That was a pretty nifty trick getting 4" thickness out of a blank (8'7"R) that was only 3 7/16" out of the mold, eh?
Tim's board started out with a blank (8'6"EA - with slight tail rocker boost) that was 3 3/8".... a whole 1/16" thinner.
As far as I know, USBlanks doesn't make a blank from the Rusty design I used for yours. At least I couldn't find it in their catalog. If they did, I would have used it. You can't ride 'em if you can't catch 'em!
PS - I've never ever even considered duck diving as a factor when designing a board.... ever. Try 'turning turtle' next time? After all, 8'6" is a longboard to most people.
Hi Lee - Thanks! That photo makes it look different than it really is. I used the same spin template as I did for yours. A little shifting here and there, but close to the same overall curve. Tim was very generous regarding design details.... he really didn't specify much at all. He did nix a Mick Mackie retro pintail outline I found on MM's website as having too wide of a nose but that was about it. I looked at the nice boards that Resinhead had built him and pretty much followed up on those. I also gave a lot of consideration to the fin placement details you sent me after you worked those out on yours. The fin cluster ended up pretty far forward but not quite as far as yours. I also went with the 7" Bonzer center fin you like in yours but threw in my own 4 3/4" center fin for more of a 'thruster' alternative. Those fin tweaks can make it or break it. It's such a personal choice on that. Here is a photo of the Mackie single fin pintails I was looking at on his website...
she's a beauty! I was able to get in a quick session on my trip up north. I scored, 7 or 8 people in the water, sunny and no wind. One wave was shoulder high at the middle peak. The board worked great. Now for some size.........
curious about the Griffin Rocket, which looks hella fun - wtih GG’s rocker and fin placement, more favorable ride for the back footer, or friendly for the front foot surfer as well?
GG 5-fin boards are better for heavy back footed surfing. I like his short boards for that reason. They do paddle well, but I thought my brother’s 7-4 rockett was a bit stiff.
7-4 Chung is too small for the cold water. Go with the Cork, or the GG. I think you are more rear footed than I am anyway. If you want to be extra safe with the baggage handlers, I’d take the cork. CP glasses stronger than others.
Maybe I should try them out first, then I can give you better advice.
well if the GG is already in California then it seems like a no-brainer to me. Also there will be many many boards there that you can try… if it proves to be a hassle you don’t have to bring one at all!
Hey Bernie, Good to hear you’ll be there. And that you’ll be staying a bit longer than last time. I kind of like the look and dims of the Griffin. CJ has brought his versions and used them to good effect. Lavarat used one and commented that the board had hime doing manuevers that normally he is not interested in doing. I took that as a positive comment about the design.
Right now my workshop/art studio is dismantled and has been reconverted to a bedroom. We’re trying to sell our condo and buy a house… but the market is bleak (nothing available). I might not get the “SandDollar Special” made in time. But I have a couple of boards that fit the bill. Lately I’m finding that I just have more fun and surf better with more foam. Call it a crutch or whatever. All the boards boards posted here are in that vein…bigger…paddle power…
I custom ordered the US Blanks foam with the wedged double stringer and colored insert through Nick Cooper at "The Craft" material supply in San Luis Obispo. I've always had good service through them both.
The mini-keel sidebites were homemade from some offcut scraps of balsa and fiberglass... 10 or 12 layers of fiberglass as a 'spine' with wood added and capped with 4 layers or so of fiberglass after foiling.
The board is glossed and has been delivered. Tim rode it in Santa Cruz recently but not really in the sort of waves for which it was designed. I'm hoping it isn't too late in the season for him to get a chance to give it a workout.
Bernie left a 8’ Griffin 5-fin board similar to that one, but more pulled in in the tail with Keith. He also left a really nice looking 8’ cork round pin semi gun that CMP made. Both of those boards should handle 2xOH.
Jay rode the Griffin so he might have some insight on how it paddles. Just don’t ask about the fins.
I’ve yet to see ////// really working the times I’ve been there. It must be kind fickle. Sand Dollar always has something…
So Jay, tell me your impressions of the Griff 5 fin. You seem to be a straight thruster kind of guy. I never see you sipping all the different flavors of kool aid that go around.
