Board Battle: CI's Febs Fish vs. Lost RNF 96

mcoe0911
Dec 14, 2025
3 min read

Lost RNF ’96 — Classic High-Performance Fish

The RNF (Round Nose Fish) ’96 is a revival and refinement of a mid-90s performance fish template from Matt Biolos, intended to keep the speed and fun of old-school fish while giving it modern performance drive and control. It’s not just about early planing — the outline is pulled-in in the tail with tested rockers and bottom contours to push it into true performance territory.

Core design traits:

Round nose for early entry and glide
Pulled-in tail compared to classic fish for better rail control
Concave + vee bottom to maintain speed and responsiveness
Often ridden 2+1 or twin to tune loose ↔ drive balance

This makes it less a groveler and more a hybrid — fish in feel, but performance shortboard in capability.

Channel Islands Feb’s Fish — Modern Performance Twin

The Feb’s Fish is a fresh take from Mikey February and Britt Merrick: retro fish outline with contemporary performance refinements (rocker, bottom contours, foiled rails) to push the fish into tighter turns and more dynamic lines.

Core design traits:

Slightly narrower tail and continuous rocker for maneuverability
Double concave into vee for lift + smooth turning
Balanced foam distribution to keep paddling easy with agile feel

This board is built to generate speed instantly and make the most of the fish planing platform, but with sharper turning capability than many traditional fish.

Paddling & Wave Catching

RNF ’96 — Good glide and paddle thanks to fish outline and volume distribution, but volume is often more moderate than pure grovelers, so you’ll feel connected to performance movement even while catching early. The shape’s refined design means good entry without excess drag.
Feb’s Fish — Excellent paddling and very early take-offs, thanks to moderate entry rocker and balanced foam under chest/rails. It feels very alive in small surf and wants to plan on any section.

Speed & Glide

RNF ’96 — Produces a ton of speed, but it's speed you can use to drive into turns. Its concave + vee routes water well, keeping forward drive through maneuvers.
Feb’s Fish — Excellent instant acceleration and glide on flatter faces; continuous rocker + bottom contours mean you’ll stay on the plane easily. Feels effortless compared to many fish due to modern design.

Turning & Maneuverability

RNF ’96 — Holds well at speed, especially with 2+1 or tighter twin setups. Here, it feels controlled and willing to bite baseline arcs and deeper turns. Great when the wave has some wall and power.
Feb’s Fish — Shorter turning radius and fine rail design gives nimble pivot and responsiveness, especially in small to medium surf. It wants to carve and rail — not just sit and glide.

Conditions & Versatility

Condition	RNF ’96	Feb’s Fish
Small & mushy	Good — efficient speed generation	Excellent — early planing & lively
Clean shoulder-high	Very fun — drive + rail control	Very fun — smooth carving
Punchy beach + overhead	Stronger — holds and loads rail well	Capable — but more playful than aggressive
Point break / long walls	Yes — steady & drawn-out	Yes — seamless transitions

Strengths & Weaknesses

Lost RNF '96

Strengths

Classic hybrid design that surf fast and with performance intent.
Pulled-in tail and modern contours let you drive through turns better than many fish.
Works across a wide range — from waist-high to overhead when sized well.

Weaknesses

Can be less playful and more technical than a straight fish; approach is closer to performance than grovel.

Channel Islands Feb's Fish

Strengths

Very easy to generate speed — feels lively in weaker surf.
Modern rocker and bottom contours give smooth transitions and tight turning potential.
Excellent board for travel or mixed conditions — from grovel to proper lines.

Weaknesses

More playful than drivey — if you want aggressive drive through hard turns in powerful surf, it’s slightly less committed than the RNF.
Being a twin, fin choice matters a lot; wrong fins can feel loose or imprecise.

Fin + Setup

RNF ’96: Great as 2+1 with a larger center trailer and performance side fins for control at speed, or as a twin for looser, faster carving.
Feb’s Fish: Being a true twin fin pair with either balanced “BFF” template or even classic keels for smoother rail flow.

Who Should Choose Which?

Pick the RNF ’96 if:

You want a fish that feels closer to a performance shortboard in spirit.
You surf clean, fun waves and want to drive through turns with speed control.
You like 2+1 or twin options to tailor feel.

Pick the Feb’s Fish if:

You surf weak to medium surf often and want automatic speed generation.
You like a playful, responsive twin that’s just as fun as it is capable.
You want one board to carry you from small friends to decent walls.

Final Summary

Best glide & early planing: Feb’s Fish.
Best drive and rail performance: RNF ’96
Most versatile across conditions: Very close — but RNF ’96 nudges ahead in cleaner, more powerful surf; Feb’s Fish excels in everyday waves.