5'8" Fishcuit Greenlight Template - Too Wide?

General Discussion
1

Hi guys,

I wonder if it would be possible to ask some advice from you all? I am new to both shaping and the forum so please go gentle!

I downloaded a 5’8" Fishcuit template from Greenlight and now it is together and drawn out on masonite (fibreboard here in the UK), It appears that the width of the board would be 23" wide which seems to be insanely wide. I just wanted to get opinions on this as I currently ride a 5’10" quad which is 21" wide. I believe I could just move the template in towards the stringer but of course the board would also then get shorter. I don’t mind riding a 23" wide board but just wondered if anyone thought it would work with either a 5 fin set-up or a quad fin set-up and also would squaring off the tail work? I understand its trial and error but again as I am new to this all, any words of wisdom would really help.

Many thanks

Stephen

PS I ramble and repeat myself lots when I write so my apologies.

2

stephen,

   make marks on your blank at the widths you desire. commonly you would find the mid point width, and 12" from tail and nose, respectively. Then line the template up to meet those points and draw on the outline. Take a step back and look at the entire outline and make sure it looks clean, no wonks. then atempt to cut it out cleanly. 

   if it is wonky, find the curve you want from the template and match it up. BLending curves with  smooth transitions is what its all about.

3

Hi Pico,

Thanks for the advice regarding the mid point width and measuring from the nose and tail. I think I may have read something similar but I have read so much about shaping lately, I am finding it hard to retain everything. Anyhow, I am going to do as you say on the reverse of the masonite and keep a mental note of what you said for future boards and then see how it looks. The board I would like to try and emulate is this: http://www.adamssurfboards.co.uk/boards-donkey.html. I understand its not the done thing to copy someones board but I just thought as its so short and if I square the tail off, it should be an easier shape to work with for my first board? The greenlight template is similar to the Little Donkey so I hope I can achieve something which resembles a 100th of the Adams board.

Thanks again

4

copying a board you like is what everyone does at first. copy away and don’t be shy about it.

5

hey storm if your having doubts on your template go check out http://www.blendingcurves.com , there might be something there more to your liking. 

6

I’ll second Blending Curves.  I’ve made at least 8 boards off of templates from that site and they are spot on good lines.

7

Thanks Zack and Mako and of course Pico once again. Im now thinking that for my first board, it might be easier(?) in making a mini simmons. Not sure yet but the shape to my eye seems to lend itself more to a beginner shaper?