A close look at the 'spherical' rocker on the Future Primitive Ghost 12 foot pintail.

This 'spherical' or 'circular arc' rocker has been one of the most successful rockers which we have used. Technically it's a slightly tweaked spherical rocker because the nose curve is slightly elliptical, the true spherical rocker is used on the Dragon board 13'9" and the Waikiki 17 footer, as well as on smaller boards like the Phantom ( 8'4" to 10 feet ) and the '7 of diamonds' 7' double ended roundtail.

All in all it's a great rocker. From this angle and at 12 feet it looks like a lot of curve, but looks in this case are deceptive: in fact it's the same curve which used at 10'6" on the Earl looks to be conservative or on the low side.

By the way a certain 'dark horse' by the name of Stretch is now using a spherical rocker exclusively for his big wave guns... bottom line is he's doing it because it works very well indeed, for reasons which will be explained, again.

Future Primitive Ghost 12'

Future Primitive Earl 10'6"

Linseed oiling alaias, and a peek at the Earl

Alaias at 6'5" and 6'7" plus a paipo for 'House of Aroha' in Napier.

The Earl 10'6" has been curing for a couple of weeks prior to final sanding and polishing, here the spherical or circular arc rocker can be seen to advantage.

A quiver of future Primitives: The 12 foot Ghost and the 10'6" Earl.

Power Fish, an old school parallel profile fish.

The Power Fish design has proven to be a favourite for amateur surfboard builders.

Earl 10'6": fin setting, fin chord position, leading edge tubercules, displacement tail.

Installation of the 12" Spitfire cuataway tubercule fin for the 10'6" Earl. A 2" deep slot (which fits the fin exactly) is made in the surfboard. It's a very sturdy method of attaching the fin as the fin becomes an integral part of the board. It also allows the fillet at the fin base to be the optimal size for water flow, as a structural fillet isn't required.

Checking that the elliptical planform planar foil is set 'plumb'.

Here the smooth relatively even curve produced by the 50/50 position of  the chord or thickest part of the fin can be seen. A 50/50 foil gives a more accurate response to turning and trimming input from the rider than the commonly used foil sections which have their chord positions further forward. Moving the chord position aft also reduces drag, and even though the angle of attack capability of the fin is somewhat reduced, this is overcome via a slightly thicker foil and leading edge tubercules. This fin has proven itself to be a truly outstanding performer without leading edge tubercules, and promises to be even better with them added.

Prior to adding the 4mm diameter filet at the fin base, the excess epoxy and paulownia dust marine glue is carefully scraped away. Later a bead of clear resin will be used to make the fillet, the surface tension of the resin making a perfect half round fillet without any hand shaping. 

The Earl's torpedo like parallel profile displacement tail, a concept thankfully not yet understood by the surfing world at large who continue to think that the term 'displacement' applies only to a class of outdated thin railed slightly convex bottomed boards known erroneously as 'displacement hulls'.  The great functional beauty and subtleties of the displacement tail are known only to a few, it's a taste acquired only by experience.

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The oblique plank lines suggest water flow... 

13 footer Hikoi ride report from Mr X in Hawaii

 Mr X reports in after his first ride on the 13 footer:

Roy, The board was very interesting to say the least. It felt alive in the water with all of the twang that wood produces. Caught waves effortlessly ...and took the drops with ease. I surfed the waves as long as possibly could. Would be nice at a Mexican point break.

I  found myself venturing off the central riding area a couple of times which I could feel some drag but when I went back to the sweet spot all was sweet. It's fast as in making sections but it doesn't feel fast as in out of control. 

The board is like no other. Kind of feels like bodysurfing in a way.

Earl 10'6" HWS pintail singlefin, resin coating

Resin coating the Earl 10'6"  HWS pintail singlefin.


The bottom of the surfboard appears to have planking which is fan like, this is not an illusion, in fact the planking is narrower on the far side of the board and wider on the side closest to the camera. This pleasing visual effect is due to the  paulownia logs being cut carefully to minimise waste. By tapering the planking to suit the log 20% more usable wood was obtained.

The bottom has a single concave through the middle of the board starting about 15 inches back from the nose and diminishing a similar distance from the tail, a deep concave isn't needed as the span efficiency of the 27 inch wide hull is already high, so we've applied 1/8" at the deepest point. The concave was laminated into the board using our usual method.

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Surfboard balance: an introduction.

A central riding position gives perfect balance, as Tom Blake shows here.

A true sweet spot is only possible with correct balance.

Balanced surfing is smoother, less obtrusive, more efficient, and feels better. It requires a surfboard which is designed to ridden from a natural, centrally located fulcrum.