i have a question about the bottom shape. is it neccisary to have constant curve on the bottom. or could i take say a longboard and create a 3 foot flat area in the center and create a planing surface for slow sections in the wave. does this make sense or am i headed in the wrong direction. also for a noserider is it better to have a shorter steeper rocker in the tail or more gradual.
i dont know if i really find my answer. i understand it’s a good method of creating a template for your curve throught the bottom. but i wonder why not have a portion of the bottom be completely flat. maybe i missed something.
Constant curve. It doesn't mean that you have to have major rocker going on throughout the board. Instead, if you want a "flatter" rocker, then you should have a super super subtle curve going on. Flat spots are a no go.
A way to test this to make sure that your shape is flatter but not flat is to take a level or any other long straight edge, and put it parallel to the stringer, then rock it back and forth like a rocking chair. If you have a flat spot you'll know it cause your straight edge will stop rolling for a split second.
As for the noserider question, go with the flip in the tail, or as youput it, "short and steep." You don't want this to be your only form of tail rocker though. Make it gradual all the way to the last foot or so and then kick it fast.
I'd go with about and inch or two less nose rocker than tail rocker. nose can be thin too, to cause the nose rocker to flatten when you are standing on the tip. Go with a wider tail (16 1/4") or so, flat deck at the nose, bellied bottom, slight nose concave depending on what you like, and make your rails round and 50/50. Big fin too.
If you wanna check out longboard rockers go to harbour surf's website and click on the board.
Constant curve. It doesn't mean that you have to have major rocker going on throughout the board. Instead, if you want a "flatter" rocker, then you should have a super super subtle curve going on. Flat spots are a no go.
A way to test this to make sure that your shape is flatter but not flat is to take a level or any other long straight edge, and put it parallel to the stringer, then rock it back and forth like a rocking chair. If you have a flat spot you'll know it cause your straight edge will stop rolling for a split second.
As for the noserider question, go with the flip in the tail, or as youput it, "short and steep." You don't want this to be your only form of tail rocker though. Make it gradual all the way to the last foot or so and then kick it fast.
I'd go with about and inch or two less nose rocker than tail rocker. nose can be thin too, to cause the nose rocker to flatten when you are standing on the tip. Go with a wider tail (16 1/4") or so, flat deck at the nose, bellied bottom, slight nose concave depending on what you like, and make your rails round and 50/50. Big fin too.
If you wanna check out longboard rockers go to harbour surf's website and click on the board.
Flat spots create an area of the board where an incremental increase in turning pressure will not change the track of the board. It won’t be until the force being applied overcomes the flat spot’s resistance, and the board ‘over turns’.
or
flat spots create a sticky spot in the turn where the board will feel stiff, until it spins out.
i understand what you guys are saying and creating the curve is not the problem for me. i’m just playing with design concept. the more i learn the more light bulbs go off in my head. if the flat spot is sticky wouldn’t it cause you to make more of a pivot turn. whereas you have to step back on the board enough to pick the flat spot up out of the water swing it around and lay it back down, step foward to the flat area and pick up speed again. maybe thats just not the way things work and im making it more complicated than it is. i also prefer more paralell knifey rails.
No. If you have to go through that much effort of stepping back, lifting the nose, swinging it around, and stepping forward to pick up speed, the wave already passed you by.
You can change the rocker curve to make a board turn vs. speed, but a flat spot sticks.
You can go with a flat spot in the middle of your board, and it would pick up speed when you step forward like you are saying. The "flat" spot will not be completely flat though, just a long arced curve.
I don't know what your riding now, but if you take my advice in my earlier post with a wider tail and wider nose, speed will not be a problem.
And no, a flat spot will not cause you to pivot, because pivoting would be happening at the tail, not the "flat" spot. Typically when you add more of a design element, you lose more of another. A flatter spot would be faster, but you'd lose maneuverablity.
I don't now what types of waves you are gonna surf this in, but when I surf my noserider, it is in smaller surf. if the wave is going fast i will be at the tip, and if it slows down, i'll walk back , and do a pivot type turn, and wait for the thing to pick up and walk back again. if you did a turn when you should be on the tip then yes, the wave will pass you up. A nose rider specifically built to noseride really good will not be as manueverable, but will noseride like nobody's business.
Good luck
i ride my boards in just about anything southern california throws at me. so it’s not neccisarily small surf. i didn’t mean the flat spot would cause you to pivot i meant it would force you to step back and pivot the board, which in my mind really doesn’t take all that much effort compared to all the kids these days running to the nose and back several times on a wave. the board i ride now actually has a small amount of flat spot, with down hard parrallel rails, and a drawnout pintail with v. it has it’s pros and it’s cons, but i’m capable of turning the board anywhere i’m at, from the nose to the tail. but i think i want a traditonal noserider so i’ll probably take your advice, thanks for the knowledge and input.