4'2 Bellyboard

[GeoffreyLevens]

If you can find a place near you that makes signs and displays for businesses, at least in the US they will have blocks of 2 lb EPS that is quite suitable and they can just slice you off whatever thickness you want. That stuff is totally uniform all the way through

[Pes78]

The blank I used was a 6'11" fish blank from millienium foam. I cut 2ft off the tail and 9" off the nose. Pretty much the middle of the blank. My thoughts as far as the getting to softer foam is, it's closer to the middle of the whole blank. Not just the middle of the blank, it seems to me when looking at the molds they are blown from the outside of the whole blank is strongest. I could be totally off on this though. My second one I did I think I went pretty close to the core of the blank with the thickness being 2.5" and 2.25" at the concave deck. the blank I used for that was 3" thick. Both of my previous bellyboards were glassed poly with a 6 bottom and 6x4 deck. I'm also putting padding on the decks for comfort and that is saving any wear and tear. But seeing as I generally don't keep boards for long it helps in selling them, I need to sell a board to make the next one. This latest one I'm really happy with it and plan to ride it exclusivly. S with that being said I'm going to glass it 6oz bottom and 4x4 deck with the deck pad adding protection from any pressures. Maybe skip can talk about how the padding helps with his durability, I'll be using a cove pad on this one as well. Oh and will be glassing with epoxy, I've been using that with poly foam and it's been a very solid build for me.

[krusher74]

Yes, i bet epoxy on a foam blank will be strong.

I tried EPS did not like it , board felt dead.

[bgreen]

Pes

Your board looks like it is coming along nicely.

The other variable with foam selection is durability. If you're travelling you don't want a board that if dinged, you have to get out of the water or if you don't, it is going to suck its weight in water.

Bob

[Pes78]

I have done about 6 or 7 eps boards and I had felt they were to light. I did have one were I had if glassed heavy to get that poly feel, it was 6oz bottom 6x6 deck. Plus eps sucks water so if your traveling you need to get out. The other thing with eps is it a pain to finish.

[Pes78]

Board is ready for glassing, glassing schedule is 6oz bottom with double 4oz deck. Deck will have full deck pad. Will be setup with three fin boxes and ridden as a twin mostly. I got a little creative and put some paint on the blank. Will post pics of the finished board when I get from glassing.

[Pes78]

So picked this up thursday during my lunch. Have had it out three times so far. Running it right now with blair quad fronts and trailer fin from the AMT set. First session was at Blacks friday evening semi glassy conditions 4-5 on the sets mostly windswell. I stayed on the inside because the outside sets were fat and tough to get into. As you could imagine Blacks packs a punch and boy the insiders that I got are little less than the outside waves but with the energy in the water this thing flew even got a little coverup on the shore pound. The concaves in the tail are about a 1/4 inch deep and I could feel them pretty well and the pressure the water was having exiting the concaves. It almost felt like i was out of control. But that was felt more with when the waves had power Friday and Saturday, this morning it was weaker slightly on shore and small but felt more under control. So I wonder if I should put some bigger fins or try fins with an inside foil? I wonder what Thomas has found on his tbelly that works for him would be interested to know.

[nomastomas]

Hey, Pez...Nice,functional shape. You're a big guy, and with a twin you could/should go bigger. Maybe 4.7" CI/AM template, or even the Mark Richards 5.25" Twin template on head-high or bigger days (especially at a beach break like Black's or Ponto). Keep the center/trailer fin smaller than the side bites for maximum looseness and minimum drift in turns. For me, ideal fin area is being just on the edge of losing control, that's where the max speed is found. If you have 1/8" of toe-in or less, you could also try keels. (Open) tail concaves really enhance water flow and provide extra bite out at the rail. Again for me, this connection into the wave-face vectors directly into forward speed. -tp

[Pes78]

Yeah I have them at an 1/8. Tried K1''s this morning and felt slower wasn't much swell in the water. Should haves later this week and I'm going to try the merricks.

[Pes78]

Little update. Have been riding the board with the Blair fronts for all my sessions. At some points I felt they were holding me up on getting back up the face of the wave and other times they felt fine. Was looking at the Futures site and was reading about the blacksticks fins, I was thinking about how on weaker waves I was having trouble. The fins are designed for weaker surf so I grabbed a set of F8's and so far so good. Could feel I was able to get back up the face and go down, didn't feel the spring effect yet on them. Will have to see how they go in some better waves.

[rodndtube]

Pes, what are the rough measurements of these fins, the Blacksticks and F8's?

[Pes78]

Sorry its the F8 that are in the Blacksticks contruction. Height 4.64 Base 4.47 Area 15.90, I was told their basically the Merricks with all fins the same size except these have the V2 foil.

[jbw4600]

Hi, I noticed that you put your leash plug in the middle of the back of your board. On all of my boards I have placed the plug in the back on the side near the corner. I did this because I thought that the end of the leash would chaff my wetsuit when paddling. I was wondering how it has worked for you putting the leash in the center. Do you get any chaffing form the leash?

[Pes78]

I haven't noticed any issues with chaffing on my wetsuit. I only use a leash if its crowded or closing out a lot. Plus since I've gotten the board I haven't worn a wetsuit much its been so warm.