Retro – THE SCAT

Posted in: Models Retro

Mid 1980’s – Scat Pitchers Belly Channel chisel tail thruster

SCAT 6.0 BELLY CHANNEL CHISEL TAIL

6.0 X 19 ½ X 2 3/8  belly channel chisel
This model came to my attention when I was looking at some old ads that I did with Chappy, Smithy and Scat. The board he had under his arm looked real good and was his preferred type of channel. He was in every contest going and found the belly channels were more user friendly in substandard surf where in those days, most contests were unfortunately held.
This was the time when the hip in the plan shape was a prerequisite for a thruster and Damien Hardman promoted the belly channel. This particular board that Scat rode was a low nose entry flat decked and chunky rail with a basic flat bottom. The chisel tail was at this point still a popular tail and with the aid of the hip was not too tight.  I guess the point of the chisel was to have the feel of a definitive corner at the very back which allows confident sudden changes in direction because you can focus on that very sensitive corner much like the modern swallow tails.

 I have tarted this one up by employing my favoured con- vee bottom and lowering the rails a little. I have always preferred my channels sitting in a vee, but with this board they sit half in a vee and half in a concave, in theory more control and more bight. This board also has the traditional beak nose which basically puts a little more foam in the nose. Again I have gone with FCS in this board just to give it more of a chance.