I’m looking for some tips on what kind of things you’d incorporate in the specks for a 7’7"thruster. I’m gonna be shaping it with a good friend who has considerable talent and of course will have his own ideas but I’m completely open to anything at this point. The specks I’m starting with are-- 7’7"x13.5"x19.5"x13.5"x2.875. I want a shallow swallow tail about 4" wide to give it a little more lift and bite than a rounded pin. I’m thinking about the wide point at about 47" from the tail, a flat entry with a slight concave starting in the middle which separates and continues into slightly veed tail, about 5" of kick and 2" of tail rocker. I’m completely open, and will value any suggestions or ideas as I’m not going to start shaping for a week or so. Best, Rich
I’m looking for some tips on what kind of things you’d incorporate in the > specks for a 7’7"thruster. I’m gonna be shaping it with a good friend > who has considerable talent and of course will have his own ideas but I’m > completely open to anything at this point. The specks I’m starting with > are-- 7’7"x13.5"x19.5"x13.5"x2.875. I want a shallow > swallow tail about 4" wide to give it a little more lift and bite > than a rounded pin. I’m thinking about the wide point at about 47" > from the tail, a flat entry with a slight concave starting in the middle > which separates and continues into slightly veed tail, about 5" of > kick and 2" of tail rocker. I’m completely open, and will value any > suggestions or ideas as I’m not going to start shaping for a week or so.>>> Best, Rich …Check out my 7’-7" on the board page under,“shortboards”…downtown2
I’m looking for some tips on what kind of things you’d incorporate in the > specks for a 7’7"thruster. I’m gonna be shaping it with a good friend > who has considerable talent and of course will have his own ideas but I’m > completely open to anything at this point. The specks I’m starting with > are-- 7’7"x13.5"x19.5"x13.5"x2.875. I want a shallow > swallow tail about 4" wide to give it a little more lift and bite > than a rounded pin. I’m thinking about the wide point at about 47" > from the tail, a flat entry with a slight concave starting in the middle > which separates and continues into slightly veed tail, about 5" of > kick and 2" of tail rocker. I’m completely open, and will value any > suggestions or ideas as I’m not going to start shaping for a week or so.>>> Best, Rich I threw your numbers onto my graphics program. I’m with Herb. You should widen the stern or the swallow tail will do nothing but subtract from floatation. Take the stern up to 5" and the tail up to 14". Even more tail/stern widening would be functional… or lose the swallow. However, I like the swallow idea. Lets see how this shapes up and I’ll post an outline matrix.
I threw your numbers onto my graphics program. I’m with Herb. You should > widen the stern or the swallow tail will do nothing but subtract from > floatation. Take the stern up to 5" and the tail up to 14". Even > more tail/stern widening would be functional… or lose the swallow. > However, I like the swallow idea.>>> Lets see how this shapes up and I’ll post an outline matrix. Hey Noodle is what you’re saying that, A rounded pin with a 13.5" tail would have more floatation than a 4" wide swallow with a 13.5" tail?
Hey Noodle is what you’re saying that, A rounded pin with a 13.5" > tail would have more floatation than a 4" wide swallow with a > 13.5" tail? My point was, a 4" swallow tail would have no ride effect on your board. A 4" swallow tail would have less floatation than a 4" square stern.
My point was, a 4" swallow tail would have no ride effect on your > board.>>> A 4" swallow tail would have less floatation than a 4" square > stern. Let me make sure I’m with what your saying. Why not go 4" square stern instead of swallow because the swallow needs to be wider to cause an effect change in the riding characteristics.So lets say the I widen the tail to 15.5" and make it 6.5" at the tip what will be the difference in the ride between a squashtail and a swallow. Obviously the squashtail will always have more lift because you cut a vee out of the square to make it. I can always go back to the rounded pin cause is so so smooth! I just think that little swallow with the extra edge back there will bit really good, maybe I’m wrong but Eric Arakawa is using it on alot of his boards and he’s got a pretty good rep. By the way I do appreciate the observations. Best, Rich
i’d consider a little more tail rocker, maybe 2.5" or even 2.75". 2" is pretty low especially at that length. with a 13.5" nose it sounds like it could be too stiff. if you want a lower tail rocker put more curve in your outline(try maybe around a 12" nose). just my 2 cents. as far as your swallow do it if you like the way it looks, i doubt you’ll feel any diff. between a small swallow and a squash on that size board. with a 13.5" tail i’d go for more of a pin…the coolest thing is…you can shape whatever you want!!!just let us all know what you find out down the line…
i’d consider a little more tail rocker, maybe 2.5" or even > 2.75". 2" is pretty low especially at that length. with a > 13.5" nose it sounds like it could be too stiff. if you want a lower > tail rocker put more curve in your outline(try maybe around a 12" > nose). just my 2 cents. as far as your swallow do it if you like the way > it looks, i doubt you’ll feel any diff. between a small swallow and a > squash on that size board. with a 13.5" tail i’d go for more of a > pin…the coolest thing is…you can shape whatever you want!!!just let > us all know what you find out down the line… I talked to my buddy this morning and he agrees with you on nose, which will be kicked about 4.5". I’m thinking 12"to 12.5" will make it a little freer. We’re talkin 2"to 2.5" tail rocker and maybe increasing the tail to 14". We both think the little swallow say 4.5"to 5" is a good idea it’ll give it a little more bite and if the tail width is increased this little bit the lift charateristics should be fine. That’s where we are right now but shaping is still a little while off. And all the ideas coming are helping. Thanx!
Hey bruce, why would you go more for a pin?
Hey bruce, why would you go more for a pin? just mostly because of the length which should offer plenty of volume/planing(esp with the lowered nose rocker) i just like the way a pintail pushes back in turns and holds so well. of course a squash or swallow will prob work just fine, but you’ll prob. be surfing a board like that rail to rail a lot(can’t see busting the fins loose off the top, but…) and a pin will give you an edge on those bigger days. all in all tail design for me isn’t that big of a deal usually.
Hey Bruce, Thanx for the straightforward opinion on tail design. Now as to nose width. What will be the big difference in performance between and 13.5" nose and say an 11.5" nose? I’m open to & and appreciate any opinions. Best, Rich p.s. I’ve been thinkin’ about posting a Halcyon fin photo on the site but I’m not too cyber-hip so I’ll have to do my homework first. Any tips appreciated.
keeping the middle the same, the 13.5" nose is gonna keep your rails more parallel, the narrower measurements will keep your outline nice and curvy. it really depends on how you want to surf, but a narrower nose won’t hang up as much on late drops, cutbacks, etc., if you want the wider nose you might try widening the center width a bit.
keeping the middle the same, the 13.5" nose is gonna keep your rails > more parallel, the narrower measurements will keep your outline nice and > curvy. it really depends on how you want to surf, but a narrower nose > won’t hang up as much on late drops, cutbacks, etc., if you want the wider > nose you might try widening the center width a bit. Thanx Bruce, I’ll keep this in mind when we lay the templates down. We’ll have to see how the external arcs of the board look the best with the 19.5 wide point at about 47 or so from the tail.
sometimes i find it easier to check out curves on the actual blank, tracing a couple different lines on the unskinned blank(with different color pencils). you can check the full template with the rocker of the blank. sometimes its hard to get a real feel for an outline from a half template of masonite laying flat on the ground.
sometimes i find it easier to check out curves on the actual blank, > tracing a couple different lines on the unskinned blank(with different > color pencils). you can check the full template with the rocker of the > blank. sometimes its hard to get a real feel for an outline from a half > template of masonite laying flat on the ground. Your input is really helpful and I’m really looking forward to the layout.I’ll use the colored pencil trick. Thanx. I’ll let you know what the final specks are after it’s shaped. By the way I talked to another shaper today with 30 years plus experience and he said that he sure the swallow would have more bite than a pin or a squash tail. More edge more bite. It makes sense to me. I have other boards that are swallow tails & I like the positive feel and drive it gives. I can always loosen it up for the mushie days and surf it twin. Thanx again. Best, Rich.