So i have ridden both long and short boards, a 6’4 swallowtail epoxy, 9’classic pearson, 9’4 harddiamondtailed board, 7’3" schroedel egg (still have it), a 9’2 ferguson classic 5050 rails pretty flat tail and nose rocker(still have this board). I like longboarding a ton, and would like to have a tru nose rider but i also have thoughts about making a retro board, something to get barraled on. what do you guys suggest for a first board? i am 6ft 160lbs. how about blank suggestions? what type of board is easier? one other question…im going inland for a month and im making the board then, if i chose to make both boards how much resin, laminating and sanding, would be plenty to glass both boards? i will not be close to any fiberglass place for supplies. thanks for any info, this forum is a great resource
well if you are in decent paddling shape you could try a 6 2 c blank from clark for the single fin or bonzer, i made a bonzer and a fish out of this blank. if you are inland try ordering from fiberglass supply or any of the other online places, keep in mind Foam Ez doesn’t sell resins and stuff. what length long board? look at the clark foam catalog to pick out a blank.
From your boards I’d guess you surf eastside Santa Cruz?
An old-school “get barrelled” board might be a bit frustrating there except for a few days a year. By that I mean wide point forward, narrow tail.
You might like something - since you kept your egg and you had a diamond tail - like a wide-tail bonzer. Especially if your schedule gets you out early before the wind is on it. Look at the Campbell Bros & Bob Miller boards at Palm St for ideas.
If you mostly surf afternoons, make a 9’6" squashtail single fin out of volan cloth. Put a lot of rocker way back in the tail and not too much in the nose. If you go to FGH on 17th they can help you pick out a blank and even help you custom order rocker if you need to.
Benny, good guess on the places I surf. sharks, hook, 38th, pleasure point. The reason i thought of trying out the single fin shorter board was because sometimes, usually round the hook on lowers tides, it is tough to be riding a longboard (or at least my current board) at least for me. I enjoy longboards so maybe i should try a more progressive shape. I have a small amount of experience riding shorter boards (6 months) and didnt really enjoy it, yet for some reason i feel like I want a board for those faster, possibly hollower days. For my first board maybe this isnt the best move? I do have the shroedel egg for those days too. On the other side of things, the 9’6 a bit more tail rocker board sounds like fun and perhaps a good first board? nice nose rider for those little pleasure point waves and 38th waves. What might be a good blank to use? what kind of custom rocker should i use? nose? tail? or just shape a blank backwards? thanks for any info
You should look at the 9’8"S and the 9’9"W. If you get the Stewart (the S) decrease nose rocker by 1-1.5" for 2nd peak & 38th. If you mostly longboard, you’ll get sick of the hassles at the Hook and move west around the corner more & more.
On the other hand, if you like the chance of getting shacked, the 6’9"A gives you tons of options for the Hook, Sharks, Privates, Beer Can Beach… Its a big, big blank that will let you template almost any shape you want & mow a lot of foam. Go talk to John Mel, he’s at his shop Saturdays from about 11-2 just to talk boards with people. Whatever he says about boards - be honest about your abilities - you should listen, he’s probably made more fish, eggs, double-enders, bonzers, etc. specificaly for the Hook as anyone.
Nope. Both are fine. Keep the tail on the wide side & the rails soft. Keep the tail thick so your box can go in as far back as possible. Don’t overshape…sounds like you’re going for the noserider. Had a nice session at 2nd peak on my balsa noserider just yesterday…
thanks for the info, ill prolly get a template off of a good noserider but im thinking the 9’8 s with the less nose rocker, 15tail 23wide 18 3/4 nose, sound good for a good nose rider, 9’6"?
thanks for the info, ill prolly get a template off of a good noserider but im thinking the 9'8 s with the less nose rocker, 15tail 23wide 18 3/4 nose, sound good for a good nose rider, 9'6"?
Yep. Nose anywhere from 17.5 to 19 will work. Make nice curves, don’t just hit measurements. Nice curves are more important than exact dimensions. Never very strong offshores on the point so wide noses are just fine…