I was looking at some really old pictures online and i came across and old Apia Stinger. It was just one of those outlines that spoke to me. I am wondering if any of you guys actually rode them and had some opiniions on how they rode. The only single fin shortboard i have ever riden is the one i made so i dont have much expirence. The boards just look like they would be a blast to get into good waves. However, i am completley clueless on the dimensions and rails. Also how do you guys feel about the steps concave on the bottom of the board right by the wings? I have heard they just make the boards weaker, if so how much weaker. Drew Brophy has a concept board on his website that looks like a killer outline. I would love to hear your guys expirence and stories about these boards. It is also very helpfull when you guys reccomend what sort of blank to use. The blank reccomnedations here have saved me a lot of time and foam. Also, why dont i see any stingers in the water? Darren http://www.drewbrophy.com/surfboard_designs_conceptboards.htm
There are several versions of the Stinger in production right now. Ben Aipa is marketing a 10’2" Big Boy stinger, and a slightly smaller one in the 9’4" range. I’ve also seen some double wing longboards by John Kies that are a variation on the theme of reducing the width of a wide tail with cuts. Some of the big boys at Cardiff Reef bought the 10’2" Aipa and started saying things like: “This is the best board I’ve ever ridden”. Apparantly they turn really well. The only complaint was that when riding in the center of the board, it stiffened up and was hard to maneuver. Doug
I had an Aipa stinger when they first came out in '74 and I had a hard time riding it. I think it was more my style of surfing, because a friend of mine ripped on it. I have seen a few replicas done by Ben himself at Chan’s and more recently at the Russ K Quiksilver Boardriders in Honolulu. That one was done by Danny Nichols, who also had some really nice single fin shortboards in the 6 foot range. Really nice 70’s glass jobs too (cut tinted laps, resin pinlines).
…A stinger should be ridden from the front half of the board a majority of the time,if it’s stiff when you ride it from the mid section then there’s something wrong. …I like stingers for down the line fast no cut back type waves,oh they cut back great but they really perform in zippers.The down side is the don’t surf back side well at all,it’s not to say they don’t but you’ll have to put some time in them to get anywhere with it.They tend to spin out if you tail ride it like a regular outlined board and lose forward push as well.Ben Aipa was really cool in schooling me on the stinger design and have several of his templates to boot.I built one last year for a guy up in S.F. THAT IS STATE OF THE ART STINGER.Maybe he’ll ring in here.I was planning on building a 6-6 for myself this spring but in a 2+1 charged or a charged thruster sting.I’ve have built several in the past with great results,you just have to know what you want it for. …As far as steps go you can put them in but it’s not ness.It’s just more work for you and the glassers and it does weaken the board, even if you angle them.Tunnels work well with the design but how about this a stinger tunneled with a modern bonzer fin set-up using Tom’s Red-X bonzer system???HUM???That’s why that particular blank has sat for 6 months.Herb
Thanks a bunch guys. I was hoping you would chime in Herb. I will be done with finals in 10 days and back in Orange and more than ready to shape. Hopefully when i get back i can call you up and talk shapes because this last quarter i have been sitting in class thinking up new boards and designs. All of the surf movies down here in San Diego really got me thinking, especially Super Sessions. I was thinking about a stinger in the six three range, i am not sure. I was also thinking of the concave on tail. Howeve, i keep imagining and edge board bottom like Lee V’s on the forward part of the board. It is a shame that am not a better glasser yet. Darren
…Give me a call when you get in.I haven’t heard from your partner up here in the outback but I figure he’s got tails on his mind.Herb
l had numerous stingers (single fin)when l was about 16 they all went pretty good, l liked the way you could break a turn easier because of the pivot point that the stinger created, l found them great for the manouver of its time, the vert backhand reo, the brought in tail allowed you to pivot quicker so that you could come back down, l made myself a 6’10 stinger pin (single) for Burleigh when its barreling off its nut and it barrel rides unreal. Definatley another good peice for the quiver. KR http://groups.msn.com/MyKRSurf/krcomweb.msnw
,There’s a couple nice stings on the board page here, one shaped by Jim Phillips,that one really caught my eye.Herb
KR - I had a pintail flyer stinger shaped by Paul Trigger, a white one with brown lightening bolt on the bottom also when I was about sixteen. I agree it really turned better (?shorter arc) than the boards I was riding before. Then came the twin fins - they turned even better - just started riding a twinnie again and feels like 20 years ago. Living and surfing in WA. Cheers, Russ
this is what i want from a stinger!! 
…Sling I can get them so close that if you put Ben’s label on it no one would know.Herb
Herb…let me scratch up some pennies first. Im kinda broke right now…but I will for sure get back to you on that when i dig myself out of this hole [smile] thanks herb!
…You let me know… we’ll do a special deal for you due to the beating around you got from some of the cyber junkies.Just get enough for a blank and pay for the glassing.E-mail me and we can talk details.Aloha Sling.Herb
Hey Herb, me too?
…JK let me know after Christmas, I could do some charity work for you as well.Herb
What are the differences, in performance and design, between a single-fin and a tri-fin stinger? On a related note… here is a photo of Ben with the masters for his newest Boardworks epoxy models. 