Measuring Kneeboards.....?????

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 2:11 pm

One of the tired and true methods of determining the correct KB size/shape came about when working with my shaper (John Mel/Freeline) many moons ago:

Six pack of Coors and GO.....................

But this was way back in the early 1970's when everything was, basically, experimental.

stemple · Post by **stemple** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 6:02 pm

Ok, ok I should have known better then to get a straight answer from you guys. Just for yucks lets here some of your dimensions for your favorite all round boards. lets put the data into a spread sheet and run a few statistical tests to see if there are any trends. It could be interesting or a stupid excercise depending on your point of view. Sample size of 20 or so would be a good start.

Beeline2.0 · Post by **Beeline2.0** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 6:21 pm

DrStrange · Post by **DrStrange** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 7:37 pm

Stemple, I sort of tried this long ago with stand up board. My friends board scaled down to similar one for me. He is about 6' tall 190 pound I am 5'3" and 130 pounds. What seemed to be true was that you needed different proportional change for length and width or you'd soon run into absurd dimensions, like a 6'6" X 11" . Never really figured out how except to prop his stick up against the wall and eyeball it using approx workable dimensions. That was then..

Darcy, by the way I think you are right about Avogadro's number. It was the mayonaise that confused me.

farnzilla · Post by **farnzilla** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 2:56 am

Hi Stemple.

I'm hearing you re:- the unfortunate surf kama of late. With christmas and caring for my two beautiful children for the past month, many a surf session has passed me by. Hopefully the situation will be rectified this weekend.

"I am not too familiar with the surf spots and I have never really seen it pumping but I have seen pictures (like everybody else) of sweeet Rincon and El Capitan both right points. Anybody got any suggestions as too a good tri set up for that neck of the woods for a 220 lb, 6'2" wanker? I have been pondering something in the 6' and 23.75 inch realm, round pin or squash tail. How about a thickness recommendation? What about concaves or channels?"

Being a well proportioned gent myself, 190cm and 110kg (6'3" and 240lb I think) and surfing often less than inspiring onshore conditions more often than not, when I had my most recent board shaped, I wanted something able to float my bulk over the softer sections of the waves I was surfing to make it possible to take advantage of the sections that I could work a bit.

Anyway, I ended up with a Parkes rounded square tail quad, with a double concave. I'm not sure of the thickness of the board, but the other dimensions are 6'1" and 24 1/2".

My previous boards (bought second hand) were obviously undersized and more performance oriented, and struggled when the swell was on the weak side. I find the that the above board is effortless to paddle and seems to glide over parts of the wave that would have previously seen the end of the ride and lets me get the most out of the conditions. I've had it out a couple of times in about to 6 - 8 foot (face) - big enough for me - and it still seems to have a plenty in reserve (it certainly has more than my ability to push it).

As for the concaves, this was a novelty to me, but they seem to be the business. As I pick up speed down the line, I get the sensation that the board is lifting and accelerating - great in the shories that I often end up surfing - still gives me a buzz.

I'm a complete novice with regards to board design, but being a relatively big bloke, I hope this is of interest.

Cheers
Mark F.

PS: can anyone tell me how to get a quote into that nice little box?

doc · Post by **doc** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 5:52 am

You mean like this?

farnzilla wrote:
PS: can anyone tell me how to get a quote into that nice little box?

It's kinda like HTML-

Hit the little 'Quote button' in the upper right corner of the orginal post ya wanna quote like I did with this or type in square bracket quote square bracket - then type in whatever you want to quote or copy and paste something and then it's square bracket backslash quote square bracket or hit the reply button and, after highlighting the text you wanna use as a quote, mouse on up to the quote button up there right under the Subject box, so you wind up with

quoted text like this

though it comes along without any attribution unless I put in something inside the square brackets after the word 'quote' like ="The Governator" so I get

The Governator wrote:I'll be Baaaack

This is kinda fun......

hope that's of use

doc wrote:doc

stemple · Post by **stemple** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 10:03 am

I have zeroed in on some standard dimensions I think work very well for me. I am hesitate to ride anything less then a 6'0" and 23 inches wide. The last boards I have gotten have been wide 24" inches they seem to work really well for me (Stubb Vector). I am riding that width upto 8 foot or so now. The next board is going to be a tri fin 6'0" 23.75 or 24" wide with a decent amount of tail in it. I am finding the extra width floats me better, also a wider tail keeps the speed over flat sections of the wave. I really can not see a big downside change in handling characteristics based on width. It sure paddles and gets to a plane faster. Fin placement and spacing seem to have big impacts handling characteristics. The drivey nature of the fin set up on Blast boards seem to suit my "style" better.

I really enjoy riding different boards and in the end I hope it makes me a better rider.

DrStrange · Post by **DrStrange** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 12:56 pm

Stemple--you riding the Stub Vector in 8 ft O.B. waves? Faces or backs? If so, that's a lot of size range for one board...aren't they pretty much designed for small, mushy stuff? Lot of tail area in that template. Reminds me of old stand up egg shapes I used to ride/flail on.

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 2:34 pm

After riding my 6'0" x 22 3/4" quad yesterday at The Hook in OH surf, I doubt if I will ever go below 6'0" again! I'll probably have to work on the width a bit to dial the quad into being my small wave board.

For bigger surf, I'm looking at a thruster (fin forward set up) next but about 6'3" and 23 1/2" + in width.

I never thought that, when I started kneeboarding on a 4'10", I would ever be in the 6'0" range. Sure makes life interesting!!

stemple · Post by **stemple** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 3:51 pm

I rode my stubb at cronkite a few weeks ago in 6-8 faced foot sand sucking, barely makeable barrels. In really hollow waves I did find the width a bit of an issue but at OB 80 percent of the time its not that hollow, incoming tides etc. On sunday I went back to the break and rode a narrower board in similiar but not quite as ideal conditions. The narrow board definately was easier to start off on a steeper line of attack down line to make the fast, glorified closeout section.

All in all the fast planing speed combined with the slightly rampy angle of the waves at OB makes wider boards ride well for me. I don't consider myself a really strong paddler. The extra width gets me into the wave a paddle sooner then other boards. I was really surprised at the conditions the board could handle. I personally think 5' 10" to 6'1"; 23.5" to 24" wide boards are good all-round board sizes for California, for folks 6+ feet tall and over 200 lbs.

It seems that many aussie boards also zero in on those dimensions, as well.

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 4:02 pm

Stemple - I agree with you on the width. This 6'0" seems to be one of the quickest and smoothest KBs I've ever had. It was the ability to turn on a dime but still has that long rail to hold a line high and tight. I also am thrilled with the ease of paddling also. I'm about 5'8" and 175# and the board glides getting out into the lineup. I can't wait to really put the board through it's paces in a variety of surf size and conditions.

Just dropped the KB off with John Mel so he can ride it for a few days. Nothing like letting the shaper get some one-on-one feedback!

hart · Post by **hart** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 5:32 pm

Syd,

Your comments about the narrower outline caught my eye..and your observation about nose entry was accurate.

Even though you are honing in on 24" as an ideal width for you, you can in fact retain that widepoint but also drop the nose dimension to assist with the verticle faces you were experiencing.

This is good also, to maintain curve in your outline coming into your widepoint..cause once we go six-o (or longer)..outlines can become parallel..and I reckon this is something we must avoid at all costs.

Dimensions for your statistics?

My new summer fish is 5' 10" x 24" (6'2"x 200lbs)..and I WILL go bigger in Autumn (fall)..and Stapo's new Chrissie present (pintail) was 6' 0" x 25.5"

Regards from OZ.

Beeline2.0 · Post by **Beeline2.0** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 3:18 pm

K-man · Post by **K-man** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 4:36 pm

Hart,
Been following this thread on board width with interest.Lots of talk about width,but nothing at all about tail-nose measurments.Have I missed something here?

Another thread perhaps?
Anyway there seems to be a formula of sorts for small wave boards-My boards are 16n 22w 17t-----22-16=6-----22-17=5------Hence the 6-5 formula-Whatever the width add 6 for the nose-----then add 5 for the tail.Could it be that simple?All I'm talking here is board outline.

THANKS

hart · Post by **hart** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 4:49 pm

K,

The fish I referred to above was in fact,

5' 10" x 24" x 17" nose x 19" tail..so your tail relationship works @ 5" differential.

Nose doesn't but.

If I had used your formula and did an 18" nose..the outline would be too parallel and real nosey. It would go lousy.

A lot of this depends on your overall length too..your boards don't look very long.

But I do like some of your planshapes..who shaped them?

hart.

Kneeboard Surfing USA Community Forum

Measuring Kneeboards.....?????

Nose width

Swaylocks

HOWwide!!!

proportion