Just curious to hear everyones thought’s on the best bottom shape for a fish (modern or retro)
I read a lot of people have flat with slight vee off the tail, some have single concave with vee of the tail, and some are saying just flat right through.
My view is that fish surfboards are normally ridden in weak, mushy waves, so some sort of concave would have to be benificial.
I suppose it also depends on the rocker and fin set-up.
I was looking at alot of boards on the racks in several different shops and I did notice the most of fish boards had some form of concave bottom. singal to double seamed to be the one I saw the most. I have made a flat bottom before and it works well “but” I also made a double concave from the tail through the nose with the same outline and the board just seam to respond alot better on the rail, and down the line. Oh yeah there is some vee on the tail.
It’s all depends on (1) what you want it to feel like, and (2) what kind of waves you’ll be riding it in.
If you typically ride a thruster, and want it to feel like a shorter, fatter, faster, modern shortboard, go with concaves. Most modern fish shapes have them, and most of them are going with three fins, too. These boards are great for small, weak beachbreak surf, and even good when it gets bigger. But once the waves get “good,” are you gonna want to ride a fish or your go-to performance shortboard?
If you ride longboards, single fins, hybrids… you might want a “retro” or more traditional fish. These boards are great in small to moderately larger waves, especially long point surf. These boards are built for speed, swooping open face carves, and yes, tube riding. These boards are usually flat-to-vee or slight single concave to vee, and have twin keels.
So consider the transition from what you’re riding, the kind of waves you’ll take it out in, and make the choice based on that.
Where is “Magicman”??He is a fish Guru.Originally I shaped them with a rolled bottom in the front third going back to a V panel in the tail.Very little rocker and soft rail almost 50/50.The fins had no cant or toe in.This was in Sandiego in the late sixties.They worked really good but were a lot heavier than the new ones.Sometimes weight can be helpful but nobody believes it any more.Pretty soon they will have helium filled boards that you carry around on a string like a party balloon.A real bitch if your roof racks malfunction.Have fun. RB
It’s all depends on (1) what you want it to feel like, and (2) what kind of waves you’ll be riding it in.
If you typically ride a thruster, and want it to feel like a shorter, fatter, faster, modern shortboard, go with concaves. Most modern fish shapes have them, and most of them are going with three fins, too. These boards are great for small, weak beachbreak surf, and even good when it gets bigger. But once the waves get “good,” are you gonna want to ride a fish or your go-to performance shortboard?
If you ride longboards, single fins, hybrids… you might want a “retro” or more traditional fish. These boards are great in small to moderately larger waves, especially long point surf. These boards are built for speed, swooping open face carves, and yes, tube riding. These boards are usually flat-to-vee or slight single concave to vee, and have twin keels.
So consider the transition from what you’re riding, the kind of waves you’ll take it out in, and make the choice based on that.
Where is “Magicman”??He is a fish Guru.Originally I shaped them with a rolled bottom in the front third going back to a V panel in the tail.Very little rocker and soft rail almost 50/50.The fins had no cant or toe in.This was in Sandiego in the late sixties.They worked really good but were a lot heavier than the new ones.Sometimes weight can be helpful but nobody believes it any more.Pretty soon they will have helium filled boards that you carry around on a string like a party balloon.A real bitch if your roof racks malfunction.Have fun. RB
are you out there listening…