...And so it begins... again...

[drowningbitbybit]

Here we go, another custom board in the planning stage

I've tried a few boards, bought a few (cheap) boards, gone back to some old boards, talked to a few shapers, and generally come to the conclusion that I want the same go-to board that I've already got but with a bit more volume.

So this board is 6'2 x 20 5/8 x 2 11/16 and I love it... but it's a bit battered these days – including some dings in a few spots that will actually make a difference like the channels and the rail near the tail – and I need a bit more volume to compensate for the injured shoulder.

(Without context, the picture makes the board look quite big, but it's basically the same height as me)

I don't want to go any longer, but I can live with a touch more width and thickness carried up front, so the shaper's challenge is to squeeze as much volume into a new board that will ride as similar as possible to this current board. This board is around 34 L, and I'm hoping to push it up to as close to 40 L as practical.
This board will be my standard board for 2 to 5 ft on the beachies, 3 to 6ft on the points, standard rocker front and back, flat section under the chest, thruster, probably a swallow tail again. Rails, channels and anything else, I'll let the shaper guide me.

That's basically what I've just emailed the likely shaper, so let's see what he comes back with!

[dtc]

So you will be wanting a 6'2 hypto krypto then

Do you think 40L @ 6'2 might be a bit too much in too little space? I have no idea since I can't ride those short things, but I've heard a few comments to that effect (about the larger hypto krypto boards mostly, hence my 'witticism'). Then again, to me the volume sounds a trifle low (for me), so what do I know

More importantly, you need a fancy spray job

[Big H]

http://www.superbranded.com/products/un ... 5103984835

I got this @ 6'2" x 20 3/4" x 2 3/4" 39L second hand about two months ago....more rocker than my fish but not so much to make paddling a chore....an easy board to surf and is fun in waves around waist high to a little overhead...sold my dominator and and bought this in it's place and couldn't be more pleased....hides the volume well in that the rails are relatively refined and not superfat....not a swallow tail but a good shape that is similar to what you are looking for I think....fits me at 87kg & 185cm for waves that are on the smaller side.

[billie_morini]

Drowning,
nothing wrong with "the same go-to board." When I need to play guitar well for live group performance, I always select one specific guitar over the remaining three. When less perfection and some sloppiness is okay, I'll alternate between the others.
billie

[drowningbitbybit]

Do you think 40L @ 6'2 might be a bit too much in too little space?

There's definitely a limit and I definitely don't want to cross it, but I think I can certainly fit in a few more litres without too much compromise. The likely shaper (I won't mention names yet, just in case I don't go with him) has got plenty of experience of making big-volume shortboards so I'll let him tell me the upper limit.

More importantly, you need a fancy spray job

I've always felt that anonymity is my friend in the line-up!

[drowningbitbybit]

I got this @ 6'2" x 20 3/4" x 2 3/4" 39L second hand about two months ago....

That's close, but I'm going with a bit more rocker and a touch harder rails so that it's suitable for the fast beachies.
I'm probably going to go for 6'2 x 21 x 2 7/8 so there won't be too much need for hiding the volume in the rails... but watch this space, there's no point in me defining the tiny details if I've got a shaper to do it for me!

[benjl]

Would you like to use my new customs template / shaping sheet and extend to 6'2?
Should be high 30's at 6'2.

Volume forward, hard rails, flattish but rocker in nose and tail, performance tail etc. would also work well as a swallow.

Just a thought

[icetime]

http://www.superbranded.com/products/unit-surfboard?variant=15103984835

I got this @ 6'2" x 20 3/4" x 2 3/4" 39L second hand about two months ago....more rocker than my fish but not so much to make paddling a chore....an easy board to surf and is fun in waves around waist high to a little overhead...sold my dominator and and bought this in it's place and couldn't be more pleased....hides the volume well in that the rails are relatively refined and not superfat....not a swallow tail but a good shape that is similar to what you are looking for I think....fits me at 87kg & 185cm for waves that are on the smaller side.

That's a really nice fish you got there, mine only has 3 fin boxes in a thruster setup so I'll never be able to try a quad setup, I heard it's lots of fun since it goes faster.

[Big H]

http://www.superbranded.com/products/unit-surfboard?variant=15103984835

I got this @ 6'2" x 20 3/4" x 2 3/4" 39L second hand about two months ago....more rocker than my fish but not so much to make paddling a chore....an easy board to surf and is fun in waves around waist high to a little overhead...sold my dominator and and bought this in it's place and couldn't be more pleased....hides the volume well in that the rails are relatively refined and not superfat....not a swallow tail but a good shape that is similar to what you are looking for I think....fits me at 87kg & 185cm for waves that are on the smaller side.

That's a really nice fish you got there, mine only has 3 fin boxes in a thruster setup so I'll never be able to try a quad setup, I heard it's lots of fun since it goes faster.

It's a squash tail.....this is my fish...

[drowningbitbybit]

New stick ordered!

It's going to be 6'2 x 20 3/4 x 2 3/4, about 40 L, medium rocker up front and a little kick in the tail, a hipped squash tail, and a standard glass job.

Should be ready in about 3 weeks*



*Shaper's time. So let's call it a month, maybe 5 weeks, end of August at the latest...

[drowningbitbybit]

Good lord! Almost unheard of! The new custom board has been made and delivered early!

And here she is... 6'2 x 20 3/4 x 2 7/8 and managing to hide away an impressive 40 L

Ready to rock n' roll!

[Big H]

Looks oddly familiar.....

[drowningbitbybit]

Looks oddly familiar.....

...but it's clean and white and doesn't have a single ding.

It'll never last.

[dtc]

Doesn't look 40l I have to say.

Looks a lot like grant Miller V-skate, a board I've been eyeing off. Slightly narrower perhaps

[drowningbitbybit]

Doesn't look 40l I have to say.

Yeah, I was surprised and wondered whether I should have gone a bit bigger... but, no, 40 L is 40 L and I know that that's more than enough for me. The middle two-thirds of the board (front to back and side to side) at almost 3" are holding all the volume, and it's still got 'proper' rails so I think the shaper (Craig Rees) has done a really good job of hiding the volume.

...But that means nothing til its been in the water! Tomorrow hopefully