Creative thinking help, please.

General Discussion
1

Here’s a situation, I’d like to collect some reasoned input. I drive a Subaru wagon. I drive around for work (outside sales, basically) and keep a surfboard with me and surf at some point during the day 2-4 times a week. I can fit up to a 10’2" longboard inside the car, but that means no room for anyone else in the front. Sometimes I need to drive coworkers or clients places.

I surf year-round, in everything from clean Santa Cruz walls to mushy Marin points to dumping San Francisco beachbreak. I’m mostly a longboarder, but will pull out a 7’6" round pin thruster or a 7’11" egg as conditions dictate. 5 of my boards are 9’6" to 10’4" and those get 95% of my water time. I prefer to be active on a surfboard and like to step around for trim, not plant and slash. I’ve stayed away from the current fish craze because I don’t like to plant my feet & go and I like to surf more balanced than off the front foot.

I’m 6’2", 220#, 36 years old. I’m a strong paddler and have been surfing 21 years. I prefer single fins but have an open mind and have a couple of 2+1’s that I like at beachbreaks in certain conditions.

I’ve been thinking of getting one of those roof-top boxes for the car. It would need to fit a board that I could surf in lots of different conditions.

Here’s a list of boxes I clipped from Thule.com:

Thule Box Comparison Chart

Current Models

Box Volume Length Height Width

Evolution 1200 12 cu ft. 90.1" 14.7" 23.8"

Evolution 1600 16 cu ft. 76" 15 3/4" 33"

Evolution 1800 18 cu ft. 91.3" 16.2" 31"

Evolution 2100 21 cu ft. 92" 16.6" 36"

Cascade 1100 11 cu ft. 88.5" 15" 21"

Cascade 1500 15 cu ft. 69" 16.5" 32"

Cascade 1700 17 cu ft. 91" 16" 30"

X1 16 cu ft. 75" 15" 35.5"

North Cape 16 cu ft. 91" 14" 32"

Sidekick 8 cu ft. 54" 15.5" 25"

These are exterior dimensions, so I suppose we’d take off 2" in each direction for inside, maybe more. So we’ve got max lengths of about 90" (7’6") and max widths up to 34" (like to see that board).

So your suggestions, please? I’d condsider anything from a big modern fish to a downrailed, domed deck double-ender to a round nose swallow tail twin to a chine railed rockerless egg…and then which box above should I get to go with it.

Thanks!

Ben

2

would locking surf racks work? http://www.dabco-products.com/

3

if you really prefer the bigger boards, had you given any consideration to getting a hard surf case and locking it to your existing rack system for security??

4

Well, part of the problem is that clients aren’t always that understanding about a surf habit. I think a huge part of the value of surfing is that anyone who doesn’t do it can’t see it as being productive in any way. So part of the aim of this project is to be ‘undercover’ as I make my rounds. With tinted windows and a dark boardsock, unless someone tries to get in my car, they rarely even know there’s a surfboard there.

I thought of a SantaMonica Surfcase, but they’re just so huge. They also, to be balanced, would stick out over my hatchback and I could only open it partway. And that’s my locker room, ya know.

So I came up with this idea of a standard box. I can make any shape board I want, I’m just looking for ideas…thanks

Ben

5

Order a Pope Bisect?

Make a 10’ x 28" cartop box for your racks with plywood, put your work logos on along the sides of it.

Seeya at Drakes this weekend.

6

The boxes, even the Silver ones, will cook your board. I’ve have a Santa Monica hard case and have thought about poking some ventilation holes or removing large sections from the bottom for airflow and then securing it with the MasterLock Python 12’ cable.

Either way it’ll be in the sun and heat.

A modified (lots-o-holes) Silver Thule case would look and sound the best, and probably be most secure.

I’m thinkinng about board in car, tinted windows, ventilated white window shade that pulls from drivers seats to tailgate (inside car), and cracked sunroof combination would work if your board fits in a car.

Or get a Bic!

7

White would be the best color IMHO and because you’re putting surboards in the container it doesn’t have to be water tight, so holes in the high part of the enclosure to let the heat out are imperative. I think the bigger the better, cause you never know what other uses you’ll find for it. If you want to put something else in it and you need to seal the water out you can always string a tarp around it. If the big one doesn’t come in white you can always fix that yourself with some high quality paint or resin depending on what the container is made out of.

As far as your image is concerned, I used to think the same way as you, but have since reconsidered and reolized that those with small enough minds to no see surfing as a valuable activity need to be handled that way, as small minds.

Mahalo, Rich

8

The Pope Bisect does seem like a viable option here, although I just looked at their site and the new carbon bisect Stealth is around $1800!

But that would eliminate you having to go with the roof box and save a little in gas mileage too.

Next option would be take your favorite longboard dimensions, cut out the middle 4 feet, and blend the outline back together. Put a FU box and some sidebites in and you’ll have a pretty vesatile mini-log that has a nose and tail you’re comfortable with. I know a couple guys who have done that with their board here on the east coast and adapted well going from 9’+ down to 6’ish boards. I can imagine it would work even better on the west coast with more push behind the waves. Just keep lots of foam in it. You should still be able to keep it in your car.

I’d go for the box as the last option just because then you’d need a new board AND the box. But with 7’6" or less to play around with for board length, and as wide as you can go, you’ve got a ton of options that should work for you. If you have to go the box route, like Halcyon said, paint the top white. Maybe try and retrofit one of those solar power fans for you car to work in it. Put the fan at the back and make some vent holes in the bottom so you don’t have to worry about water leaking in, then glass the solar panel onto the top.

9
Quote:

Well, part of the problem is that clients aren’t always that understanding about a surf habit. I think a huge part of the value of surfing is that anyone who doesn’t do it can’t see it as being productive in any way. So part of the aim of this project is to be ‘undercover’ as I make my rounds

But many of those same people drink and golf their marriages into oblivion…screw them!

Shoot, sometimes it seems like most people surf these days. If it was me I’d just pay $15 for two good cam buckle straps and when you need to drive other people just toss the board on the racks on top and strap them down - it’s just that easy to put the board back in the car when you get to your destination. If anybody asks just tell them it’s easier than taking the board in your house/apartment all the time.

Having had real jobs before and having had a small Subaru wagon for many years I do understand your situation. Something you need to remember is the sport boxes also draw attention to you. People who are real interested in passing judgements on others will see something like that in their own frame of reference. Filled with fishing gear? Tennis racket? Golf clubs? The mere sight of a sleek aftermarket sport box will make tongues wag. You will be right in the same boat as if you popped your board up there.

That said, and to add to the other comments, you might insulate the box to protect the board from cooking, and go ahead and make a board to fit the box you most prefer. Maybe it’s time to try a kneeboard? I’ve carried a bodyboard behind the seat on many trips, even just trunks and swim fins in a daypack when that kind of workplace stealth was called for. A mat is another way to go. A benign beach towel provides good small vehicle cover.

As for creative thinking, remember that no matter how you surf or for how long, every go-out you sneak in during your normal work hours is time stolen back from The Beast. While you might prefer to ride a different board, you will still be better off than not riding at all.

10

This was from many years ago but what the… I saw a guy pull out this 5’ long - what I first thought was two shortboards under a blanket and he took the blanket off and unfolded his 10’ longboard. Cool. On closer inspection, it had a piano hinge on the bottom, two facings of marine ply where the board was cut in two and a homemade “locking” device on the deck side. Funky but functional. He chucked his suit and tie into his car, got in his wetsuit, waxed up and hit the surf - much more better than a drive thru meal for lunch! He was sure happy anyway. It would take balls to cut your longboard in half, though - I guess that’s why the Pope board is so much - leave the cutting to Karl.

11

Ben, I know this is a surfboard design forum but I think you are going about this the wrong way. You’ve got boards you like already, why not make a box that fits 'em?

You could use 1/2" Dow pink “Fomular” with epoxy or get some last-a-foam polyurethane (www.fiberglasssupply.com) if you want to use polyester resin. For a perfect fit on the lid, make the box in one piece and then saw the lid off. It doesn’t have to be square and ugly, 1/2" foam would leave enough space to round off the corners and maybe add a nice, pointy, aerodynamic nose. One-three layers of 4 or 6 oz glass inside and out would probably be plenty if the thing is not too square. Use fillets and/or extra tape on the foam joints. Dont forget some vents and drain holes. Maybe reinforce the hinge mounts and the bottom where the U-bolts for attaching to your roof rack would go with some wood in place of the foam.

Paint it white and between the color and the foam core for insulation, your boards should stay nice and cool. Otherwise you could always toss a six-pack of cold refreshments in there for later. I think it wouldn’t cost any more than a thule box (probably way less if you don’t count your time) and you could have something that looks nicer and fits your needs exactly.

Trent

12

Thanks so much, fellas. So many positive comments on the social aspects of being a working surfer.

The comments about the suspicious appearance of a shiny new box are right on. My car is already white, so white is good, the idea about white staying cooler is so true. Unfortunately, no sunroof. But I have a reflective windowshade and keep the windows cracked. I leave a thermometer in there and the hottest it gets in the summer is around 130F. Epoxy resins go unstable around 150-160, so its close, but not a problem. We’ll see, with the Neocons’ energy stance, but that’s a topic for another BB.

I did have a Pope Bisect many years ago but it had some issues. I know they are supposed to be better now, but for that much money, once bitten…

Edit: Yes, I’m also thinking often about a mat. The wetsuit & fins are always in the car anyway and I’ll grab a bodysurf if swell comes up & I can’t get a board. So that would be a natural. Kneeboard? Too far out of the box for me, just yet.

I love the idea of making a custom box out of foam & glass, expecially with a fan & solar cell. Maybe I could even make the lid out of foam-core sandwich and the base out of a glass/baltek mat/glass sandwich for rigidity with some holes in it. I’d still probably make it shorter than my favorite boards, so I can open the tailgate. If I’m using the racks for boards now, they have to come off before I can open up the back.

So, shorter…brings back the board question. I’ve made a couple of ‘mini-logs’. I have a 7’11" or so EPS double ender and a traditional poly/poly 8’2". Neither one paddles even as well as a plain ol’ shortboard (which for my size is about 7’2"). I’d rather either glide a board or swim it and the mini-mals seem to be in between those 2 paddling techniques.

So, what to do? Harden the rails so it sits higher? Relax the rocker to maximize water line? Single fin for the least possible drag? Flat bottom? Dome the deck? I’m starting to ‘see’ a board, but I’d love some comments & ideas on the board too, not just the box…

Thanks again

Ben

13

Doh…social aspect! I used to stash a board at my friends house at Salt Creek so I could blast down there in my sedan for those Southwest swells. My son stashes his board at his girlfriends house for after school quickies (you know I mean surf sessions) The older we get the more self contained we get. Re-invent the wheel?..life’s too short.

14
Quote:

why not make a box that fits 'em?

Bearing in mind if you do have a box on top and customers/coworkers to confuse, in this case it would have to look halfway decent and respectable…otherwise this could be a great idea (think all the airbrush and resin art on surfboards). The mind boggles! The Subaru hatchback is a hassle though, but maybe a custom box would allow for enough forward mounting to make it work.

For those who like foam and other building ideas, I’ve had a lot of amusement with this site

http://www.rqriley.com/frp-foam.html

15

Being an old retarded has been surfer who averaged 10 days a year from '88-03, I’d agree with your assessment about funboards NOT being the best …once you gain a certain amount of paddling skill.

I have two funboards, 7’9" and 7’3".

My sinkier 6’8" x 20 custom almost paddles as well, possibly sprint paddles faster! It’s harder to paddle slowly for long distances, but that’s not really important.

Your problem… mid 7’ like 7’6" x 19" x 2.7", but mainly with a thinned out nose, WP back of center 4", slightly thicker than normal tail, normal tail rocker going to a small tail block (to keep the nose up), flatter than normal nose rocker for paddling speed.

Thick point behind center, maybe just behind WP, so when you start to paddle for a wave, you can tip the nose down, the tail lifts up…then when you stand up, you gots the narrow tailblock to keep the flatter nose up and out of the water.

I had that board in SanDiego in 1970.

George Orb, author of Essential Surfing is just discovering that shape now.

Something like 12" nose, 14.5" tail, with accerlerating V to also keep the nose up.

16

Another option is to stash boards at a friend’s house or business near where you like to surf on those days when you have the dog and pony show. All the other stuff sounds too expensive for my taste. My wife puts her boards inside her Honda. No room for me.

17

I drive a van. none of my customers know whats in there. So if I tell people I have a job scheduled before them in the morning and I’m really busy I still can surf indiscreetly. Imagine if they saw me with a board on the car, I’m dead. So with the van I cover it with towels and bag the wetsuit. I think with that little Subaru and a big longboard on top with whatever rack system, it’s going to look funky. My friend drives a woody station wagon which is long enough to fit a longboard.

18

Funny, I had a rental SUV when on a surfing/job trip. Left the board (in a Mexican board sock) in the SUV with 4" of nose poking into the drivers armrest area. Went to an interview/meeting at a new location of the company I already work for. Didn’t want the board visible for career first-impressions. Imagine my horror when the person I’m meeting wanted me to drive to another building. Luckily it wasn’t even noticed.

19

LeeDD, you’re spot on with those dim’s for my size. I have a 7’6" Keating almost exactly that board, but round pin - OB @ OH++ board. Uncle Dicky ain’t getting any younger, ya know. Also have a 7’2" Schultze with a blocky tail for when its too rude to paddle a longboard out at the Lane. I can make 'em work just fine, I just don’t prefer the feel of surfing shorties…

Oh well. I think I know what to build. ROlliges, I’ve been there. Explaining the presence of the board gets sticky. “Oh I picked it up from a friend last night…Oh its going to the shop for a ding repair…a friend dropped it off at work this morning and I didn’t have time to get it home…” So it looks like a flat, downrailed, domed deck 7’6" double-ender 2+1 is in the works. I’ll keep it in the car as long as possible and see how she surfs and if all that works out, and I like the board, maybe spring for the box.

Anybody notice that somehow shortboards are more acceptable at work than longboards? Whenever I run into someone in the business world who surfs, it sems that shortboarders are valued for being athletic, competitive, aggressive, and longboarders are written off as being either frivoulous or beginners.

20

McCoy Nugget shape, at 7’6", can span the long and short world, and still handle arm’s reach over.