I dont want to resort to a long board for the tiny knee high waves we get here all the time in New England; I figured I would shape a thick mini simmons so I can retire the log. me: 5’7" 175 lbs… good paddling shape, wish my surfing was as good!.. planned board dimensions: L: 5’7"-5’10" width 22" thickness 3"-3 1/4" really boxy 50/50 rails, carrrying the thickness all the way out to the rail. EPS/epoxy. thoughts on dimensions? I know the mini simmons has been discussed at length here, but the idea of shaping a mini simmons specifically for super small waves hasn’t been discussed as much. I know this board as designed wont be very maneuverable; what Im really hoping for is a board that I can get up on, cruise, move around on the wave a little in very small waves. thoughts? comments? thanks in advance for your opinions and advice…
I’m 6’1" and 190lbs. Good paddler+ suitable surfer (almost 30 yrs exp surf/20 yrs shaping), I made a flat rockered mini-simms at (eps) 5’11", 18.75n x 23w x 19.25 tail, 3"thick, nice hip, twin keel and deep single concave to double under feet/fins area.
WORKED great, i was laughing at the longboarders while catching waves they woulndn’t paddle for, suckers!
It was great for the small waves. If I took it out in overhead stuff the “bigger size” was a bit of a challenge to move around, sink rail etc. I’m sure I could’ve dialed it in, but I sold it and now have in the works 5’8" 23 x 2.875" and PU, we’ll see if it’s still good at the waist hi and under stuff or if it will be only for waist hi + up due to less float?
If you’re in a 5/4/3 suit and small waves I think you’re right on track. Make it and ride it thru winter, then reconfigure one for summer slop and less wetsuit…
Thanks for the replies. Mystic, how much did you taper the rails? in keeping with the high volume for little waves idea I was planning on carrying the foam all the way out to the rail?
At your height and weight I would lean towards the smallest board possible. I’ve ridden Zamora keeled sim at 5’7 by 23" x 2 7/8 all of 19 in the nose and tail and it was HUGE. For reference I surf in RI i am 6’ 180 lbs. I got a custom Mabile at 5’6" x 22 1/4" 2 5/8" and I still could have gone even smaller. If its just for small stuff, I suggest a twinzer setup vs keel. Kills the small stuff. Keep the rails 50/50 semi hullish and do a step deck in front. A friend did one with box rails and flat bottom and that one works great too. Good luck!
Would have to agree with the landlaord on this one. Have a 5'4" x 23" x 2 7/8" keeled Simmons, 5'5" x 23" x 2 7/8" keeled Simmons hull and a 5' 2" x 22" x 2 5/8" - 2 7/8" twinzer Simmons. The smaller twinzer simmons is the easiest to ride and functions more like my regular board. I like all of them and have fun riding them all but that one is my favorite in average junky condition. If it is clean and lined up steep little walls the the hull style mini simmons is the one to choose. My dimensions are 5'10", 175 pounds and a good paddler if that helps.
I been doing mine with flat decks, keeps the volume in them but can have a lowish rail still...works well....have to look into the twinzer set up on the mini's...anyone got measurements they might be kind enough to share....???
i’ve made them w/pinched, knifey almost hull rails for better surf and I’ve made “floaters” w/full longboard fat rails. I figure the full rails are better so you can go as short as needed, for iffy, sloppy surf. If surf gets more critical, steeper, etc, I’m usually swiching over to a “better wave board” anyways, though I’ve ridden the full rail in well OH surf and other than the flat, no turn rocker it handled pretty well…
hey i am surfing this right now and it is great for small waves.
low rocker lots of float. ( almost too much) i have a flat deck on it and volume is right out to rails but they are alittle knifey. board is 6'4 - 22 - 3 5/16.
i really like the rocker and outline but will drop the length down to 6ft on the next one. heres a pics if there help
edit... I know the mini simmons has been discussed at length here, but the idea of shaping a mini simmons specifically for super small waves hasn't been discussed as much. I know this board as designed wont be very maneuverable; what Im really hoping for is a board that I can get up on, cruise, move around on the wave a little in very small waves. thoughts? comments? thanks in advance for your opinions and advice..
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I too am keen to make a Mini Simmons, theyre not common here in Aust.
After a bit of reading it seems an important part of the design is the width, usually up to 23, but making it wider might make it plane just that bit quicker. Maybe pull the nose and tail planshape out so its heading out wider than 23in and then do a cutaway like Morey, Webber, Mayerhoofer have done to their designs...
You get lots of nose and tail width for planing, the middle isnt too wide for paddling, and with the cutaway it turns like a thinner board and yet you dont lose any overall volume.
So heres the original shape, take it out a few inches and then cutaway the sides so that its WP is 23 or less ? Because its not fat thru the middle it doesnt look as wide as the original.
I have been considering a Swinger ( see my site if you think a swinger is someone who likes sex parties haha www.moresurfboards.com ) version of a mini-sims...just an idea atm but have done a few sketches and will get around to it one day soon.....
I want to build a mini simmons myself. For whatever reason I seem to be unable to dial in a nice template in BoardCad oder Aku. I'm thinking about a 5'6"x22.5"x2 7/8". So I invested a lot of time in the search function but I couldn't find any template in that range.
Does anyone of you have a nice template, he' s willing to share? Or even a BoardCad file? That would be really great. Of course I'll just use it as a home build project.
Hey Surffoils, thats a good idea, parabolic rails have always interested me but never been brave enough to try some on a board, The mini does lend itself to this idea though… you got me thinking for my next Mini…
Yeah, you can get a wider nose for planing and then take away the fat middle so it should turn a lot easier. Im working on a 6'0" Simmons compsand with square rails and then I'll have a look at doing a Cutaway version and fix the mistakes of the first one ! no doubt.
Satch, I took Twistedstumps dims from above put them onto paper and then tweaked them to how I like. Thanks + props to Twisted.
thanks twisted, this was shaped off the dimensions that you provided.
shrunk to 6'2, change in tail and small change in nose. the dimensions are more curvy than an original simmons. so ends up quite different but was just what i was after.
