Board Shape: Effects on Ride?

[SweetDoug]

I'm interested in hearing from you about your experience with different boardshapes, how they ride and perform.

I'm looking at making a big, low-wind board, like the Spleene Door.

Spleene has designed them with a slight coke-bottle shape. How does this ride, versus, a straight edge? And what about a rail that is curved?

Really appreciate this input.

SweetDoug

[not annonymous]

Hi

I have built boards with a variety of outline shapes - ranging from almost elliptical to rectangular.

In my experience with the boards I have built, a more curved outline will ride with a more centered weight distribution. As the outline gets more rectangular, the board rides more off your back foot.

The more curved outline is a little bit smoother and less bouncy at high speeds in choppy water compared to rectangular outline, but the edge hold is not a good.

I only breifly tried out a spleen door so I can't give a firm judgement on it but I think the above still holds true.

This is just basic generalization with all other shape characteristics being equal. Other design variables such as rocker, bottom contour and rail shape can have a much larger effect on performance than outline shape.

Trent

[hudstur]

Take a look at the Lightwave WING. EXtreme upwind performance, handles chop real well, and can even ride toeside. The new graphics are a must see. Can be seen on the www.Globespirit.com website, or just google it. I have had the Spleene Door, Jimmy Lewis Flightdeck and Slingshot Glide, the WING outperforms all. The new model has some good flex, flat in the middle and slight concave on each end, and very lightweight.

[SweetDoug]

Interesting design, the concave rail.

Doug