I have S8`s that need a new deck. Suggestions?

[surfinsmiley]

I have a pair of Original S8 trucks that need a new Deck.

I would like a Deck with a 50 inch plus wheelbase if possible and I would also like to be able to run it without risers.

The current Homemade deck I`m using is perfect but it`s REALLY heavy and starting to delam, SO, I`ve been looking around trying to find a deck that meets my criterai but have come up with nothing...

I did make my deck like a Hamboards deck at first but it was just to high up off the ground to be really comfortable. After that I reshaped to a pintail and a front end like the Vangaurd. The pin got chopped down until it was what felt tlike the perfect turning circle for me and that just happens to be around 50 inchs of wheelbase. Trucks dewedged in the tail and flat in the front. It`s all happy happy joy joy!


Anyone got any suggestions of a production deck that may suit my needs?

The only thing that I see that comes close is the Loaded Dancer but it`s just a bit small!

[ghost_rider_x]

i don't think any board out there has a 50" wheelbase. the hamboard might, but you already said you're not looking for something like that. i guess you're looking for a dancer type board, but longer than normal. maybe the flexdex fat daddy, or a jam longboards silverback or iguana. those jam boards are stupid long (80" 64" respectively) and still come in with a wheelbase under 50". the other dancers, LBL, roggs, loaded, xvd are all around 41" wheelbase IIRC.

you said you're board was REALLY heavy. we'll if you want a 50" wheelbase, your not going to get a light board...no questions asked.

have you considered a shorter board? you said you cut down your board until you found a length you like, well maybe you should keep cutting it down and see how it feels. IMO original trucks are pretty carve specific. notice the longest board they sell has a 33" wheelbase and most are well under 30".

check out original's site. their boards are pretty well tested and tuned for specific riding styles. look at all the boards. see which one is designed for you riding style. then buy that deck or search online for one similar. unless you want to build another VERY heavy VERY long board, your search for a 50" wheelbase is going to come up empty.

[surfinsmiley]

Thanks Ghost Rider, sorry I`m so slow getting back to my own thread...

So I found another board that suits my requirements, The Olo Gun! But, it`s 500 bucks. That`s out! I`ll build one the same for 10% of that price.

The trucks have been on 8-10 decks over the years and by far the best for me is 50 inch plus wheelbase. Anything shorter and they turn so hard that no matter what wheels you have they slide. With a giant long wheelbase they turn a big enough circle that I can make them stick turns properly and I mean hey that what those trucks excel at turning!!!

Even on a giant wheelbase they turn tighter arcs than say for example the fishs ol fav the Dervish.

So, for the moment, it looks like I`m going to have get the saw out and start shaping!

[Ciotti]

If you're willing to sacrifice 3 inches, the Gravity Hyper Carve may be your hot ticket at 47 inches. I've had the 42 inch version for almost a year and I could never find a set of trucks that I liked on it because the board is a bit on the stiff side (I'm guessing because it's an 11 ply) and the cutouts are a bit far forward for Randals or Paris's to work with. Looking at the Original trucks I realized they have the axle set farther forward so I threw a set of s8's on and my god did it ever come alive. The cutouts work PERFECTLY with the Original trucks and you only have to run a 1/8" spacer for them to clear even big ol' 75" wheels, although you'll learn to keep your feet away from the cutouts a bit or else the wheels will touch your feet

I'm so in love with this Mini Carve with the s8's that my next board is going to be exactly what I'm suggesting here, a Hyper Carve with another set of s8's and 75mm wheels

[SeanML]

Ask Wayne about the Freeride or maybe a custom Olo Gun... he can build to fit your budget, and you know he'll give you something beautiful.

[ghost_rider_x]

Thanks Ghost Rider, sorry I`m so slow getting back to my own thread...

So I found another board that suits my requirements, The Olo Gun! But, it`s 500 bucks. That`s out! I`ll build one the same for 10% of that price.

The trucks have been on 8-10 decks over the years and by far the best for me is 50 inch plus wheelbase. Anything shorter and they turn so hard that no matter what wheels you have they slide. With a giant long wheelbase they turn a big enough circle that I can make them stick turns properly and I mean hey that what those trucks excel at turning!!!

Even on a giant wheelbase they turn tighter arcs than say for example the fishs ol fav the Dervish.

So, for the moment, it looks like I`m going to have get the saw out and start shaping!

i have the s8 trucks and i know how tight they turn. i have them on the apex 37 and love them. if i want them to slide i can, but they hold carves harder than anything else out there. maybe your wheels are too hard. i run lime zigs and am really comfortable carving hard, but when i want them to slide they'll do it.

i'm about 180 lbs. and what helped A LOT was harder springs. the trucks ship with the lightest (black) springs so i ordered a set of the medium (red) springs and it completely transformed the board. HIGHLY recommended.

[xrayvzn]

I have my S8's (super sloppy loose) on my gravity Ed Economy 55" with 70 mm lime zig zags. This is a carving/pumping machine that will break out into stand up slides with ease

Not exactly a 50" wheelbase but a fun setup nonetheless

[surfinsmiley]

i'm about 180 lbs. and what helped A LOT was harder springs. the trucks ship with the lightest (black) springs so i ordered a set of the medium (red) springs and it completely transformed the board. HIGHLY recommended.

Now that`s something I`ll have to get onto! I`ve been meaning to get some harder springs for them but just never actually got off my arse to do it.
I`m currently running a heavily coned set of 75a Gumballs, they suck in a straight line but I`m pretty sure the wheel deformation through the turn (because of the heavy cone shape) helps them stick pretty good.

@SeanML... Does Wayne do cheaper versions than he has on his site? That would be nice, I@ll send him an email and see what he has to offer. BTW, I also love the Alpine Snowboards he does. I`ll have to pick up one of those one day!

Ciotti...I had an Aussie version of the Gravity Hypercarve about ten years ago. That was the defining board that turned my skateboarding completely toward carve orientated life instead of the same old skool grind style that I was into for so many years. Love the Hypercarve concept.

[Dewey]

to the OP: gravity's ed economy maybe?

[Home Grown Boards]

if i were you id just make a new deck...
you had a good deck the first time right? just take what you learned form it and make an even better one! then you can also make your 50" wheelbase....

[Ciotti]

Ciotti...I had an Aussie version of the Gravity Hypercarve about ten years ago. That was the defining board that turned my skateboarding completely toward carve orientated life instead of the same old skool grind style that I was into for so many years. Love the Hypercarve concept.

Glad I could help, I have a bunch of pictures sitting on my camera that I will upload and post here tonight showing how scarily perfect the Original trucks send the wheels into the Gravity's cutouts

[Ciotti]

Here are the pictures as promised...

[Dewey]

how big are the risers on that thing? the stock originals you get with the trucks?

[SeanML]

If I'm not mistaken, that Gravity was designed around Indy-style trucks, which explains the cutout situation. Indys, like originals, put the axle much further forward than reverse-kingpin trucks do... so the cutouts tend to line up for those trucks.

OP: yes, Wayne (like most custom builders) can usually build to fit any budget, within reason. Definitely worth checking out, his custom work kicks ass. Check out the "Surf-Rodz Custom" thread for examples.

[Ciotti]

how big are the risers on that thing? the stock originals you get with the trucks?

Nope, because of the cutouts I don't even need to use any spacers with this setup, but I am using 1/8" shock spacers with a slot cut in the front for the weird flat piece of the original truck to go so that it's not pressing against the board.

[BlackRider]

Pics don't seem to work.

A 50 wheelbase is INSANE. But I love it. I just finished a dancer that has a 40 wheelbase, at 5 feet long, and I was thinking of getting some Originals on that, or maybe a sidewinder/carver on the front. I custom built this deck for myself to have just a bit of flex, and it (IMO) isn't that heavy.

I'm wondering how much you weight, and if you have tried glassing your deck? You might be able to add a fair amount of strong glass to a thin(ish) deck to get the results you want.
If you're pretty familiar with woodworking you could try putting a stiff stringer up the middle to hold it steady as well. Lots of options. Personally I'd love to see a deck with a 50 + wheelbase around 60-80 that rides impressively, and even more so a person that can rip that impressively.

[-Mu-]

I honestly don't think it's that big of a deal to ride original trucks, get softer wheels, bam, less sliding. it just seems weird that's a HUGE board. Different strokes I guess, I also doubt the turning radius thing for that matter, but that doesn't matter.

[Barf]

Lemme just fix that for you:

Here are the pictures as promised...

and this one:

Nope, because of the cutouts I don't even need to use any spacers with this setup, but I am using 1/8" shock spacers with a slot cut in the front for the weird flat piece of the original truck to go so that it's not pressing against the board.

[virtualdude]

I know the discussion has moved on, but to the original question, have you checked out Barley Boards? They have an 8 foot monster for 250$(deck only)
Barley Board Company > Home

[longboards]

Go down to Huntington beach ask Huntington surf and sport if they have any hamboards you can try. Make a hamboard deck yourself. Get a big stick if it is too high off the ground.