Just wondering if for the same volume a shorter board is more likely to be damaged or a longer? I've had a few stacks but hang onto the boom and have never damaged my Tabou Rockets..Does board length make any difference to likelihood of damage?
I would say more luck than good management, rockets have a bit of nose kick and prone to nose damage
I too have catapulted on my Rockets a few times too and as yet have failed to damage the nose on them.
Select to expand quotesboardcrazy said..
Just wondering if for the same volume a shorter board is more likely to be damaged or a longer? I've had a few stacks but hang onto the boom and have never damaged my Tabou Rockets..Does board length make any difference to likelihood of damage?
Yes, they're certainly good boards all right! 
It's probably more to do with experience but having heaps of nose kick wouldn't help. I know when I had all my catapults I was hooked in going for straps when powered up, I assume this is the best way to do maximum damage to your board. I still catapult now when I screw up but rarely am I hooked in and a full power when it happens. I think you learn to fall in a way that protects you and your kit as most of us want to keep our pride and joy in good condition. 
Select to expand quotesboardcrazy said..
Just wondering if for the same volume a shorter board is more likely to be damaged or a longer? I've had a few stacks but hang onto the boom and have never damaged my Tabou Rockets..Does board length make any difference to likelihood of damage?
When I was learning I used to smack the nose of the board with the mast. It makes sense as that's where the force is going when you release the rig, and its less common to hit the sides of the board. Whether the board is short or long, it hits the same place.
Since then, I learned also, to keep a hold of the boom. That seems to push the board out from under you when you catapult, so as a result you don't smack the nose.
I don't know about the rest of you, but the single biggest thing I found that prevents nose damage is harness line position. Too far forward and you are going over the handlebars smacking into the nose. Further back and when you catapult you will twist around the front like a forward. 9/10 catapult I do I end up in the waterstart position.
I've never damaged the nose of a board until recently In maui
Hired a Goya quad brand new out of the box
Had one catapult from nose first landing cracked the front not bad but still cracked
When looking at the older boards in the racks they all had nose repairs done
I think it's because the nose on them is so round
I was just wondering if my catapult technique is 'good enough' for the short nosed board I'm demoing..
I shouldn't stack it as I will only be sailing in 10 -18kts. From your replies it sounds like I have good stack technique..
(I've had enough practise.. and I hold onto the boom ( generally happens too fast to think to let go or unhook..))
Assuming similar construction methods/materials, I don't think length or rocker have a lot of effect on nose damage, unless the board is so long the boom head hits the board instead of the nose.
Damage is affected by how much the board resists moving when the mast hits. A direct hit on a wide square nose is probably the worst, as there is a lot of area resisting sinking and the square nose doesn't defect the blow at all.
probably the least damage is on the old style "no nose" there isn't as much area/floatation to stop the nose sinking, and the blow will be at much more of an angle to the rail, deflecting the board and or rig sideways. (It's still possible to hit the nose square on but much less likely).
So to answer you original question, it depends how the same volume is achieved when length is decreased. If it's by making the nose wider, then you may get more damage.
