I’m a beginning surfer/shaper, and I’ve mostly ridden longboards, but am wanting to transition to shortboarding. I’m 6’2", 185 lbs, and in good shape. I’m thinking of going with maybe 7’x20"x2 5/8" or maybe a little smaller, say 6’7"x19 1/2"x2 1/2", any recommendations? I just want maneuverability and shortboard feel, but with a little more wave catching ability/easier paddling.
I would rather go a little wider and thicker and go shorter. guys your sizes can ride 5ft8 fish’s but I would recomend you 6ft5, 19 1/2", 2 3/4’ shaped like a shortboard with abit of volume.
Josh.
I’d agree with the shorter wider theory, but you need much more foam, sincey you’re skipping the funboard sizings.
Maybe a 6’8" x 23, yes TWENTY THREE inches wide, at around 3" thick.
Only for smaller than head high waves, of course.
You won’t be catching any waves with a 20" wide board, at least not till you can ride a shorter board.
Beg, borrow or steal a few of the boards you want to ride and make something that works for you.
Im about the same size as you are and I can use a 6’6" x 20 x 2 5/8, but thats only for waves waist high and above. Any thing smaller and I would go for a bigger board or a fish.
here is the template I am think of building for my first non-longboard. 7x16x22x12.5x3 (template not foil designed in APS) Does this seam reasonable for a 37yr old; 6’2" 200#er. I don’t want a potato chip, but a board that will go top to bottom.
that looks like it will work just fine, might be a little hard to duck dive though when it gets big. But who cares theres ways around that, it looks like it will be a good transition for you.
Only thing… I’d keep more volume right at the tailblock, even 1.12" 3" up from tip of tail. No reason to thin that sucka out. Thick gets you into waves, is stronger, easier to shape and glass, and actually holds in better, as it gives something for water to wrap around.
I have a 6’8" x 20.5, at 2.5" thick, and at my 155lbs., I sink it almost nipple deep when the board is fully submerged.
You don’t want that!
I have not attempted to use APS3000 for the foil nor thickness. I only designed the template (outline). The foil/thickness in my attached files are just the defaults that came out from using the software.
I definately would not shape it that thin. I am planning on 3" at the thick point (under chest), carry out much of the volume out to the rail and keeping thickness in the tail as you suggest. It will be a thruster.
— edit - added —
for rocker I plan to use the 7’0R rocker, blanck will be eps and sandwiched with balsa rails and skin
Yeah on second thoughts I agree with LeeD on width.
“say 6’7"x19 1/2"x2 1/2”, any recommendations?"
I’ve been making boards for this application for years and by going above 20+ in width you’ll have more fun in avg conditions…for a 6’7 I’d use 20.5 or so…wider if you want to catch small ripples…
Thanks for all the advice, I’m gonna go with a 7’x20"x2 5/8". The fish in my pic is 6’4"x22"x2 3/4". I can catch waves on it fine, but when I do I don’t feel like I have a lot more maneurverability than on a longboard, although thats probably mostly due to my own lack of skills. Also, I can’t duck dive it very well, so I want a little less float.
Satori . here is a 7footer x20 x 2 3/4 maybe give you some ideas