Author Topic: Best position for Rail Saver and/or helicopter tape?  (Read 4135 times)

Zooport

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Best position for Rail Saver and/or helicopter tape?
« on: March 06, 2015, 12:58:30 PM »
I have always put Rail Saver or helicopter tape in the position of the second picture.  "Top, side and bottom"  However, I have seen others put it more towards the deck as in the first picture "Top and side."  Which is the best way?  What do you do?

The picture is a hypothetical cross-section of a board looking from tail to nose. 
« Last Edit: March 06, 2015, 01:30:45 PM by Zooport »
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DavidJohn

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Re: Best position for Rail Saver and/or helicopter tape?
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2015, 01:58:15 PM »
IMO the top one.

pdxmike

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Re: Best position for Rail Saver and/or helicopter tape?
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2015, 02:27:33 PM »
IMO the top one.
DJ--which one are you seeing as the top one?  Sorry....


Zoo, if you draw a paddle wherever yours ever is, I think you'll have your answer.  I'd agree with DJ (or at least close to the top diagram) unless you're banging the rails from underneath with the top of the blade, or if you're also trying to protect the rails from things other than paddling, such as dings during loading or setting board on ground.  I guess it really depends on the user.

Badger

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Re: Best position for Rail Saver and/or helicopter tape?
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2015, 03:00:00 PM »

Jimmy Lewis explains where to put it in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJV8UvuSLbk






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Sup-position

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Re: Best position for Rail Saver and/or helicopter tape?
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2015, 05:00:21 PM »
On a Surf Sup
Slightly offset to the top in the front.
Centered through the middle.
Offset under in the back.

For obvious reasons..
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coldsup

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Re: Best position for Rail Saver and/or helicopter tape?
« Reply #5 on: March 06, 2015, 09:40:10 PM »
Get it over the rail so that it covers the contact point when you lay the board on its side on the ground.....save chips from putting the board down on gravel etc. but most towards the top end of the rail. Unlikely to hit the bottom with your paddle.

PonoBill

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Re: Best position for Rail Saver and/or helicopter tape?
« Reply #6 on: March 06, 2015, 10:48:54 PM »
I do it in position C. the not shown one where it isn't on the bottom, but covers the entire rail. Most strikes are on the tangent to the rail curve, but some actually make it to the bottom of the rail. Those are the ones where you got a good reach, and buried your paddle pretty well, but hit the rail with the top of your blade, where it joins the shaft. A little deeper and it would just be the shaft, but you didn't quite get there.

I second the notion also that maybe the biggest benefit of rail tape is protection from transport accidents. Dropping the board on the rail, having something bang against it while its on the rack, or even just setting it down on edge and finding a sharp chunk of gravel.
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Zooport

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Re: Best position for Rail Saver and/or helicopter tape?
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2015, 05:02:20 AM »
Actually, that is what I was trying to show in the second picture.  Looking back at my terrible artistry, I can see that I over did it with wrapping the red rail tape diagram too low.  I never have it actually wrap onto the bottom of the board, I do it just like PB describes. 
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