Messages

1

The Shape Shack / Custom Torx Tool for in water foil adjustments

« on: Today at 06:42:35 PM »

Ok so sometimes there's just not the perfect tool for what you need.

Problem: Need to adjust your foil in cool water. No trunks, no pockets. Also, not stabbing yourself is a bonus feature.

Solution, use your overflow resin bucket to cut a handle out. Square and flat, so it fits in the chest zip section of your wetsuit (lies flat, not like a screwdriver), is easy to get grip on (round sucks when wet) and is short enough to not kill you even if it did somehow overcome physics to stab you.

Inspired by Josh Martin (Terry's son, look him up on Instagram, great feed!) I wanted to make an artful tool that was connected to surfing and board building. Note that the blue resin is actually from the board that I'll be adjusting the foil on.

Shots are:

1-3 cutting out the chunk from 3-4 years of resin catchment with a multi-tool

4-5 drilling the hole for the Torx Bit

6-7 the Bosch Torx Bit fitting in. Drilled a little deep, so had to put a 1/4" piece of wood dowel in to set the depth right

8-9 neon green resin mixed with some Q-cell and glass fibers for strength to hold the bit (Note that this is rough sanded to 220 grit now)

10-11 finished piece, wet sanded to 600 grit and drilled for lanyard.

I'll try both a bungee keeper and maybe an EVA piece to make a float and see which I like. EVA feels likely if a piece that fits in my wetsuit chest zip area is small enough to not bother me. Otherwise I'll tether it to my key keeper with a piece of small bungee.

I have another bit so I'll probably cut another piece from another block I have that's got weirder colors and maybe shape it a bit more too. Fun project, probably 30-45 minutes total, in 15 minute sessions after work. Perfect, low hassle, high output make. Next one will be 20 minutes I'll bet now that design decisions are made.

2

The Shape Shack / Re: How youse lay down the non-skid?

« on: July 09, 2020, 06:45:35 PM »

If you check my build threads I put down some old strips of material that I had. But you could cut pieces of yours if you wanted. I did 2 layers on my SUP under the pad and I staggered them making the bottom one bigger and the top one smaller. That still wasn’t perfect like jrandy says but it was ok. Someday it might break but hopefully not for years. If you had some eva like L200 or something you could cut and sand a nice one.

On my prone board I did one layer (maybe 3-4mm) and it feels fine so maybe just one layer is cool. I wanted my SUP obvious lol.

Sanding is the key to smooth foam. You can cut it but then if you sand it it’s perfect. Don't sand where you can hit paint but for example if you cut out for a handle, sand it to a bevel after you cut it. Really sweet nice touch that I usually don’t have the patience for lol.

That’s the benefit of someone else making your board, when it’s done you’re just getting started so you can tweak out!!

3

Foil SUP / Re: Foamie foil board

« on: July 09, 2020, 07:52:52 AM »

I like it man. Non-destructive prototype. Keep em coming.

I need to start looking at craigslist for a donor.

4

Foil SUP / Re: Foamie foil board

« on: July 08, 2020, 08:57:57 PM »

Was that one of those rivieras? Those have glass under the foam I think but not much. Like maybe 1 layer of 4 Oz. So not much stronger than a wavestorm probably.

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Foil SUP / Re: Foamie foil board

« on: July 08, 2020, 06:23:37 PM »

Clay you’re right about cutting down a WS SUP. Plenty of volume.

I’m serious about the duct tape or do a sub skin anchor like I’m talking about. I don’t think this sandwich plate is the final answer here. Bottom looks fine though.

But  Clay's buddy’s idea inspires this thought. Cut bottom skin and strip out a 1’ x 3’ section. Route in some HD foam and set boxes. Then carbon and glass over it and build it up to match the skin level. I’m gonna say 6 x 6oz carbon at least. That would hold and wouldn’t require anything through the deck.

I think this might be my prototype.

6

Technique / Re: Eight Lessons Learned During My First Month of SUP

« on: July 08, 2020, 12:40:18 PM »

All true. But know that it comes quickly. Keep at it!

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Foil SUP / Re: Foamie foil board

« on: July 08, 2020, 12:36:40 PM »

And this is the ultimate first boat session board even if it’s just duct taped on Piros style. Remember to shim.

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Foil SUP / Re: Foamie foil board

« on: July 08, 2020, 12:31:48 PM »

Ok, first, I love this. Now, questions.

What’s the top surface? Will it be padded?

I immediately have ideas on this based on the Gong HIPE. Bottom plate out of glass and carbon with maybe just anchors on top of the board under the skin. You can remove and reglue sections of a wavestorm skin pretty easily. That way the top is still mostly soft. If you routed out the eps and out in 1” thick high density blocks it’d be flush with top and smooth which is safer and still way stronger than anchoring in EPS.

It might seem like a lot of effort but in the end this would be a great way to get started more safely.

I need a new wavestorm soon, maybe I’ll use mine as a donor for a 5’ beginner prone foil foamie.

Love this man. Taking it one step beyond Sam P’s idea.

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SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: FlightDeck custom foil board - build thread

« on: July 07, 2020, 08:15:20 PM »

Dude, that’s a nice construction. #goals

10

Gear Talk / Re: What do you know about VESL ?

« on: July 07, 2020, 06:45:45 PM »

Thx Kip, yeah and thanks for sensing the tone.

As was said, really nice used SUPs are practically given away here in SoCal but I know it’s hard to find them elsewhere.

Someone ought to get a group together and have Creek deliver a load into the local market. That way we’d get to see him and you too. 😅

11

Gear Talk / Re: What do you know about VESL ?

« on: July 07, 2020, 08:15:07 AM »

Kip, you’re getting a shipped SUP either way. But I understand the need to try things out. (You can test this, right?)

If you can’t test it, get something used shipped. Or buy the VESL and don’t sweat it. But I will offer that you’re asking people on here who know a lot about SUP construction and the business and have zero reason to deceive you.

So trust them when they say that there are different grades of boards. No one is saying China boards are bad by default. Blue Planet has their boards made in China. But they pay for better construction and also visit the factory to confirm that the methods and materials are what they spec.

This is contrasted by the people who are buying a container full of whatever at whatever is a cheap price. The real manufacturers aren’t just marking things up more. They are paying these factories to do more.

Above all, do what you think is best for you in your situation, in your location, at your chosen budget. Don’t worry what anyone thinks. But I’m not sure I’d try to refute what people are offering here. Your smartphone analogy only proves the point. There are $1,000 phones and $100 phones and they are far from the same.

If you are in a place without boards at all, then you likely aren’t in the ocean. So you’re not going to worry about breaking a board in shore break or waves. You likely aren’t competing in races (if you are, you can 100% buy a used board at a race, likely from a visiting pro.) So the advice those of us who live near the coast are giving isn’t as applicable to you. If you’re near a remote coast then you understand the value of buying solid gear, as your life may be in danger if it breaks. (My friends in Alaska don’t buy cheap outboards for example.)

I can confirm that the people commenting on this thread have built and repaired hundreds of boards. One is even, in my opinion, one of the better shapers in the biz. But again, what someone needs in Santa Cruz isn’t what my friends back home in the landlocked South need. They all paddle inflatable boards and I cannot fault them one bit. Great boards  for the price and the use-case. But they cannot argue that they are the best quality on the market, nor do they need to be.

You’ve gotten as good of info as we can offer. Short of cutting open a VESL you likely won’t get more. I hate to see people agonize over a choice that’s not really a choice. Unless you’re going to drive or fly or ship a few boards in sight unseen, you’ve probably got your answer and it’s fine imho. Enjoy, paddle, and don’t sweat the gear too much. Come with me to Malibu and you’ll see amazing surfers on 8’ Wavestorms. (Prone) but no one is arguing they are as good as a Stewart or whatever. And that’s totally fine. Horses for courses.

Hope this helps. Not sure why I cared enough to even comment lol but please take this in the helpful and friendly spirit it was written. I just hate to see folks make something so fun a hassle when choices are actually limited. Run what ya brung as Steamroller says lol. You will 100% have a blast and if it breaks we will help you learn to fix it and you can show us pics of the inside and solve the mystery!! 

Good luck, post pics!

12

General Discussion / Re: NEW to all of it

« on: July 06, 2020, 08:25:02 PM »

You can buy stick on bungee mounts from NSI. Buying a board for the bungee is like buying a car for the roof rack. Easy add on to any board. Literally a 15 min job with zero tools.

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Gear Talk / Re: What do you know about VESL ?

« on: July 06, 2020, 08:21:14 PM »

I correct my correction.

Buy a used name brand man.

14

General Discussion / Re: SUP Status on Totem Pole

« on: July 05, 2020, 06:39:38 PM »

Surfmats are so fun it doesn’t matter that you’re a speed bump.

15

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Gunnar's wing reviews

« on: July 05, 2020, 07:03:13 AM »

Someone correct me but I think he’s in the Canary Islands.

Tenerife?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenerife