I run a paddleboard race every July here in Va Beach. This yr will be
the 4th annual. So far I’ve shaped my 11yr old daughter two mini prone
paddleboards. See pics. To date she’s placed first in her age group 3yrs
in a row. The girl loves the events and paddles her heart out so I’ll
continue having a blast shaping these little gems. The first one was
meant to deflect any chop she may have encountered while keeping the
rear of the board geared for speed. The second one I tried to model
after my unlimitted class Richmond prone. Even though she placed first
it proved to be very rolly and in no way stable enough for her. Maybe a
combination of the two may work? Stretched out a bit, a little fuller in
the nose?Any ideas gents?
What a great dad…
Stretched out a bit, flat rocker (depending on conditions), wider in the nose and tail. Maybe try an hourglass outline so she can dig comfortably?
http://meyerhoffersurf.com/meyerhoffer2/
PS - yes, you're a great dad.
Research, research, research. We are sitting inside the Wikipedia of surfcraft building.
I searched square rails and got this one: http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1021647
There was mention of a square tail and I can remember a paper on squared off tails offerering the least friction, suction or whatever force is that slows a board down. Based on that memory, I am thinking of a dead flat alaia shape with a toboggan nose to deflect the chop, square rails and square tail with the end cut with a saw. Maybe hard to glass square rails. If it is a paddle board it doesn’t have to turn.
Then there is this one found after searching square railed tail: http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1015635
There is enough info at Swaylocks to get a PhD, imagine if it was in print, it would take a redwood forest or two.
Only one major problem, my version would look so uncool that no self-respecting 11 year old would be seen dead anywhere near it, let alone carry it down to the water, unless you sell her the vintage retro line. Could be a great test of a father/daughter relationship.
MrT
Ha! I was wondering if someone was going to reccomend a square tail. The races are held in calm water so yes why would I not square everything off for less drag? Well you nailed it met. It can’t look not cool and racy. Boxy rails, check. Hmmm maybe just a Fred tool tuck. Good mention regarding the hr glass shape. That could Be interesting. fuller nose, check. For the tail, maybe squared off with the top deck edge leaning forward for aesthetics kind like the naish glide 14’. Good suggestions gents, thank you. Oh yea, a Larry Allison fin and Coastal Eddie bottle bracket are the finishing touches.
I don't know anything about prone paddleboards but checked out what Jamie Mitchell uses. It looks more like 239A. I also checked out an interview I did a while back with Barry Regan, an 82 year old guy who makes Tom Blake replicas. I noticed that his racing version was like your 218A but the wide point was a little further back from the nose. Rather than making the nose fuller (I thought less would be better, resistance wise) you could move the wide point back a bit, Also, if the second board was less stable, a flatter bottom with more volume near where your daughter's main body mass is located might help. Changing a whole lot of variables at once though will make if difficult to know what made a difference.
Bob
Good suggestiond Bob. Thank you. I think 239A would have been much more stable if I had just made it longer. I’m thinking this next one will be kind of a combination of the two. Definately longer though.
something like an aussie “nipper” paddle board
http://www.infrontsurfcraft.com.au/stockfibreglassnipperboards.html