I've just ordered a new board.
Originally it was going to be an 11' glider gun thing. It was never meant to be a glider for small waves, but definitely not a true gun for massive waves. 1-12 feet. Little reef runners through to a few open ocean cloud break bombies.
However, I've been talked into making it 12'. "If you are going 11' go 12' otherwise you will always wonder how a 12' would go." And, "Want an 11'6"? It's not like there will be much difference between an 11' and 11'6. And if you are going 11'6 why don't you just go 12'."
But, because I suffer from buyers remorse, now I am overthinking it. Is there actually much difference between an 11 and 12 foot board?
Also, glassing.I'm think 6+6 deck and 6+4 bottom. I've had double 6 top and bottom with a gloss and polish on 9'6 boards and they are really heavy boards. There won't be a gloss and polish on this one, but am I making a mistake going a little lighter on the glass?
I've ridden 12 foot gliders I found it to be too much board to handle in the water hence I ride a 11 footer, nothing wrong with weight on a glider once the momentum kicks in the speed is on your not going vertical on these lengths.
I have a 12' Munoz in the old surftech construction, and an 11' Munoz in the new construction.
Given the difference in construction and weight, it's kinda apples to oranges... or at least apples to pears.
The 11' is certainly more nimble than the 12', but the 12' is much more nimble than you'd think.
I enjoy having both. If I could only keep one board out of my quiver, it'd be my 12', but I ride the 11' more often.
It's gonna come down to shape and fins. I ride my 12' as a 2+1 set-up, with a 7.5" centre fin. It really doesn't like bigger fins.
I agree with your shaper, if you went 11' and loved it, you'd always wonder how the 12' would go.
That said, once you get on the 12', you'll always wonder how an 11' would go.
Two pieces of advice:
1) start saving for the follow up 11'
2) once you've got your hands on the 12', order up a custom bag from Surf Aids in Byron. With those lengths, you'll find every door frame etc with the nose and/or tail.
Yeah 12" is a big board and hard for one board to do everything.
I'm yet to try my big bros Munoz, still rehabbing my shoulder from August Snowboarding 
Re weight, look at option of epoxy board if your shaper does them.
Or laminate with S glass which is a little more expensive but a lot stronger.
With S glass you could go 6 + 4 on deck and 2 x 4 oz on bottom 
Weight is a killer in all but knee high waves where it gives momentum.
These big boards go well in a straight line and the heavier they are the harder to change direction.
Just the size and normal 2x6 and 1x6 is enough.imo for these lengths.
I once owned a 12/2 Wegener which was a bugA to store without a garage.3x6 and 2x6 glass.HEAVY
Wider SUPs used as standsUPs are just as good as these glide things.
If you want a real Gun...Pizel Paddillac or Webster DesertStorm.
Awesome guys. Thanks for the feedback.
Macaha - that's what I'm worried about.
Damned67 - cheers. I was going to ask about custom board bags and yku were already there.
515 - he does them, but I would have to source my own blank.
wavemaniac - I have three proper 9'6 guns. Yahoo 2+1, Tom Hoye Precision Equip Claw, Z Shapes Gun. I emailed about a Desert Storm a few years back but shipping was exhorbitant. I know a few guys who have smaller DS's and they look the bomb. This board is more for the waves I will surf the 9'6's on when it's big. So for biggish not quite maxing out but a bit fuller, and then our little bay runners (knee to head high) in winter - theres too many good young loggers on 9-10 foot logs. ??
My 11' x 24" x 4" is glassed with 2 x 6oz plus 4oz knee pad on the deck, and 1 x 6oz plus fin patch on the bottom. It weighs 11.5kg, which makes it unpleasant to carry to the water. It's a pointy nose, similar to a Takayama shape, and paddles through the break effortlessly. Needs some grunt to get it going though.
With the board bag, go the 10 mm over the 5 mm. Nothing wrong with the 5 mm, but for my 12' I think the 10 mm was only about $30 more (or thereabouts), and worth every cent. Also consider the zipper length. Again, not much extra for longer zippers, if thats the way you want to go.
One thing I've noticed about the two Munoz's I own - may not be specific to gliders, per se, but certainly to the Munoz's in my experience. They'll catch anything. Especially, my 12'. Hell, I could fart in the water and ride the bubble. Nonetheless, they need some speed to boogie, like Beerdead said. No grunt, no fun. Based off my GPS watch, if I'm only going 10-12 kph on a slow roller, they're dogs. Once I get up past say 17 kph (overly specific, I know), that's when they really open up and start to boogie.
I've often wondered if that's where gliders sometimes get a bad wrap? If the waves are so crap that your only option is a glider, then it might not perform as you hope? (Again, like Beerdead said).
But for what you're chasing, larger fuller waves and knee to head high runners (particularly waist to head high), I reckon you'll have an absolute blast.
And as noted, getting them to and from the water can be a workout on their own. Somewhere like Currumbin, I'll opt for the short walk and long paddle over long walk and short paddle, but damn can they paddle. Speaking of Currumbin, I've had some awesome sessions on the 12' sitting wide towards Lacey's with the SUPs. I can sit further out, and be on my feet before the SUPs even get a decent paddle in. There's something intrinsically rewarding about turning the tables on the SUPs and getting the wave before them!
I've got a reasonably excessive quiver of boards: 9', 9'2', 9'6", 9'8", 2x 10', 10'1, 10'3", 11' and 12', and like I said earlier in the thread, if I could only keep one, it'd be my 12' even though I don't surf it much anymore. "If your 12' is your favourite, why don't you surf it more?" I hear you ask.... It's so fun and easy to surf, that if I spend too long surfing it, stepping back down to one of my go-to 10ish footers feels like a challenge.
I'm looking forward to reading the report of your first surf once you get your hands on it.
Cheers!
Select to expand quotethedrip said..
Awesome guys. Thanks for the feedback.
Macaha - that's what I'm worried about.
Damned67 - cheers. I was going to ask about custom board bags and yku were already there.
515 - he does them, but I would have to source my own blank.
wavemaniac - I have three proper 9'6 guns. Yahoo 2+1, Tom Hoye Precision Equip Claw, Z Shapes Gun. I emailed about a Desert Storm a few years back but shipping was exhorbitant. I know a few guys who have smaller DS's and they look the bomb. This board is more for the waves I will surf the 9'6's on when it's big. So for biggish not quite maxing out but a bit fuller, and then our little bay runners (knee to head high) in winter - theres too many good young loggers on 9-10 foot logs. ??
DS stock shapes are only 3-4 hours away for me but I have a 9/6 Padillac plus plenty of 8..8/6 and 9/0 differing shapes to handle the grunt.
If you lived on the RIGHT(look at the map) side of the island, then they are easily accessible.lol
Select to expand quotethedrip said..
Mmmmm.maybe I need two.
No question about that!
Select to expand quote
damned67 said..thedrip said..
Mmmmm.maybe I need two.
No question about that!
It's your fault!
I'm getting two.
Down at my local watching a junky3 ft full tide situation,there was one standout,he was riding a long glider ,from out the back to step off's at the beach.As on older surfer with over 5 decades in the water on every style of surfboard along the way,it was a pleasure to watch a minimalist approach to surfing,the way he /the board linked sections flowed across flat bits,going left then right, the only thing that stopped the flow was the sand,bringing back fond memories of doing the same on my 11.2 tak prince
Select to expand quotejustaddwater said..
Down at my local watching a junky3 ft full tide situation,there was one standout,he was riding a long glider ,from out the back to step off's at the beach.As on older surfer with over 5 decades in the water on every style of surfboard along the way,it was a pleasure to watch a minimalist approach to surfing,the way he /the board linked sections flowed across flat bits,going left then right, the only thing that stopped the flow was the sand,bringing back fond memories of doing the same on my 11.2 tak prince
Yes that's what these boards are made for, yes small clean point waves were you wouldn't go out but on these boards you have seriously the best fun and as you posted long long rides. A mate said to me the other day , that thing was going with or without you they are that fast. Surfed it in junk and they just glide through all the bumps awesome must have in the quiver boards Stoked for you the drip
Select to expand quotethedrip said..
It's your fault!
I'm getting two.
Lucky Man!
This way you can then sell the one you like least.... but my guess is that you'll keep both.
11'6 x 22 x 4.
Triple stringer. No gloss/polish as I got scared of the weight.
it's shaped. Awaiting spray and glassing. I tried to go with something different, but changed my mind and went back to yellow for my big boards. So bright yellow with red rails.
Select to expand quotedamned67 said..
Can't wait to see pics, and read a ride report!
Same same at 22 narrow ?
Select to expand quoteMacaha said..damned67 said..
Can't wait to see pics, and read a ride report!
Same same at 22 narrow ?
I think so. I might check that. It's a hand shape and it was done after I saw the design which was done on AKU. We then talked a few things through, which was largely me saying I had no idea, I'm not scared of foam and you do what you think and I trust the shaper.
So it got thicker than the AKU file I originally saw as a result of those discussions. I'm not sure if the width changed too. It may not have as the board is meant to go up the scale too.
Select to expand quoteMacaha said..damned67 said..
Can't wait to see pics, and read a ride report!
Same same at 22 narrow ?
Yup. 22. Hopefully ready late next week, then I have to figure out how to get it from NSW to WA.
Select to expand quotethedrip said..Macaha said..damned67 said..
Can't wait to see pics, and read a ride report!
Same same at 22 narrow ?
Yup. 22. Hopefully ready late next week, then I have to figure out how to get it from NSW to WA.
Oh ok you mite ask in the sup room mate I'm sure a heap of sup's have been freighted to WA
Select to expand quoteMacaha said..thedrip said..Macaha said..damned67 said..
Can't wait to see pics, and read a ride report!
Same same at 22 narrow ?
Yup. 22. Hopefully ready late next week, then I have to figure out how to get it from NSW to WA.
Oh ok you mite ask in the sup room mate I'm sure a heap of sup's have been freighted to WA
For Australia wide board freight The Kayak Courier, Richard Wikaire 0414 889 499
Top bloke, knows and cares about what he is carrying
Thanks guys for the leads on shipping. I've got one guy who may be able to help and I ll use yours if it falls through.
Just finalised the second glider gun thing - 12' x 24 x 3 1/4.
The first one is more a gun glider, this one is more a glider.
Select to expand quotethedrip said..
Thanks guys for the leads on shipping. I've got one guy who may be able to help and I ll use yours if it falls through.
Just finalised the second glider gun thing - 12' x 24 x 3 1/4.
The first one is more a gun glider, this one is more a glider.
Look forward to seeing the end results 
Number one is done. This thing looks amazing. 11'6 x 4 x 22.
Rod from Liberty Foils has been amazing to deal with. Awesome bloke.
Now to get this puppy over to WA.I can't wait to take it for a run.
Select to expand quotebeerdead said..
Yeehah!!! Where did you get the blank for that?
It's one of the Burford 12'3 blanks. Rod got them to put in the triple stringers. He had them space them further apart than they normally do.
