Channel Bottom w/glass-on fins

[TRI FINS ARE DANGEROUS]

The channel bottom is such a fascinating niche board. Interest in them rises and falls but there are always a few surfers out there dedicated to the design. Our machine sander always grumbles about them but then does the most cherry job. I might have to order one for this winter.
I once went on a surf trip to Mainland Mexico with a friend who took only a 6'6" six channel gutter bottom and he just tore the heck out of the place on the thing.

 

[Grant]

I was eying one out in a shop window for a year I never had the cash to buy it, unfortunately its sold now. I think I will shape myself one. They always look so swweeeet
PS please hang around for some glassing tips when the time comes

 

[rice]

Love the spray on the channel sides. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/applause.gif" alt="" />

 

[rolliges]

I, too, have had much fun on a 6-channel board. Remember back in the eighties when they were supposed to add drive to a singlefin? Rabbit's boards in particular. And then stuck around for a while with twin fins and early Thrusters.

 

[pickles]

So what exactly does a channel bottom do? Is it just a funny kind of concave?

A guy at the CI shop told me he likes them on his MSGs to loosen them up <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

 

[TRI FINS ARE DANGEROUS]

Oh yeah, that board is Taylor Knox's for the upcoming J-Bay contest. He says they deliver a carvey spurt of speed off the bottom.

 

[dubstar]

7'0 single w/ channels

 

[R3W]

I traded emails with Stu Kenson about his channel bottoms. Said they work well in really clean waves but get squirrelly otherwise.

 

[luvtosurf77]

I am amazed yet again TFAD <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/applause.gif" alt="" />

 

[BryanLamb]

I too, have done the channel experiement and seem to prefer boards without channels to those who do have them. I'm a bigger surfer too, so that may have a bit to do with it. I also have a friend back east who swears by it, even in the mushy stuff. So...take that as you may.

 

[dk]

i have never used channels and are glad u posted this.

i saw a nice lime green one when at moonbase and asked jjr if he had any pics but he said he didnt. so im stoked to see a thread on such an interesting design.


what would this board be suited best for?....long glassy point breaks?

dk

 

[yeahdanny]

dk - tfad said it was for taylor knox at j-bay, so yeah. pointbreak f'sure.

 

[000]

nice board,. i always got chanels in the 80's. but i now i get concaves instead, no extra glasser $

 

[Makoman]

Thought I might share a few pics of channels with Excel and FCS...