Cruiser-ish board help

[Biggreen]

A while back I scored a block of 1.5lb EPS from an outfit that was closing out. It's 11'8" long. Well here in a few weeks I'm going to do my yearly pilgrimage to St. Joseph Peninsula to hang on the beach with friends for a week. So I'm wanting to turn out some kind of cruiser-ish board. 11'6" long, and I guess 28" wide so others can paddle also. The only board in that range I have is an 11' Smooth all around board. I took the template and sharpened the nose a little, but when I checked the rocker it was 6.25" nose and 3.75" tail. If I'm just wanting a flat water cruiser those numbers seem a bit much. Could y'all help with some rocker and maybe rail suggestions. I've some rail ideas I want to try from my whitewater days, but the rocker escapes me. I'm not planning a displacement style board, just something that'll cruise. Help?

[TallDude]

That's about right for that type of board and length. You could go 3" in the tail and 5" in the nose, but probably not less than that.

[Biggreen]

Thanks TD. Yeah i kind of thought that say 5.25" nose and 3" tail might be where I need to be. I drew it out full size and it had a nice curve. Could I have the rocker flatter through the standing area for maybe better glide, or would that be counter productive?

[jrandy]

If a guy was working on an all-around something 9'-6" to 10', how low could the rockers go (to add some flat water glide) and still be OK surf-able for say 3-4 feet?

[Biggreen]

You know, jrandy, I wonder if you could rocker something like that more like a noserider. I've built a couple here recently and not only are they fun to surf, but mine cruises and glides great. So well in fact that I'm taking it along on my trip to Florida to also have along as a flatwater paddler for friends. I'd be curious if a staged rocker or just something with tail kick could fill your bill. Be interesting to see what thoughts our gallery might provide.

[TallDude]

An all around board with a low nose and tail rocker can paddle great. I'd keep it a continuous rocker. If there is small swells to flat it'll be fun.  Depending on how steep the 3' to 4' is, it could work fine, or be a pearl machine. You have to get used to the constant "wrap , wrap,  wrap" on the bottom of the board. Can get annoying after 3 or 4 miles.
If you flip the nose a little it will reduce the pearl effects but also slows the board down paddling in the flats. I've found putting extra tail rocker as stage won't help a big all arounder surf or turn much better.
Another thing to help the paddling is volume.  Keep it thicker throughout.
 

[jrandy]

3 to 4 feet is probably wishing on a star for this one...more like 75% flat water with some 1-2 foot short period chop/mush. Maybe keep the nose in the low 4's and drop the tail into the mid 3's?