And now getting back to my fish. I'm gonna go for volume (thanks to gdaddy), thick, with a lot of flat area on the deck. All the rocker is on the bottom, but the deck is flat front to back, and flat left to right 12" wide down the middle. I don't think I'll use a "stringer", just ribs, but I cut a stringer for reference purposes. The markings on my pattern rib are my rosetta stone for building the whole thing.
Wow, your mermaid really does look like the singer.
You could increase your volume even more if you extend the flat area of the deck out as much as another inch or so and use a steeper angle down to your rail. I think I have a pdf of a Lis fish template and rail profile, complete with the measurements and angles for the planer passes. The pdf has a lot of info and other mid-late 1970s templates, too. You might find it interesting. If you want I can email it to you.
The rockers for a mid-70s Lis 5-5 fish were 3.25" in the nose and 0" in the tail. I used 3.25" in the nose and 1.25" in the tail for my 5-5 fish variant and it turned out perfectly for the fin setup I used (small keel w/ twinzer leader). Depending on your length and fin setup you can go pretty flat. If you want I can send you a pdf of the template and deck/rail profiles I used for my board, too. Just let me know - you have my email.
I think the only limitation you have for “how steep” is whatever the limitations are when working in wood - a medium with which I have zero experience. The hard downrails used in some of the 1970s singlefins would include a flat deck out to about 2" from the rail with most of the thickness reduction being handled in the first 1" or so. I consider that excessive, but different strokes. Rich Pavel uses a flat deck out to about 2.5" - 3" for the decks on some of his fish models, and he usually includes a subtle concave in the deck. I’ve done that with several boards and it works quite well as far as making the transition between a really thick board and a more sensitive rail. Personally, I like it more than doming the deck, both for the extra volume and because it’s more comfortable FOR ME as far as paddling and standing on the deck. Plus, you basically get two crowns out of that contour instead of just one - it’s a bit like an I-beam. Obviously a thick board is still a thick board as far as flex goes, but everything is a compromise, right?
Bill Stewart uses a stepped deck on some of his boards that’s even more drastic - the deck comes out flat and drops 1/2" or more vertically (almost) before transitioning into a shortboard-style rail. It’s like taking a standard 2.25" thick shortboard off the rack and laminating a 1/2" or 3/4" sheet of foam coming out to the lap line and blending the foil in at both ends. Some would call that ugly but it apparently works.
And before anyone blasts me for citing these guys, I fully realize that neither of them are anywhere near the first shapers to use this sort of deck/transition. I’m just using them as examples for purposes of illustration.
No GDaddy, its not a moot point - despite not contributing the surf industry Huckleberry still can’t contain himself and started yet another anti Chinese production thread http://www2.swaylocks.com/forums/china-surf-shop-again
and managed to stir up comments such as this on this thread
see!!!
the hairs too long!
I cant see the mermaid
i got yer oggleworthy mermaid for ya, kensurf-[img_assist|nid=1042157|title=yarr|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=480]
[quote="$1"]
i got yer oggleworthy mermaid for ya, kensurf-[img_assist|nid=1042157|title=yarr|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=0|height=0]
[/quote]
Now thats a mermaid!
oh! and nice fins there Huck!
[quote="$1"]
Now thats a mermaid!
oh! and nice fins there Huck! [/quote]
!!!!!!
Looks great as always Huck! I love the way you are not afraid to experiment and try new tricks. Always fun to watch your builds come together. Great stuff!
Hi Huck,
Nice looking fish mate, deck's kinda retro
Interesting to think that i've been quoted on sway's for my comment on China by MrJ , apparently we've been sturring it up? I wonder weather he appriciates the whole picture?
Hi Huck,
Nice looking fish mate, deck's kinda retro
Interesting to think that i've been quoted on sway's for my comment on China by MrJ , apparently we've been sturring it up? I wonder weather he appriciates the whole picture?
[quote="$1"]
Looks great as always Huck! I love the way you are not afraid to experiment and try new tricks. Always fun to watch your builds come together. Great stuff!
[/quote]
Thanks Tuck, I'm not sure where I'm headed, but having fun experimenting with different approaches to building. The fish here is my first board where the deck and bottom are not connected, except at the rails. And both these are my first attempts using plywood planking.
And my first build was based on an existing board I liked, but these are out of my head - just based on boards I've seen or had in the past. So that was a different experience for me. And the fish is an unusual profile (although I'm sure its been done before) where all the rocker is on the bottom, there is no rocker on the deck - it is straight from tail to nose.
I have a lot more experimental stuff planned, hope I get a chance to pursue some of my wilder ideas! I'm trying to get both these done in time for the Ventura show, maybe I'll bring 'em with me if I do.
[quote="$1"]
Hi Huck,
Nice looking fish mate, deck's kinda retro
Interesting to think that i've been quoted on sway's for my comment on China by MrJ , apparently we've been sturring it up? I wonder weather he appriciates the whole picture?
[/quote]
Thanks, western - the deck is my way of paying homage to Kensurf's masterpiece
I'm planning on some artwork in my deck "emblem", and some artwork on the bottom as well.
that looks like a cold water mermaid!
[/quote]
Thanks Tuck, I'm not sure where I'm headed, but having fun experimenting with different approaches to building. The fish here is my first board where the deck and bottom are not connected, except at the rails. And both these are my first attempts using plywood planking.
That would be cool to see them at the show! The great thing about experimenting is you'll for sure come up with new methods that work and move HWS forward a step for all of us wood board kooks. The bad news is you'll break a lot of boards and find some ideas that don't work. I'm and experimenter too and usually an "under builder" because I'm going for a HWS that is as light and strong and a modern foam board. We're not there yet but we're close. I've broken a lot of boards that I spent a lot of time on. I don't really care it just gives me the excuse to start the next and every now and then I come across something that is light and holds together. Really glad to see someone else thats not afraid to think outside the box. I think most wood board guys especially those that come from construction tend to overbuild a wood surfboard like a house. haha Keep up the great work!