I’m in progress on a 5 fin bonzer (6’7 x 20 3/4 x 2 1/2) round pin to use as my east coast good wave board. I’m solidly novice, ride mostly widdowmakers of various outlines in the 6-4" to 7-1" range. My original plan for this was to keep to a modern fish type rocker of 5" nose (or less) 2" tail which has worked well on previous designs. Those boards have tons of drive and find the upper half of the wave really easily.
My question is, will the effect on lift of the fins and contours of a bonzer set up necessitate more (or less) tail rocker to keep this from being a pearl machine. While I don’t want to hinder the wave catching or section making capabilities by creating too much hold, we do tend to get pretty steep takeoffs with any size at my local breaks. Hope I provided enough info.
The raw numbers are just one element of Rocker. The real story is how you brake the rocker. With a bonzer The channels make the rocker slightly flatter that might be the real secert of challeling it isn't so much the funneling of water as flattening part of the tail 1/3 os of the inside rocker, The outside template and rail rocker will have more curve That curve will aid in the boards ability to turn while on rail. You can do a subtle burp behind the fin to add in keeping the board a little looser. You will still maintain a lot of drive due to the fins.
Thanks Girvin. Generally I’d be pretty happy wiht those numbers. My last good-wave board was a round pin egg with more tail rocker/ flip. It tucked into the pocket nicely but was a little too slow to make sections on some of the faster breaking days so I do want to go with a little less this time. Just couldn’t factor in how the bonzer set up would affect the equation.
Of course I’m working on getting out of the solidly novice catagory, and there are definately conditions here where flat mid-range boards are really fun, but we do get days where it is an air drop, or nothing (believe it or not) so for me at least a flat mid-range wouldn’t be the call. I think in general, a little more rocker works better around here.
5 and 2 is modern shortboard rocker my fish are 3.5 and 1.5-1.75. You should be fine. learn how to surf. it I have long trimming eggs with only 3 inches or less of nose rocker and 1 of tail on 7ft+ boards.
Thanks artz, sort of what i was thinking. to be specific the rocker is taken from the natural rich pavel 6’8 and carved into a us blanks 7’3 eps (really nice fit with just 1/16 deviation by the way). I guess the rest of the story will be in the plan shape (already cut). I’ll attach it.
Mine has 2-1/2" of tail rocker and 4-3/4" nose. I don’t think even more tail rocker would hurt it. The bonzer is, in my humnble opinion, the most drivey design around. I think 2" is not enough tail for a step up. If the waves are overhead the bonzer will not have problems with drive. If anything you need to think more about how to loosen it up. Also tail rocker is important to keep from pearl diving in bigger surf.
I had mine out the past week in overhead to almost DOH waves and it did the sweetest 15 yard long bottom turns and the most powerful cutbacks I’ve ever done. But it is a bit stiff off the top. My advice would be to loosen it up with at least 2-1/2" tail rocker. At least. Of course it all depends on the outline and foil and everything else…post up some pics of your design…
Your Bonzer looks really sweet. I am really jealous. I'm still working on my Balsa Bonzer. I live in villa Condo. I have a Garage however The neighbors complained and I had to go before the HOA to explain that this is my hobby. Right now I have to lay low or find a shop.
You might try a smaller center fin on your Bonzer. I think it is Mystic Surfboards in jacksonville Fl that is making Bonzers with a fin with less volume and report that that are Still getting a lot of drive and and great hold in the pocket yet the board seems to be able to adjust with less effort.
For whatever it’s worth, prior to Malcolm shaping me a custom 7’9 x 21 RP bonzer 3 years ago we talked rocker, and at that length his preferred rocker was nose 5.5" and tail 2.5"…
you could always give him a shout or send him an email, he’s pretty responsive if at home and not on the road…or call the folks at Surfy Surfy, who are also Moonlight Glassing…they glass many of his boards, and sell a bunch in their shop…check out their blog site…
