Hydrodynamics (and the like) of surfboards

Thanks for all of the help and advice guys. I have done a lot of scanning of old posts and discussions and I’m happy with my understanding of board design, but as I was saying above, the discussions here often tend to be discussions about single parameters in isolation (e.g. concave vs. flat, or the theory behind hydrofoils and lift and whether the formulas have been misinterpreted). Seeing as it is all broken up into arguments in these isolated design aspects, I was hoping people might be interested in talking more about the bigger picture. Obviously not though, but fair enough.

 

Thanks for the offer of the book as well, but seeing as I’m in Australia it might not be the easiest to send it over and back, etc.

 

So far surffoils and kcasey seem to be talking more about this bigger picture, I’m learning a lot from your posts, thanks :slight_smile:

 

What I’m thinking is that there almost seems to be more about board design when you think about the dynamics of surfing (e.g. kcasey’s discussion about the peak pressure point around the front foot of a shortboard, the angled waterflow under the board, and how the water is spent and passed out the back of the board), and how the design elements of a board might synergise together to take full advantage of this (rather than design element shopping as kcasey points out in one of his posts).

 

Several types of boards that seem to take advantage of this “peak pressure-angled flow-spent water” dynamic seem to come into mind in this regard. One my own boards by Pridmore called the Swinger which seems an ingenious mix of design elements which seems to balance drive, release and curves for something pretty damn special (despite looking unusual). The modernised Mini-Simmons are another that comes to mind, such as Dan Tomo’s interesting modern applications of the theory.

 

What I’m getting at is that I think there may be a design tangent or revolution quite close, and I wouldn’t be surprised if surffoils, pridmore and some others are scraping into it. Something that can be described in terms of understanding the dynamics of the water flowing under and around the board, and what elements produce drag to that water, and how to minimise that drag. So far it seems everyone is guarding their unique understanding like a leprechaun and his pot of gold, which is totally understandable to me. Never the less, if fair enough.

If anyone in this forum trips something new it will be Surfoils. Check his threads on flow through vents. That is why I nominated him for the innovations he’s coming up with.

To be fair, guys like kcasey and herb spitzer make way more sense than I do.

 All of my ideas come from other people, Herbs induction board started me doing the flow thru vent fins.

 gdog101 started me off with the 100% hollow idea.

 My hydrofoiled bodyboards came from Terry Hendricks boards.

The Pineapple board came from a mix of ideas from this forum.

 

So I dont bring anything new, I just look at others work and go from there according to what the voices in my head say.

Surfoils, Very good of you to give credit to others, where it is due. Fact is, we are all influenced by the info we take in. Some choose to act on it, some don’t. If it weren’t for the Hawaiians and their culture and Royalty, none of us would be here. That goes for a lot of people that followed. T. Blake, J. Quigg, B. Simmons, McTavish, Greenough…too many to mention. But the guys who keep trying, are the lights of today to varying degrees and impact. For better or worse, I’m going to lump you in at least within the parameters of this forum. I’m not saying that the accomplishments are equal, but you are helping to keep the torch lit. For that, I say GOOD ON 'YA!!

well said Tblank.....carry that torch....