What are thin, blady rails meant to do? I’m thinking increased sensitivity…? How do they work differently than fuller, 50/50, neutral rails on a traditional longboard? Thanks- smiley
Sensitivity and drive. More acceleration on bottom turns. They can be finicky if left to edgy. I always liked thin rails that were kind of soft on the edge. You can really sink em and if your using concaves in the tail, lots of drive.
Like Greg says, sensitive, this is what I like on my own shapes. Dale Dobson has me do rails that are full, I can’t pentrate them on a turn, but Dale rides his boards really flat, not a lot of on rail surfing. Claude Codgen also surfs his boards in a flatter manner, the rail volume is OK when your not trying to get them under water.
Thin rails as long as there soft do add to the rail to rail surfing… Long or short boards… A thin rail adds more crown to your deck allowing more meat in the center of the board but allowing ( heal toe )you to sink your rail more with less effort. Hence adding to the sensitivity. Shapers like Doc make boards using the other effect a real thin board under 2 with fat full soft rails. The thing is that these boards tend to break more so then a board with crownd decks that maybe 2 1/4 with a thin rail. In longboards i like a thinner rail but it is a true 50/50 with a flater rocker. If you go with a lot of rocker you need to increase your hard edge plus if you do go for a thin rail keep it softer just add more lift with concaves to compensate for the added rocker and softer rail… Hope that helps when i follow masters like Greg and Jim well what else can i say. http://surfnwsc.com
what is a “blady”?
pinchy, low, thin, small… Like a fat rail would be a hand full… A blady rail would be small and thin in your grip… http://surfnwsc.com