Should I go swallow?

General Discussion
1

I was planning to shape a wide shortboard for italians mushy waves. the tail width ended up 15.7", but I find it fits the outline.

My first choice is a squash tail (easier to glass and more smooth), but everywere I see swallows for such wide templates.

Do you think i should use a swallow?

thanks

2

Squash for mush. Or a shallow swallow. Think planing area and volume.

3

I think you should go with a really relaxed diamond tail.

4

I’m a swallow lover but when I think of the Italian waves I’ve seen, especially on the Adriatic Coast, I would go with the diamond tail. I think of swallows as something for bite on a hollow wave. You might want to go with some shallow concaves to help you pump some speed.

5

thank you for answers guys. Actually I didn’t consider the diamond tail option since I haven’t seen many thruster tails made this way except CI K-small, but it seems a good solution.

was a bit worried about the tail 15.7"width.

6

“[b]Should I go swallow?”

[/b]I find the rest of the girls sometimes spit it out . But whichever you prefer , I guess . And maybe it depends a bit on how good it tastes , also ?!]

[b]

[/b]

7

For the conditions described, swallow no, squash yes.

8

As long as you have another board to ride when it does get good, go squash or diamond with heavy vee.

But if you don’t have another board…Don’t you want a board to ride good when it gets good, and just deal with it and have fun when it’s crappy?

9

Hey Dave:

I’ll bet dollars to doughnuts that none of the people replying to your post has surfed the Med.

I have. You don’t want a swallow at all. If you can do a good bump tail squash, go with that.

If you want to experiment, go with a round tail (thumb). I have surfed Italy & France in the Med and

what we call good here in Cali, you call epic!!!. Any squash/round will hold in on your big waves and

be a plus in the average surf. Most of the locals I met in the Med were surfing longer boards than

we were (late 70’s) and were catching more waves. In newer shaping terms, go with a wave catching

bottom and don’t worry too much about the tail. Single to double should be the best for your conditons.

Go an inch or two longer that what you read here in the posts and 1/2 in. wider at least. Have fun, I miss the

cheese!!!

BKB

10
Quote:

I’ll bet dollars to doughnuts that none of the people replying to your post has surfed the Med.

I have. You don’t want a swallow at all. If you can do a good bump tail squash, go with that.

Hey! I ride the Gulf of fugly Mexico!!

What you call cheese, we call all-time (I said squash!)