Design for fins on a bodyboard? Recommendations?

[KneeloRider*]

So, I'm looking at different options here. And I think the cheapest option, because every kneelo rider in the world seems to live in San Diego --not a bad thing, just inconvenient for shipping to the LA/SB area, I think maybe I can get away with kneeling on my dad's bodyboard. I know, all of the DKs (dropknee-ers) will laugh at the double knee down stance, but hopefully I can get some deep tube rides that will blow them away from laughing while they chase the inside of the wave! So...

FIN PLACEMENT?

My board for possible use in this manner is 46inches long, has a wide point 14.5 or so inches down from the nose (VEERY high for a bodyboard nowadays--most are more like 20" down, and thats for a 42 inch long bodyboard!--its good for prone riding at least), has a 17 inch tail, and is 23" or 24.5 inches wide, I think. So...does anyone have a general idea, with years of changing surfcraft experience (I know from looking on this and other sites there were some boards that were more or less straightlined with a single fin, like a bodyboard with a single), know where and how many boxes I can put on there? There IS actually a fiberglass place that will do it around here (see my used kneelo post for explanation on this point), I just need to know what to tell them to do! It requires epoxy resin so its relatively expensive, but I can deal.

SO...Idea-s?
2?
4?
3???!
How far off the tail?
How far off...the rail?

Thanks a ton...

KneeloRider*--I have weak, knobby knees, so without a good pad + good board, or a softboard kneelo, my knees are gonna get WRECKED! So I figured I'd learn the cheap way, with or without these fins, and see how it all worked out. Later...

SPONGETOMO TO THE RESCUE?

peace...

[Bryan Jackson]

My experience is that BBs just do not work as KBs . Although BBs do work in a drop knee stance, I would guess that is because the dynamics are such that the BB can plane properly. But they are not designed with the weight distribution of a kneerider in mind and thus they bog down, at least the ones I tried kneeriding .

Living in LA is no excuse to not get a kneeboard . Romanosky and others are in Costa Mesa/Newport area. Isn't Dean Cleary based up that way as well? Indeed, you can have a KB shipped from anywhere in the world, especially to smell A !

[steve burpo]

If your looking for recommendations,I recommend you trash the sponge and get a kneeboard.There is no comparison in maneuverability and speed.

[Ler]

Get a used kneeboard. even a junker is better than a sponge. If you want to learn to Kneeboard, you gots to ride a kneeboard. If you ride sponge, your a sponger. Find a beater board and start riding.

[DarcyM]

Kneelo -

If you're seriously interested in kneeboarding, skip the sponge route. If money is an issue you may end up sinking more money into sponge modifications that probably won't work than you would on a used kneeboard that will work like a kneeboard is supposed to.

Check out our gatherings, one in Bolsa this month, and another in Jalama north of Santa Barbara in May. At both you will likely run find that some of our peeps have good used boards to sell!

good luck!
dm

[Beeline2.0]

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[kneemor]

Are you kidding me? I thought you knew everything

[Beeline2.0]

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[DarcyM]

Sorry for the lazy typing shortcuts, Beeline.

"Peeps" besides being a sticky yellow marshmallow candy designed to survive nuclear holocaust and popular at Easter, is a slang term for "people" used primarily to describe one's "posse", "comrades", "homeys" or otherwise a circle of friends.

[Beeline2.0]

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[Nov]

If your looking for recommendations,I recommend you trash the sponge and get a kneeboard.There is no comparison in maneuverability and speed.

I once tried kneeling on a lid, when i had water on the knee. It was one of the most frustrating things ever! They just don't go as kneeboards, not enough float or direction. Dont bother trying it, it doesnt work.

[joe]

Witnessed a guy with a carved out kneeboard, maybe a flex spoon, with a sponge stuffed into the deck, absolutely rip big rock when it was going off in the late 70's. Creature? Never seen any serious kneeling on a sponge, but have seen some pretty good DK.

[DavidW]

There was a time when we knee'd on our boogie boards. We got pretty good and could do turns, 360s, etc...
However, nothing matches a real kneeboard for speed and carving in good hollow waves.

[Rob]

The following is a post I made the other day, and it seems apropos to this topic. The basic problem with converting a BB to a KB is surface area - BB's typically don't have enuf and the overall template isn't conducive to knee riding. And the board *must* have a skeg! Anyhoo ...

As a long time kneelo (yeah, from the 60's), when the bodyboard came on the scene really strong in the mid 80's I wondered about applying that soft concept to kneeboards. Attempts at modifying existing bodyboards were interesting but there wasn't enuf overall flotation and the foam lacked significant stiffness when ya pounced on the deck double-knee. That lead to a buncha tinkering and eventually I came up with a hybrid bodyboard shape that was quite good for knee riding. Better yet, it was easily accepted at bodyboard-only breaks.

The key ingredients were: an Arcel core (for great stiffness) and a core stringering system (3/8" to 3/" diameter carbon fiber tubes). Initially, back in '88, I laminated decks and bottoms with contact cement until I figured out how to build an automatic heat/presssure laminator, but in a pinch contact cement works fine. Board lengths varied from 45" to 64". Shapes are bodyboard-like to unmistakeable kneeboards. Rails are diamond 50/50. Tails are squared, swallowed, winged or pin. Fins are O'Fish'L.

Why a soft kneelo? They're a good transition from a bodyboard, soft boards don't hurt, they're great for beach breaks yet will provide speed and thrills on point and reef waves.

Here's my fave li'l shortie ... I shaped it about 4 years ago and it's still going strong ... 48" length, 22" max width, 17" winged tail, 6" nose, a single skeg ...





Though I no longer offer soft kneelos, here's some stuff that might be of interest ...

http://www.rfd.cc/hybridz/

http://www.rfd.cc/softsurf/

My *real* kneeboard is a Blast 4 fin - mahalos Bud, you da man!

[Rob]

If you're going to go with a soft skinned kneeboard, here's how its done:


http://www.blasthawaii.com/index2.htm

click on the "For Sale" Header

Now that's a soft kneeboard!

Aye, matey - Surflight has taken softboards to a way higher plateau than ever before. Right on.