This is the board I shaped, for John “Johnson” for a sponsored surf trip.
The Summer Hybrid Quad is a model I designed and shaped with John “Jodasch” “Johnson”. It is a Hybrid Swallow Tail Quad Fish. John’s is 5’ 8" and has a modified fish template where the curve bends around to allow 8" between the pins, with a 2" deep swallow tail. It’s 19 1/2" wide and 2 3/8" thick. The board is completely foiled out with streamlined rails and my fish bottom contours flowing out through the fins and tail…
His report on it was that it was very fast; very good for getting barrels; but not for “throwing the fins out”… which is his style of surfing… slashing carves and throwing spray.
I made the edge in the tail area very sharp, even up beyond the fin area. His input was that I should make the next one the same, but make it softer starting about 3" in front of the fins… I think the not being able to “throw the fins out” problem lies in the fin placement as well. I used the McKee system and I think it made it too stiff…
What is YOUR input (so the next one turns out to suit HIS style of surfing)?
Dave, I think you need to isolate the pics completely (where there is nothing else at all on the page–Firefox is great for this) , then use that URL in the dialog box.
Dave, I think you need to isolate the pics completely (where there is nothing else at all on the page–Firefox is great for this) , then use that URL in the dialog box.
I fixed it. If you need to see any of those pics more closely, just go to my blog, and click on the image. the ones on my blog will open up really large to allow you to see how hard/sharp the tail and bottom rail edge are…
if you pull the rear fins closer to the rail/closer to the front fins, it will ride more like a twin
if you pull the rear fins closer to the stringer/further from the front fins, it will ride more like a thruster
so fin placement (and also fin templates) could loosen it up some, but nothing is going to make a board that wide/flat a ‘fin thrower’
it is a ‘summer fish’ for going fast and carving it up in less than prime conditions - if you want a board to throw the tail out the back in pumping waves - well you know what that looks like!
Whilst I may not be an expert in throwing fins on fish I seem to manage it on mine. two quite big variables, which you’ve not mentioned, are what fins and what concave (assume it’s a concave).
Finding balance between drive and looseness is the four fin challenge. When the rail line in the tail has a more accelerated arc and there’s more tail rocker than this board does the fin placement you’ve chosen works very well if the fins are the right ones for the board.
On boards that reminisce the lines and foils we’ve seen for years on Keel-fin fish getting the fins more outboard serves the board more effectively. There is a gray area where the Twinzer and Quad meet that is being explored more and more these days. Looking at what experienced shapers are doing with fin choice and placement for four fin boards is one of the things I continue to address.
You got, Stretch, Goin, Pavel, Mel, Mable, Coil, Lost, & and a hundred more. It’s confusing at first but there always secrets to be discovered by the willing explorer.
Take and chance and learn ~ Keep up the grand work Kawika!
Whilst I may not be an expert in throwing fins on fish I seem to manage it on mine. two quite big variables, which you’ve not mentioned, are what fins and what concave (assume it’s a concave).
I don’t know what fins he was running.
The bottom is the same bottom that Skip puts in his fish with vee running out the back.
Finding balance between drive and looseness is the four fin challenge. When the rail line in the tail has a more accelerated arc and there’s more tail rocker than this board does the fin placement you’ve chosen works very well if the fins are the right ones for the board.
On boards that reminisce the lines and foils we’ve seen for years on Keel-fin fish getting the fins more outboard serves the board more effectively. There is a gray area where the Twinzer and Quad meet that is being explored more and more these days. Looking at what experienced shapers are doing with fin choice and placement for four fin boards is one of the things I continue to address.
You got, Stretch, Goin, Pavel, Mel, Mable, Coil, Lost, & and a hundred more. It’s confusing at first but there always secrets to be discovered by the willing explorer.
Take and chance and learn ~ Keep up the grand work Kawika! Thank you very much, Rich!!!
How far off the rails are the rear fins? How wide is that tail? As you know i did a similar fin placement on my diamond tail stubby biscuity type board in my “Mckee-ish fin placement” thread. I’m finishing it up and i can’t help wondering if i should have gone a little closer to the rail with the rears. Thing is though, i’ve never ridden a quad…so i figure it’ll be a fun learning experience. My rails are definitely a bit beefier than yours and i’m only going to run my hard edge up to maybe 18’'. When i look at my board though, it looks soooo right, so we’ll see. Interesting feedback on your board. I’ll make sure to post up some ride reports myself. I’d be interested in knowing what fins he’s running.
There’s so many variables here. If I won the lottery I think I could have a little chap sticking different fins in different places for years, then concaves and tail shapes and… You seem to have been through a bunch of boards so are probably further down the path with it than me.
I’m using pavel’s positioning oft’ quoted here, with a speed dialer-ish front and small raked rear.
I might take photos and start a post and rate your quad set-up thread?
I know that Frye’s the man but maybe loose the Vee. could a more pulled tail cope with a bit less hold? Or is that a huge can of worms?
dialog box.