i am thinking about shaping a single fin for smaller mushy summer waves. what i was thinking is pretty much a fish outline, 6’2" x 17 x 22 x 16, 12" at the tail block. instead of a fish tail, a diamond tail. and using the george greenough paddle fin with it. i know this has probably been done before, but i could not find anything int he archives and just wondering if i could get some input on how this will work.
I shaped a corky 6’11" Egg last spring - I threw it in the truck everytime my girlfriend went to sun, regardless of wave size. 1 to 5 feet around here (mostly 1 to 3 mush). I got rashgard tanlines for days. I couldn’t recommend a better board! 6’11" 18 1/4 nose, 22 5/8 mid, 17 1/4 tail, 3 1/4 thick. 60/40 down rail into full down last foot or so, flat deck. Thick nose and tail (a good two inches). The tail is completely round (half circle). very low rocker. Use any ol’ 8 - 9 inch fin. I was catchin waves with the longboarders and all over the faces with the shortboarders (well… when it was actually going off). Great mellow board - can walk up and hang five too (well… for a split second) -chesser
I’ve been riding single exclusively for the last 5 years or so and have taken them to the Philippines and Indo. Flatten out the rock and flick the nose up right in the last 4 to 6 inches. In small waves the flat tail rocker gives speed and drive. Make it nice and thick in the middle and if you want a little more sensitivity, roll the deck. Here in Australia it’s been flat for a month and I’ve been riding a 5’5" double ender with a really rolled ‘camel’ deck vintage '70. It’s good fun and an exercise in what you can actually surf on (i’m 5’11") Good surfing!
On shortboards, I find that the paddle fin works best in longer waves with a bit more juice. I’ve used a 9.75" paddle on the board below (6’4" x 15" x 20.5" x 14.5"). I didn’t care for the board/fin combo in mushy surf, but it really came alive when there was some open face to let the fin unwind. I’d be interested to hear how the paddle works on your fish template. On a side note, the fin worked great on a 10’0" traditional longboard in micro waves. Please keep us updated. Good luck!
sorry, i guess its not strictly fofr mushy surf. its for a friend who only has a potato chip board right now. Tehres alot of days when currents and winds and all the other adverse conditions really wear on him. So this is a board that will be bigger, float better, and make surfing a little easier. So anything from 1-6’, mushy to hollow. The board is gona have a wide tail,single to double concave, low rocker , and i heard the the paddle fin is good for drive. Just wondering how the wide tail interacts witht the single fin, does it slide otu easier? suck for hollow waves?
Chesser - what blank did you take that out of? I’m looking for something that size and shape myself (though maybe 7’0)… Keep looking at that darned Hobie Retro Egg, but it’s too pricey for me. The ride of your board sounds like what I’m looking for. Mahalo!