I read that a narrower nose coupled with a wider tail makes it easier to catch waves than a wider nose. I suppose the Cheyne Horan " lazer zap" ( which nobody seems to be producing now-probably for a reason) would be an extreme example. I thought maximum surface area per length, which would mean a fat nose and wide tail made catchting waves easier. Most modern boards have a fairly pinched in nose even if they are wide and made for small waves. I am about to shape a 6’2"C blank and I want to make an easy to paddle fun to ride board. I was planning on re producing a Mark Richards twin fin. Any opinions on this subject?
where I live , most modern shortboards have narrow noses …because the +*&^%!! blanks don’t allow anything else.
However , someting like a 6’4 KNEEBOARD blank here [yes, they still exist !!..thankfully] will yield a wider nosed fish or M.R. twinny type board.
If you want photos , I can “private message” you some of M.R’s boards , if you like !
ben
[there’s one on the "retro movement " thread , too…]
Alex,
I made a thruster with wide tail and narrow nose (6’3" - 18" 3/8 - 14" tail - 10 1/4" nose) that paddles and catches waves really well (also easy to duck dive) Mine has slightly lowered nose (5") and tail rocker (2 1/4") and a lot of thickness in the tail and the rails behind the wide point. A wide nose might actually make it harder to catch waves, in that more volume ahead of the wide point may make the pitch of the board nose up, when you want it to be nose down. Width in the tail will give you lower planning speed , so you can get into waves a bit earlier. Wide nose and wide tail will give you more straight rail in your outline so you get more drive. ie classic fish. I don’t think straight rail in the outline helps too much with wave catching - tail rocker, planning area in the tail and distribution of volume I think are more important.
P’s got it right, except for one possible anomoly… if you can’t surf, more volume helps.
Try a funboard of 6’ x 21.
Then try a normal shortboard 6’ x 18.5.
In waves over waist high, they catch waves the same! If you can surf.
Problem with the funboard is it float really high, but has almost lower paddling top speed compared to the normal shortboard, so they catch waves from the same place.
Wide nose is great for float, but you can’t push it down, like Pinhead said.
You’d think the higher volume, floatier funboard would paddle faster, but you’re fighting the drag, and it’s the same length, AND it’s wider, so for short distance speed paddling, it’s no advantage.
Of course, for cruising 600 yards at 1/3 speed, the funboard is a faster paddler.
Thanks for the feedback. Here’s the deal. I’m 51 and surfed since age 16,dropped out of surfing for 10 yrs. Got the stoke back big time and back in surfing as much as time allows. My old 80’s 5’ 10" needle nose thruster seemed too small now so I over shot the mark and made a 6" 10" funboard. Not maneuverable enough plus I may have put in too much rocker so I’m looking for something in between.