McCoy Splinter model compared to Nugget

[kaheenalu]

I've been after a McCoy Nugget for some time but have now come across a 2nd hand McCoy Splinter. According to the McCoy website, the latter model maintains all the benefits of the Nugget design and its highly reactive bottom curves. Like the Nugget, it features a loaded dome. However, the Splinter looks much more like a standard shortboard than the Nugget does, in that it does not feature such a wide nose nor such a wide tail, although the board I'm looking at still features the same wide deck at 20" 1/2 and thick rail at 3". Like the majority of McCoy boards over here it's got a glassed on thruster fin setup.

I would be interested to know if anyone here is familiar with and have surfed the McCoy Splinter model and how they find it? I would also be interested in how they find it compares to the Nugget model?

[Bearded Gimp]

Never ridden a Splinter - they are a pretty rare beast in the UK - but I ride a 6'3 nugget (thruster) as my only board which is 20" wide and a shade under 3" thick. Three or four surfs on a 6'6 surftech nugget were enough for me to abandon the standard thrusters (6'3 x 18.5 x 2.5) that I rode for 20 years and shell out the £500 for a custom from Geoff. I've surfed it as my only board for two and a half years and I can safely say that buying it was the best surfing decision I've ever made. I'm around 85-90 kg and I find the volume about perfect for me - the only slight pain in the arse is duckdiving but that's OK.

As for how it goes, it's the fastest board that I've ridden by far, it has tons of drive and hold yet it's super loose as well. With your back foot over the front fins you can surf nice drawn out arcs, then move your foot to the back of the pad for short arc surfing. I've always thought of myself as a front foot surfer but it suits me down to the ground. Another characteristic is that it's very forgiving, so you'll find yourself making more of those full rail cutbacks, sketchy reentries and so on. For sure it has a different feel because of the wide tail and the volume that's maintained throughout the board, but for me it makes the board feel nicely planted and doesn't in any way compromise how it surfs. It goes great in decent waves as well.

I think that Geoff's website is a bit on the uninformative side but if you email him he always seems to reply within a day or so and is very helpful. Make sure you tell him the dimensions of the board you're looking at and your weight and he'll tell you if it's suitable for you. Just looking at the 'Design' bit of his site, Geoff say that the contours of the loaded dome assist the board to perform manoeuvres by taking the emphasis off the surfer having to control and guide the board, giving more time for the maneouvre. He also says it neutralises reaction. So I think that rather than making the board feel highly reactive, the upturned wok-like characteristics of the bottom contours react regardless of the plane the board is on, so make turning easier, if that makes any sense at all.

[cproctor]

have a 6'6 surftech (unfortunately not a custom - am saving for one tho) and find the nugget a very forgiving shortboard . Although i tend to ride logs , i do like to take the nugget out .It takes me an hour or so to get used to the smaller board ,but after that i do have a blast on it - its gets into waves early , and is nice and turny . floats me fine at 6ft and 13.5 stone .

hope that helps abit

[cproctor]

i forgot to add - you will be hard pushed to speak to someone who dislikes any of geoffs boards - so i would say you cant go wrong with either a splinter or nugget

enjoy!

[kaheenalu]

have a 6'6 surftech (unfortunately not a custom - am saving for one tho)

let me know if you ever think of selling it as i would be interested. i'm in swansea.

[Archy_is_God]

Get the Splinter.

Worse case scenario-you don't like it after giving it a good go then sell it for the same price you bought it for or possibly more.

However, this is unlikely as they have a certain something that is really appealing. I'm really getting into riding my 6'0" Nugget.

I have a strong feeling I may have responded to this question through another website......?

Where is it and how much do they want?

[Bearded Gimp]

£450, eBay, Penzance http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/McCoy-Splinter-Nu ... 4cebcf6f53

Hey Archy, was it you selling your 5'10 potbelly a year or so ago on eBay? tom_curren_for_president?

[Archy_is_God]

That's me! Wish I never sold it.....

[kaheenalu]

that's the one archie! yeah, i think you have responded on other forums too.

just bought 2nd hand paul gross / tim mason velo hull at a price too good to refuse though so all of a sudden priorities have changed a bit (think i might have seen you discuss these boards elsewhere too).

still want a nugget at some point though.

[Archy_is_God]

Nice. I rode Jory's 6'10" hull the other day and was surprised at the speed.

Let us know how the little fella goes