Bonjour, bonjour…First time shaper here, with a bucket or so of questions…I’ve got my shape outlined and cut, and am now moving towards thinning my blank out. This next step has me at a bit of a loss for action, and so, I’m calling on you dear brethren of the oceanic world to help me in my time of distress:
To what thickness would I want to hone down an 8’0 fish?
The rocker is already set in my blank. To maintain the rocker, should I shave from the deck down? Or is there any other way to ensure that I keep my angles clean?
Moving on to rails…Any suggestions for how to get consistency in transition from hard to soft rails?
Thickness is personal preference. on an eight-foot board, you won’t have trouble catching waves no matter what, but more thickness will give you more float and wavecatchability. For me, I’d go somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 5/8-2 3/4 thick, but that’s just me.
For thinning, definitely thin from the bottom. The foam on the deck is strongest closest to the surface, so the more you shape the deck, the easier it will get pressure dings. I always skin my deck, then leave the final sanding of it as the very last step, to leave as much foam on it as possible.
rails… Long, even strokes from end to end, same number on both sides… Have you gotten shaping 101? It gives a very good rundown on rail shaping. Just skip the “dragon skin” that stuff is a nightmare. Maybe someone else here could take on the rails question.
Shwuz I agree with taking down the thickness from the bottom. Watching the 101 dvd is also a great help. I have found that using more than 2 rail bands gives a better rail though. I also agree with the shark skin idea you have. It messes me up. pikaboo this is only my opinion. Take it as you will.
especially if this board is for you ,make it as thick or as thin as you want…go by thickness measurements you know you like…or just look and feel the rails now and then till it feels right…i usually forget about the thickness when measuring dimensions because i just look and feel and say yeah thats it…isnt 8’ a little long for a fish?
Amount of thickness is your thing, we don’t know your weight or your needs and preferences. Good advice tho…
As for top or bottom skinning to thin out a board. If you thin from the bottom, you stand the chance of twisting the whole bottom of the board, as you are not experienced, and prolly don’t have the eye for symmetry and eveness, yet. Any twisting is very hard to remove, and a twisted board works better one side, the opposite when going the other side.
Thinning from the deck is safest, as the bottom is set, and you can work off the bottom to measure thickness, flow, tuck, whatever.
On an 8’ swallow tail board, you are not worried about weight, so glass your deck with double 6oz and tail patch.
Rail shape is something you have to visualize and REMEMBER! Go to a board you like, feel the rails. Hold the board over your head, like carrying on your head, and let your hands run from the WP to the tail, then from the WP (widepoint) to the nose. REMEMBER and LOG that feel in both your hands!