Island Boards Funshape
Pickup available at BSS
Usually ready in 24 hours
The Island Boards Funshape: South Florida's Go-To Fun Shape Surfboard
Island Water Sports has been shaping and selling surfboards out of Deerfield Beach since 1978, and the Island Boards Funshape is the distillation of everything that experience teaches you about Florida surf. It is a fun shape surfboard built for the waves we actually ride: punchy, fast-breaking beach break that rewards a board with volume, width, and the kind of paddle power that gets you into the wave early and keeps you there.
The outline tells the whole story. A wide, rounded nose flows into a full mid-section and tapers to a clean tail, giving the board a profile that sits between a classic egg and a performance mid-length. That extra width through the chest and belly translates directly into stability on the pop-up and speed across flat sections, two things that matter enormously in the smaller, mushier surf that South Florida is known for.
Fun Shape Design: What Makes This Board Work
The rocker on the Funshape is kept relatively low, which means the board planes early and glides through weaker sections rather than stalling. When the wave steepens, the tail rocker provides enough curve to let you drive a clean arc off the bottom without the board tracking in a straight line. It is a balanced compromise that handles the full range of conditions a South Florida surfer will face across the year.
The bottom contour runs a single concave through the center, accelerating water flow under the board and converting paddle speed into glide the moment you drop in. Through the tail the concave splits or channels depending on the size, directing water toward the fins and adding bite through your turns without stiffening the overall ride.
The thruster fin setup is the right call for this shape. Three fins give you drive through turns, positive hold on steeper faces, and the ability to release the tail when you want to skate the lip or snap through a section. The setup works with a wide range of fin templates, so you can tune the feel from pivot-heavy to drive-heavy depending on the surf.
Who Rides the Island Boards Funshape
The Funshape earns its name because it is genuinely fun across a wide range of ability levels. Beginners benefit from the stability and paddle volume that make catching waves easier, learning the pop-up on a platform that forgives small timing errors. Intermediate surfers who have outgrown a soft-top but are not ready for a performance shortboard find that this shape rewards proper technique while still being easy to surf on the off-days. And experienced surfers who just want an enjoyable session on a smaller, weaker day will appreciate how effortlessly this board generates speed.
The shape also suits heavier or older surfers who want the extra float of a mid-length without committing to a full longboard. The shorter overall length compared to a traditional longboard means you can still pivot and maneuver in tight pockets, while the volume keeps you riding waves you might otherwise miss on a standard shortboard.
Colors and Finish
The Island Boards Funshape is finished in a clean, glassed construction with a single color coat. Orange gives the board a high-visibility, classic surf aesthetic that stands out in a lineup. Coke Bottle Green is a nod to the tinted resin boards of the late 1960s and early 1970s, translucent enough to show the blank beneath and timeless in the water. Both finishes are durable and hold up to regular use in warm, salty South Florida conditions.
Shop In Store or Ask Our Staff
The Funshape lives on the floor at Island Water Sports in Deerfield Beach. Our staff surfs these boards and can walk you through size selection based on your weight, experience, and the conditions you surf most often. Use the variant selector on this page to choose your size and color, or call us at 954-427-4929 to talk through options before you buy.
Free Shipping, No Minimum for IWS Beach Club Members.
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Specifications
- Shape
- Fun Shape (egg-influenced mid-length outline)
- Fin Setup
- Thruster (3-fin)
- Bottom Contour
- Single concave through center, channels through tail
- Tail Shape
- Rounded tail for drive and release
- Rocker
- Low-to-moderate entry rocker, moderate tail rocker
- Construction
- Glassed polyurethane blank
- Skill Level
- Beginner to Advanced
- Wave Range
- Small to moderate surf, knee-high to overhead
- Brand
- Island Boards (Island Water Sports house label)
- Made
- Shaped for South Florida surf, sold at IWS Deerfield Beach since 1978
Size & Dimensions
| Length | Width | Thickness | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6'6 | 20 1/2" | 2 5/8" | 40.0 L |
| 6'8 | 20 5/8" | 2 11/16" | 42.0 L |
| 6'10 | 20 7/8" | 2 11/16" | 44.0 L |
| 7'0 | 21" | 2 3/4" | 46.5 L |
| 7'2 | 21 3/8" | 2 13/16" | 49.5 L |
| 7'4 | 21 5/8" | 2 13/16" | 51.5 L |
| 7'6 | 22" | 2 7/8" | 54.5 L |
| 7'8 | 22 3/8" | 2 15/16" | 58.0 L |
| 7'10 | 22 5/8" | 3" | 61.5 L |
| 8'0 | 23" | 3 1/16" | 65.0 L |
Full manufacturer size chart. Sizes available to order are shown in the selector above.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a fun shape surfboard?
- A fun shape (also called a funboard or funshape) is a mid-length surfboard outline that blends the volume and paddling ease of a longboard with the maneuverability of a shorter board. The wide nose, full mid-section, and moderate tail give you more float and stability than a shortboard while still fitting in the pocket of a breaking wave. Fun shapes are often described as the easiest all-around category of surfboard to ride.
- Is the Island Boards Funshape good for beginners?
- Yes. The extra width and volume make paddling easier, wave-catching more consistent, and the pop-up more forgiving compared to a narrower performance board. Beginners benefit from a stable platform that lets them focus on technique rather than fighting to balance. It is also a board that remains useful as you improve, unlike a dedicated beginner foamie that you will outgrow quickly.
- What size Island Boards Funshape should I get?
- Size selection depends on your weight, experience level, and the surf you ride most. Heavier or less experienced surfers typically benefit from more length and volume, while experienced surfers in better surf can ride the shorter end of the range. Check the size chart on this page for exact dimensions and volume by length, and call us at 954-427-4929 or visit the store if you want a personal recommendation from our staff.
- What fin setup does the Funshape use?
- The Island Boards Funshape runs a thruster (three-fin) setup. Three fins give you drive through bottom turns, hold on steeper faces, and the ability to release the tail through top turns. You can adjust the feel by swapping fin templates, from a looser, pivot-style fin to a stiffer, drive-focused template, to match the conditions and your style.
- Is the Island Boards Funshape good for South Florida waves?
- It is shaped specifically with South Florida conditions in mind. The low-to-moderate rocker planes early in weak surf and the wide outline generates paddle speed that helps you catch the fast-breaking, sometimes gutless waves common along our stretch of coast. It handles everything from small summer swells to chest-high winter ground swell without feeling out of place.
- What is the difference between the Orange and Coke Bottle Green colors?
- Both are the same shape and construction. Orange is a solid opaque color coat with a bright, classic surf look. Coke Bottle Green is a translucent tinted resin finish, similar to the tinted boards popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s, that shows the blank and laminate beneath. The choice is purely aesthetic.
- Can an advanced surfer ride the Island Boards Funshape?
- Absolutely. Experienced surfers often ride fun shapes on smaller days when a shortboard would not have enough volume to generate speed. The Funshape rewards good timing and technique, and the thruster setup lets you surf it with real commitment through turns. Many advanced surfers keep a fun shape in their quiver for those waist-high beach break sessions where the goal is pure enjoyment.