'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

A place for longboarders, eggers, fish riders... if alternative surfcraft is your game, here's the place to chat about it

Moderators: collnarra, PeepeelaPew, Butts, Shari, the kalakau kid, Forum Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
Moore
regular
Posts: 107
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:06 am
Location: The Shire

'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by Moore » Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:18 pm

A design that seemed to both a revelation and subsequently quite limiting in the late 60s - the 'Hot Generation' style 7-8' Vee bottom.

It seems to have be revisited more recently by a few guys; Paul Hutchinson in Oz, Ryan Lovelace and Brian Hilbers in the States and I'm wondering if these new versions really have that capability to be a heap of fun in small waves and a valid alternative to a log as some are claiming?

I'm thinking about getting an 8 footer to use in waisthigh slack beach break instead of a log.

Anyone riding a Vouch-style vee bottom or even have an original from way back that they still ride?

Any design tips?

User avatar
Cuttlefish
barnacle
Posts: 1166
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:06 am
Location: Out the back of Maroochydore

Re: 'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by Cuttlefish » Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:40 pm

Those hipster cats are years behind Moei.
Tried it, liked it, moved on.
7'6" Cord shaped by the well known Chops while on a visit here.
Sure you've seen this one over on Magic Seaweed a while back but I'll post it up again.
This board paddled me into waves neck and neck with the 9' brigade.
Loved the kick stall turns and its speed down the line.
A joy to ride in small beach breaks or small point waves.
Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Pig planshape really helped its wave catching ease.
Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Only a rat can win the rat race.

User avatar
Moore
regular
Posts: 107
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:06 am
Location: The Shire

Re: 'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by Moore » Fri Jun 22, 2012 9:24 pm

Hey Cuttle,
Yes, I remember seeing that now. Chops is the man who was right there amongst it 1st time around eh? It's a nice looking board for sure...

Weirdly, even though 'alternative' designs are fairly prevalent in the UK, this kind if thing is fairly uncommon for some reason.

Nice to know it let you sit with the mal crew and still get waves. I'm hoping that it will e the kind of board that motivates me to still go in the sea, midsummer, crowded and mushy junk.

What fin did you run on the Chops?

User avatar
Cuttlefish
barnacle
Posts: 1166
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:06 am
Location: Out the back of Maroochydore

Re: 'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by Cuttlefish » Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:28 am

The fin was glassed on and was at least 8"s.
The first rocker shot is deceiving by the way.
That board paddled very, very well.
Its one of the best paddling boards I've ever owned.
Had a concave in the nose then into belly and into the V.
We laid it side by side with a McTavish V bottom and it was very similar though not quite as extreme on the V.
Another board that should still be in my garage.
:roll:
Only a rat can win the rat race.

Beanpole
That's Not Believable
Posts: 68222
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2005 8:21 am
Location: Button Factory

Re: 'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by Beanpole » Sat Jun 23, 2012 8:56 am

Ran into a mate of mine at Avoca a few years ago who had a really good example of an original V Bottom with a huge flexy fin. Square nose and tail. Kind of door shaped. Had a go on it and you could see the potential for a solid bottom turn and lots of projection but the rolled bottom and bladey rails tended to let you down as you came out of your turn. I would have liked to have ridden it for a few days.
You could see how it could be revamped into a more functional design quite easily but also why it was a transition shape.
Put your big boy pants on
I mean, tastebuds? WGAF?

RichQ
regular
Posts: 208
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:04 pm

Re: 'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by RichQ » Sat Jun 23, 2012 12:46 pm

CHOPS!!!! King Chopper, the King of St Agnes!! peeeeeTAAA!!
Frocken Legend, worked for him for 6 months back in 95... hilarious.

sgo
newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:18 pm

Re: 'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by sgo » Tue Feb 12, 2013 6:33 pm

Might be a bit late but I've just found this site and post.
I ride an 8ft X 23 1/2" x 3 1/2" thick vee bottom.
Inspired by the old George Rice models.
Thicker rails, heaps of vee from nil at nose to max at fin. Has centre fin with two small side fins.
Great board from under knee high to shoulder high.
Heaps of bouyancy and a lot less board waving out in front of you compared to a longer traditional mal, just lean on that outside rail/back corner and the vee brings it around. :-D-:

User avatar
WANDERER
Owl status
Posts: 3903
Joined: Tue May 11, 2004 9:25 am

Re: 'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by WANDERER » Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:47 am

Yeah, I'd like to give one of these a try, I've seen quite a few popping around the place.

sgo
newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:18 pm

Re: 'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by sgo » Wed Feb 13, 2013 4:08 pm

I'd recommend trying a modern version, I have old Wallace & George Rice boards and they feel like dogs these days :(
I guess that's evolution.

User avatar
Morgan The Moon
Local
Posts: 601
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2004 11:52 am
Location: Central Coast

Re: 'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by Morgan The Moon » Wed Feb 13, 2013 4:40 pm

WANDERER wrote:Yeah, I'd like to give one of these a try, I've seen quite a few popping around the place.
Hey Wanderer,

Adam from Imprint (http://imprintsurfboards.tumblr.com/hull) might be coming along to the next CCMB club day. He's been making hulls and I had a go of one last month. Needs a different approach, way different to what I'm used to and a bit of an eye opener (I sucked). Have a chat with him at Lakes, he's a good fella.

Beanpole
That's Not Believable
Posts: 68222
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2005 8:21 am
Location: Button Factory

Re: 'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by Beanpole » Wed Feb 13, 2013 7:19 pm

After watching some recent footage of transboards I almost started getting interested. Those forward fins are still a bit of a questionmark for me however.

Do you think Westerie would rip on a trans shape?
Trannies all round.
Put your big boy pants on
I mean, tastebuds? WGAF?

User avatar
WANDERER
Owl status
Posts: 3903
Joined: Tue May 11, 2004 9:25 am

Re: 'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by WANDERER » Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:25 am

Morgan The Moon wrote:
WANDERER wrote:Yeah, I'd like to give one of these a try, I've seen quite a few popping around the place.
Hey Wanderer,

Adam from Imprint (http://imprintsurfboards.tumblr.com/hull) might be coming along to the next CCMB club day. He's been making hulls and I had a go of one last month. Needs a different approach, way different to what I'm used to and a bit of an eye opener (I sucked). Have a chat with him at Lakes, he's a good fella.
Nice. I enjoy different approaches, makes things interesting, surfing can get stale if you ride the same thing every day.
Also, do I know you MTM? I mean have we met or are you someone I already know and I just haven't made the connection??

User avatar
Morgan The Moon
Local
Posts: 601
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2004 11:52 am
Location: Central Coast

Re: 'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by Morgan The Moon » Thu Feb 14, 2013 12:37 pm

CCMB + BBQ + Avoca = MTM

User avatar
WANDERER
Owl status
Posts: 3903
Joined: Tue May 11, 2004 9:25 am

Re: 'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by WANDERER » Thu Feb 14, 2013 1:17 pm

Aaaahhh.

Got it.

User avatar
Cpt.Caveman
barnacle
Posts: 1594
Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2004 9:13 am
Location: Sydney - Everywhere and nowhere.

Re: 'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by Cpt.Caveman » Thu Feb 21, 2013 12:48 pm

They look mighty stylish and fast when guys like Alex Knost surf them, but by god they look like they're about to break their back every turn.

Maybe a good hit of ether will do well for your surfing style with one of these, ala Fear and Loathing.
Davros wrote:Ego saved - surfing experience rubbish.

Roy_Stewart
barnacle
Posts: 1540
Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:39 pm

Re: 'Transistional era' midlength Vee Bottoms

Post by Roy_Stewart » Thu Feb 21, 2013 2:09 pm

sgo wrote:

I guess that's evolution.
No it's intelligent design.... creationism if you like.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests