Mat Geek Design Forum: Flanges, Flanges, And More Flanges!!!

A wide variety of mat flanges all in one place...JJ's back yard breezeway! I'm tempted to say it doesn't get any more exciting than this.

OK, I'll say it...it doesn't get any more exciting that this!

(My inner mat geek...stoked!)

Of all the design elements of the surf mat, none is less important than the width of the flanges...

...and yet, the flange width, if it's extremely narrow or extremely wide, can ruin a mat. A flange that's too narrow (or non-existent) allows water to wrap around the rail in low velocity situations...which is when you most need the water to shear off the rail. A flange that's too wide will "buzz" at high speeds -- slowing the mat down, and interfering its ability to hold in.

Below is one of the earliest known photographs of a surf mat, published in 1935. It would appear that there were no flanges on this design. At first blush, it's logical...a cleaner shape should work better, right? But in practice, surf mats perform better with flanges than without. That little bit of fabric running around the perimeter of a mat cleans up the water flow immeasurably. I've made mats with the flange bonded flush to the mat's outer pontoon, creating a truly round rail...and none of them worked particularly well. Very boggy in slow/bumpy waves.

A 50's era shot of English school boys on holiday in Australia. The surfoplane-style mats they were riding had narrow flanges.

60's Hodgmans sported narrow flanges.

Two shots of 70's era surf mats...look how wide the flanges were!

Two recent eras of 4GF mats. Surf Sister on the right with a thin deck mat with patches. Val with a later canvas deck mat. The stiffer material of the canvas deck allows the flanges to be narrower and still shear off the right amount of water, without buzzing at high speed. There's a sweet spot in every mat design that allows both those elements to be in balance.

Kendog on a Neumatic. Lean flanges, but still plenty of width to allow for shearing water off the rail.

Art imitates life. JJ's inflatable hand plane mat with nicely proportioned flanges...

...while his figurine-sized mat has flanges you could land a Piper Cub on. Break out the scissors, JJ!

Tom T's surf mat art features a fastidious depiction of the flange...



..as does the work of John C.  :)

The flange of an air mattress is simply the result of bonding the top and bottom layers of fabric together along the perimeter. So in truth, it's a design element born out of manufacturing need. But, as we've learned over the years, the flange is essential to a mat's performance.

Flanges Rule!!! :) :) :)

From Captain Jeff...

Running up the coast on Thursday we saw a huge pod (herd? ) of spinner dolphins cavorting up ahead in front of us. It’s easy enough to motor up alongside them, and then once they spot you, they tend to come over and envelope the boat, almost like you see those old science films of an amoeba ‘absorbing’ a piece of food?

I never worry about ‘hitting’ one of them, as several commercial fishermen down there have told me, ‘Not only have I never hit one, but nobody I know has ever even heard of anyone hitting one, are you kidding me, they’re just playing with us and are the fastest, smartest, most maneuverable things in the sea…

I know we all hear about how polluted the ocean is these days, but when you see something like this, it’s give you hope. Thought you’d dig the shots-

Best,

Jeff

Follow Up #2 to UDT Swimfin Post...

While I was going through the Yahoo image files looking for shots of UDT swim fins, I came across this shot...

UDT fins were there when Apollo 8 splashed down...very cool!

Apollo 8 was the first time man left the gravitational pull of earth, and it was the first time man saw earth in its entirety.

Surf mat content: A nice early morning peak as Apollo 8 prepares for launch.

Bill Anders, Jim Lovell, and Frank Borman.

Years after the mission, Jim Lovell acknowledged that they figured the odds of making it out of earth's orbit, around the moon multiple times, and back to earth safely were 50-50 or less. Sounds optimistic to me.

Bill Anders took this incredible photo on December 24, 1968. The image became the inspiration for the first Earth Day in 1970. This is what the US government might classify as an "unintended consequence" of the space program.

UDT clad divers meeting the capsule.

The Apollo 8 capsule on the deck of the USS Lexington.

This is the after-mission party for Apollo 8...they knew how to rage back then!

#2 Follow Up Story To "Lost and Found" ...

Along with George Greenough and Bud Browne, Dan "Man Mountain" Merkel did the water photography for Big Wednesday.

Bud Browne with clapperboards and his surf mat.

George Greenough with a water housed Arriflex. When he was caught inside at Sunset -- which happened often -- he would let the camera go and hang onto his mat. He reasoned that it was easier to ride the mat into the shorebreak and retrieve the camera than it was to swim in with the camera and find his mat!

Dan Merkel shooting up at Conception. This is the same mat and camera rig he's duck diving in the shot below...I built the housing while we were in El Savador.

All three water photographers utilized surf mats in their effort...but none more impressively than Dan Merkel. For all you lilly-livered wusses who moan and groan that you can't duck dive your mat in surf over 2 feet, check this out...Merkel takes down a water-housed 35mm camera and a huge, rental-sized raft at Sunset Beach!

Next time you're caught inside on your mat, keep in mind the sage words of Dee from Sunny/Philadelphia: "Sack it up, Bitches!!!"

Seriously, there's a nice interview with Dan Merkel about the changes on the North Shore from a photographer's perspective...here.

First 4GF Testamonials of 2012!

Hi Paul

Thanks a lot the surf matt has arrived it looks very well made, I like the fabric on the top and the slick bottom . It should catch waves long before body boarders .

I will give her a blast and get back to you .

By for now Jeremy

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Hi Paul

Recived the Trackers today, looks amazing (and surprisely very solid) ... Manuel is surfing in Canary Islands as soon as I wet the mattres I will let you know...

Thanks Paul

Carlos

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Hi Paul,

Thanks, so much for the update, the very swift processing/shipment of the order, and the Riders Guide.

I know how you men are with instructions, but you have personal assurances he will not get his new toy, until he can recite the entire thing. This is a Christmas gift to supplement his retirement gift, which is 10 days camping on O'ahu with his surf bum crew. This solves many riddles. Packs into a checked bag. Nice and soft, to minimize injury, and as a caveat, he just turned 55 in body. He's about 16 between his ears. For me, I'm getting piece of mind knowing that if he goes after some bigger waves, he'll avoid some trouble, and for him, it fulfills some homage to George Greenough. Being around surfers for the past 25 years, I can appreciate the metaphysics of it and the coolness factor. I'll never understand it, but he's my husband, the biggest gremmie (His words.)

R,

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Hi Paul,

I still haven't got the mat wet yet. No waves!! Nothing over 2-3ft. Merewether Board Riders Club had to decide their Final under these conditions. Bumped into Mark Richards at the supermarket and told him about my mat. He said he knew of you and your mats. I can hardly wait for some decent surf to come through!!

Dave.

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Hi Paul

Just got back from a couple of days in Cornwall. Something Ive noticed recently is the lack of inflation Im using. I always inflate my mat so that when the vale is open theres no pressure i.e none escaping. Once Im in I tend to let air out. It seems Ive found a level of inflation that Im very happy with, which doesnt seem to be very much at all, when I leave the water its barely inflated and limp. Is this normal?

Another thing Ive discover is putting the arms forward in a superman position, puts a little bit of weight forwards, the results are amazing. I usualy do this on small waves or coming the end of a ride.

Cheers

Matt

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Hi Paul

Light winds to day and a big swell running in St Ouens bay, so I went to St Brelads to try out the matt , the waves there were glassy and 1'1/2 to 2'1/2 feet , had a few short lefts but mostly strait handers, lots of closeouts, the matt seems fast and manoeuvrable and should be a lot of fun .

Thanks a lot Jeremy .


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Hi Paul,

I arrived home from South Coast NSW yesterday pleased to find a card from the local post office under my front door so rushed down to pick up my Vespa.

All seems good. Thank you.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Regards,

Charlie

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Yeeeeh, ace! Can’t wait to get on it. Will let you know asap, but will have to wait till atleast the 30th as there is no waves in leeds and 400 miles from home! Thanks for all your help and advice dude.

phil

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Paul, the more I think about how mats work,the more I realize the less I know,which leads me to be grateful for trained professionals[You],conducting research under highly controlled conditions with your lovely assistant[Gloria],at your,side clipboard in hand,saving the data for future generations to ponder. Paul,and Gloria,keepin it Real,keepin it Boss. Thanks, Guerdon.

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paul, Wow, that was quick..thanks and i will keep you posted..but may wait til warmer waters lol. cindy

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i really enjoyed your recent postings at surfmatters (inside rail, big wednesday footage, fin mod), it got me totally stoked!

florian

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Thanks Paul!!

My friend Sean referred me to you--I've gone out on his spare mat and thoroughly enjoyed it. This one's actually for my mother! She's caught the surfing bug, and is keen to try something that she can take out even when there isn't big enough surf. Looking forward to helping her break it in ;-)

Cheers,

Meara

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Hi Paul

Standard arrived today, super stoked on your fast shipping (cracked up when I saw BEACH RAFT on declaration note). Waiting for Christmas morning to open it. Also I have read your rider/user guide it was really informative. Just a quick question what are UDT fins like? are they as good as everyone says, once milled down. I tried my dad's old duck feet earlier today, wondering whether they would be good enough for matting? Once again thanks for the mat, pleasure doing business with you. Also I'll try get a ride report to you a soon as possible.

Thanks heaps

Michael

: )

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Paul, received the mat and we are all excited to give it a spin.Would like to have had it on this trip to costa rica we took just 2 weeks ago.i would have been in the water more instead of being the photographer (although it's what i do and love) thanks again..next pics will be surf mat riding :)..cindy

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The package arrived last night, Paul. Thanks again. Will let you know how it goes!

Happy holiday, Sheila

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Hey Paul i got to ride my tracker out the pass this morning for the first time, had a hoot!

thanks for the nice mat.

Dustin

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Dear Paul,


Your box arrived yesterday and Steve put it under the Rosemary bush dressed as our Christmas tree, for us to open together on Christmas morning.

Thank you again for thinking of us.

We look forward to sharing about riding the new joyful wave riding vehicles that you have made.

Merry Christmas!!!

Love and Aloha,

Cher and Steve

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Yo paul,

Opened it yesterday, really pleased with it thanks for the work that went into making it. Like I said im thrilled with how it looks and will be having a test run on Thursday once I head home to Cornwall.

Hope you have enjoyed the holidays, will hopefully get a video of Andy Cooke and I catching some waves.

Cheers dude

Phil

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Hi Paul,

Thanks very much for the Standard that you sent out, received in the mail the other day, no problems.

The surfmats are great - along with the Standard I also have a Tracker RT, and I'm impressed with them, and pretty excited about their potential as well, so much fun, really versatile, and so easy to travel with. The last surf I had on the mat was interesting, conditions weren't that great, hardly anyone out, about 3-4 ft irregular swell, but it made for the waves that were coming through to be wedging up into little peaks all over the sandbar, low tide too so it was hollow, which just meant barrel after barrel for a couple of hours, it turned ordinarily bad conditions/short rides which most people wouldn't take a second look at, into one of the best little sessions. Surreal too, to be going through normally rough little barrels on a soft cushion of air! I got stopped on the beach after coming out by a couple that said they had stopped and watched for a while as they said they were fascinated by the surfmat, so it must have looked like a lot of fun too.

The surf isnt very good here at the moment and work is going to be fairly busy the next couple of months but after that I'm hoping to spend a fair bit of time on the mat with the idea of getting some nice photos/footage together, but I'll let you know when, hopefully it turns out well.

Anyway thanks again for the mats Paul, hope you're having a good time over Christmas and New Year!

Matt

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Thanks Paul! I can't wait to get it in the water. I have put off buying a mat for too long.

Colin

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Dear Friends,

Hope you are having a good winter holiday.

It was totally tough this year, but we could survive this hardness and now we are ready to invite a new year. We want to express our deep appreciation for your thoughts, concerns and supports in 2011.

Then we will have a winter break from tomorrow to 4th Jan. We'll be back to work on 5th.

I'm looking forward to seeing you soon in 2012!!!

With warmest wishes,

Kazunori

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Hi, paul.

How are you.

In the end of 2011. yes I'm fine. but there are too many tragedy. Radioactive substance passed out from Japan. I'd like to say sorry to all over the world.

I've treated them by the therapy at minamisouma city Hukushima in june and september. I'm a japanese traditional therapyst. That's What I do. I heared many sad stories of them, when I went there. One of them was become totally alone, her family was carried away by tunami.

Anyway, your mat that you send me is really awsome, I love them.

I really thank you for your consern and kindness.

Sincerely yours

Yasuhira

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Stoked. Happy new year. I’ll let you know. Brad

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Banking While Trimming

Pulling a mat up on its rail while at trim speed is a simple and easy way to hold in, generate more speed, and/or re-direct the mat into the juiciest part of the wave. It's like a bottom turn, but it it doesn't result in a large change of direction. It reduces the wetted surface area of the mat, if only momentarily, and allows the mat to aim up into the pocket. Most every mat rider executes this move, often intuitively.

The above video clip is of Mr. Dirk at the LA County Mat Meet earlier this year. In the last half of the ride, Dirk slithers around the section that lets down in front of him, then banks the mat over to redirect his momentum. He does that two more times along the wall as the wave tapers down in size. A classic example!

In the second "close-up/slo-mo" part of the video, you can see Dirk's mat start to drift out of control for just an instant as he picks a line between the two board surfers, then when he banks the mat over, the rail resets itself and he's off again. :)

Following are images that are variations of the same move...