is it rude to go into a surfshop with a tape measurer and start measuring the boards subtleties?
mayb not if you get permission from shop and shaper.i know there was a whole thread about this sometime back.perhaps it’s in the archives…
Yeah.
Unless you know the owner/manager and he is cool with it.
There are a few other threads on this.
but…
I’ve herd of shops letting people go as far as to trace shapes. I’m sure people get plenty of negative reactions too; but there is no harm in asking, except possibly to the shapers who don’t want their shapes traced.
The worst thing they could to is say that only posers don’t come up with origional planshapes, and well…enough said 
Cheers.
ask the shaper first…
if you go into a shop looking for some specs, with the shaper’s permission, the manager would have to be real shmuck to turn you away.
im gonna ask.
Groovy.
what kind of shapes are you looking at?
Hey Poser,
I’ve actually gotten kicked out by a few surfshops for taking pictures of boards. They were more concerned about me copying the “art” designs of their shirts or scouting out the joint. But I’ve actually gotten a few traces of boards with the clerks watching. Usually my friend would talk to them while I traced but they knew what was going on. Just go in there and tell them that you are interested in a certain board and you know what specs work for you so you need to measure each board. Usually the clerks are cool about this as they surf a bit too and are way underpaid. But if the manager catches you, you might need more explaining.
Cheers,
Rio
What if a surf shop gives the dimensions online? a local shop I know has all their boards online and it gives all the info on each one.
Yeah Daklaw,
I’ll have my buddy come over to your place and pose as a person from Publishers Clearing house and engage you in conversation at your front door, meanwhile I’ll sneak in through your backdoor eat the leftovers from that italian dinner you had the night before, which you were really looking forward to by the way, walk into the living room, throw one of your movies on and put my feet up on your table, making myself quite at home in YOUR house.
I hardly see a problem with that, maybe you do???
Just ask nice, maybe they say no, maybe they say yes. No matter what they say be understanding or thank them profusely, whichever applies to the situation. I wouldn’t make a habit of it, so if they let you be sure to get everything you need the first time, also try to come at a time when there won’t be too many people in the shop. If one shop says no, try another, you may find a shop that’s quite supportive of your shaping and help you in more ways than an outline shape.
Hi Fosta,
Heh. I get your point. But I didn’t say do it if they weren’t cool with it. How could I trace boards if they thought I was up to no good. My friend isn’t that charming as to mesmerize the clerks with his banter (I guess we should try the publisher’s clearing house bit next time). I never advocated being rude and storming in there and whipping the tape measure against the employees and holding them hostage while I traced. I just gave a brief discription of what I’ve done and that clerks (that I’ve dealt with) are OK with it. Just as you advised, I asked nicely as I always do. The time that I got thrown out was for taking pictures and it wasn’t for copying the boards’ outline they were cool with that. It was because they thought I was going to copy the designs of their shirts (go figure).
Anyways, I just saw Borat and I’m still cracking up.
Dzienkuje,
Rio
Yo Daklaw,
They make me take off my shoes at the airport, so I guess a tape measure is as dangerous as anything. You got a tape in your hand and people will listen to what you have to say:
(Portrayed in poor 70’s acting for some reason???)
Daklaw, I picture you as a sole righteous brotha and the store clerks as “the man”, don’t know why but it just goes down in my head like that.
Store clerk 1:“Woh man, what’s the tape for?”
Daklaw:“None of you suckers move, I gotta tape measure and I mean business!”
Store Clerk 2 to Store Clerk 1:“Just do as he says” To Daklaw:“Just take what you want and go.”
Daklaw:“I’m measurin every last motha in here, I want the twins, thrustas, quads and singles and don’ think I fogot the motha lovin bonzas!”
Store Clerk 1:“No not our precious measurements!”
Daklaw laughs maniacally, proceeds to measure boards without any regard for the innocent surfers around him, end of scene.
- or-
Try the Publishers Clearing House thing. It works. Seriously. In fact I’m eating your manicoti and watching “King of the Hill” reruns in your favorite chair right as you read this.
From what I understand Borat’s a pretty tough act to follow, but I try. Looks like it should be hilarious and I can’t wait to see it myself.
-but-
a little more back in line with the thread: I would really try to exhaust other options first, like if you can template a friends board and have it with you when you shape it’ll be a GREAT reference on other parts of the board such as foil nose to tail and rail to rail. The most ideal situation is to talk with the shaper. Order a board from him and ask to watch him shape it, maybe give you a little rhyme for reason as he shapes it. You can surf, decide what you want to change and why and go from there when you shape one like it.
Haha! Good stuff Fosta.
Yes. exhaust other options first. As measurements/tracing/etc. can only get you so far. Knowing “why” the shaper put those measurements there is another story.
Cheers,
Rio
If you see a JC board go ahead and measure it. And you can tell the manager or the clerks that you have permission from John Carper himself. If they don’t believe you, tell them to look at the Shaping 101 video. John Carper makes the point that most shapes are a copy of something and he doesn’t care you copy one of his. Doug
In my local surf shops I ask them for the tape measure and yard stick if I like a board.They all have them,
I have never been turned down.Don’t act rude and it won’t be rude. I would not buy a board without measuring it first and checking the bottom contours.Most shapes and ideas you can get a good take on with your eye ball and hand. I have never traced a full board and I think trying to copy some thing exactly is silly.Add some of of your own ideas and life experience to the shape. Measure up your blank and make some dots,connect the dots.When it looks good plow.
Ian
Quote:
SNIPI would not buy a board without measuring it first and checking the bottom contours.
Ian
[=Blue]Aloha Ian
I agree completely with your quote above. And measuring to feel secure in your PURCHASE is not only wise but socially appropriate.
But there is a big difference between that and measuring in a shop for specific purpose of NOT PURCHASING.
I am not making a case for not copying as this is clearly fairly common. I am just answering the origninal question regarding whether it was RUDE to measure boards in a shop.
If one asks the APPROPRIATE person in charge for permission and they give it, then it shouldn’t be rude or socially unacceptable to measure boards as long as one’s honest intentions have been made clear to that APPROPRIATE person and they are ok with them.
If one has to be devious to get the measurements then it would seem to be clearly, rude, improper and antisocial behaviour.
Quote:
From what I understand Borat’s a pretty tough act to follow, but I try. Looks like it should be hilarious and I can’t wait to see it myself.
Jagshemash!
Good morning store man!
{store man} err good morning…
My a name is Borat, I come Kazachstan to lessons for benefit glorious surfing team Almaty! Happy Time!!
Always ask before handling a board off the rack for any reason. And… getting to the point of going in and taking measurements comes from a relationship you’ve hopefully cultivated as a customer over the years.
A delicate way of going about it might be… go into a shop when it’s not busy, ask if you can feel up a few boards, then get into a conversation about shapes and bard design with the clerk/owner/shaper. If you see something you like, complement the shaper, and ask a lot of questions. THEN tell him that you’re a backyard shaper, and like what he’s done so much that you want to do something like it. Tell him you want to use his board for “inspiration.”
Around here, store owners are generally stoked to learn that you build boards, and are really supportive. And if you think about it… board’s aren’t where they make their money anyway… so buy some cool threads and rock their stuff around town. So shop there for the holidays and birthdays. Send them some business… tell your girl to shop there. Tell her that she and her friends would look hot in some of the stuff they have down at the local shop. Clothing is where the money is.
i went into my a local shop today looking around. i found a board i really appreciated. it was something along the lines of the board im going ot make in january. i was looking at it on the ground, using rough 6 inch increments with my fingers finidng out where the concaves ended and began, and noting the V placement and the flats. I was looking at it for 5 or 10 minuets when a girl employee walked over and handed me a tape measurer! she said i thought you could use this, just make sure you bring it back when you’re done. i was like thanks!!! she said sure no problem, any time. i didnt even have to ask. it was really nice of her and i’ll remember it.
it made me feel good and made me share the kindness she gave to me on everybody else throughout my day.
If you ever get to Santa Cruz check out the Oneill shop on 41ave, not only do the have a padded shaping rack, but just about every necessary measuring tool, short of a rocker jig, to quantify any design you find in the racks. As far as snaking templates, rockers or outlines, its best to ask the shaper…Most have piles of templates, as well as discs of exact computer shapes that they’ll flow you. But in the end its your own design concepts, dervived or purely original which are most rewarding. Copying and builing anothers board is a bit like wearing their drawers; it only really suffices if yours has skid marks.