"Heavy" gun report...

General Discussion
1

So, I skipped the stones… so to speak, and went with lots of glass - thanks to those of you who suggested it, pointed out that is/was Brewer’s trip (By the way, at the time I looked at the “current” and last three Surfers Journals, but I couldn’t find the article, so if anyone has the number/date thing, I’d still be interested in reading it.)

Anyway, don’t know if I’ll ever get pics, but I’ll give a little report:

refresher - 9’3’x21x4" (belly) 11" tail @ 1.5" thick. 12.5" nose. tri.

weighs 15-20lbs, seems ok in that respect.

Has serious front half V-belly -as previously posted about.

First real test 7’@17" = @ head 1/2+ Local rock reef - first time to make waves there for me ;-0

take off on the corner next to a quadruple up bowl… Some of 'em, if big enough, peel right off that bowl…

Caught four, two were easy drops, but two felt like steep sucking bowls - and a couple of 'em had “re-drops” into steep inside sections… not always smooth faces

Well - I think the front V, plus the weight, made it pretty nice, as it felt smooth, and responsive, but not twitchy or sticky. Considering some of the wave faces, it felt smooth, plus the nice glide feeling I’ve read about, but wouldn’t have said I’d experienced before.

The weight makes it more work to carry, but once it’s in the water it’s fine, and I’m sure it helped once I caught the wave.

I think the V-belly in the front is a trip… For a thick, semi-wide, well, I don’t know, some say 21" is wide, but it seems fine to me, in fact, with the V-belly, I feel like I could handle a couple more inches… Ha! Well, I rode it for the very first time, the day I finished it, on a dropping swell at a weak beach break about shoulder high, and even though it I was way over gunned, I feel like the V-belly and “sk8” rails, ala HiC, (Finished, the rails are about 2 3/8" thick to about 2 1/2" in, then it curves up to the 4" thickness in the “belly” region.) enabled me to surf down the line with ease. Granted I have yet to complete a full cut back - yesterday, I went for one on a flat shoulder and fell off… I laughed, thinking later, I’m still use to my 6’6" quad from the summer… Ha!

In summary - so far, so freakin’ good. I think the V-Belly and weight really made the steep bumpy drops feel smooth and sure… Can’t wait to push it up another head+ Ha!

Curious to hear if anyone has similar or differing experiences with heavier and/or V-hull/“belly” guns…

So, agian, thanks to all the Swaybreathren for all the support.

2

Thanks for the report TaylorO…weight is such a trustworthy friend in big/serious surf (and that definition varies widely)

I haven’t weighed my Brewer/Chapman 9’0" but the damm thing is solid and heavy…it’s got a very soft forward vee/belly.

Of all it’s characteristics I would say the most noteworthy is an ability to get in early and take the drop safely in the waves for which it was designed for…which is Sunset Beach with 20 knot trades.

If your paddling into 10 foot plus surf who the hell wants to fuck around getting caught in the lip, or caught inside because you can’t catch 'em on the peak.

As Gary Elkerton said…“your either out there hunting, or your being hunted”…

Unless your a pro,or getting dragged behind a jetski ,without a decent, solid gun with weight your just a fluffy duck floating in the lineup getting in the way.

Have you had to change your style to ride this length board?

I’m just curious because you definitely have to draw different lines on a 9foot plus gun, snowboard style lines that anticipate where you need to be and maintain flow and momentum.

I know most pros would have no idea how to and I doubt most of’em have ever ridden a 9’ Plus gun (with the exception of going straight at Waimea).

Tom Curren and Sunset Beach was the last great combination of stylish , modern “gun” surfing IMO. Billy Hamilton in “Big Wednesday” laid it down beautifully as well.

Guys ride toothpicks out there now and it looks shit to my eyes.

Steve

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My ‘go to’ board once it gets halfway serious is 11’6" x 37#…

Not just for the ‘run for yor life’ waves, but for serious fun on an expanded playfield…

As you said the drawbacks are few…The carry to the waterline, and the serious back twisting torque on backside bottom turns…

All else exceeds those two factors…

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Paul and Steve - Thanks for the thoughts. I wrote a whole thing, and when I posted it, the down time had begun and it’s gone. So, I’ll write more later. But the short of it is, Steve, I don’t ride much different. I have a 10’ gun, which this replaced, and while I’ve not seen myself on video, so I don’t know, being 44, I came up trying to surf like Reno, and other “style masters” - vertical surfing isn’t my thing, just trying for the hole, and cutting back, taking the high line, etc.