One of my ongoing frustrations with modern surfboard design is the steady reduction in rail line. While I’ll admit that today’s boards generally perform better than the ones I rode in the late ’90s and early 2000s, especially for everyday surfers, there’s a trade-off that’s often overlooked. Rockers are more refined, widths have increased, and boards are more forgiving on days when the waves aren’t ideal. That’s a win. But when it comes to rail line, I think we’ve lost something valuable.

Surfing on the East Coast means dealing with constantly shifting sandbars, swells from multiple directions, and breaks that respond differently depending on the bathymetry. In these conditions, having a board that can carry through a flat section or two is essential. And that’s where that added width and rail line comes in.

Personally, I prefer boards in the 5’10” to 6’0” range for anything other than the smallest days. I’m 5’10” myself, and I find that ultra-short boards—those 5’6” daily drivers that have become the norm—make it harder to execute proper bottom turns. For most adult surfers who aren’t sponsored and aren’t chasing high-performance clips, a little extra rail line goes a long way. It smooths out your surfing, helps you paddle through chop, and lets you get into waves earlier.

It’s worth remembering that paddling efficiency isn’t just about volume. Rail line matters too. The speed of a displacement hull increases with the square root of its length, so even a few extra inches can make a noticeable difference. Volume and rocker are important, but if you want a board that paddles well and feels stable in variable conditions, a slightly longer board is often the better choice.

East Coast surfers also deal with a fair amount of current. Longer boards make longer sessions more manageable and help you stay in position more easily. That doesn’t mean you need a mid-length or something suited for the North Shore. You still need to duck dive, and our paddle-outs aren’t usually that intense. But the difference between a 5’6” and a 5’10” can be surprisingly significant.

Before I dropped about 20 pounds, I was right in the sweet spot for buying boards off the rack—average height, average weight. If you fall into that category, stock boards can work really well. But once you deviate from that, whether you’re tall and light or short and heavy, it’s worth considering a custom. Shapers design boards with a specific stance width and weight in mind. If your stance or body type differs significantly, a custom board tailored to your specs can make a huge difference in performance and comfort.

For me, boards around 5’10” and roughly 2 1/4” thick strike the right balance. That keep the rails refined enough for performance while offering the rail line I need to paddle efficiently and surf smoothly. It’s a setup that works well for my body and the conditions I typically surf.