I’m in the planning stage for my next board, and I’m looking to bounce some ideas around. I already know it’s going to be a bonzer, with low rocker, low rails, short/thick/wide…
Here are my thoughts… I really liked this board for driving down the line. I drove the hell out of this board, heavy on the front foot, and it was the proverbial bat out of hell… But it didn’t cut back as easily as I might have liked, and it didn’t paddle/duckdive as easily as I would have liked.
I really like my bonzer eggs for paddling/duckdiving/cutting off the back foot, but they don’t drive off the front foot as much as I like. I just don’t feel nearly as natural with the front/rear balance on them as I did on my stubbie and as I do on my fish.
But these short wide boards, stubbie and fish, while being extremely drivey off the rail and front foot, aren’t as responsive off the tail as I’d like.
So, what are some design suggestions more experienced riders/shapers here can throw out?
I found this photo in the archive, and it looks like a promising shape.
But I’m not sure what that kind of tail configuration would do to my bonzer setup.
Anyone have any good suggestions? Perhaps another stubbie, but with the tail pulled with late hips like a zippifish, or maybe bumps like the mandala fish? Or maybe I need to go more towards a shape like that cool oldschool campbel bonzer TFAD posted on the ERbb?
Are you thinking of a three fin or five fin bonzer?
I really like the winged pintail. My first custom board was a 6’2" double wing, rounded pin. Speed and control was awesome on that board. I can just imagine what it would be like with a bonzer style five fin setup. Hmmmmmm???
Hate to top threads that aren’t getting attention…
But I’d really like some input on what mods I can make to my fav shapes to make them perform more to my desires. Drive off the front foot, cut off the back, easy paddle and take off, bonzer fin setup.
Just noticed that downturn on the tail tip, I don’t know what that’s about… Hope its a trick of the light.
This is what I would do…Use the Wilderness outline but square or swallow the tail up where the wings are…Tailblock a bit narrower if you square it. Triplane the deck to thin the rails with a hint of S around the nose to lighten up the swing weight. Roundy down rails all the way, softer up front. 3-4 inches of nose rocker, 1 3/4 tail. A little v right in front of the front fins going dead flat off the tail. Get Rich to make you some fins like mine. Single fin drive and trim with tri-fin snap with your weight back…no pumping allowed! For a crisper feel, tuck an edge. For a smoother feel; plane the bottom of the rail into a subtle hull. 7’3"E with “Frye Rocker”…summer fun for sure. You gotta try Rich’s fins…they are flat ass amazing. Save the bonzer for winter.
I liked your board advice. Looks and sounds like that would make a board that I could definitely get used to. I’m kinda new to the site, but I’ve been doing lots of reading, so I’m guessing Rich with the fins is Halycon. His fins look very interesting as well. Any chance you might have a pic of the fins you are raving about? Do they work well on boards similar to the one you suggested shaping?
