Aiming to make a “mellow velo” that is more versitile in terms of waves. Idea is less hull depth and less rocker.
Any suggestions about how to distribute the lateral bottom curve i.e. widish flat in middle and curve more toward rails (maybe divide board into 1/4’s and 2 of those flat in middle, one either side of stringer and the outer 1/4’s curved) vs more gradual curve and only flat in maybe 1/4 of bottom down stringer? Hope to ride in wide variety of sizes and conditions. Am I dreaming? Have heard that original Greek spoon fit the bill but have never seen one to know how bottom was done.
Never done, Doc. Asking question another way, what is difference in ride between most of hull curve concentrated toward rails (like Greenough edge board but smoothed out, no edge and with more drivey fin and stiff flex of board) vs distributed more gradually across bottom?
Ah- well, a batten gives you a nice, smooth curve that will give you good water flow, while something drawn freehand can have some odd quirks to it.
Now, if you have the hull curve mostly at the edges, then you have a flatter bottom surface that’ll plane easier, push water less, probably be faster up to a point. Theoretically, I think the full-round curve should rise up more at high speed with less immersed surface and thus less drag, but again that aspect of it pushing water aside and in front of it rather than planing on top of it makes for more drag.
It does help Doc. Thank you. Confirms my feeling that the full round (or closer to it) would be the best choice for macking power lines, the flat middle the best for everything else and would still work ok in the ultimate conditions.
If you are making a flex spoon, keep it flat 'cause it will flex into just the right amount of roll on its own. Flex a round bottom and you may over-do it.
If you round the transition from bottom to rail, it will feel smoother in the water. A tuck or edge will make it feel crisper. I found the 1/4" edge needed to be up on rail at a steeper angle to disengage the bottom. My edge boards handle mackers just fine and are a little faster to plane for quicker take-offs.
http://www.swaylocks.com/resources/uploads/1/401-729760edge2.jpg 4 inches in the nose, 1.5" tail for a 6’4" stand-up. If you are making a flex kneeboard; I’d say 3" nose and flat the rest of the way. My board was an experiment to see how pinched Liddle-like rails would work with a flat bottom. I want to do another with more Greenough-like rails and a flex tail this summer.
Guy named John Tipple lived in Santa Cruz early-mid 70’s rode pre-edge triplane foot board.zero rocker in back not much in front. Big single concave. 50/50 rails. Very high aspect fin. I think Bob Duncan shaped it. Fastest guy in the water for sure. Deepest take offs, insane bottom turns. Mr come-from-behind!
