Step-up/Semi-Gun Shapers

I've never built a board or surfed in Indo, but I prefer double concaves for bigger, barreling waves... even a single to double, with the doubles lengthened and/or pushed forward, with the widepoint at center instead of behind center. I prefer single concaves for head high and under. If you're front footed, I'd suggest pushing everything forward, as compared to typical hpsbs... as I just described.

Typically, hpsbs have a wide point about 3-4 inches behind center. Single concaves start about 6-10 inches back from the nose and gradually get deeper reaching max depth about half way between the wide point and the leading edge of the front fins. Doubles are cut into the single, and start where the single reaches max depth. Doubles reach max depth at or just in front of the leading edge of the side fins. Both single and doubles fade to flat or vee behind the trailing fin.

So... If you put your wide point at center instead of behind center, that pushes all of your concaves forward. On top of that, for a barrel board, I will start to fade in my doubles ahead of the single's max depth point.

Confusing?

 

Good stuff. I was thinking single to double where the single would be "extended" but you are saying single to double just push wide point to or closer to center which brings "concave more forward".

Thanks....after all these years, still learning. So, I guess it is not about "moving" the single up" but moving the wide point to center which moves your max depth forward keeping same concave? So at the nose, does the single move up or do you change depth sooner (not sure that makes sense...my question that is)?

 

The single should fade in at the same spot in the nose... you're pushing the max depth point forward. I should add that I like a little vee in the entry on big wave boards for East Coast, but not for normal hpsbs. The vee is added because when it gets big around here, you get a lot of wind and current, and it paddles easier with the vee. In Indo I don't think you get the wind, and possibly not as much current... so I'd skip the vee in the nose.

 

That being the case, you have great skill as a craftsman. Congratulations, it is to my view a very nice board.

 

Makes sense on the V. I appreciate the response...it's like a second opinion but first. I plan on having this convo with shaper but respect your insight as well.

 

Thanks, Barry... When a friend of mine opened a restaurant in Long Branch years ago, I built him one as a wall hanger... blood red bottom and rails, black resin pinline, and red/black resin swirl deck. The restaurant closed, and now it's back in my garage, where it was born. Never been ridden... What a shame.

 

Good info LBCrew thanks. To the OP I would also suggest looking into Brian Bulkley he is west coast but he makes great boards and has spent considerable time on the North Shore. His prices are very reasonable and he is pretty quick on turn around Matt Biolas had him shape a gun for him last year, that says something.

 

Sure the thickness will make a huge difference in the strength of the deck but my concern isnt the thickness, its the quality and time spent glassing the board. Also the weave of the fiberglass and how well its placed and glassed over. They dont take their time, and most of them are done through machine im pretty sure, which lowers the quality tremendously. They gotta keep up with all their orders somehow ---> glass it quick and get it sold. However... I will say that someone said the black beauty is one of the best step ups made and that is 100% true in my opinion. Havent ridden one but the outline is sick and only heard good things.

 

Aren't they glassed in China??
imho CI boards suck--almost everyone I have seen has a competitor that is better. my opinion only; not a fan of CIs.

 

Yes... they're glassed in China. Shipped overseas to be glassed by hand by cheap labor and shipped back, as are many of the big name brands. I'm not talking about the quality of the work here... just the fact that they are not glassed by machine, nor are they glassed here in the states. They're glassed by factory workers in China.

I will say that 90% of the fin box failures I've seen with the old FCS plug system were from improper install... installed improperly by the glassers, probably to speed up the process because they get paid per piece, rather than by the hour or by salary.