I am going to shape my second thruster and wanted to get some people’s opinions on board dimensions.
First about me:
6 foot
180lbs
Types of waves will be mostly beach breaks
I was thinking about making a 6’6" with a width of 19" 3" back from center, a nose of 10 1-16", and a tail with width of around 14 1-16" a thickness of 2 1-2".
A few days back there was a thread about going shorter and wider with boards. I was wondering how to employ this train of thought to my needs. I am currently riding a 6’10" thruster shape and am looking to go shorter.
i build and ride boards with similar dimensions…sounds good to me…BUT…your surfing style is more of a determinant…if you want to surf tight in the pocket go a little shorter and a little wider with a little more planshape curve…my main boards are 6’4 and vary from 19.2 to 19.8 wide…when there’s size i ride a 6’6 (barrels) or 6’8 (projection)… years ago all i rode was either a 6’6 or 6’10 but now i’m loving the wider 6’4s
As Meecrafty said, the short/wide won’t disappoint you. 6’6" or even 6’4" will not shock your system. Wondering how wide your 6’10" is, as around 19-1/2" to 20" will make a good dedicated small beach break board if you go short.
Personally, I would go thin if I went as wide as I suggested. In your weight range 2-3/8" is not out of the question. Taper of the rails is very important to overall volume.
Your nose/tail dimensions must be typos. Nose at one foot will do well around 11-3/4" and the tail will still allow you to go vert and gouge at 14-3/4" to 15" if you keep the tail rocker down. (Your rear foot will be further back on this board more of the time compared to your 6’10")…
Plus One, When you say rail taper, are you suggesting keeping more volume in the rails? (ie less taper) My 6’10" is 212 1/2" wide. Also, my nose dim. was not a typo. I was just trying to push the volume back on the board so I could ride it more off the rear of the board, but I would prefer a wider nose if indeed I could get the same effect by widening the tail. Also keep rear rocker down to what? I was thinking nose 5 1/2", tail 2 1/4". Should I go lower on the tail if I want to ride it more off the rear of the board?
Again thanks Meecrafty and Plusone. I appreciate it.
okay, that might not be a typo, but your width on the 6’10" is KILLING me! Ha! (width is typed as 212 1/2")
Bro’, that’s like, 17 feet wide and some change!!! Trailer?
Seriously, less thickness in the center if you are 180 pounds, like 2-3/8" but compensate with more width and the rail volume if you are uncomfortable with the floatation. But don’t ever make a fat round rail, those are death in performance boards. Just make the climb from the apex of the rail up to the meat of the deck a steep one. (Apex of the rail is the outer, outermost point of your rail and your outline).
But don’t ever make a fat round rail, those are death in performance boards.
HTH
It all works…but I like fat round tails and fat squash tails. I think it depends on your size and surfing. You can go shorter, wider and thicker a get a nice snappy little board that will float. I guess it depends on the surfer though. Catching more waves should be the first priority of a surfboard (IMO) unless your on the tour and forced to ride the status quo. After wave catching, you can make the board to fit into your style of surfing.
When I was 180lbs I used to like 5’11’’ x 12 x 20.5 x 16 x 3 fat little round tail or small swallow, with two twinnies on the outside rails and a trailer. This is when thrusters first came out. Fun little boards.
You just gotta get one of the carriers,see mine {shown above} comes with pontoons, in case i need to be dropped right in a line-up skis for when i surf long island in the winter, or wheels for your standard beach lots.
Stickers not included, By the way thats my wax its carrying in this photo
NO I call it the Tanker and yes I have to trailer it to the beach. Even have an outboard on the back. Makes getting out in the line up a sinch. On flat days , a couple of folding chairs and cooler of beer. Most popular guy in the lineup. Although at 17 feet I am finding it a little hard to turn.
… Nope all kidding aside that WAS a typo. correct width is 21.5". I assuming though that you got that.
Ohhhhhhh, ooookay. 17 feet wide was hard to visualize, I was seeing some sort of “pimp my ride” magic carpet wave shredder with those little frilly dingle ball things along the edges (and cupholders, of course).
21.5" wide and 6’10" sounds a bit like a speed egg. Keep that width and get into your paddle man!!!
How wide is the nose and tail of your speed egg? It may be possible to make something short with less volume, less rocker and still be plenty stoked on it. Depends how much effort you want to put into paddling. That is the trade-off for performance shortboards…
Got to thinking, got to searching, and really can’t draw any conclusions so I will throw this question out there.
POD width… what is the ideal width of the tail point to point on a board like the thruster suggested in this thread? I don’t want it too narrow since it will make catching the wave more difficult… but on the other end of the spectrum what would be too wide? This directly affects the profiles curvature as well. Seems important enought to take into consideration. What are the majority of everybody’s width?
I was thinking about making a 6’6" with a width of 19" 3" back from center, a nose of 10 1-16", and a tail with width of around 14 1-16" a thickness of 2 1-2".
hey again,
just reviewing this one statement…these dims would work in some juicey surf…my hollow wave board is 6’6 with a 13.9 tail…so if your surfing everyday avg surf you can easily go wider…14.3 to 14.7…wider tails in avg power surf are great…easier wave catching and faster planning…especially if you ride with more weight on your back foot…my 6’4 small wave shredder is 19.8 wide with a 14.8 tail…pic attached
that board looks sooooo fun! I could kill that thing, if only there were some waves here!!! The bumps would pivot so well. I agree the width TRSTEWAR was giving were way gunny. Remember good bottom contour will make a board hold in just fine within functional limits; they will still have good drive…
Once you decide the length, width and location, and tail width, THEN we can suggest a POD (squash) width for you, no problema…
thanks +1…thats the majic board i spoke of before…majic thru major build error (long story) but it gave that flex…proly the best error i’ve ever made the board is a wreck now (another long story) but im fixing it and tweaking it further (pushing some limits) in the hopes that i can learn some more…
the hips are great out here in everyday stuff…surfs in the pocket really well but with the extra speed it can also project and carve surprisingly well…im pleasantly baffled by the board…i was looking at it in detail yesterday comparing with another board almost identical to it…i noted a diff in the rocker…smoother under the feet…like a uniform curve as compared to my latest which has a little tail kick just under the front fins…rocker seems like the most sensitive parameter and the hardest to nail and understand (really diggin that 6’5R profile a lot now)…i plan to test both boards together when the waves come up again and my lower back is healthy…maybe this weekend god willing
maybe t-war would appreciate a couple of more shots…
shoots i just remembered…i made a 6’4 x 19 shortie you can use as reference…the tail is 14 3/8…similar plan shaped as the other one but less hippy…for slightly better surf and easier down the line speed…really just a std mid-length shortie with a neato look…
maybe t-war would appreciate a couple of more shots…
Yes indeed, I do appreciate the shots. Pictures are always worth a 1000 words.
Yes, the dimensions were fairly gunny and I have adjusted acordingly (wider nose and tail) for everyday stuff. Crafty, how wide is the tail block on that board, tip to tip? Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me guys.
Howzit bro !. im in the same situation as you, Im used to a 7ft board and want to go down in size to 6 '4 after reading your thread. I made a 6’6 and it goes really well
My height is 6ft and I weigh 177pounds.
check out forum on my 6’6 called ‘first glassed board all done’ the board goes really well for me
I want to surf more in the curve. so Im going smaller to 6’4 this time.I guess it will be interesting to see how differ. 2 1/4 tail rocker works well for me.
the board is a wreck now (another long story) but im fixing it and tweaking it further (pushing some limits) in the hopes that i can learn some more…