Custom board bag stoke

So I made a weird board, and as expected, couldn’t find a board bag for it. The fiancee decided that I needed one, and not a sock but a zip up padded one. She got me a custom from Airwave for my B-day. He’s still making bags, and they still rule. Just wanted to share the stoke on my new bag for my weird board. And here a pick of the Thing, and the Thingbag.

Here’s the board, sorry about the big guy in the picture, but it is the only shot that shows the 4+ inches of thickness in all its thickitude.

Bamboo flooring…I wonder if I ripped that up, could I use it to make a compsand? Don’t tell the landlords I said that!

A little tight in the nose, but it fits like a glove now.

what are the dimensions on the board? It looks pretty chunky. and more importantly describe the ride. I am intrigued

“He’s still making bags, and they still rule.” I’ll second that. I bought a bag from him about five years ago. I use it pretty hard and it’s had no problems yet. Even the zippers are still working. Had him put in a bunch of extra pockets for big single fins, wax, sandwiches… Great guy to do business with too.

p.s. how are you liking the spitfire fin?

ROW,

Board is 8’ long, 4.25" thick, 25.5" wide with all the meat carried out to the rails, soft 50/50 all the way nose to tail.

How does it ride? Well, let me preface this with the fact that I have a messed up back, so I needed something that would float my 200lbs enough to knee paddle, (which is why there is a little balsa deck patch…which has not dented at all yet). It paddles fast, catches ripples with ease both prone and knee paddling, but also pearls with ease if you aren’t careful with the angle of your dangle. On a plane it is super fast with the spitfire fin, and on the rail it is anything but fast because there is so much meat on those rails. This is less a design flaw, and more intentional, as I wanted a board that was slower for weak mushy waves. However, it is slower in trim than I intended. That being said, if I tail surf it in the right kind of wave and pump it I can get some speed up, and if I trim forward I can connect up sections pretty well as it doesn’t bog down.

It turns very easily, although this is in comparison to the much longer boards I usually ride. Because it is slow, I sometimes need to trim forward, and with all that width in the nose she actually noserides reasonably well.

If I make another version, I might remove some volume, as I think I can get away with a little less. Most of this would come off of the rails, as I would also take it from 50/50, and make it more like 70/30, hopefully speeding it up a smidge for shorebreak. Might make the tail with rails turned down more still. I would also add an inch of nose rocker, and maybe take out an inch of tail rocker. As it is, I think it only has ~3 inches nose and tail, and the deck is totally flat.

In short, in the right wave, it is a whole lot of fun. In pitching shorebreak, it does not excel.


SPUD,

Good to hear. I had heard they were good (well, read in the archives here at Sways), but five years and still going is pretty awesome! And a sandwich compartment is a great idea.

–BCo

As for the spitfire (I almost forgot), I really like it. It is low drag and responsive. For more impressions of my own, and others, check out this thread.

–BCo

no wonder you needed a custom bag. Thanks for sharing.

11ft,

That thread and Benny1’s assessment are what spawned the question. Not that I doubt Benny1’s assessment but its always good to have another opinion, especially when the fin costs $75. Ouch! But if it helps me walk on water and part the red sea, I’m game. I forgot that you posted on that thread as well. Sorry about that. I guess I really should have re-read it first. Glad to hear your board is working for you. Take care. Eric

Eric,

It isn’t cheap, but it is totally worth it. Not only is it beautiful, but it is totally different from any other fin I’ve ever tried. And no worries about not remembering my ride report posts in that 5 page thread! If you do get one, definitely use the break away screw plate that comes with it…I hit a rock (so sad) and the fin suffered little damage because of the breakaway fin plate. See slightly damaged fin, and half of the plastic fin plate, and the tweaked screw.

The good news is the fin also works backwards, which I did to salvage my session. And yes, it did feel different forwards and backwards.

–Ben