Rockers; A Detailed Explanation!

Everyone knows how important rocker is to the performance of a surfboard. US Blanks offers custom rockers at no charge, including private rocker templates.

While our master plugs were designed with a Natural Rocker that fits a variety of designs, we know that individual style and design will require adjustments.

We use the deck line to adjust rocker, and all adjustments are referenced to the Natural Rocker. If desired, we can adjust rocker to the bottom. Adjustments can be made from almost any point on a blank and from one blank size to another. Unless instructed, all rocker adjustments will be made from the center of the blank. If the adjustment is made from a point other than center, the adjustment point will be part of the description. Rockers transferred from one blank size to another will require a match point. Radical rocker adjustments may result in bumps or dips created in the deck line.

Selecting the exact right rocker profile will ensure that you have the perfect contour for your specific board design. Rocker helps determine board speed and turning radius.

Flatter Rocker = More Speed

More Rocker = Tighter Turning

NATURAL ROCKER


All blanks are designed with a Natural Rocker optimized for the widest range of potential design needs. Natural Rockers are written in number of inches that the tip of the nose and tip of the tail rise from the bottom plane of the blank.

The Rocker Formula:

Natural Rocker = Inches Rise in the Nose, Inches Rise in the Tail

(from the Bottom Plane)

Natural Rocker 5 -1/2″N, 2-1/16″T

The Nose is always written first. It begins with the number of inches the tip rises from the bottom plane of the blank and is followed by the letter “N”. A comma separates the Nose rocker from the Tail rocker. Likewise, the Tail rocker is written in number of inches the tip rises from the bottom plane of the blank and is followed by the letter “T”.

ROCKER ADJUSTMENTS


All Custom Rockers are written as adjustments from the Natural Rocker. Adjustments are made from the center of the deck unless otherwise specified.

Rocker Adjusted from Deck Center (the default adjustment)

+1/2”N +1/8”T

This indicates that the tip of the Nose is adjusted +1/2” and the Tail is adjusted +1/8” from the Natural Rocker and the adjustments were made from the center of the deck.

Rocker Adjusted from Location Other Than Deck Center

Adjustments made from a location other than Deck Centered (DC) are indicated by  the number, in inches, that follows the “N” or “T” in the rocker formula.

+1/2”N18” +1/8”T12”

This indicates that the tip of the Nose is adjusted +1/2” from the Natural Rocker, but only within the last 18” of the Nose. And the tail is adjusted +1/8” from the Natural Rocker but only in the last 12” of the Tail.

Rocker Adjusted from Multiple Locations

Rockers can also be adjusted from multiple locations within the Nose or Tail to add subtle rocker to a given area and then increased rocker to another area, (i.e., a “Flipped Tip” effect). This is indicated by simply adding values to the existing rocker formula.

+1/2”N18” +1/2”N12” +1/8”T12”


This indicates that the tip of the Nose is adjusted +1/2” from the Natural Rocker in the last 18” of the Nose and then an additional 1/2” in the last 12” of the Nose. And the tail is adjusted +1/8” from the Natural Rocker but only in the last 12” of the Tail.

AVAILABLE ROCKERS

A drop down menu of all available rockers accompany every blank page listed here  (and in the US Blanks catalog). If you can’t find what you need, we will gladly make you a custom rocker.  We can get your custom
rockered blanks within one week of ordering.  Let us know if we can help!

Thanks to US Blanks for this informative explanation of how rockers are determined.