I hear changes are coming in inflatable technology, but will rails, bottom contours, other shaping elements ever approach what is available on hardboards? I see a lot of discussion about making them stiffer, but are technology improvements likely to address the issue of making shapes more refined?
There are a lot of things I like about inflatables, but will features like sunken decks, hard rails, piercing noses, hard rails, etc... ever be possible?
Guessin..
Sunken decks would be possible, but would make the board a wet noodle/prone to taco'ing.
ULI has the wiki rail, bt only on the rear 3rd of the board.
Piercing-style nose being done by some folks already.
At the end of the day though (literally/figuratively), these things still need to rollup for storage. I'd say there's always a limit/tradeoff to the shape an iSUP can achieve.
I know Starboard have big things coming for 2016 with their inflatables.. and by big I don't mean big as in size.. but big as in improvements..
I'd like to see slight concaves in the bottom nose area to help reduce the stick that you get when surfing a wave and the nose comes down and touches.. even if that means a slight concave on the deck as well..
It's good to see most have changed the air filling hole to the rear (where it should be) and it would be nice if all boards went to a standard type fin box..
I'd like to see all future BOP style races on inflatables only..
Quote from: DavidJohn on May 28, 2015, 07:03:16 PM
I know Starboard have big things coming for 2016 with their inflatables.. and by big I don't mean big as in size.. but big as in improvements..
I'd like to see slight concaves in the bottom nose area to help reduce the stick that you get when surfing a wave and the nose comes down and touches.. even if that means a slight concave on the deck as well..
It's good to see most have changed the air filling hole to the rear (where it should be) and it would be nice if all boards went to a standard type fin box..
I'd like to see all future BOP style races on inflatables only..
+1
I'd also like to see nose cone type shapes to create a real displacement type nose, and ULI-Style rails at the rear when required. And dual- or triple-chamber technology for safety far from shore.
Traveling with epoxy 12-6 or 14ft boards is silly. If all that matters is speed then we'd all be on UL boards. But instead we have decided that it is preferable to race slow boards (in most races worldwide). So why not go all the way and race internationally on boards that can be taken internationally? This will also spur on inflatable board technology. Personally, I hate paddling iSUPs. But if the technology was sorted out they wouldn't be so hateful for eg. distance racing, and it would bring international races within the financial scope of a lot more people. Who can afford to have your £3000 GBP board snapped in half travelling from an international race as one of the top UK guys did recently coming back from the ISA champs in Mexico? Compare that with slinging an iSUP on your back and there's no contest. If this is to be truly a global sport then we need to make it as easy as possible for people to take part. The same people will win no matter what you put them on, as long as the construction technology is the same, be it hard or iSUP. I think Dave Kalama was right, radical though the idea sounded at first.
Quote from: DavidJohn on May 28, 2015, 07:03:16 PM
I know Starboard have big things coming for 2016 with their inflatables.. and by big I don't mean big as in size.. but big as in improvements..
Does that mean you will be seeing those around this September?
Quote from: lucabrasi on May 28, 2015, 07:29:35 PM
Quote from: DavidJohn on May 28, 2015, 07:03:16 PM
I know Starboard have big things coming for 2016 with their inflatables.. and by big I don't mean big as in size.. but big as in improvements..
Does that mean you will be seeing those around this September?
Yes.. Sept/Nov.. Hopefully..
We have a new 2016 AllStar DW board here in Melbourne right now that the guys in the shops got to see.. But not me because it's too early.. :'( ..(The Aussie Starboard distributer is in town) .. Apparently it's something special.. I guess they need to keep up with something special coming from Naish (DW specific board).. 8)
I wonder if we'll ever look back and say "I can't believe that was the technology back then". Anyone remember when this was the method for putting more nose rocker into a windsurfer?
Badfish SUP have already done a sunken deck with the MCIT and the new Rivershred.
Here is another interesting looking shape for an iSUP although the brand is a mid 'entry level'
https://www.seaeagle.com/NeedleNoseSUP/NN116
Mistral had some new magic thread technology that they touted a year or two back. Could make an inflatable lighter and stronger.
Is this something that really was a game changer or was it really just hoopla?
I thought it looked rather interesting but it seems to me there would have been so much more news and input from people who actually paddled them if there really was anything to it especially by now.
Quote from: lucabrasi on May 29, 2015, 04:41:11 AM
Mistral had some new magic thread technology that they touted a year or two back. Could make an inflatable lighter and stronger.
Is this something that really was a game changer or was it really just hoopla?
I thought it looked rather interesting but it seems to me there would have been so much more news and input from people who actually paddled them if there really was anything to it especially by now.
I was super interested (suckered) when the new 'iCross' technology hype appeared last year. Since then, the 'iCross' moniker has disappeared, the German factory seems to be gone and the manufacturing has apparently moved to Romania(?). This year the 'Super Light' and/or 'Equipe' is the old 'iCross'. They are limited to 15psi and I find it hard to believe that they can be as stiff as a board at 25psi.
What makes them lighter? They are a single wall construction where the majority of the Mistral iSups are still double wall and hence, heavier. I reread the marketing hype from last year. The fabric is 'double-walled' not the construction. I'm sure Capo can give us the real down low.
I gave up on the lightest and went with the best, Red :)
Quote from: Area 10 on May 28, 2015, 07:27:43 PM
Quote from: DavidJohn on May 28, 2015, 07:03:16 PM
I know Starboard have big things coming for 2016 with their inflatables.. and by big I don't mean big as in size.. but big as in improvements..
I'd like to see slight concaves in the bottom nose area to help reduce the stick that you get when surfing a wave and the nose comes down and touches.. even if that means a slight concave on the deck as well..
It's good to see most have changed the air filling hole to the rear (where it should be) and it would be nice if all boards went to a standard type fin box..
I'd like to see all future BOP style races on inflatables only..
+1
I'd also like to see nose cone type shapes to create a real displacement type nose, and ULI-Style rails at the rear when required. And dual- or triple-chamber technology for safety far from shore.
Traveling with epoxy 12-6 or 14ft boards is silly. If all that matters is speed then we'd all be on UL boards. But instead we have decided that it is preferable to race slow boards (in most races worldwide). So why not go all the way and race internationally on boards that can be taken internationally? This will also spur on inflatable board technology. Personally, I hate paddling iSUPs. But if the technology was sorted out they wouldn't be so hateful for eg. distance racing, and it would bring international races within the financial scope of a lot more people. Who can afford to have your £3000 GBP board snapped in half travelling from an international race as one of the top UK guys did recently coming back from the ISA champs in Mexico? Compare that with slinging an iSUP on your back and there's no contest. If this is to be truly a global sport then we need to make it as easy as possible for people to take part. The same people will win no matter what you put them on, as long as the construction technology is the same, be it hard or iSUP. I think Dave Kalama was right, radical though the idea sounded at first.
Area and DJ--all good points. Then imagine if inflatable unlimiteds become realistic. Some have already been made. That takes away the whole reason for limiting races to shorter boards. A 17' inflatable may be slower than a hard one, but still faster than a hard 14', and far easier to travel with. Unlimited inflatables could create an ironic situation someday where a race that has 14' and inflatable categories (with the assumption that inflatables need their own category because they're slow and used only by casual racers) ends up with the inflatable winner being faster.
Inflatables went from being a novelty for racing to being viable in just a couple years, and actually already having advantages besides traveling ease (i.e. being more durable for BOP). It's another reminder how stupid it is to set up race board rules based on today's technology, since nobody can predict how technology will advance.
on the fin front we have some pretty cool things coming in the next few months : "FCS" brand fins compatible fin box (using grub screws),
and when using our new fins : no fin screw required - we call it ClickFins
note: FCS brand is not associated with this fin system, this fin system is compatible with the fins they made popular world-wide.
Thanks Capo, the lightweight is certainly attractive. Next time around I'll take another look.
Inflatable has really come a long way. Even for kids.
I think sea eagle is on to something with the razor lite kayak. Turn your mind lose on new shapes with drop stitch turned on its side. I think the sideways chambers could add a lot of rigidity. Maybe one down the center? Multi chambered too.
(http://www.inflatablekayakworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Razorlite12.jpg)
I'm thinking this might be a shape? Please forgive my terrible fake CAD - but the idea is there?
(http://i60.tinypic.com/2wgyd86.jpg)
I just think the drop-stitch fabric, turned on it's side, might be tremendously rigid.
I'd love to see what could be done. Here's a closeup of SeaEagle's kayak....
(https://www.seaeagle.com/img/KeyFeatures/Small/94.jpg)
Quote from: surf4food on June 01, 2015, 02:59:14 PM
Inflatable has really come a long way. Even for kids.
Is that Multi Chambered?
Or Marilyn Chambers?? :o
Your comments are making me think about rescinding the tremendously rigid comment...
Quote from: Area 10 on May 28, 2015, 07:27:43 PMI'd also like to see nose cone type shapes to create a real displacement type nose, and ULI-Style rails at the rear when required. And dual- or triple-chamber technology for safety far from shore
Core was the first company that I'm aware of that makes a true displacement type nose/hull on their iSUP race board...
http://www.corekiteboarding.com/de/escape Too bad they're only available in Germany. :(
I like the idea of multi air chambers so iSUPs can be safer to use in areas like the Red Triangle. ;D
Quote from: spookini on June 03, 2015, 02:02:42 PM
Quote from: surf4food on June 01, 2015, 02:59:14 PM
Inflatable has really come a long way. Even for kids.
Is that Multi Chambered?
Or Marilyn Chambers?? :o
LOL!!
That Core board look very interesting. Looks like they have figured out how to shape in bottom contours and a displacement nose without some rigid add-on piece. I wonder why other brand have not done something similar?
That Core board look very interesting. Looks like they have figured out how to shape in bottom contours and a displacement nose without some rigid add-on piece. I wonder why other brand have not done something similar?
Quote from: beaner on June 12, 2015, 12:19:25 PM
That Core board look very interesting. Looks like they have figured out how to shape in bottom contours and a displacement nose without some rigid add-on piece. I wonder why other brand have not done something similar?
I think it IS a rigid add-on piece.
But why not an inflatable keel like a Zodiak? At least up in the nose?
(http://zodiacmilpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/FuturaHull2.jpg)
I recently stumbled onto these two companies that are also making inflatable boards with a displacement design...
Advanced Elements Fishbone - http://www.advancedelements.com/fishbone.html
Airboard Rocket - http://www.airboard.com/en/products/product/SUP-Airboard-ROCKET-blue
Just noticed this on an ad in Supthemag : http://www.advancedelements.com/sup/fishbone-sup/
and searched to see if it was on the forum already - and I guess I missed the post above from 2 years ago.
(http://www.advancedelements.com/client_files/innovation_14.jpg)
Sort of a stick-on 2 ft section of displacement/fin-like front end on it. Might help tracking too? But is it better then the pointy nose of a Sea Eagle Needlenose?
Siren iSUPs has a unique DH concept on their board. It inflates separately...
http://siren-supsurfing.com/produkt/ray-12-6dh/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNY2kfCWVpc
Now - take the Siren big fat blister, put a hard inflatable tube for a keel but lower the pressure in the blister, and you have the narrow keel like the inflatable boats use - should end up looking more like the Advance Elements glued-on nose/keel/thingy but roll up with the rest of the board when deflated.
And I still think they could make a "dugout deck" inflatable using the Sea Eagle's design for the kayaks - a 3" deck with side rails would be more stable and maybe as or even more rigid than the current 6" thick boards.