Big Fish Revisited

I’m looking for reactions to this next board I’m planning. I’ve been busy at the swaylocks invaluable wevsite ((http://www.surfboardsinteractive.com/index2.html)) where I’ve worked with outline out at lease 10 times and feel I’ve finally come up with something that I think will perform the way I want it to, but who knows till it’s built. Here are the numbers off the website-- 84H Blank with wedge ¼" cedar stringers 0" to 6" at tail. Super Green. 7’6"x13.5"x22.5"x17.5"x3" double winged, swallow tail around 5.5" 4.5" nose rocker, 2.0"-2.5" tail rocker. Measurements of width in 1ft. increments from the tail: (1ft, 17.5") ( 2ft, 20.5") (3ft, 22.0") (midpoint 22.5") (4ft, 22.5") (5ft, 21.25") (6ft, 17.25") (nose 13.5") (7ft, 8.25") The bottom contours and rails are nothing too radical: very slight convex entry, flat mid-section, moderate tail vee with subtle concaves in tail section, minum rocker,roundish rails up front turning down in the midsection and real sharp in the tail. I’m gonna go with two fin boxes on each rail and a standard central fin box. I plan several experiments with fins I want to try on it, twinzer, small central stabilzer with big cutaway rail fins. canards leading the rail fins. Modified central starfin with small side bites & who know what else. The idea is to make a great big double wing fish that catches waves very easily and works well in small surf. One that’s great for old men who’ve lost some of their flexiblity and will serve for kids to learn on. Any thoughs or suggestions are appreciated, How do these numbers fit into your computer Noodle? Gone Surfin’, Rich

sounds sweet, a lot of design went into this one. let everyone know when it’s done…good luck…

I’m looking for reactions to this next board I’m planning. I’ve been busy > at the swaylocks invaluable wevsite > ((http://www.surfboardsinteractive.com/index2.html)) where I’ve worked > with outline out at lease 10 times and feel I’ve finally come up with > something that I think will perform the way I want it to, but who knows > till it’s built. Here are the numbers off the website–>>> 84H Blank with wedge ¼" cedar stringers 0" to 6" at tail. > Super Green.>>> 7’6"x13.5"x22.5"x17.5"x3">>> double winged, swallow tail around 5.5">>> 4.5" nose rocker, 2.0"-2.5" tail rocker.>>> Measurements of width in 1ft. increments from the tail:>>> (1ft, 17.5") ( 2ft, 20.5") (3ft, 22.0") (midpoint > 22.5") (4ft, 22.5") (5ft, 21.25") (6ft, 17.25") (nose > 13.5") (7ft, 8.25")>>> The bottom contours and rails are nothing too radical: very slight convex > entry, flat mid-section, moderate tail vee with subtle concaves in tail > section, minum rocker,roundish rails up front turning down in the > midsection and real sharp in the tail. I’m gonna go with two fin boxes on > each rail and a standard central fin box. I plan several experiments with > fins I want to try on it, twinzer, small central stabilzer with big > cutaway rail fins. canards leading the rail fins. Modified central starfin > with small side bites & who know what else.>>> The idea is to make a great big double wing fish that catches waves very > easily and works well in small surf. One that’s great for old men who’ve > lost some of their flexiblity and will serve for kids to learn on.>>> Any thoughs or suggestions are appreciated,>>> How do these numbers fit into your computer Noodle?>>> Gone Surfin’, Rich Rich, I put nose and tail width numbers on my program. My prog doesn’t do wings yet. I tried, but …not yet. Your tail widths at other lengths are narrower than mine. I think that means a straighter than natural rail outline just behind mid board… the polynesian war shield idea. If that’s what you wanted, great! The general concept of your board is fishlike in that it has a swallow tail and wings. But the general shape is a big guy thruster, a very wide tail thruster. You’ll ride it on your back foot. Interesting! Since you said “fish”, is this shape what you’re looking for? Good luck. Tell us how it’s coming.

Rich,>>> I put nose and tail width numbers on my program. My prog doesn’t do wings > yet. I tried, but …not yet. Your tail widths at other lengths are > narrower than mine. I think that means a straighter than natural rail > outline just behind mid board… the polynesian war shield idea. If that’s > what you wanted, great!>>> The general concept of your board is fishlike in that it has a swallow > tail and wings. But the general shape is a big guy thruster, a very wide > tail thruster. You’ll ride it on your back foot.>>> Interesting! Since you said “fish”, is this shape what you’re > looking for?>>> Good luck. Tell us how it’s coming. Thanx for you comments Noodle. I’m alittle surprize that you say narrower. I guess you’re refering the a rounder shape. The lines behind the mid-point are much straighter than the ones ahead of the mid-point. I was going to go with a wider nose but the more I think about it the more it seems that making it wide would only slow the board down. The use of the term fish may not apply here depending on how you define “Fish.” Maybe just calling it a double winged swallow tail would be more appropriate. Your right about having to ride it towards the tail. I don’t see the guys on short boards moving their feet around very much, 30 years ago I surfed that way and I want to try it again; so I want to make something that is I can surf small beach breaks and still make those sections down the line when the walls steepen up. I just have to try something real wide with a tail to match probably because I have an 8’0" with a 15.5" rounded pin that I surf both single and as a thruster that is super fast and really fun. This one I’ll just have to find the sweet spot and go for it. One of the plans is to use canards ahead of the rail fins and a small central stablizing fin Herb. Sure hope I get some more insight from the many great surfcrafting minds here at swaylocks. Better Surfin’, Rich

Ever consider going shorter? I’m a 50 year old surfer on the east coast and last year I made a board much like Tom Sterns hybred fish (board 112, third page on boards 6’-6’11") I made mine out of clark 7"3" blank. It have become my favorite board…and it does have a set of Herbs superchargers!

Ever consider going shorter? I’m a 50 year old surfer on the east coast > and last year I made a board much like Tom Sterns hybred fish (board 112, > third page on boards 6’-6’11") I made mine out of clark > 7"3" blank. It have become my favorite board…and it does have > a set of Herbs superchargers! Yea Tuna I have considered shorter around 7’2" but because I don’t want to put a 16 to 17 inch nose on the board and still want to float reasonably high in the water I think the extra few inches will work for me, though I could be wrong. By the way I’ll be 60 this year. I’m departing from the traditional fish tail design just because I want to break into a little narrower more rounded off exit and keep it real edgy. I don’t think I have any boards that are mainstream. Each one is a departure from the norm in some what or another. I’m gonna talk to John Mel about how the the fins and wings should be placed pretty soon. I’m positive he’ll be shaping the board for me. He’s probably built nearly a thousand fishes. He was Making them when I first meet him back in the sixties. Hey there Mr. Stern have you ever made canards with the leading edge vertical that look like a barn owl’s wing? That’s what I’m thinking about for this one. Still playin’ with the line on this one. Gone Surfin’, Rich

Are you in Santa Cruz? I lived there from 1976 to 1989. Had a board shaped by one of the Mel’s seems like it was Peter but I could be wrong. I think it was a “Freeline Design” or something. If you’re in Santa Cruz then I would go longer with something like your mulling around. I’m into fish an eggs, mid- lenghts mostly. My next project is going to be a bonzer. Surf on brother!

Hi Tuna, Yep, I’m in Santa Curz. Peter did some shaping for a while. Now he’s just riding and traveling and raising a family. John is still one of the top shapers in the area. He’s a real no nonsense guy. Freeline Design, that’s right. Glad to hear you confirm the longer overall measurement as being a sound idea. Better Surfin’, Rich