Folk’s - I know it’s been done before, but I have a nagging desire to build a -Mini simmons offshoot thing! But I’d like to know the basics about the model - that way I can break the rules. I’m not asking for shaping help, I’m asking about the basics of the Mini Simmons design. What should I know about designing my plan shape? What about bottom contours? Rails… what’s the basic rocker? Note: I’m going to prob have to either get a custom blank, or cut a longer blank down? Feel free to post of your creation, ideas etc. Ty
Do a search, there is a wealth of information.
A search won’t help much as there’s a lot of “altered” from the basic Sims design… I’d like to get fresh info from Folk’s that nailed down the nitty-gritty details of this design…
So far I’ve I haven’t read much - other than the tail pulls at a 12" up a sliver… would like to know how wide of dims, is the center wp straight (looks almost str8), looks like not much rocker in tail, or zilch? Nose 3" of flip? Does this close? I just don’t want to build it and get picked apart - by Folk’s saying, “that’s not a sims, that looks like a stubby…” so what specs am I to do for a base model sims. Tia
Dog nabbit! I got sum clues…I got a lb template im thinking I could use… I geuss I need to slightly rework the tail to a straight “R” line… but I kinda want a slightly " pulled in" tail - as Tyler Warren does it and his board flies! Great vid Tyler!
His rails look perfect, but the concave he setup looks kinda difficult for myself. So I’m thinking a reverse vee!! What ya think 5’11" x 23" 3" nose flip, 2 3/4" thick , domed deck/s deck, 1 " oF tail rocker" pulling from center? 
tail blick 11"? Down rails w rounded corners, more so in nose, tucked near fins?
I bumped several mini simmons threads for you, lots of good information there, pics too, pages and pages in fact.
Ask yourself, why do you want a minisims?
If you want a smooth ride, easy wave catching board, that is good in dolphin farts to head high,
I am a big fan of my two crows minisims. I have ridden it in waist high Waikiki to head high North shore(tamer breaks)
Don’t compromise, enjoy the design, wide tail, short, big keels, etc…
If you want something that does snappy cutbacks, etc… look at one of the modified designs.
On their webpage they have the dimensions, and a general description of what makes it good
http://www.twocrowssurfboards.com/mini_sims_model.html
Like I said, I this is board is one of my favorites, and I am not even a hipster, although I am wearing a flannel right now.
I am at 5’10 180lb, and ride a 5’6, exactly what is on the webpage. That is probably the upper limit, unless you are bigger, then maybe go longer.
I think you could probably make one out of a 5’10RP, although there might be too much rocker.
Thanks! This model - the Mini Sims has started to grow on me…at first I wasn’t into it - as I was used to typical psb design. But once you see the benefits in small garbage surf - you start to think a mega wide design is an idea! FYI - I stumbled upon Tyler Warren vid on utube, and man! These boards fly! I’m planning to pick up a custom blank specifically for my Sims offshoot thing! I think it’s my solution for surfing garbage and - perhaps slightly overhead surf.
Melikefish - nice link w pics and info! Yeah, I want to fugure out what’s the basic concept of the design as a whole… then I want to modify a little…not a lot! The plan is to have a fast board that planes well, but also can feel a bit carvable…or you know, turn ok.
Folk’s - I made a longboard “spin template”, but I fudged on length! My grand plans were to make a 9’6" lb, but I fudged and made a 8’ 0h spin =4’ long spin…I just slapped my forehead and - just realized it’s perfect for my SIMS design! I just have to: first use the nose half, for tail I’m going to use a section that’s straight r in the 12" zone w curve out the 12" zone…I was thinking 5’10" x 23" - a hair wide, but I wear size thirteen shoes… and I’m exactly six two tall! For myself I’d go 6’4", but the plan is to test drive for a couple mos - then sell it. Take that dough and build two more…
Well, I got a template! Now I just need rocker specs! Anyone.
2011, where’s the hovercraft part in all this ?
Nice - Finsout! Are you modernising it a little, or goin for traditional. Either way is cool - just curious.
To the other gentleman who asked about where’s the " hover part ", well - it’s just a single concave setup at center, and I think at fins being where it peaks out? We’ll see once I start scrubbing w planer.
Its fairly traditional I guess, rolled front, flat, concave out the back. Angular down rails. Glass on moon keels.
I have made about 5 mini sims. I cant be without one in my quiver now.
Finsout - that thing would look sweet w slight diamond tail! Maybe 1" deep? I haven’t tried a step deck, but I think im going to try to do one -as it creates rm for better paddle position…also loosen up board. Behind rear foot - the plan is to taper it down - like Tyler does -behind stance…or it tapers down. Not sure what if any tail rocker I need? I’m thinking a 1" Just 12" up the tail? I read a few guy’s do that. Well, crank some slight kick behind fins…it sure can’t hurt!? If anything, it’ll help ya do a wheelie!
but then I’d set my keels at 4" up tips, and I think set em in 1 1/2" in off rail. No toe, no cant. Does that sound about right? One guy swore by 3" up for keels…I’m thinking 4"!!! Dunno?
PIC OF A HOBIE Sims offshoot ?---->
all of mine i have used a performance type keel set at about 4"up , but one i used my own hand foiled keels and put them at 1"up and 1" from rail and worked great aswell.
The one in the pic above i am using glass moon keels from Jesse at Black Apache surfboards and he recomended i put them at two inches up and 1 " from the rail.
he makes some really nice minis. check his web page out
Thanks for the info - Finsout! I’ll try 4" for keels. So 1" from off rails …I’ll try it.
I think for my first Sims - I’ll try to keep it simple. Kind of a " bare bones econo build! Clear glass job, maybe cheap o acrylic paint sprayed out a hobbyist aerosol spray can via badger air brush…maybe do spray job…might just leave it clear? I’ll order the blank tommorow. Have fun on those things! T c
Here’s a few files I found off a Google search!
This pic shows what I’m talking about; the low slopey rails, and a taper like thinning of the tail behind stance… don’t know who shaped it, but it has the right ingredients I’m thinking about.
Another thing I can do is: cross cut out a step deck, or s deck to thin out my nose (deck ) as I started doing it on my shapes. Why: it’s taking away sum swing weight, and kinda flattening out the area for better rm for paddling… I’ll have to figure out WHAT is the traditional rocker, or lack of now. In the Sims cad drawing one has zero rocker in the rear half??? Is this right?
This was my first 1 and was my favourite to ride to date
As you can see it has some tail rocker
I think it helped it turn a lot tighter than my others with less/no tail rocker. My opinion is that some rocker doesn’t hurt at all.
Nice work fins, rails look really nice, and like how you kept foam in the center while slimming the nose.
Thanks, i love to ride it,but unfortunately so does my mate who took it for a try and came back with money but no board as he had decided to keep it lol