Volume is so hot right now. But how important is it, really? Photo: Rusty Surfboards
Editor’s Note: This feature was made possible by our friends at Rusty Surfboards.
Right now, the big buzz around surfboards is volume. But how important is surfboard volume, really?
If you are a top competitive surfer you might, just might, be able to tell the difference in a half a liter. That’s a half a beer or a modest morning piss. An advanced surfer can probably feel a liter. And that’s on a short, low-volume board. If you’re not a top-level competitive surfer, I would suggest being a little more flexible. Sometimes I can hit both the volume and thickness, but more often than not you have to let me know which way to lean.
For shortboards, the multiple of your weight in liters is between 33 percent and 35 percent. The multiple comes from thousands of shortboards for average to advanced surfers. As the weight of the surfer goes up and the rider is reasonably fit, the multiple creeps up. If you surf less than three days a week, the multiple goes up. As the ability level decreases, the multiple increases. And as he/she gets older, the multiple increases significantly.
The Surfboard Volume Equation
For performance shortboards, the equation to find the correct literage for surfers in their prime is fairly simple. Take your weight in pounds, convert it to kilos (simply divide by 2.2), and multiply by .35 (35 percent).
Here’s an example:
Weight: 160 lbs.
Converted to kilos = 73 kilograms.
73 x .35 = 25.55 liters
Keep in mind that this is reference only and not an absolute. A surfer’s preference can differ, but it’s a good way to find a baseline. As the surfer’s skill level drops, the multiplier increases, as it does as you age. That’s just a fact. Using the same 160 pound/ 73 kg surfer, let’s adjust the multiplier for skill level:
Weight Range: 160 lbs / 73 kg.
Advanced surfer: Multiply by .35 = 25.55 liters.
Intermediate/Advanced surfer: Multiply by .40 = 29.2 liters
Intermediate surfer: Multiply by .50 = 36.5 liters
Intermediate/Beginner surfer: Multiply by .60 = 43.8 liters
Beginner surfer: Multiply by .70 = 51.1 liters
I get quite a few surfers who obsess on .2 to .4 of a liter. They read it on the internet. Forget it. You will not feel it. Half a liter? That is less than two percent. Get real. Your body weight fluctuates twice as much, percentage wise, throughout the day. The charts and tables are guidelines, not gospel. The shaper has to find a balance between the two. You need to choose between volume and thickness. Which number do you want your shaper to focus on?
There are many other things to also consider such as the type of foam, deck contour…flat, light crown, or very domed deck, width, rocker, bottom contours, and thickness flow, fin position, fin templates, fin construction, glassing schedule, type of cloth used, and weight. That’s really for the shaper to work out. Volume is a very small part of the equation.
People used to care more about the weight of their boards. Six pounds? Six-and-a-half pounds? That’s a 10 percent difference. Three liters on an average short board? That really affects your relative volume. Ultimately, subtle changes in these other design aspects will have a far greater impact than .2 of a liter. Even .5 liters or more.
Another thing to consider is how much using a computer program and machine affects volume. Does the computer/machine cut perfectly? No. There is a slight variance from cut to cut. As much as 5 percent, in fact. Does the computer program calculate the volume on the cut blank or the finished blank? It’s the cut blank. And since every shaper finishes slightly differently, the volume will be affected. When the blank gets finish shaped, it loses anywhere between .3 to .5 liters. Quite possibly more.
The true volume of a shaped blank, or a finished board can only be determined by a volume tank: submerge the blank or board in water and measure the displacement.
In short, if there’s a piece of advice surfers should heed when getting a board shaped it’s this: “Trust your shaper’s judgement.”
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