I couldn't say it any better...

[kevin]

than how SMOKIN ROCK said in a recent post about how "true fish designs tombstone like a mo-fo ".
I'm about to finish a 5'5" twin fin fish. All I need to do is glass on a leash attachment and it's ready for the Big Sur Gathering. It's a copy of a copy that I've used for the last 5 years or so,and I'm comfortable with the handling etc. except for the fact that it tombstones like a ...well, like a MO-FO!!!!!

I'm thinking of a different spot to attach a leash. The standard spot is in the crotch of the swallow tail. I'm thinking of moving it to the right swallow on the edge. Can I avoid the tombstoning by moving the leash point somewhere else?

I've included pics of the new board. It's has as much nose rocker as I could shape, and then I flex the nose another inch when I glass my first bottom lam. It's got 5 1/2" of nose rocker. I like some rocker due to the late entry shore pounds that I find myself surfing a lot. The bottom is 2x2 CF twill with 6 oz. layer of fiberglass. The deck is 2 layers of 6oz with another layer as a 3/4 deck patch, so 18oz. are below my knees. Again for the late entry shore pounds. The pointed ends off the swallows have been rounded off due to a near miss with one eyeball , but that's another story. I don't notice the difference that much with the different swallow. But all in all this particular board does have a tendency to tombstone, which makes recovery a little drawn out, to say the least.









Thanks, Kevin

[kage]

what is tombstoning?

[Jon Manss]

Good question Kage

[Bud]

"Tomb Stoning" is when the nose of your board points up out of the water while the tail is dug in deep as you are held fast at the end of your taughtly stretched leash.
It can be a nightmare when you are caught inside for the rest of the set.
The quickest way out of the situation is to swim towards your board. This isn't always possible.

Putting the leash on one swallow tail or the other is a solution.

It can happen with any tail type.
Swallow tails are prone to the problem.

Not a big enough problem for me to stop making swallow tails though!

[Rob]

... I've included pics of the new board. It's has as much nose rocker as I could shape, and then I flex the nose another inch when I glass my first bottom lam. It's got 5 1/2" of nose rocker. I like some rocker due to the late entry shore pounds that I find myself surfing a lot. The bottom is 2x2 CF twill with 6 oz. layer of fiberglass. The deck is 2 layers of 6oz with another layer as a 3/4 deck patch, so 18oz. are below my knees. Again for the late entry shore pounds. The pointed ends off the swallows have been rounded off due to a near miss with one eyeball , but that's another story. I don't notice the difference that much with the different swallow. But all in all this particular board does have a tendency to tombstone, which makes recovery a little drawn out, to say the least.

Hey, I like yer Fishy approach!

How much tail rocker, if any?

TIA

[surfhorn]

In the 'old' days when leashes first came upon the scene, after your board 'tombstoned' and you pulled it back, one could expect to find a big gash in your rail with the leash pulled clean through to the stringer. That was before rail savers and urethane leashes were invented.

Nothing quite like getting stuck inside Moss on a big winter day and finding your board pointing skyward with your leg and leash stretched out at maximum length.

[Smokin Rock]

...

[Jon Manss]

OK, Now I know what Tomstoning is and if I ever get out in waves that make my board and me tomstone it will be the last.

[Jon Manss]

And don't listen to Dan he's full of , well never mind.

[fooj]

Jon Manss, wouldn't it be neat to have your first tombstoning experience happen on the North Shore? It could very easily happpen. Hope you can make it out there in Dec/Jan.

[hart]

neat isn't quite the appropriate word...

sooo..does that mean we shouldn't take a fish to the North Shore? In reality no..but then..

we could just do what Matty Gallagher does (in World Title Open Finals) and NOT wear a legrope..



to each, their own.

hart

[DrStrange]

Don't know for sure but seems rope attached toward outside of one of the tails should help lessen tombstoning a lot; water pressure should turn board edgewise and release...at least as long as the leash doesn't get caught in the crotch of the tail.

[Beeline2.0]

..

[Bud]

Yes not wearing a leash is a good option.

Some people don't use them at Sunset or Laniakea.
You can loose your board that way though........I mean gone for good, lost at sea!

Many people don't wear leashes at Pipeline. It's very close to the beach and you need to get out of trouble spots ASAP. Tombstoning could add time in the impact zone you don't want. And at Pipe, with or without a leash there are no guarentees.



But there have been many instances where the "tombstoning" board was the only thing that allerted others of a surfer in distress. :shock:

But at places with rock lined shores it's a good idea....... if you value your board at all.

[red]

I had some interesting experiences in 2' deep water at Timae in Tahiti with the board tombstoning. Had to lay back and let the rip sweep me off the side of the reef. Then paddle like all **** to scratch under the lip of the next couple!

I have great memories of Matt G on the same day standing in kneedeep water with his board tombstoning - and a wall of white water approaching. Next wave he got the leash around a piece of reef and had to snap it to avoid getting even more worked. Entertained about 6 of us on the beach he did. Luckily he got away with only a few cuts.

Does a longer leash help the board release quicker?