After years of being required to shape hundreds of prone paddling surf and open ocean rescue boards for “Control Products and Con Surfboards” of Venice California. The shaping skills of Steve Brom got refined to cut lots of foam, and keep long even design lines to a high standard of commercial quality.

 

As the years of this added up, legendary paddlers stopped into share stories or order boards, along with the local up and coming lifeguard paddling racers who wanted L.A. County’s guards to prevail in the National Counties Races and competitions. Steve was asked to translate their wishes and ideas into the next fastest boards on the water.

 

Ironman winner Dan Mathies, asked Steve to shape and build stock class 12 foot paddleboards for Pacific Paddleboards. Mike Newman of Baywatch fame, asked Steve to shape and build stock class paddleboards for “Hammerhead” paddleboards. Jack Linke asked Steve to shape his personal paddleboards with a “Laguna Paddleboards” label on his boards.

 

Mike Young, of California Paddleboards, ands three time Catalina crossing winner, asked Steve to build yet the hardest to shape racing paddleboards of all. And it was Mike Young who paddled the 18’ Channel crosser that they designed , from Catalina Island to Manhattan Beach in the legendary annual paddling event “the Catalina Classic” setting a new record-breaking time. This beat the 30-year-old record, set by the Iconic and legendary paddling lieutenant lifeguard “Tom Zahn”.

 

Mike and Steve made many racing paddleboards during that period in the shape and form of a “Waterman” style “Displacement” hull. These paddleboards were hands down, the hardest to shape accurately hand shaped time after time.

 

As sprint boards in the 12foot class they proved to be the fastest style in the water, compared to many of the more stable flatbottom shapes that many of the competitors were more comfortable racing.

 

These days, with thanks to the Stand-Up-Paddling competitive popularity, the prone paddleboard organized race, looks like it is

poised to have a resurgence like no other time in its history or development.

 

Materials and the techniques for making them, coupled with the “CAD”(computer aided design) programming, have allowed the shaper the option to scan a beloved proven racing hull, and in a half an hour of machine cutting time, recreate a shape that may have taken a master shaper 3 days or more to design, refine and fine tune. The craft at Surfengines have this kind of experience and history of development built into each one.

 

These race boards have a glide factor that is second to none. A balance and comfort zone that makes the long distance paddle easy on the paddling posture, and thanks to the thoughtful ergonomic design of the cockpit, paddling on the knees is just as much a pleasure as paddling laying down in the classic prone position.

 

These boards are outfitted with a soft durable comfortable neoprene pad, two inserts for a leash or tie downs and a Gortex pressure relief valve for heat management of the core on those summer days. Accessories on demand include, water bottle mounting fixture, “Go-Pro” hardware and compass mounts. Flatbottom paddleboards might want flush mounted fishing rod holders, bungee cord criss-cross gear holders or spear gun mounts. We will accessorize a new custom board to your exact specifications !

 

THE DISPLACEMENT HULL

The dynamics of our displacement style prone racing paddleboard is based on the design element of the wide point of the shape landing just forward of center. The exact center of mass of this shape also coincides with our wide point. Every inch in front of this point leads back into it. Every inch behind diminishes its wetted surface as it approaches a quiet exit at the tip of the tail.

 

So in other words the board is entry/exit … entry pressure and exit release, making for the fastest craft through the water in a straight line. This board has a small plumb bow, to cut through chop and ocean swells.

 

The low entry rocker basically parts the water that it encounters and as the boards volume increases as it approaches the paddlers position, only the amount of water displaced, is the result of the shape of the curve in the bottom, the weight of the paddler and the overall volume and weight of the board. Only the necessary amount of wetted surface is engaged making for the fastest shape possible!

 

The flow clears the paddler and the wide point and wetted pressure diminishes as that water passes away, out and off the sharp vertical tip of the tail, leaving no turbulence or signs of drag. The deck area in front of the cockpit has a peaked centerline, from the nose, dictating the thickness flow along the length of the board, but also as that thickest point allows the rest of the deck surface to slope downward and into outline and rails, which creates a “watershed” deck shape clearing any water that may splash across this area as turbulent conditions are encountered.

 

Also, this sloped deck shape, lowers the profile of the edges of the board, which reduces the resistance to headwind and quartering winds that might affect the angle attack. The cockpit has been ergonomically designed to afford the paddler the most comfortable contours for knee paddling and then prone paddling, as the distances and time takes its toll on the paddling muscles. A permanent comfortable neoprene deckpad is positioned in the cockpit, complimenting its contoured shape.

 

The diminishing surface area of the deck behind the paddler, progressively sheds any water that might accumulate in that area. Besides the fin protruding from the board for directional stability, the rudder-like trailing edges of the shape help keep the desired direction of the board on its course.

 

Any of the boards may be ordered with any density of foam core. They may be ordered with any combinations of fiberglass coatings, including carbon fiber and Kevlar hybrid cloth blends for rigidity and strength. Custom colors are available upon request and a custom board comes with a consultation exchange to maximize performance, strength and beauty.

 

An advanced paddler looking for a breakthrough in their paddling experience, is strongly advised to spend the time discussing their experiences with Steve or their designer, and look for possible modifications in the equipment that might peak its performance !!!