Just finished a custom fish so now im going to indulge in a new board for myself. Inspired by Andrew Kidmans “Dream board” from his latest film, I grabbed my fish template and my widest tailed shortboard and blended the two together on some Mdf.
The plan is to make something thats a bit stubby like and try a widow maker setup on it which I have really wanted to try for a while, any input is welcome on fin placements/outline etc and ill post more pics as I go along!
heres what I got so far (template drawn) with tail pulled in : 5’11" x 20" x bout 2 1/2" thick when i get to shapin…
how do you want this to ride and in what kinda waves ??? widow makers generally need some power but the wide planshape doesnt really suit too much power, so be some modifying somewhere, but nice template curves for sure...keen to see it come together mate....
Hi guys, cheers for feedback, Wanting this board for medium 3-4 foot waves as an alternative to a thruster. want the drive out of the wide tail for flat sections but dont want a fish tail, still hoping to pivot it off the top a bit. Just thought it might be a nice forgiving shape… lower rocker and modern rails…
Not stuck on the fin setup as you say Pridemore, they need more power. Do you think thining the template down to 19 ish in width will help this? Might put a box in and two sides, maybe I can ride it as a twin as well.
Decided to keep width so i think I may do a standard thruster fin setup on this now with the possibility of riding it as a twin fin.
Pretty happy with how it came together, Low ish modern rails with wide tail pod, put next to my dumpster its quite similar but will paddle and glide better hopefully.
Line on the bottom of the pic on tail is where timber tailblock will be glued on then maybe a bit of paint, not sure yet…
reminds me of one I shaped a few years ago, shite picture but its the one in the middle...I did ride it once but the guy who owned it had way too much fin in it and it didnt go, it was a 6'0" x 20 " x 2 1/2" ...had M7's in it even though I supplied sweet hand foils.....
love the fullish flowing curves of the tail, its one of those boards that it is hard to decide what fin set up would be ideal, they'd all work but I'd be going quad, think the size and planshape will suit 3-4 ft waves, probably like it a bit fullish and then the area will be a benefit, so the quad will be drivey and fast and compliment the planshape for those types of conditions I reckon.....can always decreas the rears fin size for that almost snappy twinny fell too if ya wanted......
Didnt end up looking much like Kidmans dream board, but sometimes that happens hey, inspiration changes in the bay, sometimes morphing into a blend of other ideas in a shapers head, or influenced by what they been riding or watching, is for me anyway.....
Hi ,Cheers for the advice, yip I totally agree its not too much like the Kidman board but like you say thats part of the fun with hand shaping for me, its not so much replication but going with the flow and using the influence to guide you through the process. I really enjoyed shaping this and for the same reason I find Mini simmons influenced boards fun too , just start with a template and then just shape the rest from feel and practical reference.
Quad setup is probably not a bad idea for this as its got the tail width, but ive done my quad thing a bit for a while so probably go Twin with a stabiliser or even Twinzer but will have to research that…
Think im going to do a Balsa Chambered version of this if it goes well, still have some lying around ready to be used and Ive been waiting for a board that would suit:)
