Ken Adgate talks about the trend of banana rockers inspired by Frank boards in this podcast. He also mentions the deck angle he uses. 2.2-2.6 degrees. This could also be expressed as a mast rake angle of 2.2-2.6. It's all the same.
My board is 2.2 degrees.
Horses for courses I guess, but I'm not sold on the banana shape for getting going on flat water with small or high aspect foils. If you're using swell to get going, then I guess it might help. In flat water flat rocker with a sharp release on the tail allows you to quickly get to a fast enough board speed that you can take off. Any rocker on the tail just feels draggy to me.
Select to expand quoteStretchy said..
Horses for courses I guess, but I'm not sold on the banana shape for getting going on flat water with small or high aspect foils. If you're using swell to get going, then I guess it might help. In flat water flat rocker with a sharp release on the tail allows you to quickly get to a fast enough board speed that you can take off. Any rocker on the tail just feels draggy to me.
It's increased board length that flips the script.
Select to expand quoteDWF said..Stretchy said..
Horses for courses I guess, but I'm not sold on the banana shape for getting going on flat water with small or high aspect foils. If you're using swell to get going, then I guess it might help. In flat water flat rocker with a sharp release on the tail allows you to quickly get to a fast enough board speed that you can take off. Any rocker on the tail just feels draggy to me.
It's increased board length that flips the script.
Agree, I have a Carver. 20" x 6'2", flat tail
great interview with Ken A above. He actually acknowledges the compromise on planing, but points to other advantages the rocker brings
Select to expand quoteStumbleweed said..BWalnut said..
It's just a skill for handling larger boards and learning how to manage your wing and pivot turn them if necessary. The sultan will take off better than the omen for sure. You need to use the wing to pivot the board direction correctly and also learn to flag the wing instead of letting it power you straight downwind in the wrong direction.
*edit* the Sultan wing is also pretty thick, which adds to the challenge IMO.
Can you please elaborate on, "...use the wing to pivot the board direction..." Thanks
Have you seen how a sup surfer will place more weight on the tail of their board and then use the paddle to pivot with the nose of the board in the air? It's similar to that but not so extreme.
