Time Management

Happy howzit to all,

Just a quick note to all of my fellow “new” shapers. Make sure you allow the proper amount of time for each task. I started my 6th board in three years last week, a 6’1" fish shape after only longboards. The bottom came out great. the rails came out great. But, when banding the deck I only had time to do one side. A day late I came back to finish and it was like I had forgotten what happened and the other side of the deck came out about 1/4" thinner. I don’t want to overshape and I don’t think it will affect the ride much, but it will feel very “odd” I’m sure. Maybe more wax on one side? (har har). Anyway, the point being, as has been said again and again, what you do on one side, do on the other, and give yourself the time, if your new like me, to do it all at once.

Ride on,

Tom

You forgot to apply the time honored system of CHECKS and balances!

Just pick the board up over your head, run each hand on each rail, and you can feel the differences.

Or as JohnMellor alluded, just run a rail shape template on each rail, and you will easily discern the oddities.

Shaping is NOT plowing straight ahead, head down, eyes closed.

It IS all about checking your work constantly so your shape evolves to the final correct balanced sculpture.

Thank you LeeDD,

you are absolutely correct!!

Ride on,

Tom

Hi Tom,

Sorry to hear about that. How thick is the thin side? If you don’t want to take it down to being even, maybe you can at least get it to where it is not visually noticeable, or better yet, not noticeable when you ride it. Anyways, I think it was Tom Morey who said the importance of symmetry in surfboard design is a myth.

Not many “fishy” waves these past days. Torrance was perfect for about an hour this morning until the tide closed it out.