Messages

1

SUP General / Re: SUP Goals for 2017

« on: January 06, 2017, 11:16:41 AM »

SUP Goals for 2017:
Being part of the 100/100 Paddle Challenge Group on Facebook, my first goal is to complete 500 paddle miles by April 10th.  It will be difficult paddling here in Maryland as this winter so far is a cold one and the water is starting to freeze.  Add shorter days of daylight and its a tough challenge for me but I am going for it. 

Continue cross training to perform better in races and get ready for the Carolina Cup Graveyard Race in April!!!!!
Lose 10 lbs over next couple months.  I lost 35 lbs 4 years ago and I have kept most of it off but put about 10lbs of it back on over the winter it seems.  Its amazing how paddling can help maintain your weight with a good diet. 

Do not purchase any NEW race boards.  Last fall I got my 2016 Infinity Whiplash and a 2016 All Star.  I need to race these boards for an entire season or two before getting a new one but every year I see the new boards coming out and order one.  I'm an Infinity Multiple fin board paddler so I like riding there newest designs but it gets quite expensive.  I will say my current Whiplash is damn near perfect.  No Complaints.  Last 2 race results were very good on it.  I have a race coming up Jan 20th in Wrightsville Beach.  One immediate goal is to do well in that race but most importantly have fun at the event.  Otherwise why race?! If you are not having fun doing it, your doing it for the wrong reasons.

One final goal- surf sup more days this year and do more downwinders.

2

Gear Talk / Re: Transfering RSPro railtape onto a new board

« on: January 06, 2017, 10:51:03 AM »

Just to jump in here.  I've also been able told remove RSPro Rail tape and I use a hair dryer over a heat gun because if your not careful with the heat gun you can damage the board.  Just use caution.

I am a huge fan of the RSPro tape but I'm always searching for a less expensive product because I repair boards for people and often add rail tape to there boards if I think they should be using it.

I just purchased some rail tape called SUPSMART RAIL TAPE.  It is texturized just like the RSPro tape and for 2-4" by 84" pieces cost me $30. 

I got it for my new Infinity Surf Sup.  I was actually able to cut it in half and I will do 2 boards with the 4 pieces.
I only put it where my paddle could potentially hit the board.  It is definitely worth checking out.

I also really like the RSPro clear traction pads.  Have some of those on order to install on the nose of my Infinity and Starboard Hypernut.  The traction pads are very nice.

3

Gear Talk / Re: ProBox Installations: Solid or Leaky?

« on: November 11, 2016, 08:11:42 AM »

I have been installing Pro Boxes in SUP race boards for a couple years now.  I have only had to replace one Pro Box so far and that was from the owner dropping his board with the fins still in it on the concrete.  Any fin box could be damaged this way.  However, there was only minimal damage to the carbon.  The Pro Box was in tact.  Because the board owner is a good friend and it was a new board, I replaced the Pro Box with a new one just to check and see if the EPS was still structurally sound. The routed hole had been lined with fiberglass so the EPS was fine. All I did was router out the Pro Box and install a new one with new fiberglass.

When an installer follows the installation instructions for Pro Boxes exactly as described, it is a water tight strong fin box.  I have not seen one leak in my area yet and there are a lot of Infinity, Evolve custom raceboards and Solace Sup boards that all use Pro Boxes.  Evolve and Solace are both local companies based out of Ocean City, MD.

Pro Boxes are very easy to install using the templates.  The templates also serve as a Dam to catch any overflowing epoxy resin.
I have found that using a very slow curing epoxy resin works best.  But I do this for FCS or Futures boxes that I have had to replace as well.  And I have replaced a lot of them this past season from being pushed into the board from hitting rocks or the sea floor.  The other day I was paddling my starboard all star and hit a 2x6 pressure treated piece of lumber that was floating just under the surface.  It hit my ventral fin first than my 3 rear fins.  I thought, Oh my, my fins are cracked and I had to damage a box.  I paddled to a nearby beach and flipped my board over to discover no fin damage nor any box damage. This just showed me how durable Allison fins and Pro Boxed are.  It is all I will install in my SUP race boards.  Plus Pro Boxes let you masked your board very versatile.  If you want the best, choose there best.  Allison Fins and Pro Boxes.

4

Gear Talk / Re: ProBox Installations: Solid or Leaky?

« on: November 11, 2016, 07:45:55 AM »

I have been installing Pro Boxes for 2 years now.  There are a lot of Sup race boards in my area with Pro Boxes installed in them from Infinity.  All the other SUP race boards that have them here, I have installed.  I have only had to replace one Pro Box and that was because the owner left his board lying on a picnic table and the wind blew it off landing on the fins.  Ant fin box would be damaged from a hit like that.  But there was only a slight crack in the carbon.  Because the owner is a good friend and it was a fairly new board, I told him just let me remove and replace it to make sure there was no foam damage.  The routed hole was lined with fiberglass and there was no foam damage so it was an easy Pro Box replacement.

5

Gear Talk / Re: Ventral Fin and fin tests

« on: September 21, 2016, 11:22:36 AM »

Ponobill,
Install looks good.  If you wanted to hide the patchwork on the black carbon boards you can get some Rustoleum black spray enamel and lightly paint it.  Wait a day and then wet sand.  It blends it right in.  I've done a lot of black carbon repairs.  Just finished a retro fit on a 2016 Blackish and had to move the ventral box for the owner back toward the balance point about 12".

The White boards make it very easy to hide the repairs and fin box installs.  This one I will paint once I test ride the board and make sure it worked for the owner.