Messages

31

Downwind and Racing / Re: 12'6 windsurf raceboards vs. 12'6 race sups?

« on: April 06, 2017, 05:11:17 PM »

I SUPed on a windsurfer one design when I started, and also tried a Mistral SST.  They have better glide than a surf style SUP, but certainly don't compare to a 14 foot race board.  A flat one design might have been better that the SST, since the SST had more nose rocker which shortened the waterline, and seemed to slap and slow down on even small waves.  In a rec race against surf style board you'd do well, but I doubt they'd keep up with a piercing flatwater board.  Nose rocker might help for downwind, but the lack of speed might making catching bumps hard.

Peter

32

The Shape Shack / Re: Jimmy Lewis board construction videos.

« on: March 12, 2017, 12:39:42 PM »

Yes, these are great videos.  I have used this plastic technique before on windsurfers, both with and without a vacuum.  If you do a vacuum on this, especially with peel ply and stuff to soak up the excess resin you will end up with a thin laminate which will be much more ding and dent prone.  (been there, done that)  That could be solved with another layer of glass for a thicker laminate, but perhaps that alters the board's flex properties too much(?)

I think this plastic method does help compress the laminate a bit since he compresses and pulls things, and with no air able to get back in, it could stop the weave from springing apart quite as much as it might with nothing on top of it.  It seems to really help wrapping the rails, which is where i have found it works really well, although he not surprisingly does it better than I do.  Clearly on a race board, or a board with a sandwich construction this will not give the lightest possible result, but I think it is not simply a case of cutting corners and not doing it right.  It makes sense for this type of construction.

One thing I might add it that if you do something like this and end up with a few bubbles that are a long way from the rails, if you are wrinkling things too much and not getting them out cleanly, just use a pin to make a hole to let the air out and press it down cleanly.  But, of course,I'm sure Jimmy never has to do that!

Good to see he's using Chinook boxes too.  Some boxes and so flimsy.

Peter

33

The Shape Shack / Re: Custom decals/lams. Print your own or use a service?

« on: October 01, 2016, 04:49:11 AM »

Yes, I have done small logos on both and inkjet and a color laser printer.  Both worked fine for me. 

Peter

34

The Shape Shack / Re: 9 oz Carbon on sale at FGS

« on: September 29, 2016, 04:16:50 AM »

The hydrofoil strut/mast that I built used all unidirectional and biax.  Plain weave has half the material in the wrong direction, and in this one part it does seem to matter.  Mine has a thin corecell core, and mine is just stiff enough so plain weave would not work.  Perhaps over hardwood it might work.

It's a great deal though, I just need to figure out where i could use it......

Peter

35

The Shape Shack / Re: How do I fix this paint bubble?

« on: July 25, 2016, 01:27:42 PM »

If you drop the pressure in the board to 1psi, you'll have about 14psi trying to crush the board.  That's 2000 lbs on each square foot of the board.  Surely that would crush it really flat.  When I've built board vacuum bagging we use way less vacuum for fear of crushing the board.  Or am I misunderstanding something here?

It seems to me the paint lifted because unlike the fiberglass, the paint was still sealed.  Your board probably just got hotter than it has been before and it happened fast enough that the goretex vent (?) could not keep up.  The paint lifted and may have then stratched and got a hole in the paint.  If there was a hole in the paint all along I don't think the paint would have lifted as air tried to get out.

It may be unlikely that there's much water in there if it is a new problem.  If it's likely a new problem and not a lot of dampness in there, I would probably no go to town trying to dry it out.  Let it get hot in the sun and dry, and let it breath in and out a bit.  Then seal it.  Is it likely that there is a bit of dampness going to stay in there?  Yes.  Will you be able to tell when paddling?  No.

Peter

36

Foil SUP / Re: Diy sup foil

« on: July 02, 2016, 06:03:49 AM »

Looks awesome, are you riding that downwind, or are you on a swell?  I'm also curious what you did about the stabilizer angle.

My foil (for kiting) is finished enough to ride, but needs some prettying up.  I mounted it to an old Bic Astro Rock I got from my dad, I think it's about 120L.  But I put it forward, for towing behind a boat.  I can start standing and gradually build up speed.  Other than a big crash I took from high up where I landed on the foil and severely bruise my thigh partially crippling myself, I'd say it went well.  I kept doing it but by the time I came ashore I could barely walk!  I had not paid attention to the rear stabilizer angle though, and it was essentially at 0 degrees.  I just re-watched that video I posted on the previous page and think I need about 3 degrees of angle at the rear as a start.  Hopefully I can fix that, heal up and wrap my self in bubble wrap and have another go in a couple days!

Peter

37

Foil SUP / Re: Diy sup foil

« on: June 17, 2016, 04:38:25 AM »

Thanks SUPsports, I think I'll stick with the plate mount, and will also mount it to a old windsurfer kicking around with a mor forward plate mount for some low speed learning behind a boat.  I'll maybe see how this goes and decide if this gets adapted to windsurfing later, when I move on to version 2.0.

That must be Terrie you're talking about??

Peter

38

Foil SUP / Re: Diy sup foil

« on: June 16, 2016, 06:30:04 PM »

That's a great link for a big discussion on foils.  The nay-sayers who know everything that's wrong with it and have never done it are classic!

So, a DEEP tuttle you say?  Not even a regular tuttle box?  That's much too deep to fit in any kiteboard I own!  I'll have to post up some pics of the foil I've made soon.  Everything but the board mount and final finishing are done, so I need to make a decision!!

Thanks,
Peter

39

Foil SUP / Re: Diy sup foil

« on: May 25, 2016, 03:06:15 PM »

Getting back to a previous discussion on this thread, here is something i saw on kiteforum about the angle of the rear wing.  Might be useful and is not quite what I was told.


Peter

40

Gear Talk / Re: Pitfalls of a cheap i-SUP?

« on: May 25, 2016, 06:40:19 AM »

Thanks for the info.  The only paddling experience they have is on my race boards, so I was warning my sister that a 10 foot tubby plastic board would be too much of a change.  I'm hoping maybe a 12'6" or 14' inflatable at half the weight, even if a bit flexy, will paddle better than the plastic tub(?) 

I really don't see it used beyond a recreational level.  I also told them I'd build them a nice carbon paddle.  I tried a neighbor's cheap paddle and wow, yes some are really junky and heavy but I guess that adds to the exercise!  Good point about Costco having a decent return policy.  The only thing I wanted to check about was whether a cheap board might get used at the cottage for a week and paddled a few other times over the year, and fall apart after a few years of light use, just due to age.  As long as they don't have a short shelf life, then I think it does sound like this is the best option for them.

Thx,
Peter

41

Gear Talk / Pitfalls of a cheap i-SUP?

« on: May 24, 2016, 03:30:10 PM »

My sister is looking to get a SUP for occasional recreational use and at a cottage for a week each summer.  They have a dog which they will not be able to keep off it.  The board will never be surfed or raced or downwinded.  The water will be flat.   The shore it is launched from can be a bit rocky.  I suggested to her that the dog claws should not be an issue for an inflatable, and with it weighing just over half the weight of some big plastic tubs (their other possible option), might be easier for loading on (in) the car.  Did I mention they're not looking to spend a lot of money?

There are some fairly cheap inflatables at Costco.  But, what are the issues with those cheap inflatables?  Do they only handle a low pressure and flex like a noodle?  Do they weather and wear out?  Thin and easily punctured?   I know the saying "you get what you pay for", and I'm wondering what they'll be missing with a cheap board like this?

Also, is the time spent inflating it a hassle?  I've never had my hands on an inflatable. 

Thanks,
Peter

42

Foil SUP / Re: Diy sup foil

« on: May 21, 2016, 07:42:54 PM »

It's cool to see how this is progressing.

Here's something just slightly off topic (sorry!).  Speaking of foils, I asked this on the kiteforum and have not got an answer.  Does anyone know much about windsurf foils (DW)?  I don't have much use for a SUP foil unless they work in flat water, but I'm hoping to used the foil I'm building for kiting and windsurfing, since we have a number of days when the kite launching and getting back to shore is a bit of an issue, and windsurfing is less of a problem that way. 

I'm wondering about the lateral loads on the mount to the board on a windfoil.  I had planned to use a plate mount, but am wondering if I should do a tuttle mount, which is maybe not my first choice for a kiteboard.  I was hoping to keep the carbon foil fairly light, but wonder if it needs a tougher mast/strut to take the windsurfing loads.  Even if the old board I'm going to use is less wide and if the straps are not out near the rails, I would assume the typical lateral fin loading when applied with so much more of a moment arm would make for much high stresses on a windfoil.  Does that make sense?

Or, does anyone know of a differnt online source for good info on windfoils??

Thanks,
Peter

43

Foil SUP / Re: Kai Lenny Downwind SUP Foil

« on: May 11, 2016, 04:23:32 AM »

DW, what kind of foil are you using on the windsurfer?  I see you are using the regular finbox at the back, and am wondering if your setup has a longer distance from the front wing to the mast, or whether your mast rakes forward underwater, or if you have to stand further back.  From what I hear if using the main finbox you need to get the wing further forward than the typical setup on a kiteboard.

Thx,
Peter

44

SUP General / Re: Slight buckling on deck??

« on: May 10, 2016, 09:29:57 AM »

I've built quite a few windsurfers and buckled and repaired a couple of them.  How far forward is the buckle (if it is buckled)?  Generally the loading is most significant in the middle of the board, and if the deck is recessed so the board is thinner in the middle then I would also think a buckle could occur closer to the middle of the board.  But depending on how it gets pounded on shorebreak or badly loaded in a big stack on the roofrack, if could buckle in other places.  It also depends how thin the skin is.  Is the deck in the area domed or flat?  Is the "buckle" the full width or only part of the width?  What does it look like where it meets the rails?  A round wavy buckle may end with a crack at the rail.  More photos would help.

I agree if paddling it in waves and tough conditions you'd need to think about this carefully.  If it's flatwater cruising, use it to get a better price!

Peter

45

Foil SUP / Re: Kai Lenny Downwind SUP Foil

« on: May 10, 2016, 03:52:57 AM »

The aqua skipper does have some flotation in it so it sinks maybe 2/3 under water.  I was told I was quite good first time, and made it maybe 100 feet that day on my longest run before losing the proper motion and sinking.  They are awkward to swim with.  Starting from in the water?  Not a chance.  Pushing off a low dock with the thing in the water was the easy(ish) way to start.

Peter