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Messages - The Kernel

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1
Yup...Got the t-shirt on this one...

Usually when going out in late afternoon/early evening, I try to remember to remove the Photon I Micro-Light from my keychain and leave it on my car rooftop so I can use it later to read the numbers on the lockbox.  Unfortunately, too often I either forget to do that, or I don't need to use the light, then forget to put it back on my keyring, only to have that little light blow off the car roof at some point on the ride home...then gotta buy another new light, which I OF COURSE usually forget to do. 

About a week ago at Doheny I found myself in the nighttime keybox fumble again--my light having been lost to the rooftop recently.  I HAD anticipated this and had left my lighter on the roof, but of course it decided to sputter out its last gasp just when I needed it.  It took about 20 minutes of shivering and squinting at shadows to get the lockbox open because no one was around to help. 

There's gotta be a product idea out there--something that operates by a Braille-like system or by directional movement?  (Just found this one for a potential stocking stuffer:  https://www.amazon.com/KeyGuard-SL-501-Capacity-Storage-Shackle/dp/B00JRWCQLS/ref=pd_sbs_263_2/137-7464083-5018456?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00JRWCQLS&pd_rd_r=7a1bb6f9-c5c2-4e0a-bb4d-bec6204acf0e&pd_rd_w=GOE6u&pd_rd_wg=QkZhn&pf_rd_p=b65ee94e-1282-43fc-a8b1-8bf931f6dfab&pf_rd_r=CYN6ZPHBKYJSN2Q3MB63&psc=1&refRID=CYN6ZPHBKYJSN2Q3MB63)

Maybe the simpler solution is to get an extra keychain light or small flashlight and then hot glue a magnet onto it so it can be left leave magnetically attached in an accessible spot under the car?

2
The Shape Shack / Re: How to fix delamination bubble?
« on: July 27, 2020, 02:08:40 PM »
Beautiful work Puget!   

I myself apparently rode the short bus to board repair school; you'll see when I get the time to post my latest repair....Mine are water tight, but ugly....

3
The Shape Shack / Re: Do you use glass for pinholes?
« on: June 03, 2020, 08:44:40 AM »
"...If the holes are as small as you state, putting the board in the sun a while, then cleaning the bottom well, sanding lightly, brushing on some epoxy, and putting the board in shade or a cool room will pull the epoxy into the holes. "

Brilliant!  Never have considered using thermal variation to help pull epoxy into a board as it contracts while cooling.  Adding to my list of tricks....Thanks Bill! 

4
The Shape Shack / Re: Do you use glass for pinholes?
« on: June 01, 2020, 12:56:47 PM »
Bulky:

That's awesome your kids have gotten the stoke!  Your idea could work just fine and I've done that too. 

In general, I've been pretty aggressive at laying extra glass and resin in those types of situations.  If it's a board that gets subjected to those conditions, I like to reinforce the area that has been most scraped AND mitigate future damage.  This of course means the board will take on some extra weight--just de minimis in my view; some guys might be aghast at adding a few grams.

Sounds also like an opportunity for your son to learn some repair techniques, even if it's just observing the process.  I had a buddy do likewise with his own son and it was quite enlightening and empowering for the young man.

5
SUP General / Re: Surfboards (Longboards)
« on: May 20, 2020, 09:00:27 PM »
Night Wing:

More to add to your information pile....Here are pictures of my 9'6" Stewart 808 (Basically same model line as 949) that I purchased last year from the used rack at Stewart's surf shop in San Clemente, CA for $400 if I remember correctly--maybe $450.  I run the five fin setup, as Bill Stewart recommends, but probably wouldn't know any better to change it anyhow.  I consider this my "go to" board for most conditions here in SoCal.  (I added the tail handle and carrying handle; spillover from my SUP protocol).

I'm 52, 5'9" 190#, an intermediate level long boarder at best, but have caught more than the share of waves I deserve.  I have found this particular model to be good for glide in, fast down the line, and fairly snappy on turns.  Pretty much wherever I look, the board goes, just like a motorcycle.  First time I ever rode one from this model line was in overhead conditions at Churches and I LOVED how it would lock into the wave, so I guess I am a guy who loves his performance longboard. 

Using a car analogy, I'd consider the Stewart 808/949 a Chevy Impala SS.  For more of a "limousine" feel, I borrow my neighbor's 10' Midget Smith (three fin boxes, but theirs is set up with only large single fin).  That board is longer, thicker, and heavier, but it catches EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING.  It makes one feel like they have superpowers.  It is also super stable, and still turns very well if desired--just not as snappy as the 808.  The Midget Smith has acquired almost legendary status in our neighborhood and if I was smart I'd probably get one for myself--used because Midget no longer around.  If I keep piling weight on, I may have no choice! 

For now, the 808/949 does the job VERY well.





 

6
Gear Talk / Re: Fin Fit
« on: October 10, 2019, 10:49:59 AM »
Having shimmed up windsurfing fins for decades, I have been in the habit of cutting pieces of thin plastic as you might find on common packaging. I keep a supply of different thicknesses as I swap different fins between different boards. Your metallic tape definitely works better than painters tape or duct tape, which both tend to shred easily.
I have had a lot fewer problems with Futures boxes than with US boxes, but I did have to shim a Futures box the other day.

I've always shimmed with paper such as a business card or just a small piece of loose leaf--all depending on the fit needed.  I wrap it around part of the base of the fin before putting the fin in the box, then slice of any excess with a razor blade.  The thinking was that the paper swells a bit when it is wet and really "locks in" the fin.  A local pro showed me this trick years ago. 

While I've never had a problem, this discussion has made me realize I probably need to expand my thinking to something more durable such as the plastic or metal tape ideas discussed here.  Actually, I'm kind of embarrassed that I didn't even think of those options; certainly those options mean that the fin can be removed and replaced with no hassle, as opposed to hunting down a new piece of paper because the existing one just falls apart upon removal.  Only shows why it's a good idea to check the Zone regularly to see what the smart people are doing.

7
Great video and beautiful waves Rick.  You must feel like a million bucks to be getting out again. 

Ironically, your use of your newly enhanced vision is exactly what made you that much more capable of spotting the sphincter tightening "potential problem" which ended the session.  Hopefully your better eyesight doesn't make you more aware of "reasons" NOT to go out, but it's pretty obvious you know what you're signing up for at that location.

Noticed that your buddy's board has some type of orca-like (presumably "anti shark") pattern on the bottom.  Did it come that way, or is that a custom job?  Is it his conscious choice to employ that as a shark deterrent?  I've gotten into the habit of painting the bottoms of boards white with black stripes whenever I do repair work, so I'm personally curious about what others are doing... 

8
Random / Re: Surfers Catch INSANE Party waves in San Diego!
« on: June 04, 2019, 05:48:52 PM »
"And in today's news in San Diego, local chiropractors are reporting a record surge in first-time visits."

9
SUP General / Re: SUP/Surf Foiling at Doheny
« on: May 17, 2019, 10:44:13 PM »
Thanks for the heads up. 

Considering that SUP's have been restricted at Doheny for years now, it's not a huge shock that foils may soon suffer a similar fate.  I'm surprised to have seen foils out in the regular lineup for so long now....

I would think Capistrano Reef's soft waves would be a good foil spot; Infinity owner Steve Boehne was telling me that very thing the other day.  Longtime locals like TallDude would be better qualified than me to add to commentary...

10
Random / Re: Flowmaster Mufflers
« on: May 10, 2019, 10:45:27 PM »
I also have geeked out on aftermarket mufflers, even on my minivans.  They seem to have increased performance, fuel mileage, and of course have a nice exhaust note.  (At least that's what I like to believe.) 

I DID learn the hard way that taking off a factory resonator (IN ADDITION to swapping out for a high flow muffler) caused an aggravating drone under load at 2,500 RPM on my V6 Honda Odyssey.  Thankfully I had actually listened to the owner of the muffler shop and held on to the resonator, "in case I ever wanted it reinstalled due to excessive drone".  After a week of driving without it, I realized that he was spot on; he graciously put the resonator back in at no cost.  That's the type of advice and service that keeps a customer for life. 

Still sounds way better than stock though, but in a respectable, "...old dude must have done that because he tows a trailer" way.    Good luck with yours; I have a friend with a V8 GM pickup that he put high flow mufflers into.  It has no separate factory resonators, so just the cat & mufflers; it is music to a car guy's ears.  Yours probably sounds similar.

11
Random / Re: Autonomous Cars
« on: May 09, 2019, 10:17:59 PM »
"There are a zillion polls out on self-driving cars--most of them say a relatively small percentage of the public would be interested, some say it's a much bigger number. That doesn't really matter much. A small percentage of people say they want to buy an electric car, but Tesla has already demonstrated that the demand is far greater than anything polled.


“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”

While it's not certain that Henry Ford ever said that, it certainly IS indicative of how Musk and other cutting edge entrepreneurs think.  For me, the sooner they come up with a car that allows me to nap comfortably while being driven to my destination, the better.

12
The Shape Shack / Re: Foam repair/glue
« on: May 09, 2019, 10:06:54 PM »
Gorilla Glue is Much-Mo-Better!

STRETCH, William Riedel, turned me on to fixing Surfboards with Gorilla glue 15+ years ago.  Whether you are packing a ding, putting in a Tuttle box or fixing a snapped board there is nothing better. 

Epoxy with Microballoons is so last century (e.g. heavy, brittle, doesn't expand to fill voids and is the kiss of death if used to install a Tuttle box for a foil board).


I definitely agree about the wonders of Gorilla Glue...I've been shameless in using it to fill large voids (a.k.a. my shaping mistakes), set in carrying handles, and even glued a snapped prone longboard back together after I found it in the trash in Manhattan Beach.  After the Gorilla gluing the foam join, I glassed over the area and then smoothed out my hack glassing job with the Microballons/epoxy paste mix--kind of like spackling drywall.  If there's a better way to do THAT part, I'm game to hear it.   

13
The Shape Shack / Re: Foam repair/glue
« on: May 06, 2019, 08:06:18 AM »
Always intriguing to see a technique from a different hobby and think how it could be applied to surfing world. 

When I first was introduced to 3M Microballoons, I was told by my local repair guy that it was used by the model/RC plane community.  Since he retired and I began fixing my own boards, I took his recommendation and now my M.O. is to mix Microballoons with epoxy to make a sandable paste for smoothing out work on boards.  Interesting to see that this article mentions a different type of spackle on this particular project.

If you can, please post the other pages.

14
Gear Talk / Re: Recommendation for High Visibility Rashguards
« on: April 18, 2019, 07:45:27 PM »
I'm much shorter than TallDude; with my body shape, I might be mistaken for the float from a crab pot.

My go-to rashguard:  https://www.columbia.com/mens-pfg-terminal-tackle-long-sleeve-tee-FM6094.html
Mine is some bright color (green I think) that I would know the name of if I wasn't color blind.

Also have a yellow Excel from a few years ago--a long-time favorite, but it's beat up from heavy use.

I became a fan of high vis rashguards years ago when I was SUP surfing with my brother in big conditions and we lost track of each other.  I was worried he had drowned, but he had just gotten pummeled and washed up on the beach.  He wanted to go back out, but couldn't track ME down because of course everyone was wearing black wetsuits so we all looked the same.  Now when I go out with guests or I'm teaching, I wear my high vis as usual (you can see I'm even wearing it in the picture for my handle here on the Zone) and I have the guest/student wear one as well.  It's makes things MUCH easier, especially when it's crowded. 

When people ask me why I wear one when I go out alone, I usually reply that--given my age--it will make body recovery easier.

15
Training, Diet, and Fitness / Re: Wrist fracture
« on: March 04, 2019, 12:22:21 AM »
Ralph:

Good luck with the recovery.  Topside of 50 usually means more healing time (for me, everything seems to take 10x longer than when I was 25), but having met you in person and seeing your surfing enough times on video, I know you are on of those "tough MFers" who will come out of this even stronger--along with creative stories to tell the TSA guys every time you set off their equipment at the airport.   

"Yeah, that's from the time I was jumped in Mexico by a couple o' cartel guys...I DID send some flowers to their next of kin.  Got the screws from a local farmer and put 'em in myself so I could keep surfing the rest of the week."

 

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