… getting back into shaping and was wondering what you guys think of a long fish (8’8"). Shaped a few short fish boards in the 70’s and now riding 8’10" single. Reading about Skip Frye’s longboard fishes has got me inspired. I don’t surf everyday and I’m 49, although in very good shape for my age. Surf small mushy central Fla. stuff every month or two, so I was wondering … Soft rails? Hard rails? Flat bottom? Natural rocker? Will 8’9" B blank work? Any advise will of course be appreciated, especially since I know just enough to be dangerous (12 boards under my belt). thanks, and Vaya …
If I were shaping the kind of board youre interested in I’d pick a blank with a moderate rocker, don’t think you’d need a whole lot rocker for the waves you plan on riding. As for rails? Well I prefer a soft low medium tapered rail, with a very subtle tucked under edge, that would get harder toward the last 20 or so inches toward the tail.
foamdust - Clarks in Fla. was out of Eaton’s and Becker’s - this blank seemed to have the least rocker @ this size … but it’s still 4 1/4" @ the nose, and 3 7/16" @ the tail. The 7’3" Becker has 3/8 less nose and 15/16 less tail. This sounds close so I thought it might work. Damn, had a great looking template for this one! Thanks for the info …
Maybe you could shape some of the rocker out when roughing it out? Im not sure which blan you chose but where you place your outline on the blank can alter the rocker too (if its long enough). I have a feeling you pretty much have a picture in your mind what you want the board to look like and know what to do to get to that point.
Foamdust - I could take some out if I went shorter - I’m used to single fins in the 8’ range, thick, wide, and with a ton of rocker. I tend to surf from the center of my board, and like boards with loose, quick reactions. I guess I’m just nostalgic for the days when I rode a 5’10" fish and I distinctly remember that great “skatey” feeling. Of course it was spin - o - rama on juicey days unless you surfed right over the board and didn’t extend your body on bottom turns and cutbacks. Especially on a juicey wave like Sebastian or big Ft. Pierce jetty 1st peak. But once you got going - DAMN! Anyway, I digress … I was going to do the birch ply keel fins and a 70’s style swallow tail. Maybe a box for a future center fin in case it’s a dog? Outside demensions are 19N, 23WP, & 16T. The nose isn’t too round believe it or not, and I pulled the last 2’ so the swallow isn’t too wide (ends up about 8" with 3" depth). I toed and canted the fins on the last one I made (1975!), and with a board this big I’m a little sketchy on placement, toe, cant … On my last one I aimed the leading edge of the fins to the center tip of the nose. I can’t remember the cant angle degrees (after all, it WAS the 70’s!) I want to say it was 15 - 20 degrees… I think the trailing edge of the fins was about 1" from the rail and about 8 - 10" from the tip of the tail. Flat bottom, boxy, hard rails … what do you think about soft 60/40 rails w/ chines? Thanks again, feel free to advise before I throw in the kitchen sink! Bruce from Georgia
Foamdust - I could take some out if I went shorter - I’m used to single fins in the 8’ range, thick, wide, and with a ton of rocker. I tend to surf from the center of my board, and like boards with loose, quick reactions. I guess I’m just nostalgic for the days when I rode a 5’10" fish and I distinctly remember that great “skatey” feeling. Of course it was spin - o - rama on juicey days unless you surfed right over the board and didn’t extend your body on bottom turns and cutbacks. Especially on a juicey wave like Sebastian or big Ft. Pierce jetty 1st peak. But once you got going - DAMN! Anyway, I digress … I was going to do the birch ply keel fins and a 70’s style swallow tail. Maybe a box for a future center fin in case it’s a dog? Outside demensions are 19N, 23WP, & 16T. The nose isn’t too round believe it or not, and I pulled the last 2’ so the swallow isn’t too wide (ends up about 8" with 3" depth). I toed and canted the fins on the last one I made (1975!), and with a board this big I’m a little sketchy on placement, toe, cant … On my last one I aimed the leading edge of the fins to the center tip of the nose. I can’t remember the cant angle degrees (after all, it WAS the 70’s!) I want to say it was 15 - 20 degrees… I think the trailing edge of the fins was about 1" from the rail and about 8 - 10" from the tip of the tail. Flat bottom, boxy, hard rails … what do you think about soft 60/40 rails w/ chines? Thanks again, feel free to advise before I throw in the kitchen sink! Bruce from Georgia
Bruce I live in Savannah.Where are you located? R. Brucker
Cleanlines -sad to say that this Fla. surfer is stuck in Atl. for a few years … funny thing is, I may surf less now, but when I do hit it I surf better!!! Go figure! Thank God for the internet and surf reports! Hey, I saw some great photos of Savannah pier awhile back - is the right that good when it’s firing!!! I may have to forgo Brevard next swell and hit the pier! Anyway, I’ve got the shaping shack complete and ready to start shaping again to keep me happy while I’m landlocked. Next surf trip is only 4 weeks away! Any thoughts on my fish post?