I shaped my first board (5’10" x 21" x 2 1/2" thruster eggy outline) with hard rails about halfway up, very little tuck, maybe about 1/8". The concaves are subtle - single from the middle to inset double to vee starting around the side fins and out the tail. The double continues into the vee and ends before the trailing fin. I’m not sure what this is called and I didn’t actually plan it this way, it’s just what turned out. It’s pretty loose, skatey and has an on top of the water feeling. In waist high waves, it’s responsive and doesn’t feel out of control but in a little bigger wave it feels like it slides out a bit on the face sometimes.
I like this rail style but would like to figure out what I could do to make it hold more on board #2, a next step-up board to the first for 4’-8’ surf. One of my favorite thrusters had a hard rail 2/3 up with a deep single concave and vee out the last 3". It was also significantly less volume though and I weigh about the same then as I do now. That board seemed to be more carve than snap though, mine is the opposite. Perhaps I should try that since I’m not going for a snappier board in bigger surf? Any suggestions?
at the very least you should disclose your height, weight, and surfing level/experience. if it is removable, I think you’ll have easier better results to stiffen up a thruster by changing to larger/more rake trailing fin and/or move it back towards the tail.
For hollower faster waves- go with a winged round pin hands down! And single or tri fin. 6’3-6’9x 19- 191/4" 2.5"-2 3/4" thick, low soft rail with a little more volume or fullness. Hard rails out the back third a bit softer in he middle and slight roll in nose third. Single concave. Not a board I shaped, but one I tried in hollow fast and brutal but clean surf. It surfed like a dream! U can shoukder hop a wave and than damn thiing was a rip stick! It flew! You want something narrower then 20" even. I would go 191/4" wide if ur of average height weight. Low soft rail can also be modded with a harder bottom edge if you want? But this particular shape I’m referring to had a slight roll in the middle and tucked edges on a single concave. Concave looked a bit deeper -just in front of the fin… And kinda faded out he back shallow concave. Narrow gunny nose, slightly wider tail…hot airbrush! Damn, that board was magic! Trust me shape and try a board like this on a hollow day. Make it a single fin with a long box as you can try dif fins, or go with a tri fin. Maybe a bit less tow and keep the fins less canted? Dunno, but I’m going to try to copy this old design cos it really stoked my world. I mean can you imagin dropping in late off a shoulder and the board would slide down face in total control and make every wave outhere! Well belive iit
true. 5’8" 165lbs. intermediate. i typically ride boards with a good amount of float for my weight. last winter i rode dims more conventional to my size - the deep single concave/hard railed board i mentioned was 5’8" x 19 3/4" x 2" eps and was probably one of my favorite thrusters - solid from 3’-8’. the only thing was my wave count was significantly lower than normal compared to my thick boards, especially amongst crowds.
here is the board i shaped. i’m happy with it in smaller surf and will have to wait for some decent waves to make some fin adjustments and see how it goes in medium surf.
my question is in regards to using a hard rail on a step-up board(my next board) - would different concaves or perhaps more tuck would help the board hold more than what i have going on with this board? the board will probably be a stretched outline of my first. between 6’2"-6’6" x 19 1/2"ish x 2 1/2"ish, wide point centered, thruster.
J d- you can do hard rails on a bit longer if you want… But I would deffinitely give atleast the front 1/3 of the nose area rolled the a rounded bottom edge and gradually harden it just near twins.I do a nose roll on my boards, and I also did a slight vee about 11" down the nose on my 5’9" tri. The concept is my "chop buster"idea I thought might work. Ever hit choppy waves and ur board feels like its knockin ya off balance? I figured a little roll and vee could off set the bumps? I am not sure it is doing it? But my rider gave me good feedback so it is atleast helping him do his thing. Don’t know, but I think the slight nose vee might even assist in making turns easier I’m hoping.