Ocean Kneeboard bottoms

[Surfdad]

I've been doing some research and holding some dialog on the designs of Ocean Kneeboard bottoms. This picture is of the bottom of a board called a 'Jet Bottom'. I can't even imagine what it would be like to glass this, but...for your viewing pleasure:

[Surfdad]

In the ocean, the kneeboarders can't move around on the boards, or pump them and so they REALLY need the boards to be exceptionally fast. Also, these boards are turned more from the middle, rather than off the tail like surfboards.

From what I've read, the bottom design, creates a laminar flow that causes the water to flow faster and also doesn't cause the board to "stick" to the surface like a standard surfboard.

I know it's wild looking, but I think this sort of shape might provide a better bottom design for a performance wakesurfer.

Now...if I can just figure out how to glass it!!!!!!!

[Matt Garcia]

Wow never seen anything like, very exotic looking.

[Coach]

It looks like a black widow with some extra long and extra legs.

[lba_dillon]

Yeah I would have to say that is very interesting!!!! What is the brand name on that??????? And I wonder who it would be on a nice 6am run with GLASS water!!!!! Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[NICKYPOO]

Oh wow man. That is quite a piece. How did they come up with that "shape"? Looks like some type of CAD driven CNC process.

[Moki]

Beautiful board, I would be tempted to hang it on my wall for art...

[Surfdad]

That board was shaped in Australia. I'm not an expert in them, but my understanding is that virtually all of the ocean kneeboards have some type of bottom contour. I wouldn't be surprized if all the carving was done via cnc and surfcad...but did you notice Nick, that it's not symetrical? That black line in the back is the lockbox fin box, which is on the centerline.
The contours are not quite the same on either side. I wonder if that is programmed into the CNC? How would anyone ever determine the optimal placing of the contours if they were asymetrical to the centerline.

I think I like the idea of randomly placed countours. I can do random

[lba_dillon]

That board was shaped in Australia. I'm not an expert in them, but my understanding is that virtually all of the ocean kneeboards have some type of bottom contour. I wouldn't be surprized if all the carving was done via cnc and surfcad...but did you notice Nick, that it's not symetrical? That black line in the back is the lockbox fin box, which is on the centerline.
The contours are not quite the same on either side. I wonder if that is programmed into the CNC? How would anyone ever determine the optimal placing of the contours if they were asymetrical to the centerline.

I think I like the idea of randomly placed countours. I can do random

Yeah the contours of that board seem crazy! I would love to see one in person and I can only imagine the price!!!! I have never heard of surfcad.........is it similar to autocad or is it just a coincidence??????????? Either way it looks awesome and it would look cool hanging in your basement sports bar!!!!!

[Surfdad]

SurfCAD is exactly like autocad. Most modern shaping bays have the CNC machine that's controlled by a PC. The SurfCAD software allows the shaper to specify various "cuts" into the blank and then save that definition. What I always thought was interesting is that if you have the "perfect" board and your shaper is in La Jolla, CA - when you are in Fiji and snap a board your shaper can email the file to a shaper in Fiji who can then replicate the board and glass it in a few hours.

I was just remembering the very first kneeboard we had for behind the boat. It was directional and had dimples in the bottom to break up the water flow...I haven't seen anything like that in ages.

[Tequilasun]

Some of the newer knee boards still have the dimples.

That is a pretty interesting board design.

[Tequilasun]

You've probably seen this already Surfdad, but there are a bunch of pics here:

http://www.swaylocks.com/forum/gforu...=unread#unread

[NICKYPOO]

...but did you notice Nick, that it's not symetrical? That black line in the back is the lockbox fin box, which is on the centerline.
The contours are not quite the same on either side. I wonder if that is programmed into the CNC? How would anyone ever determine the optimal placing of the contours if they were asymetrical to the centerline.

No. It looks perfectly symetrical to me. The light coming from one side makes it look that way, but upon further review it looks to be.... perfectly....symetrical....to me. What areas do you speak of?

[Surfdad]

I am SSSOOOOOOOO not talking to you any more. That Swaylock thread is where I snitched the original photo...ok, so I'll talk to you this one last time.

[Tequilasun]

I am SSSOOOOOOOO not talking to you any more. That Swaylock thread is where I snitched the original photo...ok, so I'll talk to you this one last time.

Fine, I'm taking my ball and going home.