How wide can you go???

A new year, and the start of a new project - a 7ft + fun board single fin. The thing is that I want plenty of float and stability, but I understand there’s a trade off in the process. I’ve ridden a 7’2 at 22 inches wide, which was cool. If that width was stretched out to 23 or even 24 inches wide, would the board become too clumsy?? I just want to create something a little bit different. Cheers Peaman

i have a 7’3 x 22 and i shaped it to see how far i could push the numbers, i found that is almost the limit. unless your about 400lb i wouldnt go any wider than 7’2’ x 22. things might go a bit strange going any wider at that length. ps: hows that job in the box factory.

I used to ride a Jack’s feather weight in 1978 it was 7’6"x 23 with a rounded pin and semi dolphin nose. the rails were 50/50 pinched almost to a point. it was the coolest thing i ever road at Salt Creek S.C. I surfed that board till it sank out from under me in 1982. Wider is better, but tail templates are more important as you get older and heavier. It won’t turn if you taper in too early; it will just lean over over and dump you in the soup!

The wider you go, the harder it is to go from edge to edge. So it kinda depends on how you surf and the conditions. Wide doesn’t work so well in power as there is too much efficient planing so you lose control. You can improve the rail to rail reaction by going with twin fin keels (fish) or by adding rocker and/or v. But all that stuff hanging in the water will tend to slow it down some. If you go twin fin you can keep the rocker and rails low. If you like the egg thing, try softening and pinching the rails and go with a single fin hull design. All that said, one of the most fun boards I ever rode was a 6 foot long, 24 inches wide single fin. It just killed 3-4 foot high tide backoff walls. Scooted all over the place. As soon as the tide dropped and things steepened up, it got a little sketchy. It surfed me rather than the other way around. Newbs

The wider you go, the harder it is to go from edge to edge. So it kinda > depends on how you surf and the conditions. Wide doesn’t work so well in > power as there is too much efficient planing so you lose control. You can > improve the rail to rail reaction by going with twin fin keels (fish) or > by adding rocker and/or v. But all that stuff hanging in the water will > tend to slow it down some. If you go twin fin you can keep the rocker and > rails low. If you like the egg thing, try softening and pinching the rails > and go with a single fin hull design. All that said, one of the most fun > boards I ever rode was a 6 foot long, 24 inches wide single fin. It just > killed 3-4 foot high tide backoff walls. Scooted all over the place. As > soon as the tide dropped and things steepened up, it got a little sketchy. > It surfed me rather than the other way around.>>> Newbs Guys, I think you’re understanding where I 'm trying to go with this. This whole thing was born, from a 9’6 I ride over here in England shaped by a guy called Paul Blacker. The board’s kinda of a classic cruiser with Volan cloth. But, its like one of those boards that never lets you down. I mean, I take the thing out in way bigger than it was designed for, but its just always there. You jump up maybe a little late, but it gives, it stays with you. Anyway, I picked up a second hand copy, of Autralian Surfers Journal, and there was a picture of a guy called JoJo Perrin in th 70’s at Malibu sat with his quiver. These boards are just real sexy looking, thick, wide teardrop shapes, single fin, with slightly pulled out pintail at the rear. They just look right. So, thats where I’m going, or trying to achieve. By the way Minger, I don’t work in the Box factory, but thanks for asking. Thanx Peaman

how did the trip to oz go? take a look at the nine plus magic carpets i make a version of them that is 23 wide, 19 nose, 16 tail and the board is amazing, sounds like what you are after.

Guys, I think you’re understanding where I ‘m trying to go with this. This > whole thing was born, from a 9’6 I ride over here in England shaped by a > guy called Paul Blacker. The board’s kinda of a classic cruiser with Volan > cloth. But, its like one of those boards that never lets you down. I mean, > I take the thing out in way bigger than it was designed for, but its just > always there. You jump up maybe a little late, but it gives, it stays with > you. Anyway, I picked up a second hand copy, of Autralian Surfers Journal, > and there was a picture of a guy called JoJo Perrin in th 70’s at Malibu > sat with his quiver. These boards are just real sexy looking, thick, wide > teardrop shapes, single fin, with slightly pulled out pintail at the rear. > They just look right. So, thats where I’m going, or trying to achieve.>>> By the way Minger, I don’t work in the Box factory, but thanks for asking.>>> Thanx Peaman, Check out Geoff McCoys’ boards. From what you have stated here, they seem to be what you are after. I have two of these boards in my quiver and they go like rockets (a 6’4" & 6’10"). His boards go up to 22" wide and are really good in down the line type of waves.

how did the trip to oz go? take a look at the nine plus magic carpets i > make a version of them that is 23 wide, 19 nose, 16 tail and the board is > amazing, sounds like what you are after. Hiya Paul, how goes it?? Yeah I’ve seen the Magic carpets, and I liked the Idea, but I spoke to a couple of guys down in Devon, who reckoned the rails caught alot when riding. Having said that, I’ve never ridden one, and I guess if your just hammering down the line they should be great. I was thinking about pulling out the nose a bit, you know, just a bit more streamlined. Your Mini glide looks the Biz, I think this kind of shape is going to take off more over here. Oz was great, but the weather wasn’t too kind at first, so we suffered a fair few blown out days. But, get this, on the last evening at Wategoes, my brother and I paddled out, and who went flying past grinning from ear to ear - Beau Young! can that guy pull some moves. Mellissa Combo was out too and she’s got some style, and she’s very cute!! My family joined us out there,(suprise) so I didn’t get to surf as much as I would normally, but yeah I just love the place. Any ideas guys on blanks to yield 7’2 23" wide flatish rocker with maybe 3 - 3 1/8 thickness??? Laters Peaman

Peaman, Check out Geoff McCoys’ boards. From what you have stated here, > they seem to be what you are after. I have two of these boards in my > quiver and they go like rockets (a 6’4" & 6’10"). His boards > go up to 22" wide and are really good in down the line type of waves. Gill, I checked out Geoff Mcoy, they’re really different eh, those guys are very inspirational. Did you ever see any of Bob Cooper’s work?

Did you get to surf the shipwreck? though to see beau young surf! when i was out there i paddled out at avalon one ot those nice glassy days that oz gets way too often and tom carroll was out. did you get out to any of the factories in byron? if you ever want a template of one of the mccoy nuggets i have a 6’4.

Did you get to surf the shipwreck?>>> though to see beau young surf! when i was out there i paddled out at > avalon one ot those nice glassy days that oz gets way too often and tom > carroll was out.>>> did you get out to any of the factories in byron?>>> if you ever want a template of one of the mccoy nuggets i have a 6’4. Nah, didn’t surf the wreck, which is a real shame. The trip just didn’t happen as I thought it would. We were booked into Byron for only a week, and we drove up there virtually straight after landing in Sydney, 11 hours in a land cruiser. My girly had a massive sense of humour faliure!! My family were out to so I couldn’t be too selfish and go all day in the water. But next time…! I would love to live there one day. If you could chuck a paper template in the post, that would be fantastic. It does look like an interesting shape to maybe start from. Are you still using Homeblown blanks?? Cheers Paul Peaman

I realize you wrote this post eight yrs ago.  but do you have the photo of jojo perrin’s surfboards?