This will be a fun project. Fortyfour years ago, when I created this pintail design for LightningBolt, I had no idea it would blossom into the iconic design that it did. The board will be eight feet long, by twenty and one half inches wide, and three inches thick. The board is intended for the largest waves to be encountered in the San Diego area. The design has been well proven, in the past, on some of the best waves on the North Shore. So, the best that San Diego can produce, will be well within the performance envelope, of the subject surfboard. The new owner surfs on a near daily basis, and is very knowledgable, wave savvy, and capable. He made a good choice.
OK class, this is a test question for you. Why would I choose, in this era of close tolorance blanks, to use a 9’ 2’’ blank to shape an 8’ 0’’ surfboard? Just checking to see if you have been paying attention.
from a guy who has never shaped a board…rocker and or thickness flow?
roger
Correct, on both counts. But wait, there’s more! There’s another reason, related to the physical properties of the finished board.
Hi Bill, is the other reason for the larger blank to end up with an ‘unstressed’ board from the shape coming out of the bulk of the natural rocker , as opposed to bending and gluing the foam to make a close-tolerance modified rocker blank?
Thanks for the new build thread.
That is exactly right ! As one cat said to another,‘’ If I had two mice, I’d give you one.‘’ For years, that is the way I would make my personal boards, and boards for close friends. You have to mow a lot more foam, but the end result is worth it.
Is it ok to ask questions?
In particular, why a pin tail?
Also where do you put the wide point?
I have a year old 9’3y lblank in my basement and am thinking about putting it to good use:) I am not sure if I could get enough rocker out of it but would be fun to try.
Thanks ahead of time!
- Yes, it’s OK to ask. 2. The Pintail was the specific request of the customer. 3. WP is at 40% of board length, from the nose.
Thanks Mr. Thrailkill! Really glad you continue to share your knowledge.
Bill, i have a question too.
My understanding of “close tolerance blanks” is that the rocker is very close to the final rocker needed for any given shape so that you didn’t have to mow a lot of foam to get there. I recall from older past threads, that if you took too much foam out of the blank, that the foam is softer or less dense towards the center of the blank making the board weaker. Is that correct or have the blanks from U.S & others gotten better than the old clark blanks? Also, if the foam is softer, would we need to use a different glassing schedule in this instance?
Your understanding of close tolerance blanks, is correct. And, yes, the foam today is much better than the Clark foam of yore. The proportions, thickness flow, and rocker that I require in certain finished board, is not to be found in an over the counter blank. I have to create it from an ‘‘oversized’’ blank. There are occasions when I will adjust the glass schedule to deal with a softer core. Other times, I’ll go to a larger stringer.
Might want to Double down on those statements Bill…I understand building a surfbord from a “oversized blank”. I also understand ordering a custom blank… Maybe you should go to WNC and get a custom blank/rocker in 2 pound foam… No soft foam inside. US Blanks can make you anything you want. So can WNC. Why start with a dogg. … Never ever adjust glassing to make up for soft foam. Never.
In and Out Burger has a simple menu… They also sell “animal frys” and “4x4” not on the menu and a whole lot more not on the menu…Custom blank.
Sheet Stingster. i use ol streped down blenks ale the tiem. i got a bench of old clark blanke n love to jest mow away le day. one board took 7 trashcans of foam from me shop shith planer hose adjestment. i love making more werk for me self. wnc wood be way too easy for craftsmen like that, craftesmen enjoy the challenge. im a craftsman i enjoy my challenge.
heres a pic of my latest sweet ride enjoy
What you do not understand, is how I build a surfboard. Nor do you have my understanding of the process. Thank you for offering some advice.
he can get the rocker he wants out of the bigger blank with out stressing or bending the blans as its glued/laminted to the stringer.
the preffered method of achieve a custom rocker is to flex the blank to match the rocker of a stringer cut to the desired rocker.
this puts stress on the blank material.
You are exactly right.
While I agree with most of what has been said, the entire reason to use EPS foam in 1.5, 2.0, 2.4, 2.7, 3.0, 3.3…4.0 lb foam is the unlimited weight and rocker potential. Custom rockers cut to your requirements (not bent in, but cut from the slab. Also you are not limited by and nose and tail width. a slab cut is 24" entire length.
Yes EPS is a harder material to work with, but in my opinion it is worth it. But… at this point in life I would not asume to teach the old dogs new tricks if they are 1) happy, 2) confident 3) Don’t give a shit.
I confess.
I have several custom rockers with WNC., it is nice to create a profile very close to the finish rocker, consistent density thru and thru.
I tell customers, you want it strong and performance or pretty and shiny ? EPS strong, shiny poly. But I still get the ones who don’t get it and want a blue tint EPS
The first step in this build is the pre-engineering of the stringer. The blank will be ordered tomorrow. Glueup will be done as soon as the blank arrives. After that, I’ll proceed to do what I do.