How do I choose a surfboard rail?
The thinner, or harder, the rails the better your board will slice through the bottom of the wave. The harder the rails on the surfboard, the easier that particular edge will cut through the water. This is because there is less resistance against the water.
What are 60/40 surfboard rails?
60/40 Rails It is essentially an ‘in-between’ of the agility from hard rails and stability from soft rails. The widest point will be found 60% of the way down the rail. 60/40 rails are common in fun shapes that look to maintain some turnability while also remaining stable and easy to paddle.
What do 50/50 rails mean?
Shaped just like their namesake, 50/50 rails are sometimes referred to as egg rails. The apex of most 50/50 rails is slightly below center. The surfboard’s bottom is somewhat flat through the center twelve inches, and then it blends into the rail. This style rail is smooth riding and many claim it nose rides better.
What are boxy rails on a surfboard?
Boxy rails A full – round rail. Boxy rails will vary in volume with the overall thickness of a surfboard. The top of a boxy rail will flow out of a relatively flat or very moderately crowned deck. This rail configuration is generally applied to shorter lower volume boards.
What do different surfboard shapes mean?
Generally speaking, that means looking for wider tails for help with speed on a smaller wave and narrower tails for an easier transition from rail to rail for more aggressive turns in bigger waves. Keep in mind that a surfboard tail shape is only one variable in a complex design equation.
What are the different surfboard shapes?
Aside from giving you a larger surface area upfront, a round nose makes it easier to paddle into the waves and glide. It also helps you get into smaller, slower waves more easily. Square tails, on the other hand, enables you to make quick, sharp turns and can be found in high-performance surfboards.
What is a swallow tail surfboard?
The swallow tail is commonly found on small wave boards like the fish. It is wider than most tail shapes, allowing for plenty of planing speed. Unlike a wide squash tail though, this tail can still hold when doing turns on steep waves, because the swallow tail acts like two connected pin tails.
How thick should a surfboard be?
Funboard Sizes
| Surfer Weight (lbs.) | Surfer Weight (kg) | Surfboard Thickness |
|---|---|---|
| 140-160 | 63.5-72.6 | 2½″-2¾″ |
| 160-180 | 72.6-81.6 | 2½″-3″ |
| 180-200 | 81.6-90.7 | 2¾″-3¼″ |
| 200 + | 90.7 + | 3″-3¼″ |
What does a diamond tail do on a surfboard?
The balance of release and smoothness or continuity depends on how rounded the corners are. Diamond tails: A blend of round pin and squash with the corners moved forward a bit maintaining area, shortening the rail, finishing with a subtle point, and a very clean exit for a board with some tail vee.
What surfboard shape should I get?
If you are a beginner you should always look for a board which is wide, thick and at least three feet (90 centimeters) taller than you. Beginner surfers should always get a surfboard with extra flotation and stability to paddle for the wave (2.0lbs/L (0.9kg/L) weight to volume ratio).
What is the easiest surfboard to shape?
The Egg is the classic beginner shape, perfect for anyone looking to see what you have for surfing ability. It is shorter than a long board, somewhere in the range of 6 ft to 8.5 ft ins size, so it is easier for beginners to handle when paddling.
What kind of rails do you use on a surfboard?
Rail configurationis significant as it accomodates the other variables included in the design of any surfboard. Fuller – boxier rails are generally applied to shorter lower volume boards. Thinner – crowned, domed, tapered rails are generally applied to higher volume boards.
What’s the difference between wide and narrow tail surfboards?
A wider tail will deliver stability, flotation, speed, a loose feel, while a narrow tail will hold the line more. So, as a rule of thumb, let’s say that angular designs (for example, the square tail) will result in looser, sharper, more pivotal, and skatier turns.
What’s the difference between straight and curved surf boards?
With a longer, straighter rail line you are going to get more speed in a straight line, whereas when you have a curved rail, you will increase maneuverability. It is finding the happy balance of all these factors in surf board shapes that makes shaping the rail one of the most crucial elements in the shaping process.
What makes a good surfboard for tube riding?
Rails affect boards speed, planning ability, and tube riding ability. Thick rails, for example, will plane well and allow for a lot of speed. A hard, low rail has plenty of hold to the waves face, perfect for a good tube riding. Rocker is a term that refers to the curvature of the board.