“Featuring Microgroove technology”
don’t think this came out of a rattle can…
glassed in…
Now that is a blast from the past! Billy Caster was playing around with that in the early 70’s. It was done with 1/8th inch, or 1/4th inch masking tape, in the gloss. The Velzy Butterfly Fin, is an interesting touch!
How does it surf? What are the advantages/disadvantages?
Interesting technique.
So if I get it right, the masking tape is added before glosscoat and pulled off when the glosscoat has gelled?
Hans
Micro channels work I’m pretty sure but you’ve taken on an extra ‘prove’ load with them whacky fins.
JMO. no offence implyied.
Cheers.
One thing I’ve been trying to wrap my head around is whether channels work better when they’re aligned parallel to the stringer or when they’re toed in.
It seems like you could test out what works by taking an existing board and laying tape. Surf it with and without the tape to see if the effect is noticable.
I suppose you could use diving board grip tape cut into strips.
Of course, your rough strips would be up and the smooth strips recessed.
Almost looks like it was done by drawing a notched trowel through the resin just prior to gel state. It’d be damn hard to get those straight lines, though.
Bill knows surfboards - the bottoms on Sunset Surfboards replicas…apparently lotta tape work with the gloss coat… and obviously Pierre is occupying that small space reserved for the finest of glassers…
Think about it, for a moment. When your board is moving, no matter the direction on the wave, the ‘‘relative flow’’ of water over the bottom is ALWAYS PARALLEL to the stringer. So, with that in mind, what do you think the answer is?
Unless if your center fin is not parallel to the stringer 
At the risk of touching off one of those Sways gunbattles, it seems that some people make a distinction between the water that’s in contact with the bottom vs the energy of a wave relative to the orientation of the stringer on that wave at any given time during ride.
We toe side fins in for a reason, even though it causes drag and impedes our paddling. Not to be a smart ass, but what’s the difference between a side fin and any other alteration to a smooth bottom contour?
Given the topic at hand is microgrooves that can be replicated with tape I think we might actually have a unique opportunity to test the subjective feel of parallel vs toed with a blind test, using exactly the same boards and the same rider(s) in the same conditions on the same day. All we need is a $4 roll of fiberglass-reinforced shipping tape and a single edge razor blade. And a board with a flat bottom. Just don’t let the rider look at the bottom.
Double post - this webpage seems to be running slow today.
I do too. It’s apples and oranges.
Gdaddy,
I think a question relevant to the context of your posts might be this:
In the tail section, what is the directional flow of water over the bottom, relative to the stringer, when the bottom is at a 45 degree angle relative to the water surface during a bottom turn or cutback?
the board always follows the nose (tricks aside) regardless of the angle of attack, so the flow of water will always exit out the back. On bottom turns, however, water does enter the bottom at an angle before exiting parallel to the stringer out the back.
So during the 90’s we experimented with thrusters that had a fairly deep Y shaped channel, wider forward of the fins then narrowing between the rail fins. The theory was water entering the bottom plane from the rail during a typical bottom turn was collected and then accelerated into the slot for extra HP.
Rode a board with that bottom on the North Shore during one visit, worked exceptionally well in glassier conditions, less so in choppier conditions, which is also an inherent characteristic of 6 channel bottoms.
almost everything works…if it’s done properly.
It must be some kind of weird asymmetrical board in the photo because it looks almost as if there is quite a bit of water coming off the rail.
Why couldn’t you post a picture of a “normal” board instead of that crazy weirdo thing?
At least something that has the stringer glued in straight!
…
tick tick boom…
channels, bonzer venturis, etc. are all an attempt to direct water flow more efficiently.
the real problem, is finding enough waves to thoroughly test all of this stuff!
to add a little fire though, one mentor of mine was dead set against any type of channel, as it would “trip” the water as it was organically flowing across the bottom - ie water can’t flow over and edge…