2nd build - longboard for smaller waves

General Discussion
1

Hey there legends! I shaped my first surfboard three years ago, and I greatly enjoyed all of your advice on this forum. I want to start the adventure again with a long board around 9’. I want to use it in super mushy waves in Normandy France and I was thinking of doing something like a nose rider with a very flat rocker maybe a bit of kick in the tail. The goal is to have a wave magnet, with more volume, for smaller days. Hopefully also learn to hang five/ten.

  • I was thinking of using long E (https://www.blendingcurves.com/outline-templates/long-e) on blending curves. Any feedback?

  • What should I do with the bottom contour? I see that many nose riders have a bit of concave in the nose but that might be tricky to do. Also, I am wondering whether that might slow the board down while paddling etc. I was thinking flat to slight vee but I’m not sure.

  • The main flow of my previous board is having wayyyy too much foam. Which makes it fun and easy to ride, but still. Do you have any pointers on what the nose/tail thickness should be before doing the rails? What thickness do you recommend for this longboard?

  • My previous board is also quite heavy. Does sanding the blank with finer sand paper (eg 220 grit) helps it not absorb too much resin?

  • Another trouble I had was having a lot of sanding to do after the free-lap. Any advice on how to achieve a nice, clean free-lap?

    Cheers from France!

2

would be fun as a 9’2, what size do you plan on doing?

what kind of surfing do you want to do on it? I think a totally flat bottom is cool and just make your bottom band go deep like 3-4”. I think that will help with your foil too. mow it to 3 or 3 1/8 first.

fine sanding will help a little bit, but its more in your technique during laminating and not leaving/using too much resin, and same for amount in your hot coat and how aggressively you sand it.

for the free lap, why not just tape it off? its good free practice at running a tape line and sort of solves your issue of strands hardening into the foam.

cheers