Fish rails

Are rails like those on the Skip Frye fish posted by Rick Ambrose the norm for retro fishes? How about the rail in the tail, does it have an distinct edge like on modern boards or does it just get thinner while still remaining round? Looks like a beautiful board bdw. regards, Håvard

yes id like to know this also

The rails that I’ve seen on some very recently created retro fish have a higher wide point, and are much sharper through the last half of the board. The outline has survived, but rail design, rocker and foil have been updated.

FRY FISH BOARDS WERE DOGS IN THE SEVENTIES, WE ALL RODE LIS KNOCKOFFS, THEY WERE MORE RADICAL. RAILS WERE TOO SOFT TYPICAL OF THE EGG STAGNATION IN SAN DIEGO IN THE MID-SEVENTIES. DOWN RAILER FOR LIFE!

So ‘regular’ shortboard rails are the norm for modern retro fish clones? regards, Håvard

Yes except thicker/boxier like 70’s/80’s shortboards with a beak nose and flat deck. Surf Engine Web page shows good profiles/foils.

I’ve ridden them all different ways. Thicker rides good but doesn’t have the drive of a thinner rail. I tend to like them thin, down without a lot of edge.

How about thinning the rails a bit but without much tuck under, kind of the egg shape on the deckside but more like a modern rail on the bottom? Would this be a good compromise? regards, Håvard

Try lots of tuck in the front half of the board to prevent the nose from catching. (Golf ball rails) Gradually reduce the tuck from the mid-point to the tail with a nice hard edge from about 2-3" in front of the fins through the tail.

I still like the tuck and a bit of edge in the tail. Not too much edge though, fishes can be a bit sticky and that edge in the tail can make them a bit finicky. Especially if it’s a bit hollow.