If you added up the total specs of every surfboard ever made, from the dawn of foam and fiberglass until the present day, and averaged it all into a database, what form might then emerge from that mass of sculpted inspiration and mysterious detail?
If you added up the total specs of every surfboard ever made,>>> from the dawn of foam and fiberglass until the present day,>>> and averaged it all into a database, what form might then emerge>>> from that mass of sculpted inspiration and mysterious detail? my guess would be around 8’ (+/- 2’) with two fins (+/- 1) – i really do not have a good answer for that, requires way too much math – hehe
my guess would be around 8’ (+/- 2’) with two fins (+/- 1) – i really do > not have a good answer for that, requires way too much math – hehe How about a 7’2" x 22.25" x 18.25"x15.25"x2.75"?
Take the longest board(foam & glass)and round it off to the nearest foot. DO THE SAME WITH THE SHORTEST BOARD,(that is reasonably rideable)now come between them. EXAMPLE= 13’LONGEST X 4’ SHORTEST = 8’-6" WIDTHS= 25"WIDEST X 17" NARROWEST = 21" saves lots of time!Herb.
If you added up the total specs of every surfboard ever made,>>> from the dawn of foam and fiberglass until the present day,>>> and averaged it all into a database, what form might then emerge>>> from that mass of sculpted inspiration and mysterious detail? The worlds "ultimate design " for all waves and surfers everywhere or just possibly the weakest thing ever built for surfing the widest variety of waves anywhere at anytime. My bets are on that first one. Some one should go ahead and just do it. because Ive been thinking something like these would be so fine to ride.
This sounds like a government funded research project. After the numbers are played with, the coffee spilled and the money spent we are left with a board that suits no individual and the grom comment, “and your point is!!!” Searches for grand generalizations, silver bullets, etc. are much like the search for the meaning of life. They distract us from those questions that really matter, such as, “How much lime should I add to my beer?” As everyone knows, who has read “The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy”, the answer to life is 73(As I recall)or in this case a 7’4"x 15 1/2"x21 3/4"x14 1/2" giant fish with perhaps a set of Herb’s superchargers for those unrepentent individuals. The real problem, as the “Hitch-Hiker” states, is not collecting more information but asking questions about what we have discovered. Such as, could I have fun riding standup if I laminated a skimboard to the deck of one of Dale’s airmats?
The worlds "ultimate design " for all waves and surfers > everywhere or just possibly the weakest thing ever built for surfing the > widest variety of waves anywhere at anytime. My bets are on that first > one. Some one should go ahead and just do it. because Ive been thinking > something like these would be so fine to ride. Patrick hey man, I totally agree, and also need to add that a question like this one can only be answered properly by government funded research group who has spent a few months taking notes in the shaping bay wearing those speciual respirators I mentioned. Wow a Herb Ssspitzer supercharged skimboard glued to an freekin air mattress, you should be part of a think tank! See ya in the shaping bay.
This sounds like a government funded research project. After the numbers > are played with, the coffee spilled and the money spent we are left with a > board that suits no individual and the grom comment, “and your point > is!!!” Searches for grand generalizations, silver bullets, etc. are > much like the search for the meaning of life. They distract us from those > questions that really matter, such as, “How much lime should I add to > my beer?” As everyone knows, who has read “The Hitch-Hikers > Guide to the Galaxy”, the answer to life is 73(As I recall)or in this > case a 7’4"x 15 1/2"x21 3/4"x14 1/2" giant fish with > perhaps a set of Herb’s superchargers for those unrepentent individuals. > The real problem, as the “Hitch-Hiker” states, is not collecting > more information but asking questions about what we have discovered. Such > as, could I have fun riding standup if I laminated a skimboard to the deck > of one of Dale’s airmats? When I was out surfing alone at night, slowly paddling in the shimmering darkness while waiting for another wave… and without warning, something silently arose from the depths, slowly circled and nudged me, perhaps posing an uninvited, primeval question about the food chain that I respectfully wanted nothing to do with… well, I didn
t pause to ask myself if I was actually there, or if I
d just sensed something patiently waiting underneath me, large and predatory… If an individual plans on seriously developing ones personal philosophy around the farcical pop science fiction in "The Hitch-hicker
s Guide To The Galaxy", then ironically, theyve fallen prey to one of the primary things that book so amusingly satirizes. In terms of reality, we
re either here or not. And if the fact of one`s existence is open to question, then all subsequent queries, and the actual state of being regarding anything else, is simply an illusion… and nothing at all. Try that one out on the next policeman who stops you for speeding.
When I was out surfing alone at night, slowly paddling in the shimmering > darkness while waiting for another wave… and without warning, something > silently arose from the depths, slowly circled and nudged me, perhaps > posing an uninvited, primeval question about the food chain that I > respectfully wanted nothing to do with… well, I didn
t pause to ask > myself if I was actually there, or if I
d just sensed something patiently > waiting underneath me, large and predatory…>>> If an individual plans on seriously developing ones personal philosophy > around the farcical pop science fiction in "The Hitch-hicker
s Guide > To The Galaxy", then ironically, theyve fallen prey to one of the > primary things that book so amusingly satirizes.>>> In terms of reality, we
re either here or not. And if the fact of one`s > existence is open to question, then all subsequent queries, and the actual > state of being regarding anything else, is simply an illusion… and > nothing at all.>>> Try that one out on the next policeman who stops you for speeding. Great reply. When I was back it school reading math and philosophy my Own existance and illusion were two topics I thought about. It was only as a result of the pain and joy of a long life that I discovered that humour or farce were ways of keeping perspective.I apologize for appearing as a shark. Perhaps this is not a good time, but I was serious about the hard surfaced airmat. In their younger days I have watch both of my two youngest daughters drop-knee airmats, but could never do it myself. I was wondering if you have ever experimented such a craft. Take care.Patrick
In terms of reality, we
re either here or not. And if the fact of one
s > existence is open to question, then all subsequent queries, and the actual > state of being regarding anything else, is simply an illusion… and > nothing at all.>>> Try that one out on the next policeman who stops you for speeding. Great reply. When I was back it school reading math and philosophy my Own existance and illusion were two topics I thought about. It was only as a result of the pain and joy of a long life that I discovered that humour or farce were ways of keeping perspective.I apologize for appearing as a shark. Perhaps this is not a good time, but I was serious about the hard surfaced airmat. In their younger days I have watch both of my two youngest daughters drop-knee airmats, but could never do it myself. I was wondering if you have ever experimented such a craft. Take care. Patrick Hi, Patrick, Hey, no apologies necessary, and Im with you when it comes to leaning on humour and farce in an attempt at maintaining a healthy perspective on life
s ups and downs! For sure, if a person lives long enough, all the little ironies of this mortal existence start to become frustratingly clear… As for the hard-surfaced airmat, I did do some work on that in the 1970s and 80
s; I combined a flexible, epoxy/fiberglass bottom shell with an airmat deck (with and without removable fins), and also the reverse, minus fin(s)… and even inflatable deck kneeboards. My conclusion at the time was that compromises of that sort dilute or eliminate too many of the key elements that comprise the essence of high performance surfmats. Many of the properties that resulted from such a hybrid would likely be better served through the use of laminated, solid core bodyboard foams, etc., instead of a hollow, inflatable structure. On the other hand, the idea of some sort of hard-surfaced inflatable is still a feasible, and largely unexplored goal… contingent on the specific end use and whether or not you are willing to accept the changes and loss of certain handling/performance characteristics. I`m just not sure if what you would loose, would be worth whatever gains you might achieve. Dale
Once again, thank you for a wonderful response - many possibilities to reflect upon. I must admit I was alarmed when I thought I might have offended a person whose ideas and work I hold in regard. My wife read the thread and thought it was very perceptive of you to draw the shark analogy given my past legal work, but felt a barnacle might have been more appropriate. Take care. Patrick
Once again, thank you for a wonderful response - many possibilities to > reflect upon. I must admit I was alarmed when I thought I might have > offended a person whose ideas and work I hold in regard. My wife read the > thread and thought it was very perceptive of you to draw the shark analogy > given my past legal work, but felt a barnacle might have been more > appropriate. Take care. Patrick Patrick, Yes, there are so many answers waiting to be discovered! As with surfboard design, so is life: we need only to imagine, pose questions, recognize the responsibility of those inquiries, and then accurately and honestly investigate along the way. I`ll bet you were an excellent attorney. Dale
If you added up the total specs of every surfboard ever made,>>> from the dawn of foam and fiberglass until the present day,>>> and averaged it all into a database, what form might then emerge>>> from that mass of sculpted inspiration and mysterious detail? I remember seeing a photo a number of years ago of a solo patrolling Miki Dora on the west coast of Africa carrying a 8’6" pin tail with a fairly wide point forward. I was quite inspired for a while thereafter to the idea of riding and mastering a single, all around board. You could say I’ve dumped that idea!
I remember seeing a photo a number of years ago of a solo patrolling Miki > Dora on the west coast of Africa carrying a 8’6" pin tail with a > fairly wide point forward. I was quite inspired for a while thereafter to > the idea of riding and mastering a single, all around board. You could say > I’ve dumped that idea! Mike, Generally speaking, the more something that is being used for surfing is able to resiliently adapt itself, to react and conform to the ever-changing curve of a wave (like George Greenough`s flexible fiberglass or graphite kneeboards) and also to its radical variations in surface texture, i.e. bumpy ledges (like a modern surfmat), the easier it is to have just one design that is comfortable in a wide range of waves and surface conditions. In contrast, the more rigid a design becomes, the greater the need for more than one size/shape to cover a full spectrum of waves. Smaller foam and fiberglass boards like the Lis Fish can work extremely well in a very wide variety of waves, but are limited to fairly smooth surfaces, and are not easy to control at high speeds through heavy chop. And if so inclined, we can give a big thumbs up to the old classics, weighty, full planshaped, slightly rolled bottoms, mellow rockered, 50/50 rails, single fin longboards, that cruise without a worry through just about everything, even bumpy surfaces.
Mike,>>> Generally speaking, the more something that is being used for surfing is > able to resiliently adapt itself, to react and conform to the > ever-changing curve of a wave (like George Greenough`s flexible fiberglass > or graphite kneeboards) and also to its radical variations in surface > texture, i.e. bumpy ledges (like a modern surfmat), the easier it is to > have just one design that is comfortable in a wide range of waves and > surface conditions.>>> In contrast, the more rigid a design becomes, the greater the need for > more than one size/shape to cover a full spectrum of waves. Smaller foam > and fiberglass boards like the Lis Fish can work extremely well in a very > wide variety of waves, but are limited to fairly smooth surfaces, and are > not easy to control at high speeds through heavy chop.>>> And if so inclined, we can give a big thumbs up to the old classics, > weighty, full planshaped, slightly rolled bottoms, mellow rockered, 50/50 > rails, single fin longboards, that cruise without a worry through just > about everything, even bumpy surfaces. and for a few years big surf at The Bay!!
If you added up the total specs of every surfboard ever made,>>> from the dawn of foam and fiberglass until the present day,>>> and averaged it all into a database, what form might then emerge>>> from that mass of sculpted inspiration and mysterious detail? aren’t those generic, worst of both worlds, 7-6" - 8" “fun"boards the current attempt at this? as an answer to your question, i would say whatever is exactly between a 6’2” production shortboard and 9’ generic log would probably nail it. interesting question no doubt.
To the ancient beach comber it would have been logical(perhaps not sane)to imagine riding a Wedge type wave. To the modern big rigid surfboarder it is not contrary to nature. It,however, is technically not possible and probably unhealthy. Technical possibilty, in my opinion, involves our ability to make use of the laws of nature to produce designs, technology, and craftmanship we were previously unable to produce. As Dale has suggested, if we stay with one design we create a need for more variations of the same thing. Rather than exploring the technical possibilities we keep re-inventing the surfboard until we water it down to the least common denominator - the funboard. The one size fits all board will likely be(or was) the first example of an outside of the box wave craft. Quite likely it will be some sort of flexible speed machine like a surfmat. After all, every child I have seen ride one, no matter how old, seems to be having more fun than most wave riders. Mmm…I think I am babbling, sorry.
To the ancient beach comber it would have been logical(perhaps not sane)to > imagine riding a Wedge type wave. To the modern big rigid surfboarder it > is not contrary to nature. It,however, is technically not possible and > probably unhealthy. Technical possibilty, in my opinion, involves our > ability to make use of the laws of nature to produce designs, technology, > and craftmanship we were previously unable to produce. As Dale has > suggested, if we stay with one design we create a need for more variations > of the same thing. Rather than exploring the technical possibilities we > keep re-inventing the surfboard until we water it down to the least common > denominator - the funboard. The one size fits all board will likely be(or > was) the first example of an outside of the box wave craft. Quite likely > it will be some sort of flexible speed machine like a surfmat. After all, > every child I have seen ride one, no matter how old, seems to be having > more fun than most wave riders. Mmm…I think I am babbling, sorry. And that child inside each one of us must continue to have fun, if we are ever to dream, experience and grow… truthfully calling ourselves surfers.