I'm looking to get a board shaped for myself, and hope to find someone local (SoCal area). When talking to shapers, I'm kinda being steered away from what I want because of current longboard trends, and because of the way blanks are made. I want a board 9' to 9.5', significantly less that normal rocker, thick (min 3 3/8"), single fin, single stringer, narrow, roll everywhere on bottom, probably 50/50 rail, and probably widest-behind-center. Needs to be able to catch waves early. I watched some film of Mickey Dora from the sixties, and it's kinda the style I go for: catch wave early, steer into pocket, hang a right. I had a board made by a local guy, but he's a short board expert- looking for someone who might have already built stuff like this. Problem seems to be: 1) current blanks (like even the U S Blanks Yater 9-8) seem to presume that your'e gonna want a board that's pretty flat side to side on bottom (almost no roll/belly); 2) has more rocker (Yater 9-8: 4 1/2" N, 3 5/8"T) than I'm thinking of . A few shapers I've talked to seem somewhat hesitent to think about specifying rocker less than natural- especially the amount I'm thinking. I think what they are thinking is to stick pretty closely to the basic original concept/design of the blank, while considering somewhat minor rail, channel, fin variations. I think nose rocker on my '63 Jacobs is 2 5/8". The board that worked best for me was a '95 Velzy 10'. I think it was like the Velzy 9-7 on the Aviso Composites board site. I'm 5' 11", 158 lbs.
I have a '63 Jacobs 9' that I like pretty much except for the weight. Also, it's been restored, and I worry about hurting it- so I'm probably gonna sell it. Also, I'm guessing I might wanna get away from that huge D-fin- but not sure. I have attached pictures.
Thanks........................
