I’ve seen a whole lot of bizarre and innovative design elements added to surfboards, but I was wondering if anyone knows if “they” (including YOU, you shaping gurus…you princes of “soif”) have ever created interchangeable tails?! That is, like a swallow tail with an insert to make it a diamond or a pin.(or anything else, for that matter). Is this structurally feasible and sound (like with a “bisect” type of rod and latch system, or something similar). I am curious!!!Mahalo,nui!..Tom V.
I’ve seen a whole lot of bizarre and innovative design elements added to > surfboards, but I was wondering if anyone knows if “they” > (including YOU, you shaping gurus…you princes of “soif”) have > ever created interchangeable tails?! That is, like a swallow tail with an > insert to make it a diamond or a pin.(or anything else, for that matter). > Is this structurally feasible and sound (like with a “bisect” > type of rod and latch system, or something similar). I am > curious!!!Mahalo,nui!..Tom V…>>>Tom In the 70s there were a few companies that made interchangable tail-boards,such as the “Clinton” board which featured a swallowtail that could adapt a plastic insert tail section to make it a rounded pin or diamond tail.The board never did do much as far as a marketable stick,but it was interesting.I believe that Jeff Ho also made a interchangable tail(s) as well.Herb.
Just think of ordering boards with identical mid-board cross sections, and identical Pope bisects. You could combine a noseriding nose with a performance tail, or a performance nose with a retro tail… anything. If pope could match any cross section, you could even add shortened noses, or pin tails to your quiver. You could use parts of four boards to give you 16 rides. And it all would travel.
isn’t that what the Tinkler tail was? ie, a tail structure that allowed the rider to change tail shapes while at the beach.(circa 70,s)
isn’t that what the Tinkler tail was? ie, a tail structure that allowed > the rider to change tail shapes while at the beach.(circa 70,s) Sounds familiar,there were ,like I said,“A few companies”.Herb.
Matt - As I recall, it was a flexible swallow tail with an internal stiffener on each side that could be dialed into the main part of the board or out to the swallow portion via little knobs inset in the deck. I actually thought it was a pretty good idea - never rode one though and I haven’t a clue what happened to them.
…good idea and it has been done, it is the marketability and public acceptance that sometimes drives these things right into the corner along with a-symettrical shapes and tails. I made a couple of these interchangable tails for a shortboard once and found that I rareley changes them out. Yes tails make a difference on the way a board rides, but when I look ath the line up and see killer waves I tend to charge them with whatever configuration I have…I can be lazy.