Step deck

[cloclo]

I'd like to know what you think about step deck, it seems that we don't see that design in high performance board. 

[diesel]

The southpoint bonga board had a stepdeck and that board performed very well.

[surfcal]

Step-deck, or step-rail? two different things

[river]

Hey Bob what is the difference?  I thought they were the same too.  I think the s-rail works well on sup personally, however it does force you to stand with a narrower-less stable stance while paddling in parallel stance. 

[surfcal]

Hey River!
 I'm almost ready for my next order of paddles
 A step deck is an old throw back to the noseriding days.  It is where the deck is thinned out in the nose to allow for some flex while standing on the tip.  The idea was that as you added your weight to the nose the boards rocker would flex down to allow for a straighter rocker for better planeing.  A great example of a step deck is the Greg Noll 'Da Cat"
The step rail is indeed what the Bonga Perkins as well as the Walden has.  It allows for maxium thickness without domeing the deck yet steps down to a thinner rail for quicker and easier turning.  The board rails don't feel as boxie and cumbersome.  You also seem to feel like you are standing higher out of the water.

Check out the walden video here; http://www.surfindustries.com/surfboards/walden_SUP.php

[Scotty Mac]

I have been shaping a bit of a bevel in my boards to give a flat deck at the standing area. A bit like the Naish but more exagerated. Works well.

[paddledaddy]

I thought the goal of a step deck was to reduce the weight and bulk in the nose area to make the board more responsive to quicker turns. You get most of the advantage of a longer board with quicker shorter board swing weight. I had a Wave Riding Vehicles long board that did just that.

[Paddle-Plappe]

As boards are going shorter, volume at the tail is usefull. That's why I'm thinking about step rails for my next board to make.
There are already one or two thread about that:
Step rails vs. Full rails
Step Rail

[Sam Pa'e]

Aloha Scotty,
Cool board........I see you shaped in a "step rail". How does it surf, this board must rip.

I have been shaping a bit of a bevel in my boards to give a flat deck at the standing area. A bit like the Naish but more exagerated. Works well.

I also made a board that has a "step rail". It's my 10'-2"x 28"x 4" full nose/wing/stinger. It surfs awesome, trim wells, and surfs like a longboard......Enjoy

                                                 

[Scotty Mac]

Yep surfs sweet thanks Sam. I am into the step rail for atleast the chunky part of the middle on the board anyway. Its my favorite board at the moment. Hard to ride but sweet on the wave. 8'3" x 30 x 3.75. Got a 8'8" x 29 for more grunty waves on the drawing board. That one there is great in 4 foot and under. I need to lay off the pizza and beer. I guess you would shape in the rail like that again?
Regards,
Scotty

[loco4olas]

From a users perspective-I really liked the stepped deck on the Naish-although IMO their construction technique resulted in it being a week point at the deck line where the step flattens into the deck-resulting in the early cracking of my Naish deck.

Even more than the stepped deck on the Naish I like the concave deck on the C4 Sub Vector-although at only 170lbs-the rail on the Sub Vector felt a little too 'thick' to really bury into the wave face-prefer the more refined rails of the PSH boards.

So-if you could do a concave deck like the Sub V AND keep some volume BUT get a more refined rail-you'd be on the money IMO.

Hey Sam, the animated GIF of your board construction and then ride-is bloody GREAT!

[Sam Pa'e]

Hey Sam, the animated GIF of your board construction and then ride-is bloody GREAT!

Thanks loco....I'm starting to dig this animated GIF thing.........

Aloha.....Sam