Zippi fish bottom channel

anyone know how Zippi cuts that little channel in the bottom of some of his fishes?  single channel on the stringer starting a few inches ahead of the fins and running out the tail?  

are you on sways, Zip?

kirk

 

I don't know how he does it, but rider reports seem to be very favorable.  I wonder why no one else uses the channel if it works so well.

don't know how he does it either....i do know one thing. i love my zippi. it's beat up, but hands down the best keel fish i've owned/ridden.

just a thought: he may start off working the stringer w/ a dremmel and move to a file to clean it up. ?

I always thought it was a good way of reducing the stringer in the tail, increasing tail flex.

To handshape something like that I would cut a slot to depth on the stringer with a round surform blade, then block in the sides. Tape off the top edge if you need.

I  recently spoke to Zippi and got a custom 5’9". He says the  slot creates a vacumn  effect during turns as one keel is engaged and the other is partially out of the water- particularly on hard bottom turns and round house cutbacks. Thats what I took away from the conversation. I’m not an accomplished shaper(just a few under my belt), and an average surfer, but this principle seems to make sense. My last Zippi didn’t have the slot, was wider and longer and surfed ok. This new model is a whole different animal and surfs very well. One of the very best ordering experiences I’ve ever had.