roundhouse board?

About 2 years back I had a Channal Islands 6’0" fish, on which I was able to do great roundhouse cutbacks (figure-8 style turns ). I’ve had quite a few board since the Al, and all of them haven’t had even close to the roundhouse characteristics of the C.I. I’m now shaping my own boards and I haven’t been able to reproduce the turning characterists of my old Al. Are there any board specs (rocker, bottom, tail, fins, etc…) which produce a board with better roundhousing capabilities? Maybe my surfing has changed, but any suggesting would be apreciated. Thanks, Graham

Without knowing a thing about your boards, it’s hard to say. A wide point further back from center with increased curve in the tail outline and increased tail rocker may enhance cutback characteristics. Newer boards with little or no vee are being promoted. Did your old board have any vee? Fin(s) play a big part too. What was the fin layout on your old board? Wider bases, greater area, longer rake or spread out placement may affect roundhouse cutbacks.

About 2 years back I had a Channal Islands 6’0" fish, on which I was > able to do great roundhouse cutbacks (figure-8 style turns ). I’ve had > quite a few board since the Al, and all of them haven’t had even close to > the roundhouse characteristics of the C.I. I’m now shaping my own boards > and I haven’t been able to reproduce the turning characterists of my old > Al. Are there any board specs (rocker, bottom, tail, fins, etc…) which > produce a board with better roundhousing capabilities? Maybe my surfing > has changed, but any suggesting would be apreciated. Thanks, Graham Graham, pay close attention to tail rocker. Measuring rocker is fine, however, I tend to use a lot of visual acuety during my shaping. As you shape your rocker, lay the board bottom up on a chair or stool and step back 10+ feet and visualize (side view) the desired apex of the tail curve - the apex should coencide with the back foot’s sweet spot for carving. By placing extra tail rocker (about 1/8 to 1/4 more than usual) just in the right spot (apex somewhere between the front and back fins), you should get the desired performance. The smooth, extra tail rocker on the lower third of the board will facilitate better turning, but may slow the board down a bit. It is the same mechanics as parabolic snow ski performance - as the ski is turned on its edge, the front and rear tips grab the snow more than the center allowing the ski to bend into a nice arc for the ski to naturally follow (I know this from experience with both straight and parabolics). Also, knowing the year the Al was made and what was popular then might also help you. The bottom line is that all things being equal, extra tail rocker starting about 8-10" from from the tip will yield a nice carving board. Dave the Wave - Surfer, Shaper, Mech Engineer.