...Lost "Couch Potato" / a review

SIZE / CONST: I'm 6 ft/180 lbs, riding a 5'8" Couch Potato (2" over the top end of the recommended sizes for my weight). Mine is standard poly.

PROS: My CP isn't too thick and, even at 36.5 liters vol, it duck-dives easy. It's rails are relatively thin and swing weight is manageable.

I love the CP's ability to connect sections and trim all the way to the beach, yet still do small, shortboard-esque maneuvers along the way. "Nose rides" are stable and, if you crank the tail, it'll throw buckets.

CONS: Mine is glassed heavy. Weight carries momentum and cuts chop...but, to me, it just makes it harder to paddle and takes longer to get up on a plane. In hindsight, EPS would've been the way to go.

Despite the full nose and widest point forward (dead center), the poly version really doesn't get in early...so don't think you can get away with taking a poly CP out in punchy/dumping waves (you'll get pitched). However, you're still going to need a relatively jacked up takeoff to get this craft going...it doesn't catch rolley, unbroken waves like a longboard can. The lightness of EPS would probably help in this area.

Mine has zero flip in the nose*, so, even when just paddling, keeping the nose out of water is extra difficult (in anything other than glass). Furthermore, you have to skooch way up on the nose to get the best paddle out of the CP (top of your head literally inches from the nose).

At 22 inches, my board isn't unacceptably wide, but the 17+" tail is. Most of the sensitivity to turns (I've grown used to on my pulled in thrusters) is absent...especially toeside. Getting my CP on rail is not effortless nor "front footed". Bought mine just before the Lost volume calculator was available...if I would have had that, I would've bought the next size down for a proportionately narrower tail.

FINS: Of all the fins I tried, the Seaworthy's minimal drag from their swept back shape gives them the best glide in any size wave. They'll let the board go vert, but the CP's lack of rocker makes re-entries super sketchy. They still perform little maneuvers even if a wave dwindles down to ankle high.

More upright front fins make this board higher performance...but only in the mid-higher end of it's wave size range. With T1 fronts+Seaworthy trailers, it turns more responsively. I could easily do tighter, rail skashing turns with them. T1s/quad trailers would be my choice on this shape...even though, when a wave gets really small, they don't perform as well as the full Seaworthy set.

I also tried just the T1 twins+TT1 center (no quad rears) and the board acted bizarre...at times, not turning at all. So far, the quad trailers appear necessary for this board to turn consistently.

Not sure why Mayhem added a 5th box. If the waves require more "bite" than as a big finned quad, the CP probably isn't the board you should be using.

CONCLUSION: There are basically two types of grovelers: those that always need input (working rail to rail for speed), and those that can trim w/no input without bogging. The Couch Potato is in the trim category. It doesn't "rip" as easily as hybrid fishes I've had, but the CP has good qualities they don't...and it's for a smaller wave, anyhow.

The CP will trim all the way to the inside on almost any wave, but, unless you're a paddling machine, don't think you're gonna paddle the poly version into ankle-high mush like a longboard (EPS might). Bottom line, just don't get the the CP too big (don't go over the Lost vol calculator recommendation).

*It appears Lost has recently revised this shape to include a quick flip in the first 3" of the nose.

 

thanks.

I owned a rusty piranha and it actually paddled really well, but, other than the full nose, it was definitely in the hybrid hpsb area...plenty of tail rocker and not much of a glider. Point is, I do love rusty's shapes and thought about getting the dwart, but went with the couch potato because biolos seems like he's really making an effort to design a board(s) for those that can only surf a handful of times per month. I also tried a Bottom Feeder, but relative to the CP, it kinda struggled paddling and gliding through the reform to the inside.

based on the CP, I think you're gonna like the paddling abilities of the LayZboy (although I heard it's now named the LayZtoy due to copyright hassles from the chair company)

 

I'm going to disregard your many questions as you were obviously very busy when posting (perhaps, on the toilet)...other than I guess you might have to actually ride the CP to completely understand what I'm saying.

There were overhead barrels in jersey this summer?...I guess it's possible...somewhere.

anyway, I also have a 5'11" V2 Stub in the quiver for waves a little steeper than the CP can handle. If the V2 Stub is the "ultimate groveler", that would make the Couch Potato the "ultra ultimate groveler" and a longboard...well, I guess one would have to fit the word "infinity" in there, somewhere. Maybe I'll post a review on the stub after I ride it a little more...feels good so far and, yes, I wear a leash on that one.

 

I think you're going to find that size CP waaay too big for you. These are wide boards...and they get exponentially wider in all parameters for each inch increment.

A 6' CP is almost 23" wide, which, for someone your size, getting your arms around it for paddling (or even carrying it) could be difficult. However, the main issue will be tail width...you'll never be able to get that size tail on rail.

The good news is Lost boards have incredible resale value. Sell at the beginning of summer and you could get most of your money back (although, if included, you should disclose what you did to the fins)...you won't have a problem finding a buyer. Then check Lost's volume calculator ("Guild Factor") for the right size board for your weight.