I have several random questions that you guys may be able to help with an answer or two. I drew an outline for a 6’5" x 15" x 21" x 14" and it looks good. I am curious about moving the widepoint forward 3" or 4". How does off-setting the wide point forward or backward effect the boards manueverability? In small surf? Also, I saw a pair of calipers in a shop the other day that were incredible. They looked like oversized wooden scissors that opened at the mouth as you squeezed the handle - actually worked opposite as scissors. The tips were rubberized and at the center pivot point there was a protractor shaped depth guage to show the boards thickness. The sales rep didn’t know who made them or how to get a pair. Fiberglass Hawaii doesn’t have any either. If anyone can help with info on either topic I would appreciate it. thanks D
D…Re: the calipers…I’ll bet they’re pleskunas calipers, and Fiberglass Hawaii is supposed to stock them. Stan lets fiberglass hawaii distribute his tools. Press the manager that you want Pleskunas calipers. I’ll check back with you on this…maybe I’ll give them a call(the Santa cruz branch)! T.
Moving your center point forward will help with paddeling/wave entry, and will help if you have a heavy front foot when you surf. The con is the board will be less responsive if you want to drive it from the tail. If you are use to boards with the center point pushed back behind true center, it will take some getting use to. I hated the first one I made - a 6’2" eggy shape with a rounded pin and center pushed 2" forward. I think, for me it was the combo of the center point forward and the tail shape. Cutbacks were funky and just not what I was use to. Since I have done some experiments with different tail shapes, with decent results, but it is not something I like for shorter boards (anything under 6’6"). As for calipers, I made my own out of 3/8" plywood. They word great and were easy and cheap to make.
I have several random questions that you guys may be able to help with an > answer or two. I drew an outline for a 6’5" x 15" x 21" x > 14" and it looks good. I am curious about moving the widepoint > forward 3" or 4". Wide point forward on a shortboard will give you a somewhat old school outline. Moving it back increased aft planning/surface area - makes for more snappy turns and the board is less likly to stall at slow speeds while making a manuver – downside, and there is always a downside, is increased drag and the board will slow more quickly in a turn if the rail is burried, as mentioned it will not paddle as easy. Since your dimintions look like a fish/small fun shape – I would keep the widepoint close to center – keep the outline through the center nice and smooth. Shine http://users.leading.net/~shine
like shine said… moving the wide point up would give you an old style outline. in that case, if you do decide to movie it up, i would put a single fin on the board. and as far as calipers go… i make mine out of 3/8" ply as well. -=-steve
i make mine out of > 3/8" ply as well. d, I made mine out of junk masonite. Easy to make and basically free. I cut out two sickle-shaped pieces, exactly the same size(about 18-inches long), and attached them with a screw and wingnut. I placed a rubber washer under the wingnut to keep things snug. This is a very simple apparatus and works just as well as the one you saw in the shop (okay, maybe not with the exact same precision, but still pretty close). I simply squeeze it down over the area to measure, then place the caliper’s mouth on a ruler/square to measure. Those manufactured ones are nice, but they’re REALLY expensive… If I remember correctly, around $75 or more. Try making your own…it’s dirt cheap, easy, and it works! Just remember to keep it tight to ensure accuracy.