Surfboard Rails
2 commentsThe rails are the "edge" of the surfboard and run from the tail to the nose of the board. Rails are where the deck and the bottom meet. Like the other parts of the surfboard, rails have their part to play in shaping the overall performance of the surfboard. The shape of the rails determines how water flows over them when the board is planing and turning. Different shapes have different uses. Rails are thickest towards the center of the board and thinnest at the tail and nose.
Hard and Soft Rails
Hard rails and soft rails are the two main types of rails. Soft rails are nice and rounded with no defined edges and a smooth transition. Hard rails have a distinct edge and may meet the bottom of the board in a corner. Soft rails are common on traditional longboards and provide good stability and plenty of drive. However, a board with soft rails will not turn as easily as a hard-railed board. The harder the rail, the quicker and tighter the board will turn.
Rail Descriptions
Rails can be described not only in general terms like hard and soft but also in more abstract terms like characteristics of shape and proportionality as a ratio of distance of the widest point between the deck and the bottom of the board.
- Round rail: a well rounded rail that almost forms a complete semi-circle.
- Down rail or down-turned rail: a rail coming to an edge at the bottom of the board.
- Rolled rail: a down rails that is rolled under the board.
- Egg rail: similar to round rail but more drawn out (like an egg).
- 50/50: a proportional description of a rail where the widest point of the rail is at the mid point of the rail.
- 60/40: A proportional description of a rail where the widest point is towards the bottom.
The Curved Rail Narrowing Towards the Nose
Raily
Rail type is so important especially for the beach break waves in Southern California. It can make or break how a board performs.