gutless surf. These 3 boards surf nothing a like and I would not compare them to each other.

Ivon Pacheco - 4 years ago

Noel, please, can u talk about Asher Pacey fins! If u use before, if u liked ? Any opinion about it ! Tanks !

Ivon Pacheco - 4 years ago

Thanks man, i really like your show !

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

Ivon Pacheco Sorry I have only tried them 1x and they were pretty good. I will try them some more... no opinion on them at this time. Sorry more testing needed for honest feedback.

bushkey - 4 years ago

Nice! I’m surprised you didn’t try more fins. I’m not convinced the Keels would be your go to.

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

bushkey Have you tried the AM Keels? They don’t surf like normal keel fins. The EN’s offered more pivot and other twin fin sets I have don’t offer enough hold to put in most Twin Fins I ride. The more upright fins like the T1, T2, AMT, MR’s type of fins with Trailer fins slide out like crazy for me backside.

bodhi tree - 4 years ago

How does it compare in terms of paddling, stability and down the line speed to the Sampler? Interesting how it felt better longer.

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

bodhi tree Sampler might paddle a little better but it’s close. Speed wise... FB seems faster.

cvosburg77 - 4 years ago

Ripping review as usual Noel thank u! What's your thoughts on riding the NB2 with a twin plus trailer set up? Possibly getting more drive and release like the fishbeard?

IzandEva Inmyheart - 4 years ago

I had the same question!
Thanks SnS.

cvosburg77 - 4 years ago

@Surf n Show Reviews Thanks brotha getting a set now

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

cvosburg77 I heard the NB2 goes great with the Twin + Trailer. Not sure it will feel anything like the FB though... the changes are significant enough that they surf completely different. Twin Fins in general draw different lines and no drag from a center fin.

cassio santos - 4 years ago

Great review. How does the Fishbeard compares to the Rocket Wide?

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

Terence Ingram RW with AMT fins not AMK. AMT stands for Al Merrick Twins, and AMK stands for Al Merrick Keels. I would never suggest the AMK’s for the RW. Get a set of AMT’s for your RW....

Terence Ingram - 4 years ago

@Surf n Show Reviews whilst being both different boards either could work as a daily driver? I think you mentioned that the RW could be ridden with the AMK fins. I need to choose one. Struggling between them.

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

cassio santos No real comparison at all. FB is faster and really high performance for a Twin Fin but the RW is a Thruster so it draws different lines.

Beach Runner - 4 years ago

What would you suggest for glassing? Custom would you suggest spending the money for swapping layers with 2S? being the price I won't something that will last me. Thank you great review!

Beach Runner - 4 years ago

For sure thank you for the reply. Really stoked on ordering this board

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

Beach Runner I would contact the folks at CI I see what they recommend for durability and performance. If you glass it to heavy then you won’t get the performance your looking for.

Gabriel Acorda - 4 years ago

Great review Noel and team! Love the detail!

30. comment for CI "Fishbeard" Twin Fin Surfboard Review by Noel Salas Ep 97

Shannon Young - 4 years ago

It’s interesting, on The JS Black Baron... You went a lil’ bit shorter & found it more responsive.
On the CI FishBeard, you went a lil’ bit longer & found that to be more responsive.
Since they’re both in the performance twin category,
what factors come in to play?
Design/shape? Fins? Construction? Foam? Etc.
Have you thought about putting the AM Keel fins in the JS Black Baron & giving it another go???
I have the CI NB2 5’8x19 3/8x2x7/16 29.7L
(I’m frothing in it!!!)
If I want to purchase the
CI FishBeard... from this review, you’re advising that I should stay with relatively, the same dim’s?
And last, but not least...
Black Baron or FishBeard???
Sick review as always!!!

jordan ward - 4 years ago

Black Baron uses a more upright twin template so its more pivoty. The fish beard being a keel has more drive which is what we all want in a good thruster.

Surf n Show Reviews - 4 years ago

Shannon Young The BB goes better shorter due to it having more foam in the nose area. It has a lot of surface area forward so it tends to catch in the nose on my turns if it’s longer in length or if I’m not surfing it off the tail. By the way... I liked the Al Merrick Keels best in the BB review especially backside.. no need for more testing with the AMK fins on the BB they go insane in that board.

The Fishbeard goes better longer due to its sleek lines in the front 2/3 of the board. It has the NB2 nose and center so it has the freedom to perform high performance turns with more rail line and not catch in the nose. All this to say it’s a design difference between the BB and FB. Completely different shapes and performance. I thought I made all of this clear in the review.....

I prefer the FB for my style of surfing and I also like that I can surf it longer. The longer Twin Fin FB makes it easier for me to transition from board to board because its longer.... same size as my Daily Drivers and only 2” shorter than my HPSB.

If you love your NB2 then get the FB roughly the same size.