Thoughts I have from my other thread, for those of you who may have experience/input for me.
How much difference would you suggest there’d be between having the side fins on a 9’+ gun at 4 degrees of toe in v. 2?
How much difference would you suggest there’d be in going with lower entry rocker?
For those questions - everything else being the same.
seems to me... (line from and old song) a gun is for getting in early, surviving the drop, and going as fast as possible in the interests of survival.
What are you trying to accomplish? Might there not be another way to do whatever-it-is?
Thanks for replying Charlie -
The low entry rocker, based on my experience with shorter, for me, boards - 6’7" and 7’5" - definitely get in earlier, and I love that, and I’d love that in a gun even more, but I was wondering if there was a draw back I hadn’t thought of.
As for the toe in - I realized one of the reasons my 8’ “Sally” model is so good is I have 4 degrees of toe in, as opposed to the standard 2, and, on those rare occasions when the conditions are right, once the drop has been made, there are good occasions for big turns on big waves.
When I was a bit younger, maybe in better shape - though not so mentally - I only had an 8 footer, and on a few rare occasions when there was perfect 3xoh waves, once I’d caught one, I could maneuver around the face/pocket quite well, but that size of board on most big days, with rivers of water moving, an many of which have the occasional 2-3 foot cross warble, chop, etc. sticking w/the 8 footer was not much fun, and other days and spots where a lot more water was moving, I just couldn’t get myself into the wave.
So one of my quests in life is the board which will get me into the “big” ones as easy as I can (Including the attendant rivers of water and waves on the wave.) and then let me turn as much as I want with as much confidence as I can have.
http://www2.swaylocks.com/forums/single-fins-big-wave-guns
Instead of futzing with toe-in maybe try a quad as Robin suggests in this thread?
Thanks Keith - Disregard the one PM, but still let me know about the other please.
Mahalo -
TaylorO,
Low entry rocker will help with paddle but on steep drops or pitching waves you might want that rocker so that you fit the contour of the wave. Think about the wave a lot as you shape and try to fit the board into it.
I like to keep volume in the rails for bigger wave boards and keep the foil pretty thick throughout. I like a heavier board too.
As far as fins go, I really don't know there. When you're going really fast on a big wave (DOH+), control is the issue of course. You'll plane higher in the water and you won't want rapid changes in direction as much as smooth, predictable turns. I think as far as toe-in goes, see if Mr. Barnfield will make an appearance on this thread and check him out in the archives. It's more than just the degree altered because it's all relative to the overall lengeth and rail arch. Rails and fins are tuned together.
Lastly, good luck. I think a big wave board is the toughest design to do well, but I'm sure you're up for it.
C
Thanks C - I’ve been using Bill’s “to the nose” method, and it seems to work well, but I know the other stuff all goes together too… so many variables, so little time and money… Ha!
I’ve thought about the wave curve too, but I’ve been putting in some serious rocker over the years, and have noticed what I wrote about on the other thread, and those boards fit in the wave curve… or did they… maybe this explains the trouble getting them on edge when it gets over head… Hmmm