Question about bottom contour on HWS

General Discussion
1

I am coming close to ending a nearly 4 month project.

My HWLongboard is almost ready to have the rails glued up but I have been

looking at the bottom of the board. Do you guys that make these, shape

concave in the bottoms or just leave them flat?

The balsa on the bottom started out 1/4" thick so there should be room to

sand a little. Maybe a shallow spoon up by the nose?

Is it just personal preference?

A few poorly taken pics.

I apologize for the lack of pics during the build.

Just found my camera in my 15y/o daughter’s school backpack after losing it in July!

And speaking of bottom contour, I was looking at my local beach on one of these

mapping sites. Look at these beautiful sandbars.

Closer

2

I dont know how deep you can sand into the bottom of the board without compromising the skin. I was thingking about that when I built my HWS and I put the contour into the ribs during frame up.

3

I would be very hesitant to try to shape contours into your bottom at this point. I feel that with a hws you have to plan any deck/bottom shape considerations into the framework. If you sand through, or create a weak spot, it could ruin a lot of work. But, if you’ve glassed the inside, and will glass the outside as well, you don’t really need 1/4" thick on the bottom, so you’d have a little room to play. Anyone else’s thoughts?

Pat

4

I put my concave in the frame before the skin went on. 1/8" skins can bend into it no prob. Not shure I would chance sanding out a concave in a skin even if it is 1/4".What I want to know is does a concave make much of a difference? The board I put the concave in does ride better than the one that has a little bit of a hull shape. But so many other things are different I cant really compare the 2. Just started on board #5 Im thinking flat fore now.

5

i would do what you feel is right and if you sand to much glue a skin on top of it

just my 2 cents but remeber just do what u want not what everyone else says

6

instead of removing material from the center to concave the bottom, why not add material to the sides??

7

Don’t bother with the concave. There is little to be gained for the effort. However if you do, SuperFatPats’ comment is correct.

8

Not really trying to drag this thread back up to the top

but I would like to say, thanks for all the replys.

I was thinking the same thing you guys mentioned, any bottom

design should have been placed in the frame before the board was skinned.

I’m learning alot with this board. And on this website.