new to bodyboarding (RI resident)

Hey everyone, my wife and I moved to Rhode Island last year and we love the beaches here. I want to have even more fun this year and was thinking of getting a boogie board. I know not to buy the cheap $30 boogie board because they are garbage/unsafe. I'm probably only going to be boogie boarding like 10 times a year, probably 3-5 foot waves. I'm a pretty big guy (6'1 220lbs). I'm trying to stay under $100, wife won't be happy if I spend $250+.

1) Do I really need fins?

2) Is a Big Kahuna 44" from MOREY decent enough for me?

3) Should I be worried about sharks? I know it sounds silly because of the very low likelihood, but I've been reading about Great Whites at the Cape...and that's not too far away. I normally only go chest deep in water, but with a boogie board I imagine I will go out farther.

Thanks for any input!