I'm curious why no one talks about flex in boards anymore. I noticed that you didn't mention it when talking about the "Spoon". Not to say that you weren't thinking it of course. But its a very important part of the "Spoon". Very seldom do you hear of someone trying to put flex into boards anymore. It seems to me that its the last big concept barrier that needs to be broken in the high performance surfboard. Just imagine the application of a virtually flat tail rocker for speed in slow sections and when you crank a turn the board conforms to whatever arc you put it in and snaps back like a swimfin! The level of surfing would go crazy! Is it that its too difficult and expensive to solve? Is it a trend and everyone simply forgot about it? I've been trying to get some flex in my boards lately and I admit that its pretty darn hard to do. I've been trying flat decks (very little dome at all), no stringer, partial stringers, and since I make all epoxy boards I've experimenting with flexerizers in the resin to make it more rubbery. Unfortunately that tends to make a board pressure ding as well. Is there anyone that might have some ideas to try? Thanks. Fletch ([email protected])
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>>> I'm curious why no one talks about flex in boards anymore. I noticed that > you didn't mention it when talking about the "Spoon". Not to say > that you weren't thinking it of course. Thanks-I was giving it some thought...>>> But its a very important part of > the "Spoon". Very seldom do you hear of someone trying to put > flex into boards anymore. It seems to me that its the last big concept > barrier that needs to be broken in the high performance surfboard. Just > imagine the application of a virtually flat tail rocker for speed in slow > sections and when you crank a turn the board conforms to whatever arc you > put it in and snaps back like a swimfin! I have to agree here. How nice would that be? But once again, in a way, George Greenough was here. He was making flexible skegs for surfboards that provided what was most likely a lesser degree of effect that you imagine. I would love to get my hands on one of those flexible fins or find a fin manufacturer that offered one as an option (some people still do ride single fins out here). The level of surfing would go > crazy! Is it that its too difficult and expensive to solve? No- I think it just needs a person like yourselve with the resources and a few friends that think outside of the box and who want to invest time in making and test piloting these things.>>> Is it a trend and everyone simply forgot about it? I've been trying to get some flex in > my boards lately and I admit that its pretty darn hard to do. I've been > trying flat decks (very little dome at all), Fletch: How thin and how wide are your flex boards? no stringer, partial > stringers, and since I make all epoxy boards I've experimenting with > flexerizers in the resin to make it more rubbery. Unfortunately that tends > to make a board pressure ding as well. Is there anyone that might have > some ideas to try? Thanks. Fletch ([email protected]) Thanks for the interesting post. I'm going to give this subject some more thought and I'll get back to you. Swaylock
>>> Thanks-I was giving it some thought...>>> I have to agree here. How nice would that be? But once again, in a way, > George Greenough was here. He was making flexible skegs for surfboards > that provided what was most likely a lesser degree of effect that you > imagine. I would love to get my hands on one of those flexible fins or > find a fin manufacturer that offered one as an option (some people still > do ride single fins out here).>>> The level of surfing would go>>> No- I think it just needs a person like yourselve with the resources and a > few friends that think outside of the box and who want to invest time in > making and test piloting these things.>>> Fletch: How thin and how wide are your flex boards? I've been mainly doing wider hybrid type boards. Just down the line, speed, carving boards, like around 19-1/4" to 20-1/4". Ive done a few shortboards but the younger crowd is a little less open minded to experimentation. It hard to unload the experiments to be able to finance future ideas. Not domeing the deck really increases the chances of snappage so Ive been a little conservitive. > no stringer, partial>>> Thanks for the interesting post. I'm going to give this subject some more > thought and I'll get back to you.>>> Swaylock
I've just returned from 5 weeks in Cabo and find several messages from you. I'm really not in a mode to spend much time on theory.. we are swamped. But I can say this. One out grows doing 'Olies' on a skateboard. Same with surfing... trying to do the outlandish.. In later years it comes down to being able to take off on just about anything huge or tiny and simply ride the wave with some degree of efficiency. Spring in the tail, spring in the nose, spring in the skeg all can sound great. But when that spring UNLOADS on you when you weren't planning on it, your whole concept changes. We are making Swizzle currently and its from a flexible foam. We keep that center stringer as rigid as possible to support it. To minimize the spring. Even so, it has a bit of spring one feels when paddling. This seems to increase paddling and down the wave speed. But is it true? Or is it just the saleman part of me, the designer, that thinks it's true? We are using bodyboard rails in the rear and they work great. Instead of side fins. Way more glide speed yet controlable stalling from high speed situation. The board is a bit safer. And it's a lot more ding proof as well. Also far easier on the knee paddler and boney surfer. Anyhow, nice that you've developed this talk forum. No need to answer, I'm already swamped with emails. Thanks, Y>>> I'm curious why no one talks about flex in boards anymore. I noticed that > you didn't mention it when talking about the "Spoon". Not to say > that you weren't thinking it of course. But its a very important part of > the "Spoon". Very seldom do you hear of someone trying to put > flex into boards anymore. It seems to me that its the last big concept > barrier that needs to be broken in the high performance surfboard. Just > imagine the application of a virtually flat tail rocker for speed in slow > sections and when you crank a turn the board conforms to whatever arc you > put it in and snaps back like a swimfin! The level of surfing would go > crazy! Is it that its too difficult and expensive to solve? Is it a trend > and everyone simply forgot about it? I've been trying to get some flex in > my boards lately and I admit that its pretty darn hard to do. I've been > trying flat decks (very little dome at all), no stringer, partial > stringers, and since I make all epoxy boards I've experimenting with > flexerizers in the resin to make it more rubbery. Unfortunately that tends > to make a board pressure ding as well. Is there anyone that might have > some ideas to try? Thanks. Fletch ([email protected])
>>> I'm curious why no one talks about flex in boards anymore. I noticed that > you didn't mention it when talking about the "Spoon". Not to say > that you weren't thinking it of course. But its a very important part of > the "Spoon". Very seldom do you hear of someone trying to put > flex into boards anymore. It seems to me that its the last big concept > barrier that needs to be broken in the high performance surfboard. Just > imagine the application of a virtually flat tail rocker for speed in slow > sections and when you crank a turn the board conforms to whatever arc you > put it in and snaps back like a swimfin! The level of surfing would go > crazy! Is it that its too difficult and expensive to solve? Is it a trend > and everyone simply forgot about it? I've been trying to get some flex in > my boards lately and I admit that its pretty darn hard to do. I've been > trying flat decks (very little dome at all), no stringer, partial > stringers, and since I make all epoxy boards I've experimenting with > flexerizers in the resin to make it more rubbery. Unfortunately that tends > to make a board pressure ding as well. Is there anyone that might have > some ideas to try? Thanks. Fletch ([email protected])
Flex is the magic ingredient in almost all boards. The flatter decks are a step in the right direction. I don't know why we got away from them! I remember shaping boards in 1971 that had concave decks and fat downrails. Great boards!!. They looked funny so most people were a little sceptical. My current favorite boards are shaped with ultralite foam, a glue line for a stringer and fairly light but not superlite glass. I've found better flex characteristics with a light core and a little heavier glass job rather than a stronger core, regular stringer and a super lite glass job. These boards feel ALIVE! the flex tends to start breaking down in about 3 months. But what a great 3 months!
>>> Flex is the magic ingredient in almost all boards. The flatter decks are a > step in the right direction. I don't know why we got away from them! I > remember shaping boards in 1971 that had concave decks and fat downrails. > Great boards!!. They looked funny so most people were a little sceptical. > My current favorite boards are shaped with ultralite foam, a glue line for > a stringer and fairly light but not superlite glass. I've found better > flex characteristics with a light core and a little heavier glass job > rather than a stronger core, regular stringer and a super lite glass job. > These boards feel ALIVE! the flex tends to start breaking down in about 3 > months. But what a great 3 months! can anyone give me feedback on Jim Richardson's flexible carbon/composite core boards? Mentioned that I ordered one, on my local surf forum and some local hackles went up. terms like "wet noodle" thrown around. I'm novice surfer, fascinated with this flex thing, you guys are the gurus. Seems like the same old story...progress intimidating old school, objectivity thrown out the window. His concept makes sense in theory. ps you wouldn't believe how hard i searched for this topic somewhere on the web