Thanks in large part to this forum; I successfully shaped my first board earlier this year. I shaped what I would describe as a Long board Gun (84, 22.5 width, 15 tail, 13.5 nose). I have found this shape to work very well in the waist to chest high surf that we normally experience here in Texas. (when its not flat) Also, it performed exceptionally well in the double overhead surf we got from T.S. Allison. Now that I am hooked, I am ready to build my next board in a similar vein; a 90 this time. What I am wondering is why this type of design (Long board Gun) is not more popular or even understood. In fact, I originally approached a local shaper to build this board for me and he treated me as if I had lost my mind. (I am now glad I did it myself) Anyway, I have found only one board maker and make (Rusty- Dessert Island) who builds this type of board. I would appreciate any thoughts, discussion and/or advise this forum could offer regarding what I now consider my new favorite shape. Gracias, y buenas olas de Tejas
tomas: Saw your post earlier in the week and got sidetracked. Check out some of Joe Blair’s shapes, I believe he is also in San Diego. A close friend of mine has had 2 boards shaped by hime. One a 9’0" and another 8’2", both are very similar in design to the boards you are describing. You don’t mention your age/weight but this guy is 45, about 225 but is 6’7". He is in excellent physical condition and is (of course)built to play pro basketball (and has). Odd to find a B-ball surfer huh? Anyway, I’ve spent some hours looking over both boards as he is my star ding repair customer. Some guys just get more than their fair share of dings, right? He loves these boards and rides them here on the Gulf Coast, has taken them to Hawaii 2x and once to Cabo on a full S. Hemi swell. They work well for him. Due to his size and weight and having surfed with him a lot, they tend to work very well for him and have some short board characteristics that he was missing on a traditonal longboard. I will add that recently I shaped him a 7’2 with lots of float, wide planshape, swallow/fish tail with FCS Twin or thruster, and he rode it pretty much full time through the T.S. Allison swell. The Blairs will come back into favor on the next Pacific run I think. Tom > Thanks in large part to this forum; I successfully shaped my first board > earlier this year. I shaped what I would describe as a Long board Gun > (84, 22.5 width, 15 tail, 13.5 nose). I > have found this shape to work very well in the waist to chest high surf > that we normally experience here in Texas. (when its not flat) Also, it > performed exceptionally well in the double overhead surf we got from T.S. > Allison.>>> Now that I am hooked, I am ready to build my next board in a similar vein; > a 90 this time. What I am wondering is why this type of design > (Long board Gun) is not more popular or even understood. In fact, I > originally approached a local shaper to build this board for me and he > treated me as if I had lost my mind. (I am now glad I did it myself) > Anyway, I have found only one board maker and make (Rusty- Dessert Island) > who builds this type of board. I would appreciate any thoughts, discussion > and/or advise this forum could offer regarding what I now consider my new > favorite shape.>>> Gracias, y buenas olas de Tejas
tomas:>>> Saw your post earlier in the week and got sidetracked. Check out some of > Joe Blair’s shapes, I believe he is also in San Diego. A close friend of > mine has had 2 boards shaped by hime. One a 9’0" and another > 8’2", both are very similar in design to the boards you are > describing. You don’t mention your age/weight but this guy is 45, about > 225 but is 6’7". He is in excellent physical condition and is (of > course)built to play pro basketball (and has). Odd to find a B-ball surfer > huh? Anyway, I’ve spent some hours looking over both boards as he is my > star ding repair customer. Some guys just get more than their fair share > of dings, right? He loves these boards and rides them here on the Gulf > Coast, has taken them to Hawaii 2x and once to Cabo on a full S. Hemi > swell. They work well for him. Due to his size and weight and having > surfed with him a lot, they tend to work very well for him and have some > short board characteristics that he was missing on a traditonal longboard. > I will add that recently I shaped him a 7’2 with lots of float, wide > planshape, swallow/fish tail with FCS Twin or thruster, and he rode it > pretty much full time through the T.S. Allison swell. The Blairs will come > back into favor on the next Pacific run I think.>>> Tom Those narrow longboards are just long shortboards basically and were very popular in so.cal. in the late 80’s, guys like Israel Paskowitz and joey Hawkins competed successfully on these shapes, they have lost popularity probably because of the current retro/old style riding which is still happening and drop knee turns and hanging ten are now more important than helicoptor 360’s and jumping around. Any shaper can custom shape one if you provide the dimensions. I once competed against Paskowitz(he won) and his nose(DIM) was only 14.5" with 21" center and 13.25 tail in hollow beachbreak conditions.
Thomas, If you have the technology and are so inclined, you should post some pictures of your board. I sounds like a cool shape.
Here on the central coast of california, long board guns have a small following. My first taste was with a home made board measuring 9’6" X 22" (wide point 6" up) X 13" (tail) X 16" (nose"). It had a double “wedge” stringer configuration that allowed for a box between the stringers in the tail. A key feature (I feel) was a “belly” of about 3/4" through the bottom in the nose leading to 50/50 rails up front. It caught waves like a mother - the “belly” seemed to allow easy penetration getting down the face on the takeoff. Unfortunately was stolen off my car one night. My next longboard “gun” was by Mike Eaton. Very similar dimensions to the above board - works great and again, catches waves very easily. It also has a fair amount of belly in the nose with a 50/50 rail up front. Unfortunately has developed some stress cracks after a particularly horrendous night session at Rincon. It only has a single stringer. My latest board is 11’6" X 23"(wide point way up)X 11 1/2" (tail) X 16" (nose). I have no excuse not to go when it gets BIG. I’m hoping it stays in one piece with the triple 1/2" stringers. I’m not sure how to add photos on this discussion board but anyone interested can E-Mail me at(Goomba271@prodigy.net)and I’d be happy to send photo and more detailed specs. The inspiration for these is pretty much the old school guns featured in the longboard mags once in awhile. A favorite of mine is a three stringer Mike Hynson gun supposedly made for Wiamea and featured in a photo series of the ranch. Another is the Bing “pipeliner” model from the same era. Dave Parmenter is making some fantastic retro-guns he has named “Makaha Machines”. A friend of mine just got a (get this) 12’6" X 23" X 16" X 10 1/2" monster gun from him. This baby is 5 1/2" thick! Parmenter also shapes a design known locally as a “widowmaker”. It is a little less retro. I’ve also seen a “gunlog” by Stewart(?) that seems to fit the bill for a big wave longboard. Infinity also features one. Any competent shaper can do one. It’s up to the rider to stroke on in and hang on!
Being the ham that I am, I posted a photo in the boards section under guns…