A 16 stone friend has asked me to make a him a longboard about 10’6". He has been surfing a Surftech Takayama 9’6" Model T but wants something with more volume, length and glide. The primary function is not nose riding or even turning but glide. Must be able to catch the smallest weakest wave, go well in mushy surf and be stable in white water. I made his lighter friend a 10’ - 24.5" wide, nose 19.5", tail 17.5" stern 9" square tail with vee in it, 3 1/8" thick, nose rocker about 5.5" tail rocker about 3.5". The owner is happy with it, 16 stoner wants a bigger version of this but has not ridden it. Neither have I but in hindsight think the rocker migth be too excessive for gliding. Initially I thought of keeping the same centre, nose and tail widths, increasing thickness to 3 3/4" (he wants lots of volume for ease of paddling) and reducing nose rocker to 5" and tail to 3".
But now I have decided to rethink about gliding design from the beginning.
Even after studying Swaylocks intensely and regularly for the past 7 years, making more than 20 boards and becoming obsessed with Bob Simmons I still have to confess that I’m still not sure how to design an ideal gliding longboard.I have tended towards very flat rocker especially in the tail, parallel rails, wide nose, wide square tail, belly in the nose, flat bottom, very little vee in the tail, down turned rails all the way to sharp edged in the tail. Have tried to keep it simple. Avoided concaves. Still not sure about roll in the nose and elsewhere.Tend to keep repeating myself. Dont want to get stuck in a rut. How can I improve and produce a better glider? Can I learn from the Skip Frye Eagle of which I do not know much? Is a pointed nose better than a round wide one? Where does a big Simmons come into the picture?
Not a wise elder nor do I know much about designs and gliding concepts. But i have riden a bunch of long boards and Im about the same weight as your friend. One of my most favorite boards to glide on was a 10’ x 23 1/4" x 3 1/2" wide point pushed 8" toward the nose from center, nose was pulled in a little, very little rocker, no concaves, flat bottom from nose to tail and single fin. Used it in mushy to almost non existent waves, riding white wash, as well as waist high waves. I dont know if the overall weight of the board affects how well it glides, one thing i would like to experiment more with:). Hope this helps
I like the look of this. Like a slim darted banana. Parallel rails, pointed nose, square tail that not too wide. Lots of volume. Rails look pinched 50/50 all the way through except for the belly in the nose. What are the rocker measurements sdr?
Thanks theophilius it helps. Simple elements. I would think more weight enhances glide. The first board I made was a 10’6" that weighs 32lbs due to my ignorant excessive use of cloth and resin. Glides great but carrying it around is not so great. I am thinking how pushing the centre point forward would improve glide?
I am reckoning the bottom must be flat all the way through. No roll/ belly in the nose. The last board, a 9 footer had belly in the nose and for some reason the board paddles and rides as if the hand brake is on.(got 5" nose and 3" tail rocker) The tail if flat must be narrow to turn or otherwise a better wider tail for planing must have some vee or roll (what functional difference between the two?) Rails down turned all the way round - 60/40 - maybe even 80/20 pinched, sharpish (maybe not too much near the nose) will release water and plane better. Also considering the suggestion of reverse rocker but will surely have to get the large amount of tail rocker right to prevent excessive drag (or is that only tail flips?). And my friend will have to learn to ride it without pearling.
After all that the blank is shaped. Taking into consideration the surfer’s needs, others helpful suggestions, instinct and inspiration the board has somehow ended up:
NR 5" TR 3" No nose kick or tail flip, flat along the bottom, 50/50 slightly pinched rails all the way through, rolled vee in the tail.
I would have posted a photo but one of my children have mislaid the camera battery charger.
I will finish the board and await report back about well it glides.
