I have seen a few boards advertised as Rocket Fishes, it seems that they are named this for marketing purposes (even MR has a Rocket Fish in his range) however it seems it might actually be a specific type of surfboard.Any clues?
In general, it is a fish for larger or more powerfull waves. So they'll have a narrower nose and tail but keep that parallel outline by lengthening the board rather than pulling in the wide spot. They are a very underutilized design. If done right, they combine trim speed, drive and maneuverability unlike any other design I've ridden...I love 'em.
Coral’s Dad 1977
The ORIGINAL Rocket Fish was a Clyde Beatty creation back in …? Where is SammyA when we need him?
I believe Brom (pictured above) made them for Clyde back then early on.
MR's version
I have one as a quad, they rip and yeah they do resemble the originals albeit with concaves probably different/included.
Thanks for the back ground guys its great know the source of inspiration. Anymore info welcome.
http://www.markrichardssurfboards.com/boards_thrusters_rocket.php
I’m finding that a combination of soft thinner/pinched rails (going from 50/50 to down hard just in front of the fins) with a slightly rolled bottom gives a real positive feel in waves from overhead to double overhead. I use single foil keels with no toe-in and 0-4 degrees of cant. The problem with the convex bottom is paddling. I’ve got a flat bottom version with roundy rails in the racks. Hopefully I can get some paddle power without losing the feel. Too much edge on the rails will give you a nice skatey feel but in waves of consequence, who needs skatey?
My boards are running 6’2” to 6’4” with 21-22 inch widths.
hey Leev ....
That sounds and makes sense to meeeee
You've dialled in a board that is around 21" to 22" and tradtionally gets out of shape in serious wave size
Intergrating the convex to pilot and release the board into the rails to do there stuff is clever
Convex are slower than other options, except when wave mass takes over and gives the convex no chooice but to get shifting ....... any bottom shape wakes up in bigger stuff and get motivated real quick ...... but in your case "no skating"
Love some pics
W
We all know not to believe everything ya read in magazines , but good stuff all the same.
wasn’t therea rocket fish
hung from the O.B. pier
…ambrose…
Don’t they have a touch more rocker, too?
There is a picture of it on the first page of the endless "Show us your Hulls Phase 2" thread but I'll snap a few this weekend with the proper fin set-up. There is barely any rocker in the board...about 3 inches of nose and 1 inch of tail rocker. The roll goes flat at the front of the fins where the rails sharpen up. If you go short (6'4" is pushing the limit for double overhead) you really don't need a bunch of nose rocker. The design holds so well you just put it on edge on steep drops. Also, I wanted to get the most paddle power I could get and too much nose rocker will slow her down.