Just got the newest Surfer's Journal and I see the article about the original edge boards by Mr. X.
Been thinking about the edge board design ever since the article about Greenough and Rasta and the boards GG made. I just can't get my head to accept that the reverse curve will be better than a Stewart style chine and conventional down/tucked rail for rail surfing. They look great for down the line speed burns, but for waves where you'd want to make a lot of quick turns to stay in the pocket I don't know. Mr. X's design doesn't have the kind of rail GG uses, and it's more like what I've done but way more extreme.
Everything I know about rails with softer round edges screams more drag, so when you lay the board over on rail, it would seem like your going to be hitting brakes, but a down rail would allow you to maintain your speed. GG mentions that the board will do that when you engage the rail to turn.
I have several boards with tri-plane hulls incorporating a concave center panel with flat or slightly bellied side panels meeting thin pinched rails. Some have tucked rails with a hard edge.
Now I see several well known shapers making them. Anyone out there riding these modern edge boards? Comments?