More bite...

Had a great session on the 5'10" over the weekend...
Yes, I am actually still riding the same board. To be truthful though, there hasn't been much to have a go on around this time of year... Had to take out some smaller wave boards on occasion but my hand was forced!
Anyways, the shallow single/double on the 5'10 has me thinking maybe a deeper concave? It does feel a little 'stiff' for want of a better word, backside off the bottom so maybe a deeper concave and a little more curve on the rail???
Might throw swallow tail on it as well for a little more bite when the waves are a little juicer...

Completely different board really!!!!

But...

I took delivery of this board I built a few years back that had been passed around a few of my mates on the North side.
The second Jellybean.
I have such fond memories of this board. Especially in so so surf.
So it is well and truly past it's use by date. Trashed actually. But the stringer and bottom are good enough to use to make anothery.
Thought long and hard about changing this and changing that...
But after much deliberation, I am going to try and get as close as possible to the original.
Maybe an inch shorter.
Oh, and Zeke's choice of colours though!

...sigh...

It can get quite depressing around this time of year.
Low period, windswelly mush. And 10 times as many people in the water...
Bring on Autumn!!!

Reality check...

Lets face it. I am crap at surfing.
I vary in my skill set so much that some days I often wonder if I grabbed the same board I had yesterday. Seriously.
So, anyways. All this talk and bleating on about design and fins and ra ra ra has lead me to a big reality check.
I am never going to be able to evaluate a board's design properly, unless you count smile factor which occasionally completely reignites my stoke for surfing, so I have given a couple of my boards to a friend to have a lash.
he is a very experienced surfer and a very level headed bloke so I look forward to his feedback.
he has Justin (the original) and the asymmetrical twinny...

Fingers crossed I have been in the ball park!!!

I don't believe it...

My boy turned one on the weekend just passed.
One. Yep. Already.
Next thing it will be 'Daaaaaad. Broke the 4'8'' in the shorey again! I need a freshy for boardriders on Sundee!!'

Awesome.

Time flies...

Wow, its been over a month since last post.
Been on a holiday up to Qld with my family. No surf.
One blown out 2 foot day at sloppy Coolum Beach. I was literally the only one out.
One thing it did highlight was that the 5'10" likes a pockety wave. had fun.
Been on it a few times back here in slow windswelly stuff...just feels dead.
I don't help by being crap but the board doesn't feel as spritely of the mark as some of my others...

back to old faithful for a cross reference...

For once...

Well, it seems I may have gone in the right direction with the 5'10".
I am noticing that I am catching a lot more waves so maybe the little extra length is contributing?
The board feels really 'reactive' for want of a better word and a little more on top of the water. I can only put that down to the edges nose to tail giving that little bit of help...
Turns fast and feels surefooted. So the confidence is already on the up.
The fins are made by a guy (hand made, mind you) in Hawaii and well, as far as my ability to assess, feel unreal.
I'll keep going with this one for a bit methinks!
But the twinny does need to be christened?!?!...

Oh and I....

Set up the fatty winged round tail as a quad.
Much nicer to ride. But then it may just be the waves are cooperating a little more.
Who knows.

Experiments...

Finally finished off the asymetric tailed board.
Deliberated for ages over what fin setup to use as it didn't seem obvious what would work the best in a quad arrangement. Setup to one side or the other.
So I went with the fastest setup (in my opinion) and stuck with some fins I have been enjoying of late.
The twin fins should keep it nice and free (albeit maybe a little loose on the toe side) and let me feel the difference in the template.
Thats the theory anyway.
This is the last board I have shaped with a larger radius on the bottom part of the rail profile. As I like a lot of edge running up the board, it is just too hard to keep that consistent edge that far in from the outside of the rail. You end up sanding and sanding to try and pull back the edge and no one comes out happy(!!!)
Anyway, I'll give her a burl and see what happens...
be interesting to see how a 5'6'' (yes I know) shorty(ish) board paddles...

cool fins and boxes...

Sorry. Still loving the look of the new boxes and been trying some funky fins too.
Have just finished Dirty Daves Twinny (Jason 2) and nailed the sand job...
Real happy with the edges and finish.
Hope dave's happy too. Glassed with 4 oz 'S' Glass top and bottom with a 3/4 deck patch and long rail laps. Dave tells me he is har5d on the rails with his fingers etc...
Test out next week for him.

Someone else...

I have been distracted of late. I have been introduced to another board riding sport / pastime.
Snowboarding!
I am dirty with myself for waiting forty years to even see the snow!!!
Claire has just opened my eyes to some more awesome fun and If I keep it up a little, by the time Zeke is ready, I may just be competent enough to enjoy it with him.
By the way, Claire is a rockstar on the snow!!!!

Hmmmm, likin' it...

All done, and doesn't feel too bad.
Edges aren't 'catching' (whatever that is!!) and paddles nice.
only got out in windblown springtime 2-3 foot poo but worth a go...
Be nice in some clean stuff me thinks...

Loving the new boxes. Nice and clean installs...
Sweet.

Retreat...

Getting a little frustrated with my surfing at the moment.
trying so many different boards is just pushing back to square one each time I take anothery out as they are all so different in shape and volume etc.
So. I have made a pretty standard shorty / fishy everyday board to try and get the rhythm back (I'm sure I had it once before!)..
So unless its under chest high, This will be the board I persist with.

For now. (smile)

5'10" x 19 1/2 x 2.4 flattish rocker, no flips or fancy bits, light single to double and nose to tail edge (fingers crossed)...

Oh and Zeke picked orange this time.

Confused...

Well. Been trying out the new 5'9'' boat I just made.
LOTS of foam. Lots of edge. single to double, deepish concave,
Down rails. Flat deck.Flat rocker.
Should be a rocket, right?
Hmmmmm....doesn't feel like it. (setup as standard thruster)
Tried a couple of different sets of fins. No love.

Then plonked the Twin / trailer setup in it and off she goes!!

Don't boards just look pooh when they get waxed up and stomped on?!

Who wouldn't?....

Want to start the day like this everyday?
I love winter.
Bit cold though.(smile)

Under way...

Okay, glassing is under way. Finally.
Tired of the same old logos and stuff, I am going to try and make each board a bit more unique.
I really liked the Zed Sled blob so I had my son pick out a colour from a row of ducks...
What colour does he pick?. Yep.
Been getting some good water time of late (thanks to Claire!) and been messing around with fins and stuff as well. So cannot wait to try the newies with some different setups in the new boxes.
Nice and easy to install as well. They look VERY neat.
Should have done this a long time ago.

Hang on, Hang on...

I enjoy shaping so much, I have been getting a little ahead of myself!
I have another rack of boards to glass (including Dirty Dave's!) and I just keep lining up blanks to try new shapes.
Problem is...They are not getting TRIED!!!

So, down tools (shaping ones anyway) and lets get these boards glassed and try out the new fin system!!

Only one is mine. The ASYM is for Lor so keen to get at least one of these in the water.

Tail shape variety is the spice of life.

Shadows...

Been a while. haven't had the chance to surf much and the boards I have finished recently have barely been given the opportunity to get wet.
Anyways, had a couple of surfs and absolutely loving the ZedSled. has me thinking about all sorts of funky short things. More of that style to come.
So, after riding the Zed Sled in up to 4 foot, I started thinking maybe a bit of volume isn't such a bad thing...(der!) having the extra paddle made all the diference to the wave count and flowed a heap better. Helps when your surfing is as bad as mine!
So I took the tried and true Justin template, made him a little wider ala the jellybean and banged a wing in there to loosen up the planshape.
Flattish nose rocker with quite a bit of tail lift late after the front fins and the double wing quad double concave bottom with a hullish entry...
PHEW! Lots of bits and pieces in there but primarily want to try the volume thing.
Flat deck, steep rails with a lot of edge and about 2 5/8 through the guts.
Same dimensions otherwise as Justin the first but lots more volume.
If it feels good I will refine the dimensions a bit more.

Just waiting on my new boxes (yay!) and we'll see how she goes.

Experimenting...

Claire has inspired me to be a little adventurous with my shapes.
I am glad she has. I have always wanted to try an asymmetric planshape.
I have also been toying with the idea of a blunt nosed board and after the Zed Sled felt so good I have gone a little further on that front as well...

Wouldn't know what to call it. I am shaping it for a mate of mine who is just finishing his Phd and I promised him a board for his birthday as well...
He likes two boards I had made in the past so I combined the two!

5'6.5" (yes, thats right) x 19.5 x 2.4. Flattish deck, medium rails and lots of edge. Roll into single into double ith a little kick in the tail on the swallow side.
Haven't decided on Thruster or quad yet. Might work that out with him. He likes the quad but might be a bit tricky with placement on the roundtail side.

Hopefully I will get to ride it a bit first!!!!

cough, cough...

Been crook now for a week and a half as has my family...
Missed an awesome week of surf and now its going away as I am coming good.
Don't want to think about it.

Noice...

The ZedSled goes tops.
Awesome.

New toy...

The Zed Sled is finally finished. ONLY 6 months after it was shaped!!
Zeke had a look today and gave the gurgle of approval.
Nice.

Just about...

A perfect morning to try out the 5'8".
A few head high lines coming through, albeit a little quick and straight but the perfect way to test the super low nose rocker on this board.
Came through nicely. Rights and lefts peeling off fast on the shallow banks and didn't pearl once.
Takes off nice and fast but didn't get much of a chance to see how the tail lift felt out on an open face but my main issue was worrying about the nose. All good.
next time.
Oh, and she paddles a treat too...

Orange is the FOTD...

The 5'8" is done and ready to go.
No waves for a while though so she'll sit and wait till next week.
Came out nice but I am curious as to how some others may sand their edges...
Stil the trickiest part of the finish sand...
Always learning.

Oh and orange fins seem to be finding their way onto all my boards.
Flavour of the Day.

Goodo...

Well, the 6'0" went okay.
The tide was topped out and subsequently there was lots of fatness on the outside and pitching on the inside.
Lots of water movement so lots of paddling. Board paddles a treat (nice to ride something bigger than 5'9") and my worries about too much edge were dismissed.
Felt good underfoot but not too skatey...
Would have been good to wind it out but hey, Winter is on its way!!!
By the way. COLD this morning. 6 degrees or so.
Wish it kept the number down in the water. Bloody modern wetsuits!

Right...

Okay, so its still to be ascertained whether the hypnotherapy worked.

But, I have jumped straight back into the shed and the 6'0'' is done within a couple of of days.
I am wrapped with the sand job. Finally got my process nailed.
Fin boxes give me the tt's though...but that won't be for much longer as I am going to change to a different box.

The board is alarmingly similar to 'Toby 1'...Hmmmm thats not what I had intended but without it here to compare, we'll just see how it feels...

Okay, shorty next...

Hocus Pocus...

Well, I went to see a hypno therapist.
To get rid of the Arachnaphobia you see.
I spent a sum of money to sit down with a man named 'Skye'
( I didn't do a lot of research on the people involved, okay)
He rolled into his diatribe about how I have made the choice to go there and be hypnotised so I will be hypnotised, ra ra ra...
Anyways, long story short, I am still pooping in my pants.
So, it didn't work. There are some issues, I will admit, about the 'association situation' I gave but hey he's the expert (used loosely) so he should have been thorough enough to tell me I needed anothery.
I am going to brave the darkness (dramatic I know) and go and do some hotcoating today.
Light at the end of the tunnel though. I have booked in to see a supposed 'expert' hypnotist as recommended by some friends who have successfully been Hypno'd.

I hope to sharing my workspace with the friendly arachnids of Matraville by Friday.

And finishing three boards in no time!!!!
First the 6'0''... We have had some nice waves and I would really like to try it out.

Watch this space...

Bloody!!!!

Haven't posted for a while.
2 Spiders keeping me out of the bay.
Bloody!

Soon though.

Out of space...

The two small wave boards are glassed and waiting for hotcoats etc.
The round tail is nearly there and probably the board I would want to get finished first as there are some nice waves around now.
I am out of space though. Its a real mission. Glass one, up in racks, prepare the next etc etc. I only have racks for three and thats it so i am convinced that is the maximum I could have in the rotation at any given time.
Anyways, REAL work has been getting in the way of finishing anything in here so biding my time.
I'll soon have PLENTY!!!

the Zed Sled...

The Zed Sled is glassed and should be ready to ride by next weekend!
The small surf we had earlier in the week would have been perfect to test her out in but I am sure there will be more coming our way.
Forgot how much I enjoy glassing.
New resin from Surfblanks is awesome. Wets out well and the brightness is tops.
My photos don't do it justice. The bay's lighting is terrible. The colour really pops though.

In the swing...

Bottom on the 5'8" is now glassed and I have to say I love the way the rail curves look when freshly glassed.
Just me I guess...
The new resin has a little less blue tinge too. not as noticeable but still bright. Go surfblanks!!!
Got some new rice paper from China. Nice and thin. Prints sharp and is less raised under the glass.
Sweet...

Mmmmm...resin.

First lam done since ummm, last June!!
The smell of resin hit me like I had never smelt the stuff.
I love it!
All went smoothly and as you can see, not a lot of mess.
Whereas in the past those pools of resin would have made their way to the floor and splashed all over everything...Now they get caught and pooled ever so gently and the floor stays nice and clean.
Thats the theory anyhow.
Laps are filled on this and number two in line is on the racks...