Hey Brains trust..

I'm after everyone thoughts on what is good big wave shape.

I have been loving the Lano to Wedge downwinder lately, especially when it is over a 3m swell..

I am also enjoying the waves down south and up gero way on the bigger swell days..

I have a bit of spare time coming up so I'm going to shape myself a bigger wave board something that will preform its best around double over head.. I'm not surfing super hollow stuff at that size.. the boards I currently have are good for Perth downwinders.. Looking at adding a downsize board to my quiver.. I am 173cm and 70kgs

My plan is find a shape that will be suitable... design something similar in boardcad... buy a Kite blank from Colin Earle. I have a heap of 6oz glass and epoxy at home from pervious board builds.. so thinking 2 layers of 6 oz on the deck and single on the bottom. maybe some carbon over where my front foot goes..

thoughts??

Delta vamp or re-vamp would be a good design to get some inspiration from.

If you have the time and skills (or want to learn) you could sandwich the deck with bamboo, PVC foam or cork...

For the fin boxes, there is a great product called "gear box". For $90 you get 4 fin box, router jig and router bit. It is compatible with FCS fins (not FCS 2). I would take the PVC foam insert option for an extra $5/box so it will prevent box rolling which is quite common on kite boards.

all of the big wave kite boards or guns I have are narrower than normal board about 17"wide from memory, have a pin or rounded pin tail and usually around 6' to 6'6 and have heaps of V on the bottom and rails stay sharp 2 or 3" more before they start to soften.

I'm not a sb designer. So im just guessing.

As above. Gun style of shape. Long and thin for extra stability, extra nose rocker negotiate the bigger chop and steeper drop.

When its big waves its usually big wind so a board that can hold power and chuck some speedy as F ck powered bottom turns.

The main variables between a small wave board and a "good wave" board of similar volumes:
- outline
- rocker
- bottom
- foil

Look at any surfboard maker's website and you'll be able to work it out. JS website is a good one to start with.

From my experience don't go too extreme or you'll end up with something that won't be used very often. If you can get a good look at one, the Cabrinha Proto is a pretty good example of a shape that can pretty much handle anything while still being a pretty good "daily driver". If you are making a board for Peahi or extreme high wind, then by all means go narrow/thin/heavy rocker. I'm 172cm, 72 kg and ride the 5'10" Proto from 2016 and it seems like it will handle any wave on O'ahu just fine (with better fins, stock were too soft). Here's some pics from a couple days ago, waves about 15 ft. + on the face:

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JKimbler said..
From my experience don't go too extreme or you'll end up with something that won't be used very often. If you can get a good look at one, the Cabrinha Proto is a pretty good example of a shape that can pretty much handle anything while still being a pretty good "daily driver". If you are making a board for Peahi or extreme high wind, then by all means go narrow/thin/heavy rocker. I'm 172cm, 72 kg and ride the 5'10" Proto from 2016 and it seems like it will handle any wave on O'ahu just fine (with better fins, stock were too soft). Here's some pics from a couple days ago, waves about 15 ft. + on the face:

Nice! That's solid!

Select to expand quote

JKimbler said..
From my experience don't go too extreme or you'll end up with something that won't be used very often. If you can get a good look at one, the Cabrinha Proto is a pretty good example of a shape that can pretty much handle anything while still being a pretty good "daily driver". If you are making a board for Peahi or extreme high wind, then by all means go narrow/thin/heavy rocker. I'm 172cm, 72 kg and ride the 5'10" Proto from 2016 and it seems like it will handle any wave on O'ahu just fine (with better fins, stock were too soft). Here's some pics from a couple days ago, waves about 15 ft. + on the face:

Now they ARE waves - respect!