hi, I am trying to shape my first board. I went to home depot to find eps blanks, since I’m in florida, all I found was 10 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 2 in thick, white beaded foam. I bought one sheet, and plan of cutting it in half, and gluing together, because I plan on making a 5’10 fish. I searched to archives, and still had some questions. I plan on using a stringer, but don’t know exactly how to calculate the rocker, I also plan on precutting the stringer, and shaping down to it. Also I wanted to know where to get a template for a fish in the 5’10 to 6’1 range. I have many other questions , concerning the glassing process, but those I can worry about when the time comes. Thanks, Daxx.
A very similar and very recent thread: http://swaylocks.com/forum/gforum.cgi?post=175274;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;guest=885204
thanks, but that still doesn’t answer any of my questions? how is the rocker calculated, so I can cut the stringer, and where can I get a template, or just very specific dimensions for a 5’10 fish. Sorry, if this all sounds trivial, but I need to be well informed so I don’t screw up, Daxx
Check the rocker specs for the 6’2"C (or other) fish blank(s) in the Clark catalog. Some of the retro fish designs have less rocker than that blank. If you draw a similar line (adjust up or down to your own preference) for the bottom curve on your stringer material (try the Luan door skin stuff at Home Depot), you can cut it with a utility knife and shape it to a fair curve and be close. Measure your thickness points up from that line and rough in your deck curve. Maximum thickness near the center, nose and tail is your call. Again, cutting and shaping it to a fair curve is probably easier than trying to draw it exactly. There are plenty of fish designs in the resource section that you could get some ideas from and a copy from one of Steve Lis’s 70’s fish designs (from Surfboard Design and Construction) is around here somewhere.
The Lis design is something like 16 1/2" - 17" nose, 21" wide point (6" or 7" up from center) and 17" tail. The swallow tips are 13" apart and about 6" deep. Again, if you plot out those measurements and connect the dots, you can cut and shape the curve better than trying to draw it. In the book, his rocker is listed as really flat - about 3 1/2" in the nose and flat in the tail - I’m not sure how the rocker was measured. His thickness is listed as 2 1/2" center, and about 2" at nose and tail. For what it’s worth, even Steve Lis made it up as he went and that was a long time ago. You are probably safe altering any or all of those measurements to your preference and coming up with something equally good. If you’d like, PM me your address and I can mail you the template I made up for a 6’ fish - resource #914.
Go visit Greg Loehr’s shop in Indian Harbor Beach (if it survived the hurricanes). I just cut a nice 5’8" fish from a 7’ EPS blank. I asked for something with medium amount of rocker, thick, and around 7’. At the time I had no idea what I would create. I eyeballed the rocker and it came out great. PVC stringer installed at shop. They may have a better blank for fish. You’ll need to go to Greg’s shop to get epoxy resin anyway. Call ahead so they can cut your blanks and install stringers before you arrive.
Greg, I hope the shop’s still there.
John. thanks… I sent you a p.m
I’m gulfside so, I’ll have to make the drive for the resin… can’t I use just epoxy resin from a marine supple store? I’ve seen in the archives it’s the best to go with his resin, an prolly be using it after the first board is under my belt. Thanks all.
I’m going to be in Fla in late Oct. Do you have an address and number for Greg’s shop?
131 Tomahawk Dr. #11 Indian Harbor Beach, FL (321) 779-2639. Check the archives for Greg’s cellphone number.
Rainbow Distribution is right next door; if you don’t have a wholesale/business number Resin Research can sell you Rainbow Products(ie. fins, fin boxes, leash plugs, etc) one stop shopping.
It’s worth the drive from anywhere (I drove down from Mass. to get my blanks and epoxy). Make the trip, go to Sebastian Inlet (whatever’s left), 2nd Light, 0’Club, DaKine Diegos.
Check www.2ndlight.com or Barrier Island Graphics forum for some insight.
OK - template mailed today.
Deathfrombelow,
I have a template I took from a 6 foot Lis fish. The nose is pulled in quite a bit compared to the older design and is a stand up board instead of a knee board. Nose is 14.5. Let me know if you would like that template,too. John’s board is killer. mike
thanks again, john
rooster: sure it could only help, if not for the first board but for the many that follow, thanks… i’ll send you a pm.