I'm interested to know at what point a board becomes corky and is corky always a bad characteristic? Is a corky board better in small mushy surf than a non corky one or is it always a bad thing. I'm about to start a new fish that's going to be 5'10" at 3" thick and 22" wide. Is this considered a corky board for someone that weighs 180lbs?
thanks,
bandito
I made a board with almost those exact dimensions last year, although the thickness was closer to 2 3/4". I weigh about 180 and I find the board to be "corky". I definitely should have taken more foam off on the rails. I have thinner boards which seem to catch waves better because they "feel" the wave's energy more being a little lower in the water, if that makes sense? At 22" wide you could almost surely go thinner in my opinion.
Personally I would go a bit less on the width and thickness. Thats gonna have alot more float then you need. 5’10 x 21 x 2.5 with thinner rails if I was doing it. 2 5/8’s thick at the most if your worried about it. Im your same size. Check out some Gary Hanel fish boards. His fish boards always amaze me.
I associate “corky” with full rails, even if the board doesn’t have a lot of volume. I just made a 5’10" x 20" swallowtail flying fish style compsand at 2.65" thick. It carries the thickness through the board but has thinned rails toward the back near the turny bits. This board is for a 190 lb. guy. I rode it and I’m over 200lb, and it floats me and catches waves fine.
Unless you make a lot of boards, I would suggest you find something close to what you like before you just go and make something. Not that practice isn’t good, but if you’re looking to dial in to something quickly, knowing first reduces that cycle.
I agree with Pompano, “Corky” comes from the rails not wanting to touch the water, because they are to thick. I ride 5’9"x 22.8"x 2.8" and have your weight.
The rails are thinner than 1", so I have to be carefull with them. They are sensitive! The extra bottom surface keeps the board planing well, also assures easy takeoffs. To me width is good, better than volume.
Depends how you surf and your adaptabliy?
I've seen guy's rip on 3" thick fishes with full rails. You will surf on top of the water which is good for mushier waves.
Thined out rails on a fish that wide would be a dog. The word is Quiver. I have a 6'0 x 21" x 3" Quad Fish and weight only 155 pounds wet and almost 6'0". For mushy days they are great because you surf on top of the water. Mine is fast and gets through alll the slow sections on those high tide mushy overhead days. When it's low tide and bowling I ride a completely different board. Much thinner and maybe piched rails. I rode the orginal fishes back in the early seventies and they had full rails and were thick. It's a different ride. To put a High Performance Shortboard Rail on a wide fish defeats the purpose. Make what your thinking and don't ask anyone on this site what they think. Make it and ride it. If you don't like it make another one with adjustments until you find what works for you. That what makes this board building thing so addicting!! Stay away from concave on a fish as well. Start your Vee from about 18" up from the tail. With the width of a fish vee works better. Narrower boards I use concave.
Hydrodyamics!
Now go and do the right thing!
SD
yeah corky is not always bad...depending on what kind of waves youre riding and what kind of surfing you want to do that day...i have a single fin egg with full rails...5'11" x 22" x 2 3/4" and im only 5'8" 145lbs...i only ride it in ankle biters and down the line but its a lot of fun...once it gets to waist high and above im on my quad fish and thrusters but yeah corky is not always bad
The first board I ever made was a quad fish 6'2"x21 3/4"x2 3/4" roughly with full rails, double concave started about 18" up from tail with 'V' the last 10". I am just under 5'10" @ 180lbs and while it is probably the ugliest board I have ever seen to this day. I am sure people would look at at and not even want to see it in the water due to how bad I messed up some of it. To get to my point, the board has performed very well in everything from 1' slop to OH waves and I would def consider the board corky. Your decision should be based on how you surf, the waves you surf, and your surfing ability. Only you know the answers to those questions.
Shape it, surf it, make it better next time around.
If it was me I would reduce the width a bit and also reduce the thickness by a touch. What do you think?
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I'm interested to know at what point a board becomes corky and is corky always a bad characteristic? Is a corky board better in small mushy surf than a non corky one or is it always a bad thing. [/quote]
You know it when you can feel it.
Its can be bad if the corkyness doesnt suit your style or feel.
Corky boards are worst in bumpy surf but are ok in clean surf.
I like mine neutral to slightly corky. I dont like boards that are sinky.
You might want to reduce your thickness a bit if you think it will be a problem. A heavier board will feel less corky than a lighter one. In fact, corky is fairly proportional to board weight.
My Fish is a epoxy quad with a kelvar reinforcemet down the centers to make up for the lack of wooden stringer. It's so light and a bit corky however I love it and it's so fun. On the flip side my 9'1" Gun is glassed heavy with a 3/8" stringer and glides throught the chop. You can surf it in huge windy chopy surf that is real scary and stick to the face of the wave on vertical pockets. Quiver, Quiver, Quiver. Like a set of golf clubs! What's in your Bag?