COOPERFISH SURFBOARDS - The Online Source for Classic Surfboards

Q&A ARCHIVES LAST UPDATE 10/11/01
"THE DEVICE"

From: Jim Morris,Subject: NEW PROTOTYPE, Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2000 18:12:55 -0500.... Gene, How do the new prototype and the nose devil differ and or compare? From the photos it appears that the new prototype has a deep and long concave. Is there something different about the tail? From one photo the tail looks different but from other photos it looks fairly common..... ABOUT THE COMET: What is the greatest thickness you can get for a Comet? If I got one I would want at least 3 1/4" but prefer 3 1/2" to 3 5/8" and 8' long. My weight is 235' and I own the BLUE LOVE FOR A FLORIDIAN. Thanks Gene. Happy New Year. JIM MORRIS, Ponce Inlet, Florida

hi jim, the new model is called THE DEVICE. chris vail and i developed it. its plan shape has very parellel rails, the rocker is flatter overall and the board has a loggier look. the concave is deep and blended (nosedevil concave is beveled with an "s" configuation and there's more kick in the nose). on the Device the tail rocker comes off straighter and has a "u" shape if you look at it from the back. i have this tail on old 60's board i own and its fast, and nosedrides well. the Device has a ton of curve in the plan shape in the last foot of the tail. the fin is huge but works well with the tail curve. the final version(may 2001) will be glassed heavy. chris and i are very happy with the outcome. you have to like riding logs to appreciate this board.

for the comet, i use an 8'3" walker blank. thicker ones would take a much bigger blank and the outcome would be like a funshape, not a carver. i prefer to stay away from that sort of thing. i think 3 1/4 should be max. let me know what you think. have a happy new year, gene

FEEDBACK;

From: Sam Pavone,Subject: NEW DEVICE, Date: Wed, 12 Sept 2001 ......... Gene, I just got back from trying out my DEVICE that I picked up from you this weekend. I can't even begin to explain how much fun that board is. It made an average day in Ventura feel like perfect Malibu (which was probably where I should have been). The board worked perfect, it has great speed and holds a line perfectly. I really felt comfortable on the nose, especially knowing I had that fin holding me in. The added weight makes the board very predictable. If you like logs, this is the board for you!! Thanks for the PERFECT BOARD, Sam

thanks sam. heres a link to sam's board. SAM1196

"MELLO YELLO"

Subject: MYM question, Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2001 10:18:14 -0500.... I was interested in a MYM but not sure on the size (i.e. thickness) to get. I wiegh between 205 and 210. I really want a 10'. Could you help me out with what you would suggest? Also what type of rail is used on the MYM, is it a pinched 50/50? Would you please sum up the overall dimensions of the board you would suggest: nose, tail etc... Thanks, Paul V.

paul, the 10'mym is 23 1/2"x 3 1/4". 16 1/4" tail. 19" nose. rails are full and round (not pinched) in the middle, nose is thinned some but not a blade, tail edge is very hard and kind of thin. rocker is fairly flat thru the center with moderatly kicked nose and tail. bottom is dead flat with a bit of "v" in the tail area just in front of and at the fin, no roll or concave in the nose area (dead flat). stock walker foam(not "old man") which is floatier. double 8oz volan deck, single 8 volan bottom with a fin patch. it has a "hornet" fin @ 7 1/2". it's definately my best paddler/wave catcher. a forgiving board, not too edgy, and not as loggy as some of my other models. i can also make them up to 10'2" and wider and thicker.

From: "Thomas Bellwoar", Subject: Mellow Yellow Board, Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 11:17:54..... Gene- Met with Ed O'Brien this weekend and had a look at his MYM. Beautiful board. The bottom is just what I'm looking for in a new board - a hair of concave in the nose, flat in the middle and v in the tail. Loved the rails too - nice full 60/40 at the mid-section (If I looked at it right). The nose reminds me of my old weber performer. My only question is about the deck. I've never seen a deck like that - it almost looks like a subtle step-deck or a dome deck (like those old weber austrailas) - thick in the middle and tapered at both ends. How does this affect the way the board rides?

thomas, the high volume of foam is distributed so it floats well but doesn't ride like a boat. FYI, it's actually flat under the nose.

"COMET"

From: "Tony Lum", Subject:Comet Questions, Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 05:58:40...... Gene, I'd like to find out more about the dimensions you use on your Comet model. What is the thickness in the nose and tail? Where is the wide point located? What type of rails do you use? I'm trying to get a mental grasp on how this shape performs. How would you best describe the riding characteristics of this shape? Any additional information that you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your time. Keep up the great boards and website., Tony

tony, here's my best stab at a discription - the wide point is centered, it has a "s" rail without all the thickness in the back. kind of even flat rocker. the rail is thin/hard in the tail. kind of a thin rail overall, not extreme. the bottom has a little role in the middle, is flat at the tail with a little tail rocker. the 10 1/2" fin is either a flexfin (white) or standard foil. comets are edgy and seem to have good carving speed. it definately isn't an easy riding floaty funshape. i'm not much of a number guy myself so i'm not going to pull out the micrometer for the rest. maybe someone who has one will write in and send their impressions of how it rides. check the movies. i'll get more comets up there soon.

From: Kazuyoshi, Subject: COMET, Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 21:18:38 EDT...... Hello Gene, I have ridden COMET this week. I imagined sharp ride feeling, but I actually felt smooth ride feeling. As regards rail, bottom, tail, except a length, is COMET's shaping close to MELLOW YELLOW MODEL? When you will have a spare time, please tell me it. Best regards, Kazuyoshi

Kazuyoshi, i really can't compare the comets ride to any of my longboards but the comet is shaped is a lot like a small hornet. i used the hornet plan shape to come up with the comet curves. bottom contours are also a lot like the hornet, except for the hornets slight concave. but.... the comet is more of a "foil" than any of my longboards, the fin placement on the comet is forward at 8"(mym's @ 7.5", hornets @ 5 1/2"). that, along with the width with contributes to the "smooth ride". read the mello yello and the comet info on this page to make further comparisons.

From: redjello, Subject: Fins, Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2001............... Gene, I'd like to hear more about your Comet flex fins. What do the flex fins feel like compared to your stiff fins? Do you use the same size fin on all your Comet shapes? I'm curious as to how a 10.5" fin would work on a shorter board (6' and under). Finally, is there any chance that you'll be making fins for removable box systems? Your designs are amazing and it would be a real treat to give one of your fins a go.

thanks redjello (redjello?), comets all have the same size fin. flex is a personal preference, it gives you a little more "spring" out of the turns. the down side is you get less curve in the fin and they have less durability. i have a couple of "team" guys that have sub 6' comets w/ flex fins and swear by them . i really don't feel there's that much of a difference. the 10.5" fin is working out well on all size comets.

i don't sell box fins but i'll sell you a glass on (with board attatched) for about 600 bucks....best regards, gene

UPDATE: Try FIBRE GLAS FIN CO. in wilmington CA. they make cooperfish box fins with my blessing.

ANOTHER UPDATE: OOPS! FIBRE GLAS FIN CO is in torrance CA. (sorry larry)

"HORNET"

From: "Crance, Frank" Subject: Your Designs/Models, Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001...... Gene, I've been looking at a Hornet. What are the nose and tail dimensions of a stock 9'6"/9'8" Hornet? Is it sort of the "all around" board in the stable?

frank, ----heres the latest standard 9'6" hornet---nose about 18+", tail is 15+", the fin is 5 1/2" from the tail. it has a slight blended concave in the front 2/3's of the bottom with a moderate "roll" thru the middle to the fin, flat behind the fin with a hard thin edge. it also has a blended step deck and some foam is also removed on the deck in the tail area. it's 3 1/4" thick and foiled considerably to the rails and towards both the nose and tail. 23+" wide. the rails are moderately thin. rocker is even and moderate.

I ride one on a regular basis and here's my personal impressions(this will vary from person to person). i find them to be stable, and little edgy(something i prefer). fast noserides, not the type that slows down when on the tip. nice driving turns. good for most conditions, works good in bigger surf. they're very good all around but not necessarly my easiest rider. if cruising is your thing then the hornet isn't a good choice.

that's about the best that i can do. any cooperfish owners are welcome to send their personal impressions here about the perfomance of any model. be sure to include your serial# so i can reference the board.

From: "DAVID LIPP", Subject: STOKE, Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2001.. ........... Hey Gene, I finally got to ride the 9'7'' Hornet you made for me last year as I keep it with friends in San Diego. WHOA, was I stoked! It's been awhile since I surfed a full weight longboard as I usually ride a 9' performance Bonzer. I surfed a 9'6''Weber hatchetfin for many years and your board brought back great memories. I surfed the Hornet in Baja and the board did everything....faded sweet on the bottom turn, pulled into the pocket with speed, held in the wall, and then ripped cutbacks, and the occasional nose ride!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to get back to Cal. for another session. Thanks for the sweet board. Aloha, David Lipp

thanks for the input dave, it was a pleasure doing business with you. for your reference david's hornet is DL962.

"MISC."

From: From: "Art Leonard", Subject: cruiser, Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001......... Could you describe the difference between The Device and Nova as far as how they are each intended to ride? Which one is more of a cruiser? Also, under the Hornet section, it says the Hornet wouldn't be a good choice for a cruiser. What would? Thanks, Art Leonard

art, i really make the hornet with the idea of pushing it (driving, turning, noseriding). if cruising is your thing then you might lean toward the nova, its less edgy and would fit the bill better. the nova has no concave, the supernova has concave.

in comparison, the device is made to push hard especially in the noseriding dept. it's overall flatness adds to speed which isn't a normal trait in most noseriders, or at least this is my intention.

also, my easiest rider/wavecatcher(cruiser?) is the mello yello. it has stock walker foam for more buoyancy and a flatter area in the middle with a little more kick in the nose. it has plenty of foam volume.

NOTE: i never shape a board wit the idea of making a "cruiser". the word brings to mind a lack of performance. performance (traditional style) is important to me. just making a board that goes from here to there isn't what i'm after.

thanks for the good question art, sorry it took so long to get back to you. gene

From: Andrew Diengott, Subject: step deck, Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2001......... Hi, I've been an admirer of your boards and pure craftsmanship - damn those rails and are nice. Do you have a step deck model in your lineup? I'd love to see the Nose Devil or the Device outline with a step deck. Andrew

andrew, since thick noses aren't my thing many of my boards have blended steps. most novas, supernovas, and hornets have stepped noses. MYMs have very blended steps both nose and tail.

if i make a hornet or a supernova with a very deep concave then i tend not to step the deck (or step it less) because a lot foam has already been removed from the hull. overall foam distribution (balance) is an important factor in shaping. stepping the nose is an option to help attain balance.

the latest nosedevils and the device have smooth blended decks mainly due to the amount of concave in those models.

From: "Roy Chang", Subject: "V" Comet, Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2001 19:43:23..... Aloha Gene! I would like to learn more about your "V" Comet (Serial No. GC1092) in the boards 4 sale section. I am interested in the placement of the V panels and your method of shaping them. My first question is in regards to the transition from flat-bottom to V in the mid section of the board. Where does this transition begin? Does it occur in a straight line, perpendicular to the stringer? Or is there an angle to the beginning of the V panels? Finally, when shaping your V panels, what technique do you use to shape the outer edges of the panels closest to the rails? Do you make curved cuts following the outline curve of the board? Or straight cuts parallel to the stringer? Thank you for all your help.

hi roy, i use a planer, sureform and a sanding block to make "v". go to this website....www.swaylocks.com ....then go to "discussion" and ask your shaping question. you should get some good info. there are some shapers that frequent swaylocks who love to talk about their craft. thanks, gene

From: "Ignacio Solis - Los Telares", Subject: Question from Spain, Date: Mon, 21 May 2001........ Gene, I'm a devoted fan of your lines and you wouldn't believe how many people loves your work over here. I'm planning to build a longboard with very good noseriding capabilities. I want it only for small surf, and as I told you, very cruisin - noseriding oriented. I like the outline of the mellow yellow modelo, but i'd like you to tell me what could work better for me. I'm 34, and my weight is about 155 lb. I've been surfing since a teenager and on longboards like 5 years from now. Always on modern longboards, so I want a change to something different. I own a late sixties model and love the feeling. Thanks in advance for you help. Keep up that great job. Un saludo, Nacho

Nacho, if it's just for small waves then i'd personally go squaretail, heavier, and pretty flat rocker w/ concave for starters. there's so many different shapes and ideas to choose from that you'll have to just go with the features that appeal to you and see how it works. all my designs are inspired by the lines of different boards made between '66 and '68. studying the properties of noseriders from that era would be a good place to start if your looking for the feeling that you describe. gene

From: "Crance, Frank", Subject: Your Designs/Models, Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001...... Gene, Any way you could post a short (i.e., one or two sentence) summary of each of your designs? I'd really like to know the basic differences among, or theories behind or intended uses for, the different models. Your boards are really spectacular by the way--I salute your craftsmanship and originality. Thanks, Frank Crance

Frank, eventually the q&a page will be filled with that information. i'm answering one question at a time and posting it. then i'll be breaking the q&a page up by model. also, if you have a specific question be sure to ask. that will help me get the info posted. i tend to ramble otherwise. thanks for the support, gene

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