Gun Surfboards in Hawaii

A gun surfboard is a long, narrow board designed for big wave surfing. Guns typically range from 7 to 10+ feet with a pointed nose, pulled-in tail, and extra rocker for steep drops. They're built for speed, paddle power, and hold in powerful, overhead-plus conditions like Pipeline and Sunset Beach.

You need a gun when waves are consistently overhead and powerful -- typically 8 feet and up on the Hawaiian scale. On the North Shore, guns come out for solid winter swells at breaks like Sunset Beach, Pipeline, and Waimea Bay. If you're paddling into waves where a shortboard feels too small and unstable, it's time for a gun.

Gun size depends on the wave size you're surfing. For solid overhead surf (8-12 feet), a 7'6" to 8'6" gun works well. For double overhead and bigger (12-20+ feet), you'll want an 8'6" to 10'+ board. Most North Shore surfers keep several guns in different sizes to match the swell.