Bob Simmons (1919 - 1954) is widely known as the father of the modern surfboard. This Simmons-inspired board and was built by long time California board builder Billy Butler. Billy has been building boards since the 1940's out of plywood, balsa & foam and his racing paddleboard designs have won the prestigious Catalina Classic paddleboard race. Growing up in the South Bay he at one time owned an early Bob Simmons surfboard and having some balsa on hand he set to create this masterpiece. This board could be a beautiful wall-hanger or one of the fastest and most unique boards in the lineup - its up to you to decide.
John Elwell on the principal behind this planing hull design: "The boards had maximum width. Width was favored for the least resistance. Width plays a key role in delivering kinetic energy to the airfoil rail, the leading edge, that gives deflection. All planing hulls are deflectors. The airfoil is a special shape that is calculated. Width divided into length, is aspect ratio, giving a magic number related to lift. Width also allows the hull to leave a clean wake. An impressive example of the value of width is the bodyboard."
Also see Hydrodynamica
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