Question: what’s the latest trends in rails and bottom contours for a high-performance short board?
Any suggestions would be helpful as I don’t want a sluggish board! Lol.
Plan: 6’3" x 19 3/4" modded tri-fin with 15" wide rounded squash tail. Nose will be slightly fuller than average.
from what Ive seen,,, and I dont look too much
is rails are down and tucked under with a little hard edge under the rail along the bottom
bottoms are single concave forward to double through the fins (thruster)
tail can be V'd from the front fins back to the tail
this seems to be the standard shortboard setup
oops dp
Ken- thanks for the heads-up! I’ll do that low rail set-up, and I was actually thinking of doin either a single to double concave, or a single shallow concave under front foot going deeper before twin fins a sliver?but would I want to go with vee out the back, or just continue the flow of the concaves? And thanks again for the tips!Btw- I saw your double wing swallow-looks nice! Its nice to see hard wingers-reminds me of a board I once had… Wings def help turns-bigtime! I geuss it’s a release point of sorts? T c
I dont remember doing a double wing swallow
got a pic?
My bad I must have confused you with someone elses board…
Well, I got a planer! I ended up getting a hitachi p20sb from sears online for $104.90! Now I need to pick up sureform, make shaping stands etc… Lots of work to do.
no worries there shapaholic
One trend I've noticed with shortboard rails is the thin but full tail rails. Some have literally been squared off with an edge top and bottom. I've seen a few with the topside rail crown slightly outside of the lower edge, as in beyond vertical.
This high rail crown seems to fit well with the scooped deck in the tail... a straight edge along the stringer from the tailblock will show light where the deckside stringer line is slightly concave. That sort of deck shape, as opposed to a dome, will enhance flex.
John- if you happen to know of a link or a pic of a board like ya described-id love to see it!
Anyhow, if anyone can give me a few pointers on the safe/sane and sure way to do a sound low rail-cool! Send away. Tia
Well shape, you don’t say how much you weigh, age, etc. so
take this under advisement…
Most current shortboards here in SoCal are 6’1 - 6’2 range,
under 19" wide or just at it. Noses are 11 1/4" or so. A 15" tail
is what shows up on quads, not thrusters. They are a bit more
pulled in. Rails are 50/50 in the nose. Middles are almost egg
shaped, down but very neutral. Tails are down & square. Square
rails slide out easier without catching, so everyone wants them
even if they can’t throw tail…
Bottoms are usually single concave smooth and even across the
bottom. Can go to double thru the fins. No vee in tail. Some go
concave out the tail. Rocker is as important as the bottom so keep
it smooth with no harsh breaks for your first shortie.
Personally, i don’t stick to these criteria on customs, only shop boards
in clear. Just a bit of advice; don’t shape a board for yourself based on
what is “current” or “cool”. Shape in what you will think will work best
for you! That means flat bottoms, a little vee, a little thickness, etc.
Main thing is, have fun! Just my 2c…
Surfteach- thanks for the info! Also, I want to thanks everyone else as well. I guess it sums it up that I just break out the tools and have at it!?
I think I’ll go with the semi low rail? Still debating. I guess I kinda confused myself as I was mixing myself up with too many variations… Lol
Like the board I planned on is prob more of a small wave set-up as far as the outline is concerned. So I may have to adjust a bit on the outline?
For all-around I may go a wee bit longer-like 6’5 ish since I’m a little over 6 foot and average weight.
Prob go a little narrower @ 19 1/4". Fyi- folks I’ve tried boardsv narrower and it got too squirly feeling for me as I wear about a size 12 shoe… But in solid 5-6’ steep and hollow barrels I did very well riding a borrowed 6’9" concave bottom winged round pin single fin awile back. It had a pretty darn gunny nose, average tail(not too narrow, or too wide). The board also had rails you mensioned-surfteach! The kinda fuller-yet tapered low rail. This board f’ing worked like a dream man! Now if I can switch it up on a 6’5 or 6’4" I think its what I want?! However I prob will do a rounded squash to keep the thing simple?
I do know this: I want a relatively low entry rocker, some added tail rocker to make for nice snappy turns… And my rails prob should be what I had mensioned due to fact hollower surf can get away with slightly thinner rails vs the boxier type that work better in the smaller slop. That’s it for now! Just need to pick up some sanding screen, sureform and sandpaper etc…but this damn planer is the tits! Lol. Can’t believe the deal man! Sears was also cool and got it to my door in less than a week!
t c
Folks- I’m settling on a 6’8" x 19 1/4" x 2 3/4 thick", 11 1/4" nose, 14.5" tail, rounded squash tail.
I have a change of plans on my concave bottom. What I will do is start it about 20" down from my nose tip and go shallow, and at the mid-point I don’t want to go real deep maybe 3/16"? And go deepest at front of twins, and continuing thru fins and adding a short vee out the tail block. I think this will prob be what I will do?
Option 2. I may do the same but with a suttle double concave in front of twins, and goin with a faded out shallow concave out the tail block? This might be better?
Rails will be low soft, so I take a third off the top edge and leave a third on bottom and roll that edge. Taper and smooth and shape the upper part I removed into the deck. Yup I think that’s the plan!