I’m shaping my wife’s first board and want it to be just right in ease and forgiveness.
what kind of bottom contours are y’all with beginner/non-agressive girls enjoying?
She’ll only be out there on mellow days. Think 2-3’. It’s Va Beach east coast beach break and Florida surf.
I was thinking ever so slight concave entry to belly to soft vee to flat. I shaped myself a similar longboard and love it, but I am a little concerned as it likes a little more juice in the wave. Was trying to think of a good way to introduce more planing surface for ease of catching waves but don't want the full spiral vee etc thing going on. Maybe flat entry to belly to soft vee to flat? Or maybe remove the soft vee and transition to flat post belly? Thoughts??
thanks
Thanks Bill.
it's a mini mal style outline. She's 5'11" @ 135lbs complete beginner.
outline is 8'1" x 18.5 x 23 x 16 x 2.75ish. I wanted plenty of surface area and stability and something that caught small/soft waves easily. I doubt she gets out in anything over stomach high this summer (I doubt we get anything more than stomach high until this fall).
She is not aggressive at all and thinks she simply wants to surf mellow - I plan on a single fin for her with this in mind.
This is also why I was leaning towards flat to belly to flat. My thought is flat areas for surface area and belly for that nice subtle connection to the water, ease of roll in turn etc... minimal belly.
but please weigh in as I've never shaped for this style/thought process
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Oh yeah. WP is at 3.25" forward of center
Given the info provided, my Rx would be to ''keep it simple.'' At 8'1'' x 23'', I'd make the nose no wider than 17'', and the widest point 5% behind center. What will be most forgiving, for a beginner, will be a ''modified'' Pig design. Natural rocker, 4'' nose and 4'' tail. Soft 60/40 rails, slight domed deck, and relativly flat (rail to rail) bottom throughout. You'll end up with a real small wave machine.
Thanks Bill. I have plenty of board there to cut another template. I'll go visit CAD again and see what I come up with.
it does seem relatively flat bottom is the way to go to keep it simple for her.
Bill - so much thanks. Took your recommendations and man the outline looks so much better.
ok off to start shaping! Thanks all
What I recommended for you, is the refined version of the historic PIG, from the mid-late '50's. I made and rode balsa Pigs for years, before making my first foam board, in 1960, when I was shaping for Velzy. It's a design that works well, from ''ankle snappers'' to DOH. If you ''test ride'' her board, you may end up building one for yourself.
Thanks Bill. I've actually always wanted to give the wide point back boards a go, but had no starting/reference point and always ended up shaping something else.
I think you're right though and I'll definitely be taking it for a spin.
got the cut and rocker plus thickness planed out. Added 1/2" to the tail and kept the nose. Ended up being 3" TR and 4.25" NR. Started with a 8'4SP.
Took the thickness down to 3" exactly so will probably end up with 2 7/8" thick once the top is planed.
so where would one begin the soft vee ahead of fin on a board this style at 8' long?
thanks
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