Yup, out at Cal Poly right now!

For the Fish, the here are the specs (I think):

length: 6'0"
Width 1ft from nose: About 16"
Width 1ft from tail: About 15 1/2"
Middle width: About 21"
Thickness at center: I think 2 3/4"

I forgot to write down the dimensions, so I quickly approximated with a tape measure. Maybe you've heard of or seen the 7S Super Fish seen here:

http://www.surfindustries.com/surfboards/7S_superFish.php?src=surflineBoardAdvisor

I based some of the dimensions on that, and, with the help of the shaper whose shop I shaped this at, tweaked it a little to what I was looking for. It's a very similar shape though.

As for sticking to the whitewash, that's what I'm doing. I've been out a little over 15 times, and still can't really stay standing on the board. I've gotten up on my feet, but quickly fell off. Part of the problem, I think, was going surfing with a friend of mine who feels that you learn faster if you learn on bigger waves. As a result, I spent more time than I should just trying to catch waves that were far too steep for me. I spent more time worrying about my board (and myself) nose diving off of the wave face than I spent trying to stand. Well, he's studying abroad now, so I'll stick with the whitewash.

I've tried Morro, but not the spit. Is that the same as Sand Spit in Montana de Oro?

Oh, welcome to the Yard!

Hahahahah! I brought this thread back up once again! Why?! Because I shaped another surfboard! This one is actually for my lady friend. I got a great deal on the surfboard blank, and a friend of mine let me shape it in his shop for free as long as he got the glass job. He did a great job on the resin dye, too! Here it is:





Here it is next to my two boards. I still haven't used my shorter board yet because I suck on the long board! I've been swamped with a senior design project this year, too.

sweet looking boards! the paint job on those is awesome <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Thanks! I did the paint on the long board and the orange one, and the shop owner did the pink one.

Tonester, where about are you in SoCal? I'm up at Poly in SLO. I shaped the long board at the school and the short ones at the instructors shop out in Los Osos (he kinda got screwed and doesn't teach the shaping class at Poly any more).

im in Highland, its about 20 minutes east of San Bernardino.

how long did it take you to shape those boards? again, really good job.

ive never been surfing, but looking at those board make me want to try!

Did you set up the shaping room yourself? And where did you get the templates from?

Tonester:

The first board took me 7 or 8 three hour classes at the school. The second board (the orange one) took me 3(I think) three hour time periods at the surfboard shop of the instructor. The last one (the pink one) only took 2 two to three hour time periods out at his shop.

Tagati:

That shop is actually the shop of the instructor at from the school. He has his own shop and was kind enough to let me use it. It'd be cool to have my own! Maybe if I really get into surfing more after I graduate I can slowly build up my own personal shop. As for the templates, he already had some that were cut out of some fiber board material. It's really just a matter of having several width dimensions along the board (at least three) and fitting a smooth curve to it all.

That is a really good effort. I have surfed for years but making boards is really difficult. You obviously have a flair for it.

Thanks for the compliment! Strangely enough, I feel like I'm better at shaping right now than I am at surfing. I guess being an engineering student and growing up working on things helps with using tools. Also, the right tools are very important to do the shaping correctly. A power hand planer is a great tool to speed up the shaping, but isn't necessary. Beyond that, it's mostly just hand tools that are needed.

Do you surf up in Washington?! I lived up around Tacoma and Bremerton for a couple years. I made it out to Ocean Shores once in the middle of summer, and it was a bit cold out there! How is the surfing up in Washington anyway?

I grew up in Durban, South Africa so feel very fortunate that I had great, warm and uncrowded surf on tap. We just used to get our stuff stolen a lot while we were in the water. After that it is an unfair comparison but surfing in WA does my head in.

Firstly the prevailing wind is onshore so most of the coast is blown out most of the time. You get some good swell in winter but you have to wait for a high pressure to sit overhead and push the jetstream North but then that means freezing offshores. Wetsuit technology has become so much better but peeling your wetsuit off after a surf is just brutal.

Then there is the drive down. Topgraphically, if you live in Seattle you have a minimum drive of 2.5 hours because you have to head South to Olympia for an hour before heading for the coast. I have been skunked so many times after a long drive only to have the wind come up and blow the surf to shreds.

And...not forgetting the water temps. Ice cream headaches - just get used to them! I have learned to surf in a full suit with hood but t just isn't the same as paddling out in a pair of boardies and vest.

I think if you live near the coast - especially near the end of the Straits you can pick some good days but for us city dwellers it becomes a labor of love.

Dont forget to grease yer board with some Mr ZOGS SEX WAX!

http://www.sexwax.com/

Suprisingly Mr Zogs is what I use and have done for years. Smells great and they do a decent cold water version (very soft).