As a fairly inexperienced surfer, i would be interested in anyone who makes or has made a “fun plus” shortboard. Like, a shortboard that catches heaps of waves easily, and floats better than a standard shortboard. I usually ride a minimal, and i must say i like the longer boards better, but, i would like a shortboard i could just jump on now and then, and catch as many waves a si can, while still having good manouverability. I am not a great surfer, so im not looking to do awesome moves, just an easy board to catch waves ( 1-4 or 5 foot ), and have fun trying to carve!!. I do have a shortboard, and i can ride it, but, it is hard for me to find the sweet spot, and i get frustrated easily!!.
Shhhhh… I don’t mean to use the “F” word in a thruster thread because this is quite a rarity, but…
Beerfan, I think you are talking about a fish. These boards allow you to catch A LOT more waves than your potato chip thruster and they are a lot more forgiving in regards to maintaining speed. What you end up with is more time and room for error to work on improving your surfing. It’s like a longboard in that sense, but because they are so much shorter (mine is 5’10" @ 175lbs) fish have substantially more maneuvability. Moreover, they are primarily designed for the wave sizes you mentioned (1-5ft).
I’ve been surfing for about 2.5 years now and a fish has helped my surfing quite a bit for the reasons mentioned. These guys are really the way to transition to a shortboard (and just to have period… I rode my fish and thruster today!).
Just got out of the water so my brain’s a little fried, but hopefully this helps.
And , they are probably ‘everywhere’ because they are boards that work well
Heres one for the sandgroupers
Hey chip, I shaped this a little while back but she is still a virgin, 8’2" 19 1/5" 3" spiral vee bottom
made with large North Point, in mind…I just had a total hip replacement so she serves to inspire me to get strong enough to ride her…could be a case of willing mind body not able, then again thinking of outside ledge north point the mind may be not so willing either!
have a 8’0 pin and 7’10 (similar to above but with a single fin and training wheels what you guys are calling widowmakers) for bit smaller days on the back ledge…
I didnt realy like the 7’10 widdow at north… has the potential to live up to its name…a friend rides it at centers when north gets sketchie and likes it… thats what happens when you leave your quiver with your mates to look after…they ride them.
So what you’re saying is that one is mental therapy. You’ve got yourself something else for physical therapy right? Maybe something a bit more tame yeah? I would hope.
So what you’re saying is that one is mental therapy. You’ve got yourself something else for physical therapy right? Maybe something a bit more tame yeah? I would hope.
Thats very right Dennis,in fact I bought, mabe i should say stole a CI classic 9’1 off a friend who needed the money and had to part with her (thanks grubbie) it rides very nicely. would love to have one of your boards to rebuild my enthusiasm for south bay in summer if you have time (and the right blank) go ahead and shape me something between 6’6 and 7’… single fin, you chose the era, but think east coast OZ when you shape her, id be stoked… no hurry when you have the right blank.
what are the fins on that Nik … have you got a shot of the bottom of it , please ?
the fins are g3 fcs… small fins… normaly I prefer glassed in fins but this a travel board so fcs.
The bottom, no photo, I describe as spiral V, though I dont know the “true” swaylockian termiolnogy of what is a “sprial V” the way i shape a spiral V is probably easiest to described by visualiseing a typical proformance long board, the V forms a hump 6’ from the nose 3’ from the tail and flattens through the tail the deepest part of the V is between your feet the entry curve meets the exit curve at the same spot and the rail rocker is straighest there as well, between your feet, the effect is to project long arc turns or drive off the V panel that is created lavz calles this reactive force I like that, something to push off.
…how BIG North Point are you thinking of taking on ??
well as Dennis suggests this board is, at this stage mental therapy… so we can dream a little… North Point can hold around 12’ on a west swell at high tide and steps out off the ledge and peaks deeper in these conditions, without having to worry about the left coming out of centers cleaning you up. Surprisingly it will let you in a little easier than when its 10’ and hitting the normal peak on a south west swell,… rare conditions for the fickle lady… but that was what I had in mind… of course we are dreaming arn’t we…
I see a lot of beautifully finished boards on this site that look like they would surf like dogs compared to a thruster, they look fine though if you just want to cruise along waves because of increasing age and/or girth.
hey, i don’t want to pick fight here, as in some way you may be right, but it isn’t simply the fin set up that makes or breaks a boards performance. and, i have seen/owned many thrusters that were dogs compared to the quad i ride now. a board is more than the fins guys.
would love to have one of your boards to rebuild my enthusiasm for south bay in summer if you have time (and the right blank) go ahead and shape me something between 6’6 and 7’… single fin, you chose the era, but think east coast OZ when you shape her, id be stoked… no hurry when you have the right blank.
You’re on Nik. And, I think I’ve got just the right item. How ‘bout a 7’0 single fin but not a hull bottom and not really a flat bottom. The board has a great history. I’ll tell you the story when I’ve got it done. Give me maybe about 3 weeks.
Maybe my English sense of humour was misunderstood, read your quote from my post again with attention to the second half of the sentence.
Your right though, it is’nt just the fin set up that makes or breaks a board,far from it. For me it’s the rail line rocker and the template curve that’s the most make or break element of any design.
“if it looks like it works and it feels like it works then it works”
