anyone out there building wake surfboards?
I found a website/blog that was discussing boat needs/performance for wake surfing a while back while searching for some surfboard tech info. I wish I could remember where I found it.
Surffoils paddle in hydrofoil (PIH) thread re-inspired me about hydrofoil surfboards. The tow-in Hamilton et. al. hydrofoil surfboards are cool but not all that inspiring for me.
Since I am so far from waves these days, I would have to test PIH designs being towed by a boat or Sea Doo. That would give me some good velocity information for foil performance. Surffoils’ PIH concepts lift at fairly low velocity. So I am thinking a PIH design might work for wake surfing too – would be an interesting ride option to play with.
Do you have any good wake surfing links you could post Rodriguez?
Hi Rodriquez, found your post in the wrong folder, moved it over here to general discussion.
yeah, been drawing my own templates too. Making them from scrap EPS. I see a lot of hand layups where the widepoint of the boards are in the back 2/3 of the board–like a chopped-off surfboard. But, no rules is what I say, experiment to your heart’s desire.
Making quads, very little rocker on a some–depends on how big that wake is I guess…switching to a reversable design outline on my next build (switch riding), and going with homemade keels. Make em fast!
I think a Mini Simmonds would shred on a wake too…
These are some interesting links but not the one I found before. Basically, wake surfing is a more consistent wave (left or right only without two boats) than a standing wave like the Eisbach in Munich, Germany:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt1EiZO8Scg#at=121
Eisbach Munich -- River Surfing:
They make those fat sacks that cut bigger wakes if your boat isn’t equipped with a ballast system. My brother’s boat is getting the fat sacks. Looking forward to some sustained wakes for Powell. Good times.
…nothing like free 2# EPS scrap that fits into a 4’-9" wake outilne:
i built this mini sim style board a few months ago but tbh it wasn’t great on the wake and it felt a little slow. I gave the fins a tinny bit of toe in but not sure if it was that, the rocker or just the hole outline not working behind the boat. unfortunatly i didnt have long with it before i had to leave it with my brother in florida. Again it was just left over scrap eps with 6 and 6+6
Hey Charlie, what are the dims on that MS? Looks fun, digging the tail; speaking of: how does that tail width do in the surf??
from memory i think it was around 4’6 x 21 but i cant remember exactly and im in the uk now so cant cheque unfortunately. as i said previously i couldn’t get it to go all that great, the previous board i did i think worked better on the small ish wake we have behind our matercraft 190 with about 8 people in. there are picture on here some were of that, it was more skim style shape but smaller. I think one of the factors is you are always taking a very acute angle on the wave so you need to factor that in, maybe less rocker would help and maybe a more rounded out line but im not to sure. I would love to try more but i only get to wake surf and skate once or twice a year.
This is a wakeboard I built this last winter.
5’2" x 19-1/2" x 2".
US blanks.
Classic density.
Built under the name Hoist.
Began a order of six for a shop back on the Great Lakes.
All hand-shaped.
No machine necessary.
Those look fun, Barry. Nice paint job. An outline you could take into the ocean as well, eh?
Thanks.
Yeah, it’s just a surfboard template.
Hoping to sell more of these.
Quick, easy shapes.
All the young, lightweight riders want to go surf them.
Hey guys,
Thought I would bring up an old thread rather than start a new one. I'm about to start shaping a wakesurfing board and looking for some advice on bottom contours. It will be around 4'8 x 21 x 1 7/8 and the outline is a winged fish (similar to V/ESKE's for his niece, but with a diamond tail). Widest point will be around 2.5 - 3" back from centre and from memory I think the tail was about 18".
At this stage thinking of running it as a twinny, with fins around 10/11" up from the tail, 2 degrees toe in and 3-4 degrees cant.
I have noticed for ocean twinnies the general consensus is that vee or a single to double concave is the most used for a variety of reasons. Have also noticed that some twinnies use flat bottom. I am thinking I will stick to a flat bottom, given the size of the wake and intended use. Any thoughts are appreciated.
Cheers,
Nick
Here are a couple of shapes we have tried the summer. All materials were purchased at Lowes with the exception of the epoxy and glass which I got at Fiberglass Supply.
My first board was for my boys.
I started with an 8 foot piece of square edge DOW insulation cut it in half so I could make two boards.
Rattle can paint and traction pads are craft foam with lines routed in them using a Dremel.
It was quite the experiment, I learned to use a power plainer and the shape is rough but the boys loved it.
3’ 10.5" x 21" twin fin. Flat for about the last half of the board.
single concave…not on purpose with very little rocker.
Mostly ridden by my 12 year old 100" 5 feet tall.
This shape is a winner. The twin is real loose but there is enough drive to allow pumping back into the pocket when they get behind and for generating speed for air.
They will be getting a new board same shape better rocker next season.
A board for my wife.
The idea was for a stable beginner board.
Lots of rocker, wide round tail with a thruster.
It was slow and stable, I wouldn’t make another one like it, primarily because it was just to slow.
5’6" x 22ish, hips very far back.
It was a bit thin.
With a single layer of 6 oz on both the top and bottom it was broken by a beginner trying to start it like a wakeboard.
Notes:
- Too wide in the tail
- Too thin for a beginner, if you build a beginner board build it tough and strong.
- Too long, after further experiments it seems like between 4'6 and 5 feet is as long as anyone would need
- Rails to straight forward of hips, makes it hard to turn, rails tend to bury while turning.
- Power plainers are hard.
This one was for me.
4’9" x 22 x 1&5/8 thick.
The board is totally flat for the back half of the board.
The board has LOTS of drive with the big leading quad fins.
This board is really fun easy to generate speed for pops but again the rails are to straight in the nose and the board doesn’t like to bottom. It digs the rail if your not on it.
With the large fins first time riders coming from a more basic smaller finned board tend to allow the wave to roll the board because the fins do not let it slide down the face.
I’ll definately try the large quad on a future board.
Notes:
- The wings and grove look cool but dont seem to have much function and are a pain to glass. If you are a beginner glasser like me skip those features and keep the shape more basic.
- I used 6 ounce glass on this board, its a bit stiff 4 ounce will make you life much easier.
- Again not enough curve in the front of the board hard to bottom turn
- Big fins = Drive
THIS POST TRIGGERED THE SPAM FILTER. IVE GOT A COUPLE MORE SHAPES BUT SOME ONE HAS TO POST BEFORE I CAN ADD THEM.
