Topics

1

Gear Talk / HexTraction Drawbacks

« on: May 26, 2016, 07:28:47 AM »

Forget about strawberry, banana or coconut scent.

I had forgot how good Frogwax smelled on an early morning paddle out.....

2

Gear Talk / Nose Deck Pad?

« on: April 15, 2016, 07:02:38 AM »

I just got a new summer board. Wide, long but not really a nose rider. Still I do like to cross step up, slide the tail and cross step back. My last summer board had a deck pad added to the nose by the previous owner that worked but added way too much weight. I have used "Dots", little cookie cutter pieces of deck pad, and they work pretty good but not very aesthetic. Wax works but I enjoy being wax free.

So I saw a flatwater board in a shop that had a deck pad carved into a design with a lot of open space. I got to thinking this done on the nose might work since you need minimal traction when on the nose. Has anyone out there tried anything like this?

3

Gear Talk / Grab Handle

« on: May 07, 2015, 09:08:03 AM »

I added a surf co easy plug and a little nylon dive pouch I happened to have. I was going to use a leash rail saver but they all have swivels on them today. I worked great in head high beachbreak this morning in Florida. I know this would not work in real waves but for our conditions it worked great. On my Naish Mana I have been using a rubber sailboard handle for years and it worked great with the round nose. I bury the paddle and hold on to the strap. I do wear paddling gloves primarily for sun protection but that helps. The faster you can hit your feet and accelerate, the faster you get outside.

4

SUP General / Over Naish

« on: January 28, 2015, 08:14:07 AM »

After 5 years I gave up on Naish. Not slamming the company but I'm over them. Had several of their boards that ride great, are indestructible and still have a couple. Might surf one occasionally. Definitely for Flatwater boards. I bought the heavily promoted 8'8 X32 and had to give it away after six months. I tried to get the local shop I bought it from to trade this $2400 board for $1200 credit on a left over Mana. No way. It really did not work for me in Florida waves. After one offer of $700 on Craig's List, I had a popular local shaper make me a very similar board that works in our conditions. Side by side they look very close. It is mostly the bottom I believe. I got to demo the same size and shape in overhead glass before buying one. I didn't change a thing. The rides were like night and day. I traded the six month old X32, a very new fish and a little cash. I figure this board cost me $3300 over the last 6 months. I hope it's worth it. Maybe it is just me but I was the target market. Good luck on the East Coast.

5

Gear Talk / 12'6 Naish Glide 27 wide?

« on: December 10, 2013, 11:36:15 AM »

I was looking at a 2012 12'6 Naish Glide to do flatwater and downwind here in Flordia. I was talking to the shop on the phone later and asked if it was 30 wide since I did not think to look at the time and assumed they all were. He told me it was marked as 27 but measured out wider, 28 or 29. Anyone heard of a 2012 12'6 Naish Glide special 27 wide?

6

Gear Talk / Farmer John Wetsuits

« on: February 16, 2013, 01:21:18 PM »

I made the mistake buying a Farmer John Wetsuit for SUP. After getting chewed up by my full suit, I bought this thinking in Florida, with a skin, I would be warm enough most of the time and leave me with more freedom to paddle. I did not think about the balloon affect when you fall. Not to mention the knee leash holding a gallon of water at my thigh. Now I need to rethink this idea. On a bigger day it will be more of a pain. Maybe I’ll try wearing the skin on the outside. Or fall less.

7

SUP General / Rib Pain from Crawling?

« on: November 08, 2012, 02:24:10 PM »

During hurricane Sandy we had some wicked waves but hard offshore winds. For the first time in about three years I took out the long board instead of the SUP. I had almost forgot about the rib pain paddling a prone board and remembered one of the reasons why I enjoy SUP. Laugh if you want but I've been doing this for about 45 years and for the last 30 some years I get up at 0 dark thirty and go to work or wake up offshore already there. Now my work as a proffesional diver and engineer keeps me active but life keeps making me older. I know I have suffered this since my thirties when I primarily started riding long boards. As I approach retirement, I just keep wondering if I ever want to prone surf again. Does this only affect some old farts, everyone or just those who don't have the physique of a twenty year old? I'm afraid to ask my buddies as I will be thrown out of the he-man woman haters club.

8

Gear Talk / Leash Repair

« on: September 13, 2012, 05:30:25 AM »

Last weekend, during the peak of the hurricane Leslie swell, my leash failed where the urethane cord terminates at the swivel. It was a long swim in holding a paddle from far outside for an old sweeper like me.

It is not clear to me how it was held in there. There seems to be a small stainless ball down in the molded plastic ands the urethane does not look damaged. I would like to repair it if just for a spare. I was thinking of driling a passage in the plastic for the cord and crimping the end with a copper sleave.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

9

Gear Talk / KIALOA IKAIKA Pupu Paddle Review.

« on: May 20, 2011, 01:15:03 PM »

I recently bought a KIALOA’s IKAIKA Pupu as a backup, paddle for the wife and friends without risking my Carbon Methane.

It replaced an adjustable aluminum and plastic paddle that I got with my first paddleboard. Seven ounces heavier than the Methane but feels like more. Still a lot less than the aluminum. Has a bigger and thicker handle but still comfortable. The shaft is oval and feels a little funkey at first but still fits what I bought it for. At half the price it was a good compromise and I don't mind lending it out, but you have to know I am so anal I keep the Methane blade in a golf shoe bag someone gave me. Lastly, I bought the Methane directlyfrom  KIALOA but found a no shipping and tax deal by shopping around for the same paddle shipped in the lower 48.

10

Gear Talk / Leash Plug in Nose of SUP

« on: November 28, 2010, 01:57:05 PM »

I'm thinking of installing a leash plug near the nose of my SUP to give myself a handle for turttling under whitewater.

I figure splicing a short piece of rope, maybe with a monkey fist on the end, will give me a place to hold on with one hand while the other is occupied with the paddle. Even if the board gets away, I think it leaves it in a better position to penetrate the whitewater.

I hate to have this underfoot for noserides but have not found an effective way to punch though powerful whitewater. What do you think? Crazy?

11

Sessions / Daybreak

« on: August 13, 2010, 05:16:52 AM »

I snuck out at daybreak before an appointment this morning in Cocoa Beach. Waves were knee high glass at best, but there were tarpon doing cartwheels 50 feet from me and the baitfish slapping the bottom of my board. Life is good. Also good to have my legs out of the water on my standup.

12

Gear Talk / Rack Wind Deflector

« on: August 13, 2010, 05:08:49 AM »

I just installed a pair of Yakima racks on my truck. Tired of beating up my SUP in the bed. I don't remember the wind noise from my surfboard racks on my VW 30 years ago but I probably had the Stones turned way up. Is the wind deflector worth the cost? Does it really tone down the noise? Thx

13

Gear Talk / Flat water paddle

« on: June 14, 2010, 02:19:23 PM »

Ok, I got my Kialoa Methane paddle for SUS but it is too short and too small of a blade for flat water cross training. I don't have the board or the body to compete in down wind but am looking for a paddle to replace the aluminum adjustable brick I started with. I have three boards in my quiver to cover the conditions but what is a good compromise paddle between price and performance? Thx

14

Gear Talk / Second Paddle

« on: December 07, 2009, 02:44:18 PM »

I would like to move up from the adjustable paddle that came with my Naish. The aluminum shaft paddle has been good for learning to paddle the mangroves but does not cut it for surfing. I am not at a point I need a $300 carbon fiber paddle but can only find fiberglass ones in the $250 range. Any suggestions besides getting off the dime?

15

Gear Talk / Before applying rail tape?

« on: October 04, 2009, 07:15:45 AM »

I discovered chips starting on my Naish and ordered rail tape. Chips are small now but I figured I would fill (maybe Marine Tex) to keep them from spreading before putting on tape. Not sure what the plastic coating is but know it does not like acetone. Any suggestions. Any suggestions about matching color? Thanks