To Pay, Or Not Pay, For Surf Reports and Forecasts

There's been quite a bit of talk during the past several months about the merits of Surfline, the original - but pricey - surf reporting and forecasting service, and WaveWatch, the upstart challenger that's absolutely free.

Surfline definitely has the better economic model, with both subscription and advertising revenue. And the site reflects it, by providing the most comprehensive coverage of regions and spots worldwide, with content features that rival the sites of Surfer or Surfing Magazine.

But Surfline can be expensive. My tip: if you've got the dough for Surfline, shell it out and feel good about it. But if you're cash-challenged, try WaveWatch or even the improving wetSand. They may not be able to replace the old-fashioned surf recon run, but these sites are sure to save you plenty of $2.50 gallons of gas.