Tails..

[Jenks]

Whats the difference between a smooth rail to swallow tail, and the stepped in rail design (smooth rail, then it goes in, then smooth, then goes in) to swallow tail?

Wing Swallow and normal swallow?

 

[TeamScam]

I'm still trying to find out the difference between a squash and the swallows everyone calls a swallow tail you see on all the boards the last 5 years. I know the difference between a pin and what they used to call a swallow tail, but these swallows lately are just squash tails from where I can tell, and the whole bump/double bump thing? Who knows? Original Tim has always seemed to have the required insight to questions like this, but I think I'll always prefer a regular squash and variate(slightly) from that as needed. Sorry I had nothing meaningful to add other than my opinion, and I could've just said "top" because I'm curious to be enlightened as to the error of my ways here, being the drunken old grasshopper I am.

So what is up with that?

Anyone?

 

[Jenks]

LOL.

See here.

Here is an example of the stepped down swallow tail. Any added benifit, different feel, etc from this shape?

 

[Waldo]

Wow, Jenks...nice 70's design reference there buddy! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

In my humble experience:
The wing swallow tail you showed is designed to maintain width in the center, then "step" down to a narrow tail section for control. Bumps/wings on the rail create a pivot point to help in abrupt turns.

And Team, yeah, the swallows we see now seem to be mostly just squashtails with the center notched out slightly. They're nowhere near as dramatic as the swallows of old, but I can see where they might still give a slightly more positive bite than a regular squashtail.

Looking forward to further input from those with greater design experience than me. Maybe some of the friendly guys from that other BB will add something constructive. Do they make swallowtail mats? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[Hump]

I used to just hate it when a swallow with wings would squash my tail back in the 70's.
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

 

[daave]

if a swallow tail has wings, its just a design technique to drawn in the tail a bit, while maintaining more width up front. suposedly quicker turning. on my little fish its a double wing, i've had both though, and i just get a little more release with the added edge. a bump squash or bump swallow is just a more subtle version of this concept, and you'll see it on most of the new shortboards