No idea on the board but in general you want the weight in the rear corner of the surfside, along the surfside, and maybe some in the front. It really depends on the boat, some like weight in the front some don't. You need to find what works for your boat.
A surf specific rope is not %100 necessary, but it is def nicer and safer. A long rope will get all wrapped up around you. If you have an old ski or wakeboard rope lying around you could cut it to approx 20ft and would work, but I bet you upgrade to a true surf rope later. Make sure it does not stretch too much or you will slingshot it back into the boat when you load it and fall (I know from experience and the associated headache
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Maybe someone with a calabria pro VII will chime in on what works best for them.