I have done a search for these questions and I have gotten some info but I would like a little more if any one out there can help. I am getting ready to place an order for a new board. I’t is going to be a ten footer designed for some gnarly tip time. But I want to be able to turn it as well. I have been given the reccomendation to go with a round tail and in theory it sounds great. Any one have any experience with round tail longboards? I am trying to decide on the glass job and was leaning torwards volan but now I think the standard glass would be best. Aside from the retro look and weight are there any other real differences between the two?
As far as I am concerned, turning ability has much more to do with rocker and position of the wide point and, therefore, volume repartition, than with the actual shape of the last few inches of the tail.
The only difference between volan cloth and “standard” cloth is the greenish colour of volan which implies working with cutlaps because every double or triple layer (rails, deck patch, fin patch) will show a darker shade of green. Besides, volan cloth is often available only in “heavy” weights (8-10 oz), hence the false saying that “it’s stronger”.
If you’re after the look, it can very easily be duplicated with standard cloth by adding a few drops of green tint in the laminating resin.
A pulled in roundtail is going to make it easier to initiate turns. A lot of the turns you do
on that kind of board require sinking the tail a bit, so less volume and width back there will
help. If you’re over 200 lbs it may not be quite as important as you’ll have enough weight to
sink a wider/thicker tail.
As balsa says, tail rocker and foil are important also.
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