Gents (and Gals), looking to build a mate a 9’6" beginner board. the guy is huge, about 6’2" and 240lbs. i have a 9’6" blank and was looking for some direction with dimensions in a noserider/glider/beginner/small-surf shape. am thinking 19 front, 16.5 tail, 24 middle, 6-7 at the tail itself and as thick as i can get that out of that barge. how about rails? boxy with slight pulled down and hardish in back or should i go 50/50 for forgiveness? rocker i reckon will be determined by what’s left after i butcher it with the planer. cheers mates -Dave
Sounds like good dimensions for a big guy…As for the rails, I’d go for a low med/full rail with a subtle tucked under edge.
or was, till I pulled down to 225. I’d go three inches thick or up to 3-1/4 max. Too thick and it gets less stable, unless you have boocoo rocker, which will slow the board. Also, if the board is over 23 wide, some will have trouble getting an arm around it to carry. I could just carry my old 24 wide, 4 thick, 10-3 tandem board. The beginner needs to have a board that is: One: stable so he can paddle or sit on it. Two: paddles easily so he can get out to the break. Three: has adequate kick so he won’t pearl so often. Four: he can get his arm around to carry. AFter that it’s up to him/her, preferable with a session or three of very patient instruction. This last is easier if the her has big tits, but that’s just one man’s opinion.
and this is again, just me: I buy glass by the 27 inch wide roll, about half of the retail price. Boards wider than 22 and/or thicker than 3 require 30 inch wide glass, for which I have to pay retail.
27" for half the retail price? …you gonna hook up your fellow swaylockians?
If you want half price glass, buy a roll. They are about 125 yards each for six ounce “normal” (not warp) E glass. A 9’6" tanker uses not quite nine yards, so I can do about 15 tanks in one roll. Heck, I only do this in my backyard and garage and I’m on my third roll. If you want some of this email me at and we’ll look into it, but I’m not about to become everyone’s cheap glass reseller.