What do channels do on the bottom of a surfboard? I’ve read some voodoo about “speed” and “thrust,” and I don’t buy it.
Also, a concave would technically act as a channel, right? The goal of the concave is to direct water through the back of the board (or wherever the channel/concave releases).
Wouldn’t single, dual, etc. concaves/channels cause drag because they redirect water? Take these for example.
When I think of channels, I think of Daniel Thompsons boards–some pretty extreme stuff. But I’d like to think that his wider tails tend to give his boards less drag, not the channels.
channels and concave can do a lot. it all depends on how they are applied, One of the hidden aspects are that they can work to flatten the rocked while still maintaining more rocked curve on the rail. Flat rocker = more down the line speed. Outside/rail rocker allows for cleaner turns and looseness. Now this is a very simplistic explination one that some will disagree with. They also orgibize water to some exstent allowing the board to move over the surface in some desired way or another.
If I recall correctly you’ve said before (elsewhere) that channels aren’t necessary for the kinds of conditions we have in SoCal. I believe that was in relation to a discussion about shortboards. If I got that correct, would you care to exxpand a little on that?
I like to think of channels as 1" tall, 24" long fins. Having these long, low fins creates drive.
I don’t know what makes this board go so good, the twinzer set up, the light weight, the rocker, the outline, the ewings or the channels, but it goes really good.
ps Greg, your boards always look right. Those of us who have been seeing them for years might not feel the need to voice the compliments every time you post the pics, but please keep posting the pics…
I like to think of channels as 1" tall, 24" long fins. Having these long, low fins creates drive.
I don't know what makes this board go so good, the twinzer set up, the light weight, the rocker, the outline, the ewings or the channels, but it goes really good.
ps Greg, your boards always look right. Those of us who have been seeing them for years might not feel the need to voice the compliments every time you post the pics, but please keep posting the pics...
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I agree with that mate, would love to ride one, they are just candy to the eyes aint they
Greg, I love those channel bottoms bro! I’ve made a bunch. They do really work well with the right size fins (smaller). I took a quiver to Hawaii one year . Two had channels. Went super good at Sunset. The 8’ pintail was my fave. I found however in the choppy conditions they lost some direction. I have been shaping my own boards for a long time. But when I see some of yours, I want to try.They look fun! keep up the great work!
Wow, I feel truly humbled that you would even consider extending such an offer but I fear you have me confused with someone else. I’m real happy just to get a flat bottom with a touch of vee and a decent edge at the rails.
I don’t know if I’ve ever come out and mentioned this before but I’ve been real happy with the different aspects of your designs that I’ve tried so far. As a matter of fact just yesterday I spent a couple hours screwing around with your fin template to adapt it to a 6.5" center fin for a 2+1 setup. Your 5-fin setup is also on my bucket list. I was just pitching it to one my kids last week for his next board.
