Finally got my shit together and have started my first board, I was hoping to make a 10ft stepdeck, photos from Manoa only fuelled my love of these things, but i decided for a first board, to take a template off an old pop out singlefin i have. So I’m doing a 6’10" egg with a sweet diamond tail.
My measurements were 22 1/2" w, 15 1/2" n 15" t. After looking at the outline, i am thinking maybe i should go narrower…I have no doubt the birth of this board will be full of such indecision.
I am using a Safari Blank from South Africa. 7’4" hybrid blank. Has a fair bit of entry rocker and a bit of tail lift. Will be glassing with 10 oz volan, with a deck and fin patch.
Excited? Hell yeah…
Also just found out we will be blessed with another child in April, happy days!
First board and a new baby on the way…exciting stuff…congratulations!!!
I’m just coming off a nightmare shaping experience with Safari Foam - a 7-11 blank with many bubbles and some soft foam that I’m taking back to the dealer for an exchange after it’s 2/3 shaped (big bummer). So, should the foam be not what you might have expected for your first go, don’t let it frustrate you.
I hope you may have a mate or two close by to assist in the subtle areas and to give some feedback. If not, you know enough to come here to Sway’s.
I know a few guys, all given me some good advice. First bit was, Enjoy it!
I like that.
Another guy said to look at the blank for a while, try to see the board inside it.
made a lot of sense. Listened to my beloved Everton FC on the radio before, and spent the whole 90 minutes just eyeing it, from all angles. Trying to imgine the rails, the foil, thinking about cutlaps and spiral vees…
Another guy said to look at the blank for a while, try to see the board inside it.
I’ll second that too (seem to be doing a lot of seconding this eve) but I’ll add that you should also try and ride the board you’re seeing inside (if you can successfully see one, don’t fool yourself… SEE it.)
Also, get like a heavy pencil (5/6B) and draw on the blank when you see what you like… I like to do that with rocker in particular. Your brain works fast and will speed through variation rather quickly so I find a simple scratch or two gives your brain reference when you come back around.
I might also add that you start your first board with your own template. Sure, having one is good, but having a good one is another story all together… I did like 15 or so before I took a line from another board, come to think of it… I think it was my line. I’ve taken two lines from other folks, one from a 6’6 rusty (that I’ve never used - board was dead and I thought it would come in handy, I took a rocker template too, that came in handy if not for matching but keeping me in check) and an 8’ G&S which has spawned about four or five curves based on it. anyway… good luck!! and congrats on the wee wonder!!
Best of luck to you mate, especially if listening to an Everton game is going to be the source of your inspiration! Last thing I heard you were 1-0 down to Blackburn. I´am buying my first blanks tomorrow to start my own projects but won´t be listening to any Coventry games for inspiration or I´ll be doomed to failure. Good luck toy a and let us know how you get on.
Hey Nick it’s Luke from SG’s board. Good to see you’ve started on the road to shaping heaven. I’m gathering resources to start my own board when I finally get a house with a garage.
You down the Mouth this weekend? I should be down there Saturday and maybe Sunday if the hangover allows.
That sucker’s got a ton of nose rocker. If I was shaping a board out of that blank, I’d push the template to the back of the blank to lose some of the rocker up front.
Kendall. I picked that blank as i wanted a bit more entry than the normal egg, I’ve thinned the nose out a touch, but i have started the nose 5" down on the blank. Actually the pic makes it look a lot more than it is. Cheers for your input. Makes me feel like I’ve done the right thing by moving it back!
