How to measure board length

I know that in boards at 9 foot and longer, you would measure the length using the bottom side from nose tip to tail end. How do you measure length for boards at 7 foot and shorter that have greater rocker? Same way using the bottom? Or using the deck stretching the tape taught from nose tip to tail end?

I know that in boards at 9 foot and longer, you would measure the length > using the bottom side from nose tip to tail end. How do you measure length > for boards at 7 foot and shorter that have greater rocker? Same way using > the bottom? Or using the deck stretching the tape taught from nose tip to > tail end? I’m also under the impression that one measures the length of longboards using the bottom. I’m not too sure about the shorter boards with lots-o-rocker?

I know that in boards at 9 foot and longer, you would measure the length > using the bottom side from nose tip to tail end. How do you measure length > for boards at 7 foot and shorter that have greater rocker? Same way using > the bottom? Or using the deck stretching the tape taught from nose tip to > tail end? Let’s get this straight once and for all. Geometry states that lenght is measured by the SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO POINTS. Not over and around. If you have two stop blocks a fixed distance apart and put and object between them, it either is as long as the prescribed distance or isn’t. I was director of the central Florida Eastern Surfing Association and during contests that required a board to be a determined length, we had a 10’ 2x4 with stops for 9’0", regulation longboard and 6’0", regulation kneeboard. Longboards minimum 9’0", kneeboards maximum 6’0". ( rule 13b USSA) A 6’0, measured from the bottom" knee board is about 3/4" too long. a 9’0" longboard, measured from the bottom is about 1" too short. read em’ and weep, one knee board competitor had to hack saw off his nose, while longboarders scrambled to find boards to compete on.

great, building an 11’ set of calipers should be a challange! speaking of…Teddy, e-mail me.

you’re back. how was vacation? where did you go? whenever you can make those calipers…that would be sweet. i have the $$$. just let me know when i should send it…thanks JR

Take note that some shapers do measure along the bottom. I ordered a 8’2" Hybrid thinking it would be the overall length when in fact it wasn’t.

Take note that some shapers do measure along the bottom. I ordered a > 8’2" Hybrid thinking it would be the overall length when in fact it > wasn’t. 'and our new bakers dozen, 11

Take note that some shapers do measure along the bottom. I ordered a > 8’2" Hybrid thinking it would be the overall length when in fact it > wasn’t. But, does it really matter if your 8’2" is 8’0" or 8’1"? This thread got me to thinking about intervals in a surfboard quiver… that is, how different in length boards need to be before they actually surf differently. I don’t think that I can tell the difference between two surfboards that only differ in length by 1 inch, or 2 inches (for example a 7’10" and an 8’0" surf the same to me). Some surfers I’ve talked to seem to think that they can tell the difference between two (otherwise identical) boards that are 3 inches apart in length. I personally think that about 6 inches is a good “quiver divider” — that is, I think a good quiver should have a 7’0", 7’6", 8’0", 8’6" and so on. Maybe with very short boards it becomes more important to have them closer together (probably the difference between a 6’0" and a 6’6" is larger than between an 8’0" and an 8’6"). What do you think?

Keith, I hear you and you’re probably right. I most likely wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. But us old guys need as much float as we can get, and as in other departments, every inch counts.

Keith, I hear you and you’re probably right. I most likely wouldn’t be > able to tell the difference. But us old guys need as much float as we can > get, and as in other departments, every inch counts. Hey, Oldsurfdog,that certainly wasn’t intended w/ any disrepect (I’m 46 myself and my boards have gotten bigger over the years too!) I was just trying to get some discussion going on a topic other than war/politics/religion (i.e. surfboards!!) Keith