Help me shape a bonzer 5 fin!

General Discussion
1

I am about to start shaping a 5’9" five-fin bonzer but really need some suggestions as to the concave and the rails. I am 6’2" 150lbs and ride a 5’9" twin fin and it works great. It is about 21" by 2.5" and I think I should keep these the same for the bonzer, but just make the tail rounded. I haven’t done concave ever, how do I do single concave to double? Do I just make the u-shape through the first half until the pivot point start doubling the concave? I am going to keep the rails somewhat hard throughout. How should the rails compare to a normal thruster? Pretty hard throughout? I just want a mellow board for a nice point break. Any suggestions?

2

whoa there, buddy…go back to the drawing board and do a little research on bottom contours for a bonzer 5. the board is a lot more than just sticking 5 fins on the bottom. concave and fin setup work in concert to provide lift. you’ll have two relatively deep concaves running between the center fin and the inside runners. these go pretty much all the way out the back of the board. then, you’ll have another pair of concaves, shallower than the first, running in between the inside runners and the outside runners. stop this concave about 2" shy of its exit off the rail.

pretty hard rails all the way around, with a nice sharp edge at the tail.

bonzers perform best in steep, walled up surf. if “a mellow board for a nice point break” is what you’re after, make a hull.

i have some bonzer pics and drawings that show concave and fin setup. when i’m back on my laptop, i’ll dig 'em up and post it on here.

3

Hey Soulstice, the Malcom & Duncan would shoot you for saying that the work best in lined up waves - even though you are probably right! With the right template they work well in everything. I had great fun last week on really fat chest high waves on my 7’6" 5 fin egg.

Surfera077, There is a good bonzer thread with all dimensions around in the last 3 months.

4

check this out: http://www.swaylocks.com/resources/detail_page.cgi?ID=1088


5

I have a zinger 9’ (4 fin) same concave design I thing. Let me know if you want any pics.

6

Here’s someone doing it and seems to be doing a great job.

Thread title - “Shaping a Bumblebee.” It’s a few pages back.

http://www.swaylocks.com/forum/gforum.cgi?post=302910;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread

Sorry, I don’t know how to post a “live” link. Maybe someone else can do it.

7

Soulstice,

Use this fin diagram with caution - when I dropped off my bumblee copy at Moonlight the other day Peter told me it was a bit off, the base lengths of the fins are a bit long. Also, when laying out my fin placements, I used the fin base dims off of the LokBox website and Peter told me that those are about 1/4" too long also, that Malcom Campbell had complained about a batch being too long. We re-adjusted my placements with a set of fins they had on hand.

Best to find a real CB bonzer to study carefully then make your own adjstments. Also, my concaves between the side runners continue all the way out to the rail. I have been told I should have stopped before the rail (like in this thread) but I did see some Hanel Bonzers that I’m pretty sure contiune all the way out. Anyway, mine is still at Moonlight getting glassed so still don’t know how it will go. If it’s a dog maybe I’ll order one from a pro…

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Ya that would be awesome thanks! What angle should the runners be at vertically?

Quote:

I have a zinger 9’ (4 fin) same concave design I thing. Let me know if you want any pics.

9

Has anyone seen this Flyer bonzer?

http://www.surfline.com/sdg/quiver/sbay_quiverotm03_board04.cfm

I have a Flyer and I wonder if I should just steal the shape and make a bonzer out of it of just go old school on the shape.

10

thanks for the heads up.

be sure and report back on how that board goes!

the board might have a tendency to catch when you’re coming off a top turn as a result of carrying the concave all the way out to the rail. no biggie.

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If it does, I’ll fill it in with Solarez!

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Quote:

I have a Flyer and I wonder if I should just steal the shape and make a bonzer out of it of just go old school on the shape."

while back I turned a 6’6" thruster pintail into a bonzer and it actually works pretty well. Its definately worth a try if you’ve got an extra board lying around. The big mistake I made with mine was not selecting large enough side fins to compensate for the lack of deep concave that a real bonzer would have. It’s killer barrel board because it holds great with the big center fin, but when you really put it hard up onto a rail all you’ve got in the water is your side fins and it tends to slide out.

13

hi surfer !

are you doing glasson or box fins ?

if glassons ,

and you don’t mind foiling and glassing ,

I have some homemade bonzer runners …just let me know where you are in a private message , if you like …

cheers

ben

14

no reports back on this, how did it go, did you finish it

15

Aloha,

 

I’m making a 9’ Zinger and thought if you still had pictures of your board.

 

Thanks,

 

Bu