Howzit Swaylocks,
After lurking on this site for quite some time I finally decided to post. I am looking to shape a longboard with lots of glide for small and rolling waves, with the potential for nose riding. (I am not very good at nose riding but would like to learn). I have been surfing about twice a week for 2.5 years, landing somewhere between intermediate and kook on the skill range. I’ve shaped 2 boards, one as a gift during a shaping lesson at Foam EZ, the second was a fish I shaped and glassed on my own. The largest board I have is a 7’2" Egg with very full dimensions, I would like a board that picks up where the egg leaves off in terms of wave catching and glide. There are certain days where the spot and conditions (and people I am surfing with) just seem to call for a massive board. I probably won’t ride this in any sort of heavy surf, if the waves are bigger than 3 feet or pitching, I am likely going to grab a different board. Here is what I am thinking:
Size: 9’6" x 23" x 3" I am 5’7" 160lbs. Having ridden a few friends’ long boards 9’6" seems about right (very big range though, open to shorter but not under 9’0")
Blank: US Blanks 9’8" Y Triple stringer: I think I can get a 9’6" out of this and really like the look of triple stringers. https://www.foamez.com/product/us-blanks-9-8y-triple-stringer-long-board/?wccf_qv_conf=1
Outline: Wide point slightly ahead of center, with a full but not quite completely round nose. Something like a Bing Levitator Levitator - Bing Surfboards
Rocker: Somewhat flat, I want lots of glide and don’t plan to surf this in pitching waves. Although I do have a bad habit of pearling longboards so I don’t want super flat. I plan to just go with the natural rocker of the blank without trying to change it much. I have no concept of long board rocker numbers so open to advice.
Bottom Contours: Concave in the first 3rd, Rolled belly in the middle, transitioning to a V in the back. I think I have read a few threads that mention this and the justifications seem make sense. And recommendations on the depth of contours? I did about an 1/8” on my fish and was thinking the same for the longboard. How do you normally fade from a concave to a convex contour? Fade concave to flat and then start the convex or have the convex “pierce” into the concave?
Rails: Chined in the front to maybe a 3rd of the way back, 60/40 in the body, 50:50 in the back, no hard edge in the tail.
Tail: Not sure what to do here. Square most likely. I see lots of pictures of long boards with either square tails or pin tails, but not many squash tails, why is that?
Glassing: Light orange tinted top & bottom with epoxy resin, couldn’t stand the fumes of another polyester board. 6+6 bottom with a 4oz tail patch, 6+6+4 top. I want a fairly durable board but don’t want it to weigh 100lbs. My plan is: layup 1 tinted lay bottom, 1 tinted layer top, then come back and do a clear layup bottom and a clear 2-layer layup top. I am worried about doing multiple colored layers since you would see the staggered 1st layer that doesn’t reach the cut lap, or you would have 2 layers at the cut lap which doesn’t seem good either. Is this an excessive number of steps for glassing a board? How are multiple layers in colored laminations normally done?
Here is a picture of the 2 boards I have made so far, the green board is the one I glassed.
I appreciate any feedback.