hi all, im looking into making a new shortboard for myself. im 6’3" and about 180lbs. what would be a good dimension for a guy my size? i was considering a 7’ board 11 1/2"x19 1/4"x14" and 2 1/2 inch thick. im currently riding a 6’6"x 20x" 2 1/4" and i just wanted something a little long and a little thinner. what do you all think? thanks
Hey Tim, I’m 6’4" amd 210lbs. and have shaped alot of big person boards. Rusty is also about my size. Those 7’o" dimensions look good. My personal favorite 7’0" is 11.25x20x14.5, so extrapolating down 30lbs. I’d say those are similar…2.5 thick is perfect. Killer for bigger days.
I’m a little heavier than you and ride a 6 6 x 21 fishy thing - good for smaller days and a 6 10 x 20 standard shortboard.Recently, however i’ve been experimenting with shorter boards with thicker tails - this really seems to improve their wave catching ability I made myself a 6 9 x 19.5 with a super thick tail (haven’t measured it but it must be 1.5 inches 12 " up) It catches waves like a longboard - anyone else tried this?
I’m 6’2" 220, and I know exactly what you’re saying about tail thickness Silverback. I shaped a 6’8" fish that is in the photo archives. It’s got thick boxy rails and a very thick swallow tail. It’s a wave magnet. Unfotunately, even at my weight, it’s a challenge to duck dive. It’s a fun board for medium size frumpy Montauk waves, and it allows me to stay competative with longboarders when I’m not riding my own.
You guys are all dead on. Thick tails for our weight exrapolate down to a chip for an average size surfer. My very favorite dimensions are: 6’6" twinnies at 11.25 x 21 x 16. I like to pull the nose way narrow for excellent duckdiving and less resistence to offshores. Wide tails and pulled noses can be very fast. If you want a more sensitive rail with a thick tail, try S-rails, a bell shaped curve. This will also direct spray away from your back foot. Start the S-rails anywhere behind your front foot.
S-rails - sounds interesting - do you have a pic/diagram to illustrate?
delbert …im calling 16 to wide im 6’-4" 220 pounds and 16 doesnt come off the top quick enough especially under the lip ,to wide in the tail and you get a real slow rail to rail transition 14.5 is about my limit ,but i do have a lot of width from in front of the fins to centre ,widest point pulled back with an 11 nose ,my current board(all time favourite) is 6’-9"x 20.5 x2.5 ,11 nose 14.5 tail…when crew see me in the water they think im a grommet,they freak when im standing next to them on land ,not many crew are used to seeing big guys shralp tiny waves ,you cant walk into a shop if your over 190 and pick a board off the shelf ,most big guys end up with a medium size guys big wave board …when we really need a big guys small wave board… regards BERT
this board is a 6’8" x 19 1/2" x 3" not really for tiny waves. but we surf lots of points here and paddling is a concern for olders guys. both current and crowd add somwhat to the equation, dave http://www.feraldave.com
Nice Board Dave.We were doing this same type of thing in 1972…object being to keep the board thick for paddling and have thin boxy rails.They worked really well but it just died away.Kind of tricky to shape with nothing but an old Skil Planer.
yes they come and go a little. i find if i have one at the factory i get orders for one, same as channel bottoms. kinda annoying to shape so its best to keep them low key! i do mine with the hitachi planer and surform. http://www.feraldave.com
See Con “Shoe” (League of Lamaroos website) 
I’ve seen these in Hawaii on HIC shortboards, they call them Sk8deck. Don;t know how they ride. How is hand placement on push-up?