OK, lets keep the 36-24-36 comments to a minimum unless providing a picture to go along with it. I want to shape a fish for a 5’2" 115lb girl from an old beat up fish that is 5’6". Im going to strip the glass and re-shape it. So what are the dimensions that would work for this size and weight? I need length width nose tail.
Well first off you certainly don’t need the board to be very big. I just shaped a 5’0" experiment for a friend of mine who weighs around 150lb. After a bunch of sessions on it we both feel that he doesn’t need th 22" width and 2 7/8" thickness. Our next try will be thinned down quite a bit, closer to 2 5/8" and 21" probably. If you’re after a retro-like fish, then 2 1/2" will be plenty, with a 20-21" width about 3-4" forward of center. At 5’2" it’s a tiny board. My fish usually have 16" noses and 15 1/2" tails. You could probably shrink it down further, with a 15" and a 14" tail. It will really depend on what the curve looks like.
I like to plot out my widest point and my length and just play around with a bendy stick until I get a curve I like instead of trying to nail the measurement exactly. My results tend to be better that way, because you’re making a natural curve instead of bending it to fit.
What’s her ability level? Beginner? Ripper? Is she young and growing or just tiny?
Here’s what I’d suggest…
I know a lot of people like their fish shorter than they are tall, but if she’s 5’2", I’d make it 5’1" or 5’2". I say this because I’m 6’1" and my shortest fishes are 6’0 and 6’2". If I go much shorter than that I keep stepping into the crack, so I have to keep my feet closer together than I’m used to.
As for width, it should fit under her arm. It should feel wide, but still fit. My guess would be about 19 1/2, and I’d put it about 3 inches ahead of center. Then, like Rachel said, take your stick and start making some lines. Nose and tail can be the same width (or very close), so make some dots at 13, 14, and 15 inches to start. Tweak it from there.
As for thickness… 2 1/4 is fine. You can increase or decrease the volume depending on the deck contour and rail thickness.
This one works for the groms. 5’4"X19X 2 1/4. If shes gonna rip put the wide point just behind center, If shes gonna go down the line put the wide point just forward of center. Should already have a low rocker, Make the entry flat. 1/8" deep single concave from center of board to center of thrusters for tri fin with double concave out around the trailer.If you want a board with this outline to surf verticle put a winged swallow tail on it. If you want her to have max float make it a thumb. If it’s gonna be a twin run the single concave all the way out the back. The single concave will allow for thicker rails without having the board become a blob.