I am working on a new 10’ board and wanted to build in a step deck and was wondering if adding a slight nose concave (blended into the body) would conflict with the step deck. I am basing my design off a 9’3" Mark Martinson step deck and stretching it out to 10’… adding a bit of nose and tail rocker to the the foam blank. Anyone have experience/advice on things I should keep in mind with a step deck and if a nose concave would help or hinder. General dimensions are 19X23X15 with a 4" nose rocker and 3 5/8 tail rocker. Soft rails. mahalo
Bagus: I’ve heard it mentioned here before, maybe Jim Phillips, that he’d seen a loft full of Surfboards Hawaii Model A stepdecks with snapped noses at the step. (most that I’ve seen both old and repros come with concaves). I had a 9’7" Model A for a while that had quite a twist in a very thin (1 1/4" thick!) concave nose area. The more modern repros I’ve seen in the water have more thickness up front and a less pronounced step than the classics. I liked mine but would shape a new one with moderation in both the depth of concave and the stepdeck profile. I want to see it when you’re finished. Tom S.
Why hasnt somebody made that old style step deck with concave bottom in the same way George Grenough made his bitchin old spoon knee boards? 1/8" thin and flexible in the scooped out section, except on the nose instead of the tail! Maybe that old idea had such a high failure rate because it was ahead of its time! So futuristic that it couldnt be made strong enough with that old polyester resin and fiberglass cloth back in the day. Maybe it just needed today`s modern materials?
Ask Steve Walden - I definitely remember seeing a few of his innovative longboards at a Santa Cruz contest in the early to mid eighties… glass wings that stuck straight out from the rail in the tail area, stinger-like nose wings, pronounced concave bottom/step deck with a solid glass oval shape (Greenough spoon style) where the bottom concave and deck scoop met.
Hey Bagus, I’m glassing a 9’11 stepdeck with similar dimensions right now. I typed ‘stepdeck’ in the archives and came up with some great information. I think Paul Gross’s advice on making the step gradual rather than pronounced makes sense (make sure to glass past or 6-8" before the step if doing a deck patch). I used a 10’1Y and final thickness was 1.5" x 3" x 1.5" or so and growing thinner in foil at the nose and tail. The steps are gradual but when the rocker/foil profile is observed from the side you can see them in the foil. As for the nose concave, I prefer a smaller, shallow, blended concave in the first 20" or so. I find it offers great control. Many other people like larger teardrops. I remember Jim Phillips saying he prefers the former so there is something to be said about it. I had no trouble putting the concave in, same as any other board. I’m definitely no expert but I’m stoked with this board and can’t wait to surf it.
you can do it but in my mind it seems counterproductive.ie, the step flexes and when you get on it it tends to set down and take off-full speed ahead!in general nose concaves tend to slow the board up which allows for long hang time.I have had, and still do, step decks, none of which had concaves,in order i can go as fast as possible to make the point waves i surf.it’s worth a try though.do it and let us know the results!
Matt is one of the guys I have gained much valuable info from here over the last couple years. I shape my own boards so I figured I’d give it a go to see what happens. Matt, thanks for all the knowledge on stepdecks, hulls, single’s, volan, etc. Thanks bro! Ahh…to be able to surf points regularly! Later- pontious
you’re welcome and good shaping to you!
The modern step deck S.H. “model A” that I’ve seen has a more subtle step (as Tom S. Recommended), and triple stringers converging at the tail. Nice looking board (rode the old ones); wonder if the thing would hold up well over time. Seems the repro may have more longevity.
F.Y.I. I recently took delivery of a repro Model AAA shaped by Jim “The Genius” Phillips. It has the shallow concave discussed here, along with the gradual step and it’s a pintail. I’ve ridden it for a couple of months now in waist high waves to overhead-plus waves - what a sweetheart !!! It turns on a dime / enters steep wave faces with much control / it catches waves with ease - I truly enjoy it !!! Only problem - I’ve had with it. I’ve had to go to the local Emergency Room a couple of times already - just to see if they can get this shit - eating grin off my face !!!
thanks for all the great input. I just ordered my blank with some minus rocker in the nose and tail (off a standard 10’ clark blank). I’ll post back when it is shaped and glass. I am thinking triple 6 on top with a single 6 below. May even put in a knee patch behind the SD. Volan glass is really expensive here in Hawaii.