GRAPE BOARDS

Finished boards will be on average 5/16” to 3/8” shorter and 1/32” to 1/16” less wide.

Ideal excellent rider weight for good waves is 20 pounds less than max weight. However there are no rules.

PRO SHAPE

Grape Standard Rocker

Skimboards made with this rocker are best described as fast and smooth. These boards are great for all riders and skimming conditions. They have enough nose rocker to make it from the sand to the water without submerging and low enough entry rocker to be very fast down the line. The entry rocker smoothly blends deep into the tail. The way the entry rocker blends into the transitional rocker and feeds to the nearly flat tail rocker translates to speed and drive off the tail going out to the wave, fast smooth sweeping turns, and speed down the line.

Grape Team Rocker

Skimboards made with this rocker are best described as quick and responsive. Most of our team prefers this rocker. This rocker has nearly the same nose and entry rocker as the “Grape Standard Rocker.” However there is a hair more curve in the transitional rocker that feeds into a little bit of tail rocker. The added curve makes the skimboards with the “Grape Team Rocker” more sensitive and responsive to the riders movements. These boards make tighter radius turns on rail and fit better into the curvature of a wave. They have more “poop” for airs and tricks, ride backwards easier without pearling the tail, and have more control on large waves. However the added responsiveness of these boards comes at a price because  the little bit of tail rocker makes these boards not quite as fast skimming straight out to a wave compared to a like board with the Grape Standard rocker.

Skimboard Flex

The skimboard flex is crucial to how the board performs and feels under your feet. A skimboard that is flexy or soft may help initiate a turn but there is not a lot of return. A board that is soft generally speaking, spills a lot of power you put into a turn and has slow reaction time. A soft board may also wash out on turns. A crisp rebound is what you are looking for. As you weight a board into a turn or when pumping the energy is being stored up. So as you follow through on your arc and start to unweight, the power of the wave and your energy should flow together. You should feel a launch out of the board. A board can also be too stiff and offer no feel or rebound. Flex also should be at the right place on the board. A firm mid section that has a progressive flex pattern toward the tip of the nose and towards the tip of the tail is ideal. The spring effect out the tail is modified with the foil (thickness flow) that is tailored for the individual rider and the riding conditions. The use of carbon fiber stiffens the skimboard and provides a much quicker return to the power you put into a turn. I do not recommend carbon boards for riders under 100 pounds. Carbon makes the skimboards overly stiff for these younger riders.

E-glass vs. S-glass

E-glass is the standard fiberglass that the surfboard and skimboard industry uses. Compared to E-glass, S-glass provides about 40% higher tensile and flexural strengths, and 10 to 20% compressive strength and flexural modulus, and greater abrasion resistance.

Outline

The outline needs to be married to the rocker and the flex and work together as a system of complementing qualities.

Rails (top)

I am a fan of the radius down rail. This rail is easy to shape and is the strongest. The radius rail offers a smooth ride and is a perfect compromise between the two extremes. With the 3/4” blank it is by far the best choice for all around skimming. Boxy rails hold more foam volume and offer more float. The added volume is better for airs. However they are not as sleek and water  that comes in contact with the top part of the rail causes added fricton and can cause the board to slow down. And  the less The added volume in the foam can cause a lack of bite in t lip of a wave and can cause the board to slide out.  The added foam can push the board out of the lip cause the board to slide out on large fast waves. A sharp deeply drawn in top rail has less float is the weakest rail design, will cause the board to dive during low speed turns, and wants to sink. It is also very scary when it hits you. However if you are going really fast down the line on a big steep wave this rail works best at holding the line. Not recommend for rider who eat meat or more then once a day. All Grape skimboards come with the radius down rail.

Rails (bottom)

The way the bottom rail is finished is the icing on the cake, the gravy on the turkey dinner. It can make or break a surfboard or skimboard. How the bottom rail is finish sanded changes the rough diamond into a Jewel. Mike Koozy and Timmy patterson taught me the way of the Samurie. If you like my boards thank God for giving me a good set of eyes and hands and my teachers for sharing bottom rail knowledge and of course Tex Haines. I digressed….