scaling up bonzer, so what do I do with the fins?

General Discussion
1

I’m making a copy of a friends board for myself, then a scaled up copy as a bday present for someone else with clark foam, but the thing is its an old plastic fantastic that’s three inches thick, and its hard to find a blank (I’m using clark foam this time). I decided on a 6’9A for the shorter one (6’2x20x3) and am going to make the scaled up version 6’6 x 21.25 x 3.325 and still haven’t decided on a blank, but, I didn’t know what to do with the fin setup. Do I scale up the runner fins (its a three fin) and leave the backs in the same spot, or move the fronts up a little ways and leave them the same size?

Then if I wanted to use epoxy instead of poly, it makes a lighter board, so how much more float would that allow? If I could decrease the thickness on both of them and still keep them performing and floating close to the same way, how much of a decrease? I heard in a surfshop that epoxy makes a board twenty percent lighter, so would that mean I could decrease its volume by twenty percent and it would still be the same? It doesn’t sound right to me…

But back to the original question, what do I do with the runner fins?

2

hi deathy !

just 3 questions …

is the ORIGINAL a bonzer ??? [I didn’t know plastic fantastic made them]

if so , how big were the runners on that ?

Why are the boards so thick …is the guy you’re making them for enormous ?

ben

the runners on the original three fin bonzers [if that’s what you’re wanting to make ?] were HUGE …for a 6’6 , I don’t think you need to scale them UP…down , maybe , but not up !

3

Deathfrog,

I may have misread your post, but are you saying that you’re using a 3 fin bonzer as a template to make a 5 fin bonzer? I only ask because they are two totally different animals and you may want to rethink it. Unless you’re looking for that seventies style outline.

On the epoxy issue. It’s my understanding that epoxy is lighter when used with a polystyrene core. The core is much lighter than a PU core. I have two boards that are EPS and Epoxy and both seem to float me much better than PE/PU boards of same size. That being said, you could probably go thinner on a EPS/Epoxy board. Not really sure if epoxy is lighter on a PU blank but I’m sure someone else will have an answer for you.

Sr Pato

4

I think I might have measured nine inches, but I don’t remember because I didn’t write it down, and the original is a three, and the new one is gunna be a three finner too. I remember it being three inches thick though, I wrote that one down, but yea its super floaty, but who it’s for was saying that he wanted to go take it somewhere to get a scaled up copy that would float him. I don’t know his weight, but I’m guessing upwards of 200 pounds, or just around there. I’m talking to him tomorow anyway, so I might be able to find out some more and let you guys know some more stuff (sorry if it’s kinda hard now with the little I’ve given…) The board had a really rolled deck though, so it wasn’t corky, but it was really fun and was catching waves like a longboard, and once on them was a really fun board to ride.

So, yea I was gunna go clark foam and epoxy, because I like the ding restance of it and I figure if I do that with a lower weight blank I could get a really strong board, especally if I invested in S-glass too, I hate the disposible surfboard idea…

5

hi again Deathy !

6’2 x 20" x 3" for you …what do you weigh ?

you COULD go thinner possibly…and perhaps narrower too ?

What tail shape are you having ?

I ask , because my pintail became more of a roundtail , and the 20" width and wider nose and tail made mine look a bit more like an “egg” outline than I probably really would have liked . In hindsight , if I had narrowed it , it would have been a bit sleeker . And I DEFINATELY could have gone THINNER …even WITH three fin boxes in it ! live and learn …

runners ?

The bonzer three fin runners did seem to be around 9" base and 3-4" height , from what I’ve read.

My 6’5 I’m making [as a three ‘fin’ “bonzer” ] is , because it has three fin boxes, going to have runners ranging from 4-6" bases , and 2-3 1/2 depth , and a more curved back edge [like the 5 finners have now]. I will be using back fins in my fin box , ranging from a thruster back fin size up to 8" deep, with a 5-6" base . [bigger back fin , smaller side runners is what I’m going with , being that I ride SINGLE fins a LOT !!

Within a month , I should be able to let you know how these setups go. If you want to stay in touch , I can ‘p.m.’ you , if you like …

WOULD you consider using a fin box or plugs for your side runners , as well as a back fin box ?

I’M doing that kind of a setup because I figure it’s easier to put fins into a box , and move them around , than it is to have to grind off runners or back fins if you found you didn’t like their performance .

just a thought, anyway  .... 



  ben
6

I weigh about 140, but it changes alot because I swim competitivley and play water polo and stuff, so I gain alot durring water polo and lose it all durrnig swim season, but its a dimondey pin tail, that’s about four inches across if I had to say from memory, but I could ask later I’m gunna go see the owner of it so I can ask some stuff. If I find anything else out, I’ll post it.

But I did like the easy wave catchyness of this board, I’ts like a longboard, really fun, then can handle the big stuff too. (Owner said he’s taken it out in 14 foot faces, and it’s a 6’2 so I have no idea how he did that…)