Aloha!
First post here, though I’ve been lurking for some time.
I’m buying a high performance longboard. An 8’6" Tanaka.
I’m having it made with a 6oz bottom with a double 6oz top. Someone cautioned me to put a 4oz deck patch as well. My friend who’s helping me with the shape said it’s a lot of extra weight.
What are your thoughts?
Also, the board I’m currently riding is 21 1/2 wide, my friend is recommending 20 1/2. I don’t see many lb’s that narrow. Is there a good reason?
Thanks in advance!
Since you’re ordering a high performance longboard, my suggestion would be to go with just the double 6 oz. It will probably be durable enough, although not as strong if you added a deck patch. To me, 20 1/2" sounds a bit narrow for a longboard, unless you plan on riding bigger, hollower waves with it. It seems the average width would be in the 21 1/2" plus range. I’ve been riding an 8’0" mini tank thats 22" and it feels good. Talking to your shaper would probably the best thing for you to do. You can tell him your ability level, what kind of waves you plan on surfing with it etc. One method I sometimes use is to just hold a board under my arm…from there I can tell if it feels too wide, narrow, etc.
Are you a small person?
he maybe going off your weight
A 4oz deck patch won’t help much. A little… but not much, especially trying to “protect” your 6oz lam with it. If you want performance, the weight trade-off isn’t worth it, IMO. Some say triple 4oz is better than double 6oz for strength and weight, but I don’t know about that.
I wouldn’t go narrower than 21.5
3 x 4oz deck, and 1 x 6oz bottom, is the glassing schedule I use on my personal boards, and what I recommend on custom boards I make for others.