I just finished my second SUP (still learning a bunch). The first was a 10.5’ long 32" wide 4.5" thick Surf style board. So for the second board I went 11’ 34" (wanted super stable) 4.5" thick. I also did a slight V to double concave. My question is should the double concave go all the way through the tail? Sometimes it feels like the board is slowing its self down. On the concaves, I feathered it out before the tail. I am thinking about redoing it and going through the tail. The board will mainly be used for touring (rivers or ocean), but maybe some surf.
So think I should go concave through the tail? Taper out in the tail? I have not had to redo before. Should I just use the router and then sureform out the curve?
I meant to take better pics, but got dark here. Can tomorrow.
Ok, can’t resist. As a 50 plus year surfer I must make a comment here. To you younger guys with all perfect body parts, go ahead with your arrogance toward sups. Your point of view is sad and I’m sorry for you. For me, being a sharing, worn out old dude, I will ride what I choose and not get in your way…the truth is I can’t prone paddle anymore with two artificial shoulder joints and doing rehab exercises nearly every day. I’m going to ride what I can, as long as I can. Regarding the concave…they don’t really need to be that deep. Sorry for the bit of a rant.
Thanks. We live on the gulf coast and waves are only up every once and a while. My question really is around when not surfing. Seems like when not on a plane that the water in the concave area is not flowing through the tail. I might make a slight channel through the tail and see what it does. Thanks
At slower, non planing speeds your board will displace the water it is passing through so channels are way less effective. I would consider the impact of total wetted surface area and keeping that to a minimum for a non planing hull form.
Ignoring the debate on “to SUP or not SUP”, your least resistance is a flat bottom, and your fastest. Length is your friend. A little bit of roll in the nose is good for surface chop on lake or river. If you are looking at using a long SUP for a little surfing, thin out the foil in the tail and tuck the tail in with a round pin style while keeping your length & width. I refuse to make SUPs for surfing (although I have made one or two for close personal friends with disabilities) I have made some for bay crusing and paddling out here (west) at Big Bear Lake with these features and they worked well. Flat water also needs only a single fin, so take out your side fins and you will improve glide. Just my 2 c…
That’s all good. The Sup riders round here are all very well behaved and don’t take undue advantage of their unassailable paddling advantage. We all get along just fine. I have been to other places where a couple of guys on Sups can make life completely miserable for everyone else in the water by being on every single set wave that comes in. The general rule where I come from is that the guy who’s been waiting the longest, regardless of surf craft or (within reason) ability has right of way. Gentleman’s rules if you like. Everyone is pretty happy in the surf here.
So in conclusion I have no issues with SUPs, and indeed I reckon it’s great to see older surfers enjoying the waves. I do have a problem with selfish 4ssholes who use SUPs to take more than their fair share of waves and ruin everyone else’s day. Do you see my point of view?
"That’s all good. The Sup riders round here are all very well behaved and don’t take undue advantage of their unassailable paddling advantage. We all get along just fine. I have been to other places where a couple of guys on Sups can make life completely miserable for everyone else in the water by being on every single set wave that comes in. The general rule where I come from is that the guy who’s been waiting the longest, regardless of surf craft or (within reason) ability has right of way. Gentleman’s rules if you like. Everyone is pretty happy in the surf here.
So in conclusion I have no issues with SUPs, and indeed I reckon it’s great to see older surfers enjoying the waves. I do have a problem with selfish 4ssholes who use SUPs to take more than their fair share of waves and ruin everyone else’s day. Do you see my point of view?"
I’m in complete agreement with Surfteach on bottom shape. Pretty much all of the fast racing sups have displacement noses and flat bottoms out the tail. There is certainly experimenting going on but in general the bottoms of the fastest boards are flat. To Spuddup: Yep, totally “get” the problem you describe with sups. For my part I try to be an ambassador to both camps. It sucks for all of us when the vibe goes bad. Same thing happened in the early 70’s when short boards came along…same thing occurred in the free flight community when paragliders came along…same old story…a few selfish A-holes ruined the vibe. Where I live many of the breaks were pioneered by kayakers and they felt like their spots got ruined when surfers moved in…
Definatley agree with surfteach. Flat bottoms will give you more speed for touring. Your board looks like it should work good for what you have in mind. If you were going to change anything for more touring speed i would say maybe flattening out the V?
I mainly use it for flat water or open ocean, but want to try it in the surf. I couldn’t resist, so I extended a slighter concave about 1/3 through tail. I just laminated it and will finish it tomorrow. Thanks for the help.