Love it...
Tamster Saunton
cheers John, it's a proper cool little board. Alot slower than my bellies but makes it a whole load more fun. The fin holds it anywhere on the wave you want and a couple of kicks put you right back in the pocket. My best board yet
making it out of driftwood just makes it feel a whole more connectedJohn Whiting
So cool.. Merry Christmas..
Tamster Saunton
merry Christmas
Damian Coase
an interesting journey, good on you. Enjoy the ride.
Tamster Saunton
cheers, they don't always work OK but I refer to my boards as my library, always learning from them
just luv looking at something and figuring out how to ride it 
John Morris
Cool
Tamster Saunton
thanks John, I get alot of pleasure out of riding things I make and allows me to experiment with different stuff
John Morris
I've never had success riding 'found' materials. But here in the Pacific Northwest there is a phenomenon where big evergreen trees get splintered/toppled by high winds, leaving an interesting 'pillar' still standing. The break follows the growth rings. After getting beat around in rivers or ocean shores awhile, the resulting piece sometimes results in something that looks like a surfboard. Especially if it's redwood or cedar. Makes me wonder where these things may have washed up over the centuries...
Tamster Saunton
dam you need to get one drying in your garage
would feel amazing to ride something like that just need to get it home and it will all come togetherAdam Pace
cool love it!
Tamster Saunton
Adam Pace get finding some thing to ride
Michael Lamb
Wow that's a stonker...
Tamster Saunton
Thanks, it rides amazing. Found a matching piece of driftwood so currently making an matching twinny
Michael Lamb
Sounds super cool...
I do love a quiver...
Tamster Saunton
Just can’t help myself
always walking the beach looking for something new to make a board from. Where about are you based?Michael Lamb
Maroubra in Sydney...
...I don't mind a bit of material reassignment myself... That's a few of my oddities
...Keep charging Tamster...
Tamster Saunton
woooo there insane
there just nothing like those round here other than what's in the museum of British surfing. There so so coolMichael Lamb
they're Just the tip of the Iceberg...I ride them all...
Martin Hallen
Saunton Sands - Rudyard Kipling's early stomping grounds (well across the river mouth) - Westward Ho!
Tamster Saunton
yeah that's the one
westward ho! Is my second go to beachhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/paipobe ... 960025080/
What does the opening in the front of the board do?? get a lot of spray from that??
Tamster Saunton
good question, it's my preference on a handy. I prefer a grip to a strap as feel have more control and when it goes bad it doesn't break your wrist
yes you can get more spray but when you get it right it doesn't. I've tried to incorporate the grip in underneath to reduce it. I'll put a pic in. I've made a big handy with a grip that is mega and a foam one which will need a strap. I'm not affraid to make mistakes just want to try as many different things as possibleJohn Whiting
Awesome, I love your inventiveness.. Curious, do you use fins/flippers or do you stand in the water and push off with the wave?? I am asking because I was a lifelong surfer and I am now disabled. My arms don't work properly enough to pop up.. I have tried a couple things that don't haven't worked, but I think it's probably me. I have never boogieboarded, so I don't know the take of correctly. I see most guys takeoff late with the bottom of the board around their waist, and then scoot up on it as you are dropping in. thanks for all your advice..
Tamster Saunton
where are you based? Yes I use fins but there are many different fins out there. It has taken me a year to get used to fins and have had 3 pairs. I suffer with cramp initially but that's mainly due to muscle memory not there. If youu struggle I'd suggest trying dmc elite 2, there are swim fins and mega soft and require less effort than say dafins. I'm on a pair of hydro tech 2s at the min, there fairly soft and go a size bigger so the don't cramp my foot dut the dmc are mega foot friendly. May I ask if you have an arm you are able to grip with?
John Whiting
I am in New Jersey USA. I do have an arm to grip with.. I have DaFins..They are rather stiff... I think I just haven't had enough time in the water to figure it out. . our NJ water temp is not so friendly in the winter and spring.. all of my stuff doesn't fit anymore..damn medicine.. I will get out again in June or July.. I used to do winters all the time before.. I wish there was a point somewhere near, I think that would be the best place to start to get comfortable..
Tamster Saunton
OK dafins now do a soft fin I believe, so may be worth a look at that. They do take time to build the muscle up and got to just take it slow and steady when you kick. Had you been uk or Europe I would have sent you a big handy to try
can you make stuff? I have a template I could perhaps get to you. It's like a transition between a handy and a belly. The advantage is its fast from the start so a few kicks and your off where as a belly takes a little bit more effortAs its a big bigger you can use your forearm to rest with rather than palm. It's like an arm chair,
the cut out grip means you can hold it tight rather than having your hand in a strap so I feel is more controlableJohn Whiting
No handdys for me.. My disability is I broke my neck which has left me somewhat paralyzed on my right arm, left arm to an extent. I can't take the chance of bouncing off the bottom, bad things could happen..
6 March 2023
https://www.facebook.com/groups/paipobe ... 453290080/
23 October 2023
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bellybo ... 949268561/
Let me tell you a story like jackonory, a tale of "little red dogmat and the 5 boards" so grab some hot milk and a cookie and hope you fall asleep before you start reading
Bellyboards over the last few years have taken me on a journey. I have ridden litteraly dozens of different boards and met the most amazing people along the way. I have made the best of freinds as a result of bellyboarding.
I have made loads of different shapes, all sizes and a few handplanes to boot.
My thing was always using driftwood I found on Saunton, there is something about making something from a piece of wood that's been washed up that makes it feel more connected to the ocean. One day a beaut of a piece washed up and I drew a template for it and made my first board of 5, it was kind of like the ocean gave it too me.
All the boards you see stem from that piece of old driftwood. Five boards, everyone different, everyone ridden, everyone learnt and everyone built from the same template.
Short boards have always been my thing. Boards are very personal to the rider. They all have different characteristics and you are allowed to luv more than one. Some long, some short, some flexible, some rigid, some short and some wide. The best board is always the one that makes you smile the most for what ever reason that maybe. Bellyboarding is just pure fun fullstop. We all like different things but everyone simgle one will make you smile, guaranteed.
Board 1 is a single fin. I luv to be experimental and learn stuff. After riding it I knew this was the shape for me. It has a large fin and is a super lazy relaxed ride, not in any hurry just wants to mozy down the line. I learnt tho, it wasn't shaped right and is too big. It drags and slows the board down. But you can defo tell the difference with the fin there.
Board 2 is a twin fin. I have rode this board to death. This board has been the best fun. It's fast as a whippet and turns like scalelectric car. I pushed this board to it's limits and I'm actually dissaponted I haven't snapped it. That would be like the perfect end if it broke riding a monster wave. My friends advised about fin shapes and styles. I learnt from this to make the fin the right size for the board. Foil it so it works as a fin and not just for show. The inner face is flat, the outer face shaped like a boat sail, I used to sail so that how I describe it. Water then flows faster around the outer and generates speed. They have a very slight toe in as too much would create drag in the waves I ride. This board is a gem a real triumph, luv it but people asked if it needed fins? Hhmmm I thought, there is only one way to answer that.
Board 3, well done if your still reading by the way
, same template but finless. Made out of curiosity to see what diffence the fins made. Turns out this was a special board, even touch by the hands of legendary surf Peter Mel. This board had a sharper rail than the previous ones, something that turns out made a huge difference. Just feels like it cuts into the face better and makes it more responsive. This turned out to be a whole load of fun and got me thinking where do I go now?Everything so far has been positives, smaller boards can suffer from a speed wobble when they go fast. The shape of the board channels the water down, increasing the flow along the length and when it exits it became problematic. The tail of the board was actually creating a vortex of water at the rear and let's just say it was rather uncomfortable! When this was explained to me I was like yes that's exactly what is happening. To see it I pushed the tail of the board into fast moving water to see how it exited.
Then a dilemma came, the shape and size of the board I luved but it just wasn't fast enough for the big stuff. I luved the feel of the twinny but appreciated the simplicity of the finless. Aggghhhh. To solve the tail issue I could just make it flat but then I loose the benefit of the fins. I was all about that dam water vortex. Solution, make it asymmetrical.
Board 4, taking everything I'd learnt and putting it into a board. Adding a asym tail does many things. Firstly gets rid of that pesky vortex. Again hold the tail into fast moving water and you can see it exit cleanly. The tail effectively acts as a fin and digs in on the bottom turn. The extended rail on the right of this board gives more speed and engagement. Also I gave it a mega sharp rail and considered how the water flowed across the front corners so sanded them back as well. Finally I'd cracked it
so where can I go next, hhhmm material maybe 
Board 5, made of paulowina. As I mentioned I've made many friends along the way on this journey. One if those is Mark Duck dive boards. I asked him if he could make my template with his knowledge. So this board has a concave running through the board, something I couldnt do with ply, sharp rails and Mark's tried and tested underneath. I got out after my 2 hour session today and said out loud " F*ck me"
this board is killer. It flys, it turns and it's a dream to #duckdive. It was everything I had hoped for, it is just awesome 
So that's my board journey over the last couple of years. Final result is a board that's is absolutely flippin awesome. Stripped back of everything I don't use. Wide flat nose, makes catching waves easy and allows you to pump the nose to gain speed and distance. Wide template, I have a bodyboard background and this template emulates that style of riding more for me. Also means you can really put it on its rail as have more of a pivot point. Aysm design, the tails acts like a fin so allows a quick bottom turn and your ride begins after your bottom turn
. Extended right rail giving more speed, going right. Shaped tail to massively reduce the water vortex. Does it go left? Heck yeah. As the rails are different lengths I makes it turn like a baddun. Almost feels like dropping of a small cliff when you put a left in, it's that massive a difference and reacts amazingly and quickly. Any modifications required naaa 
it's flippin dam perfect for me.So as you can jopefully see I've been on quite a journey over the last couple of years, so it time to end with the red mat in the room.
I luv learning about surf craft, I have learnt so much. I've made a template of a board I really belive is awesome. As I've said I've met some amazing folk along the way and made great freinds with them. One of those is Andrew Turner of Turner Ocean Craft . I've never met anyone with more passion for what he does than Andrew.
So the "little Red Dogmat" Is what the last few years has led me too. This is the dogmatic model and it's been custom made for me to ride my Beach, Saunton. I'm off on another adventure, learning to ride a mat. Mats make total sence to me and my need to learn. Got to be the ultimate and purist form of riding. Everything you do changes the dynamics of it and it's about the feeling and understanding of what's happening. I'm totlally buzzing. Learning is never ending. Some read books, some watch videos and some get hands on. It doesn't matter. What we do is all about fun and full fill ment. We don't worry how it looks or what other think we just want to have fun. So peeps have fun, be experimental, enjoy and thanks for reading
Ps, this is just my account of my journey and not gospel
Pps, asym boards can also be made to go predominantly left
just ask Mark LittlePpps, that's the most words in a continuous line I've ever written
Big luv to everyone, I'm off on another journey with my mat
laters 
10 December 2023
Saunton Pete
https://www.facebook.com/groups/paipobe ... 092200080/
Got half a blank waiting to be shaped and glassed and it's defo going to be an asym.
I'm not lazy and want to copy just curious what's gone before
Keith Usher
The point of Asyms is that standing you have a heel and a toe side. The backhand and forehand effect is very minimal prone so I don't see the point in having a prone asym.
Saunton Pete
true, true
I have made and ridden many shapes in the past and by far the best board I've ridden is my paulownia asym. My beach breaks prodominatly right so the left hand rail doesn't do a deal. The transition between the left and right rails is what I really like, as they differ by about 8 inch it's like two different boards. As you turn it feels alot sharper as the rail disengages and engages. I prefer a less buoyant board so it's also a way to get rid of some of that.
I guess it's just a preference, I just find them way more fun. There just different and give another dimension to the ride
Simon Bishop
I reckon it would work at a known left or right. I say give it a go. Not too severe though.
Antony Gurtner
One I’ve used
- Gurtner1.jpg (6.87 KiB) Viewed 747 times
ah that's wicked thankyou
How did you find it? Any noticeable difference in ride?
Is the left hand rail, in the pic, longer than the right or further forward. Is the tail standard. That's interesting
Antony Gurtner
Yes rail longer and tail off centre. Slides better going left and turns quicker going right. Fun to ride!
- Gurtner2.jpg (7.45 KiB) Viewed 747 times
Point to having 1???
Cos you want 1!!!
Turner Ocean Craft
Just research what works on surfboards and why and draw your conclusions from that mate
To many people copying other people’s designs without any background knowledge isn’t good for evaluation or innovation
It just forms boxes and pigeon holes and becomes the norm
Pretty patterns never make a good vehicle in my opinion
Function always first
I think there has to be a solid reason theory and positive test results to prove a point
26 February 2024
https://www.facebook.com/groups/paipobe ... 671070080/
- Saunton26Feb.jpg (131.3 KiB) Viewed 750 times
Bob Braunton
60/40 rails with a chine, going soft in the nose and hard in the tail. I’ve never used those fins so can’t really comment but I have used wing fins and to be honest they mostly just cause drag.
Saunton Pete
might drop it round for you to finish
real keen to have ago on yours before I start The review I read fitted to a paipo said it nosed dived. Hoping a load of volume up front will transfer that to forward motion. But once it's down the line it flew They are adjustable so can play around.
Got to get that blank used up to make room
Bob Braunton
the fins that do work are S-Wings but they are a bit pricey.
I would have thought that it would be more of an advantage to pull the tail down and into the pocket of the wave
https://www.s-wings.surf/en/
Saunton Pete
we need a walk on Saunton and a chat
Rod Rodgers
I tend to think that more volume/float in the aft half would be more beneficial than in the forward section. A friend tried experimenting with the forward sector floaty to compete with catch waves with the longboarders but it was a bust. Believe his board was in the 50-inch profile range rather than the 35-inch range.
Saunton Pete
thank you. I'm cutting from a 8ft surf blank so have plenty to play with. My thinking was more volume up front would transfer more energy from the fins.
Realy grateful for any info of previous things tried and failed
Rod Rodgers
Even with more volume in the aft half of the board the wave energy from the fins can be mitigated by fin placement and fin size and maybe shape. The increased volume in the rear does not have to be dramatically greater or exagerated compare for the forward section. Skeg extend the potential performance options of a board and myriad of design tradeoffs.
Most of us prone riders have more of our body weight aft than forward unless one is shaped in an extreme upside down pyramid shape.
You could experiment with a completely symmetrical plan shape with relatively parallel rails, but increased volume foward and decreased (thinner) in the aft, finless. Easy to reverse and see how they work in a technical manner.
Saunton Pete
Rod, thank you
invaluable advice I trying to keep it as simple as possible. First glassed paipo I've made so if I can avoid simple errors Ill defo take note 
ah nice, paulownia is a bit tricky to get hold of here, could you throw a sheet in the ocean for me and I’ll keep an eye out for it 
happy new year
always ride at least 2 every session as well 
one day I hope to make one on the beach where I find the wood