As I posted awhile back, I want to make my own fish. I am in FL and the > only thing around is longboard house, which carries the David Nuiewa (I > have no idea how to spell that) fish. They are sweet, and probably done by > you, but too expensive for me, and the salesmen there are wack. Everytime > I go in there I feel like I am stereotypical used car lot.>>> Anyway my question is, Is a 6’2"C a viable blank to get to make a 6’ > fish? I was thinking of cutting the length off the nose and adjusting from > there. Or would something like a 7’3" eaton blank (the funboard/egg > blank) be better. That way I can cut the nose and tail off for a flat > bottom? I’m leaning toward the oversized blank, but I’m not sure. If you > could suggest anything, I would be very stoaked. Thanks. Mr. Mike d, I’ll give you a hint. The biggest mistake that you or any of the pros can make, trying to make a fish(the way I can get them), is to use a blank that is close to the length of the fish that you want to end up with. The name brand fish that I have seen filter up this way, are clearly shaped out of a blank that was designed for something completely different(kneeboard, or squeek out of a thruster something). I spend the extra money (I pass it on to price of the board, partly why my fish cost so much), so that I can comfortably get the width in the tail and the correlating thickness’s to give me the foil I’m looking for from the entry through the wide point. Look for that! Clark Foam doesn’t have a blank in the short size range that I can use for my designs that satisfy all of the requirements of my needs. Are you trying to make a fish like mine? Or Stu’s? Or Herb’s? Or Clyde’s? Or Skip’s Or the Lis type (which has it’s background as a kneeboard)or other? Caliper something that you see that you like, and take your measurements with you to where your getting your blank, and discover either one of mine in side it,(by measuring it) or one of the other gentelmen shaper’s fish in there. In the 70’s, when we shaped a Dyno, the owner was a hard core businessman, he would not pay for Clark foam. We used Rogers foam, a smaller company in Santa Ana for all of the Corky Carrol models, the David Nuuhiwa models, and everything else that we could sell at the time. Rogers foam is long gone, and I still shape my fish out of a Clark blank that is gone long. The Clark blank that I use, I still consider a trade secret, and I don’t order them under my name. The front portion of this response should get you started. Good Luck!
Are the changes you have made since the 70 directed at making the fish > more conducive to stand-up surfing? Also, I’d appreciate a little detail > on how these things are surfed and what conditions they are designed for. > Specifically, do you have to be an experienced surfer to get the benefit > of one of these shapes? I’ve been surfing only a couple years, but am > pretty proficient on a shortboard. Just wondering of an investment in one > of these would be a waste for some one with my limited experience. Thanks Your investment in one of these would only offer you an UNLIMITED option towards your experience. It may take you a week or two, to get a grip on the speed out of the gate. Some experience will only help of course. These boards are as fast as they get. There is a definite learning curve. But, oh what a curve, you’ll love every minute of the learning. Like a great book, all of the following pages get better and better. Then, is there is a sequel?
Magic Man what weight cloth do you glass your fishes in? volan or silane?>>> Your investment in one of these would only offer you an UNLIMITED option > towards your experience. It may take you a week or two, to get a grip on > the speed out of the gate. Some experience will only help of course. These > boards are as fast as they get. There is a definite learning curve. But, > oh what a curve, you’ll love every minute of the learning. Like a great > book, all of the following pages get better and better. Then, is there is > a sequel?
Unreal …David Tutor copies…do they rides fish designs…Lis is a kneeboard, I saw a Skip and it looked good, bout 5.7" although I like the Brom fins much more. I still ride my Dyno/Brom 5.10" fish every now and then and Steve if you want it e-mail me You Should Have It I don’t ride it much anymore Iam too old too fat for 5.10" heavy and narrow design although it flys faster than fast and David signed it on the bottom Fly Baby Aloha David Nuuhiwa…I don’t know Steve get me a black or somthing we’ll see about you getting one of yours back to you 25 years later…I don’t mind at all. It’s the red one in the classic photos. Now…Herb shapes a few fish designs a year all for friends only…He uses my Dyno Templetes Martin/Brom/Mchale and Lis I had a pink 5.5" as a kid. He makes his fins from 12 ply sheets we also have original fin templetes from those boards …It’s always nice to look at an original before you make a copy…Like a 1957 Stratocaster you can’t copy them, they look the same but don’t sound or feel the same…Why is that! Materials It’s hard to go back to the future not that it can’t be done but it’s a lot of work! When I showed Herbie Flecher my Fish at Lowers last summer he said it’s take alot of work, now Iam not into MFG. but is everything pop outs? Now if Nuuhiwa is making the Martin Fish again iam Stoked! Those skate but are limited I know cuz I still have mine …look at classic photos Yellow Dyno 5.10" That’s why I ride a Martin and a Brom two different fish designs and the Brom handles hallower waves but doesn’t skate like the Martin in mush. I had my brother make me two fish designs all in the photos /classic/experimental forum… the blue one is wide heavy and slow…But rips…The best part is that it paddles…Important when your 190lb and 41 y.o. It keeps up with the longer boards…Important…Crowded conditions will bum any fish surfer. The 6.1 Quad , David saw me ride this at H.B. pier in 1’slop is wide lite and is a mother in 1-5’ surf everyboby that sees me ride this is stoked …you know getting barrled and doing a 360 when you come out into a long roundhouse cuttback then another 360 when the wave is 3’ high…Fun City and at 41 I still feel good!..If you find my Brother ask him he might make one but as art goes some are very good and some are not as good. That’s life bradda! But if you get a magic fish from Herb for say 350.00 It will be more modern than most due to my imput on whats needed now in the surf not 25 years later copies…Sorry but I have mine and I’d rather ride my brothers updated models cuz we.ve put so much hard work into them! Nothing comes easy and I kept asking Nuuhiwa to make real fish desins and others not for cash or ?? because I believe in other surfers riding a different board than a log every fuc…day! And as I see more fish designs being made I remember the times when and still experience surfers asking , looking and trying my board for the first time…Yes you can have your log or thrusters, 5 finners I have mine …but when it’s 5 foot in the face an I want to rip I pull out my Quad with original Dyno fins and go fishing…Good luck too all of you in making surfings new IMAGE A REALITY for me it’s happening and before long I’ll be able to walk into Harbour or Bruce Jones Surfboards and see a rack of da kind fish designs like I used too at Dyno and see all the kids riding fish designs and Ripping…I did for David…it took 20 years
Hey Ray, I heard you say the same thing a couple of years ago on Rich’s site. Right down to the strat rap. Time to change the strings?
I appreciate all of the responses. I checked out surfenginez.com and I > must say that is exactly what I’m looking for. Those are some truly > beautiful boards, but getting 7 or 8 big ones out of the bank for a fish > might cause my wife to spontaneously combust. We’ll have to see what the > future holds. I was already thinking about a Frye, but I guess that is out > for a while as well. Still looking for now… The board will last you for years. Tell her that. Just don’t go near - that it will last longer than her. (I’ve heard this). 7 or 8 big ones might just be the most memorible big ones you ever surf over and over and over and over. I’ll be here! Give me a call. Might not be that painfull, you heard the Doc. Havin fun!
I too have seen these little beauties at the beachouse in Santa Barbara. > The glass jobs are equal to the shapes in quality. It seems Brom has a > plan to put out a CLASSIC shape coupled with fiberglass work that looks > like fine art. My guess is that the glass work is in the $300.00 range. I > here Beatty glassing has the most talented painter / artist that can equal > Steve’s mastery with a planner. I also heard he was a full time boat > designer / builder.If you like those Copperfish glass jobs check these > out. I go in ther just to look sometimes. It’s Bitchin.My call is to go > with the experience , and forget the David / Tutor copies. YOU WON’T BE SORRY, STEVE BROM
Magic Man>>> what weight cloth do you glass your fishes in? volan or silane? Your choice! Want it forever? Double 8 oz volan deck, plus one on the bottom. Some colors are a bitch, because of the green cast to the cloth. But then again if you love that coke bottle glassing color history then volan! Then there is an unlimited color effects in the 8 oz silane mode, with strength, and some weight. These fish are balanced, so the weight factor due to a few extra oz’s of glass weight, are not going to affect the performance of a good one. You want S’glass?,strong stuff, and lighter! E-glass? Take care of it. Clear or yellow deck, for melting out heel well dents, as it wears. Epoxy? Only for a select few!
Good ol Dick…I miss Roger’s foam for some sick reason!!! Mr.Magic is absolutely correct…most of the fish I see these days are cut out of the wrong blank.Herb.
so Herb, if this is the type of board you’re shooting for, say a 6’4" or 6’6", do you buy a 7_4R, a 7_9E, or an 8_3E…how much beef does one need? i mention those 3 because i have experience with them. are others more suitable? ramon>>> Good ol Dick…I miss Roger’s foam for some sick reason!!!>>> Mr.Magic is absolutely correct…most of the fish I see these days are > cut out of the wrong blank.Herb.
so Herb, if this is the type of board you’re shooting for, say a 6’4" > or 6’6", do you buy a 7_4R, a 7_9E, or an 8_3E…how much beef does > one need? i mention those 3 because i have experience with them. are > others more suitable? ramon 7’-5"A , 6’-11"A , 7’-3"PB.Herb.
As I posted awhile back, I want to make my own fish. I am in FL and the > only thing around is longboard house, which carries the David Nuiewa (I > have no idea how to spell that) fish. They are sweet, and probably done by > you, but too expensive for me, and the salesmen there are wack. Everytime > I go in there I feel like I am stereotypical used car lot.>>> Anyway my question is, Is a 6’2"C a viable blank to get to make a 6’ > fish? I was thinking of cutting the length off the nose and adjusting from > there. Or would something like a 7’3" eaton blank (the funboard/egg > blank) be better. That way I can cut the nose and tail off for a flat > bottom? I’m leaning toward the oversized blank, but I’m not sure. If you > could suggest anything, I would be very stoaked. Thanks. Matt, I am also in the Indialantic area and want to make my own fish. I’m not a fan of the longboard house either. Plus new board prices are an issue for me too. It is less expensive and far more rewarding to make my own (sorry for saying that to all that make boards for income). But I make them just for me and have only done shortboards and fun shapes. I would like to make a fish too, but I really don’t know enough about their design. I admit that I haven’t done all my homework yet though. Anyway, are you (or any others) willing to share more about your shape? Thanks, Max
I am willing to share any info you need. I am from New Smyrna Beach, if you want to meet up some where I’ll share my templates and info with you. I am no Guru like some of the others on the board, but I will try to help as much as I can.
I appreciate all of the responses. I checked out surfenginez.com and I > must say that is exactly what I’m looking for. Those are some truly > beautiful boards, but getting 7 or 8 big ones out of the bank for a fish > might cause my wife to spontaneously combust. We’ll have to see what the > future holds. I was already thinking about a Frye, but I guess that is out > for a while as well. Still looking for now… Hey Dave before you make a final decision, (By the way you can miss with a “Frye”) you could learn alot by talking to John Mel here in Santa Cruz. The guy is very willing to talk shapes and has a vast knowledge of fish and how to approach shaping one for a varity of different performance requirements. He’s very open to custom work and discussing things. Because I’ve known the guy for over 30 years, I think you could do yourself a favor and drop by Freeline. He’s not afraid to try something new either, not too many around who know as much as he does about how shape changes will affect responce in different conditions. He just shaped me a speed platter that is HOT! I don’t want to surf anything else unless it gets real big or it’s time for a long board. I’d be interested in what you decide on.
I am willing to share any info you need. I am from New Smyrna Beach, if > you want to meet up some where I’ll share my templates and info with you. > I am no Guru like some of the others on the board, but I will try to help > as much as I can. Thanks Matt. I’m in Mel Beach and don’t get up that way too often. With holiday commitments I doubt I will get a chance anytime soon. Maybe after the new year? If you’d be willing to at least let me know the dimensions and any tips now in an email I’d be very happy. You can email me direct at . Otherwise, please let me know how I can get in touch with you later on. Thanks.