I saw some Robert August Short Boards this weekend. One of them was a Bud Llamas model. It was 6’ x 20" wide and 2 5/8" thick. It had a scooped out deck, like a step deck on a longboard, but it started about a foot down from the nose and went all the way down into the tail. I know that some companies are doing this now (and has been done in the past) to increase the flex of the board, but the thing is that the board was 2 5/8" thick with real boxy rails. I don’t see how scooping the deck could increase flex in a board that thick with such boxy rails. It seems to me that it would just make the board more prone to pressure ding and/or make the board weaker overall. Has anyone seen/ridden one of these? Is it just a poor attempt to create flex, or am I missing something? I could see how it could work on a thinner board with a more refined rail, but this thing was beefy.
I saw some Robert August Short Boards this weekend. One of them was a Bud > Llamas model. It was 6’ x 20" wide and 2 5/8" thick. It had a > scooped out deck, like a step deck on a longboard, but it started about a > foot down from the nose and went all the way down into the tail.>>> I know that some companies are doing this now (and has been done in the > past) to increase the flex of the board, but the thing is that the board > was 2 5/8" thick with real boxy rails. I don’t see how scooping the > deck could increase flex in a board that thick with such boxy rails. It > seems to me that it would just make the board more prone to pressure ding > and/or make the board weaker overall.>>> Has anyone seen/ridden one of these? Is it just a poor attempt to create > flex, or am I missing something? I could see how it could work on a > thinner board with a more refined rail, but this thing was beefy… I did one some 20 years back. My thought was to have boxy rails with a thinner board and I was also thinking about a little bit more heal/toe leverage. What I ended up with was a board that didn’t surf any different but was uncomfortable to sit on and the deck pooled water like a bird bath.
Try this at home. Next time you shower pretend your standing on a surfboard with your toes along the rail of a concave bottom. (I’m assuming your bathtub is slightly concave). Now gently lean forward and feel the leverage on your toes. On a surfboard a concave deck creates a more sensitive and responsive to your body’s influence. Rob
Try this at home. Next time you shower pretend your standing on a > surfboard with your toes along the rail of a concave bottom. (I’m assuming > your bathtub is slightly concave). Now gently lean forward and feel the > leverage on your toes. On a surfboard a concave deck creates a more > sensitive and responsive to your body’s influence. Rob Right on, Rob! Good example… and they also FEEL really good, too! It`s the same leverage/sensitivity idea behind many of the wedge-shaped traction pads for surfboards and the kicked tails/noses on certain skateboard decks, too.
Right on, Rob! Good example… and they also FEEL really good, too! It`s > the same leverage/sensitivity idea behind many of the wedge-shaped > traction pads for surfboards and the kicked tails/noses on certain > skateboard decks, too. They definitley work it lowers the center of gravity by just a hair but thats all it takes --remember the G&S waterskate the originals were concave decks till because of volume they slowly worked their way to strait flat decks—I can still remember watching Jeff Crawford and Gary Goodrum riding the heck out of them----Michel Ho also had one out very simalar to the Bud model I’m sure, Isaw them at Georges in Huntington back in the 70’s—the real trick is in the rail flow by the way my kids got one hanging in their room they keep passing down to each other, I think I shaped it about 7 years ago --always wanted a new one for myself but just never did it —now you guys got me going!
concave deck don’t work. Thats whats wrong with this world. Nobody wants to learn how to use something the way it is, their is always excuses. Ask your self, is a concave deck going to make me a better surfer? A good surfer will make anything work. Learn how to use it. The surfboards today are at their best, because of years of fine tuning. Ride and be merry
concave deck don’t work. Thats whats wrong with this world. Nobody wants > to learn how to use something the way it is, their is always excuses. Ask > your self, is a concave deck going to make me a better surfer? A good > surfer will make anything work. Learn how to use it. The surfboards today > are at their best, because of years of fine tuning. Ride and be merry >>>> Hmmm, Concave deck don’t work? Really? I think maybe you havn’t tried the right combination. I’ve been making them for the last 4 seasons, and surfers such as Joel Tudor, Todd Morcom, Alex cox and others seem to enjoy the performance benefit’s that a concave deck has to offer. You might also check out the video, shelter 2001, it has footage of some guy named Rob Machado riding one, its a 5’8" single fin. Just my observation, but it seems to work for him. Regards, sk
I saw some Robert August Short Boards this weekend. One of them was a Bud > Llamas model. It was 6’ x 20" wide and 2 5/8" thick. It had a > scooped out deck, like a step deck on a longboard, but it started about a > foot down from the nose and went all the way down into the tail.>>> I know that some companies are doing this now (and has been done in the > past) to increase the flex of the board, but the thing is that the board > was 2 5/8" thick with real boxy rails. I don’t see how scooping the > deck could increase flex in a board that thick with such boxy rails. It > seems to me that it would just make the board more prone to pressure ding > and/or make the board weaker overall.>>> Has anyone seen/ridden one of these? Is it just a poor attempt to create > flex, or am I missing something? I could see how it could work on a > thinner board with a more refined rail, but this thing was beefy. Reading all of the posts have got the muse workin’. What size is the concave Mike? My guess is that it goes about two inches from the rail. How far out to the rail does the scoop go? Looking at that bathtub example it makes me wonder if a narrow concave would cause the same effect (flex and leverage) as well as maintain the floatation… To elaborate: A wide concave at the point of chest contact going to a concave that is slightly wider than your foot the rest of the way ‘down’ the board. Anyone ever see anything like that? I am interested in anyones’ thoughts. Thanks, Magoo P.S. Trivia time: When did Randy Lewis stop shaping the Bud Llamas models? M
everyone has the same ideas. If someone good uses something, that means it works. You know what? I saw Kelly Slater just jump off a bridge. Hes pretty good, I might want to try that…
everyone has the same ideas. If someone good uses something, that means it > works. You know what? I saw Kelly Slater just jump off a bridge. Hes > pretty good, I might want to try that… I think u must jump first to show us that it doesen’t work… Thanks for all your responses guys, you’re teaching me how to shape, and each one of you are open my eyes. Coque.
The concave went all the way out to where the rail bands ended (which only went out on the deck about 2 1/4") and the depth increased as it went to the stringer. It was pretty deep in the center about an inch. There was not a flat spot in the center. It was a gradual, continuous curve/concave. Along the stringer the concave got more shallow as it went back to the tail. The max depth in the tail was about 5/8" (maybe a little more). The rails were very boxy. Now that I understand concept of the scooped deck, that board looked pretty fun. I would have liked to have taken it out of the rack but this was a big surf super store (rhymes with shawn don), and they have them locked up with a cable. From time to time I go in there to check out the board collection they have on the wall and the big label names I don’t see very often. Good luck with your own version.
everyone has the same ideas. If someone good uses something, that means it > works. You know what? I saw Kelly Slater just jump off a bridge. Hes > pretty good, I might want to try that… ES; You make surfboards right, then you best ought to know that it is all very interpetational and yes a good surfer (make that excellent) can surf anything but expermentation is the key to progression----many of the designs of the past can be revisited and refined to produce highly functional surfboards, its just like a coach,a general, or a highly successful businessman —you must have a working knowledge of the past as well as a eye to the future! You know the designs of today have all been done before–heck I made triple concaves on 2" thick boards w/ rockered out tails (WP-19") right after my 1980 Hawaian winter session but there were no takers then except me & a few of my friends so does that mean it didn’t work ? NO, it just was the right time for it —P.S. don’t tell anyone I still use some of those templetes now and the under 20 crowd thinks they are unreal---- don’t turn your back on a design that puzzles you but learn from it, besides try a 1/2 concave thru your deak fading out w/ a solid glass (5-layers) swallow tail and tell me it has no function cause the drive and flex you get in turns will blow your mind. And lastly listen to SK and cheeck out what he has going w/ some strong credentials to back it up–
Hey, thats a catchy tune youre playing, cdb…
the deck concave is old, been their done that. The reason its not around is because it didn’t work. I’m not against trying things but a deck concave?? come on guys think! Kinda sad how people complain about the products we have today. 20 years ago wetsuits were shit and people complain about the new suits. People complain about how the surfboards suck in this era. If you don’t like it, don’t surf. Stop complaining about it, have fun, enjoy life.
the deck concave is old, been their done that. The reason its not around > is because it didn’t work. I’m not against trying things but a deck > concave?? come on guys think! Kinda sad how people complain about the > products we have today. 20 years ago wetsuits were shit and people > complain about the new suits. People complain about how the surfboards > suck in this era. If you don’t like it, don’t surf. Stop complaining about > it, have fun, enjoy life. With all due respect, what isn
t old, or hasnt already been done before in one way or another?? A significant portion of present design lies in discovering the future through the rediscovery of the past… flat bottoms, fins, vees, tucked edges, polyurethane foam, fiberglass and resin, most all of us here have already been there and done that, too… so what? Since theyre decades old, are you willing to give them up? Whatever gave you the idea that if something isnt around anymore, that proves it didnt work? If only life were that simple! Please share with us why you believe deck concaves dont work.
the deck concave is old, been their done that. The reason its not around > is because it didn’t work. I’m not against trying things but a deck > concave?? come on guys think! Kinda sad how people complain about the > products we have today. 20 years ago wetsuits were shit and people > complain about the new suits. People complain about how the surfboards > suck in this era. If you don’t like it, don’t surf. Stop complaining about > it, have fun, enjoy life. Well you’ve got your opinion and I have mine but as my Grandma once said “stick your head in the sand and your ass will watch the world pass you by” I think I’ll just go shape myself a retro egg W? a concave deck tomorrow and on the next swell I’ll get some shots of it not working --I’ll send ya some!
This is from an article in the surfline.com archives, “Ehukai Beach Park on Monday, December 10. With no swell and plenty of photogs, the action concentrated on Ehukai’s inshore sandbar. Todd Morcom stands out from the pack, test-driving a brand new Joel Tudor concave decked single-fin. (“The thing turns sooo sick.”)…”
This is from an article in the surfline.com archives,>>> “Ehukai Beach Park on Monday, December 10. With no swell and plenty > of photogs, the action concentrated on Ehukai’s inshore sandbar. Todd > Morcom stands out from the pack, test-driving a brand new Joel Tudor > concave decked single-fin. (“The thing turns sooo > sick.”)…” there you go ES saves me the trouble since I hate having to have photos shot anyway they worked in the 70s,80s and now in the year 2002
I guess I should dig out the one I have and give it another chance.