Messages

3151

Wind Powered / Re: Classic wave shapes

« on: March 01, 2012, 11:52:38 AM »

Huh, you windsurf now?

I don't miss longer boards. After leaving the sport when boards were mid 8s and coming back to it and adjusting to 7'11" I'm in love.  I stayed away from hard core wave shapes this time, that I used to ride exclusively. Always customs back then.

Now it just blows my mind to windsurf a freestyle wave board that surfs better than my wave board from the mid 8s era, that also planes up fast and flies.

But it sure did take some time to adjust. I think our adjustment problem was complicated by the wrong sails for our taste. We're now on Ezzy Panthers, that mesh with our boards 100% better.

 

3152

The Shape Shack / Re: Rocker #'s

« on: March 01, 2012, 04:41:20 AM »

I measure every SUP I can get my hands on to create my own database.

The average for an 8 footer is about 3.25 tail and 5.75 nose. Probably flatter for a Simmons. Maybe 3" tail and 5.5 nose.

3153

Gear Talk / Re: PSH Hull Paddler

« on: February 29, 2012, 01:59:03 PM »

Jill,

It sounds like you must demo whatever you're thinking will solve your problems.

The key reason, a bigger board will be heavier and might cause you to miss more waves. My wife hates this. It's like trying to pull a truck. She catches more waves with a lighter board, even if shorter.

Another point, PSH boards are not known for speed outside Hawaii. They have lots of rocker and Vee in the bottoms. In a Hawaiian wave with power, yeah, they're fast.

I really don't think any of us can solve your problems. You're likely to go through lots of boards as your SUP "surfing" skills evolve. Just as you went through piles of boards on the racing side. Been there, done that, ourselves.

3154

Gear Talk / Re: Time for a 2nd board.... suggestions?

« on: February 28, 2012, 05:53:17 PM »

One thing that I dont like about the Hokua is the V-Bottom section at the tail, awesome once your moving, but on some slower waves, I sometimes feel the need to keep paddling, which I dont on other boards.

Not only that, but that bottom shape makes it far less stable. Almost anything of similar dimensions, with a more current bottom shape, would out perform it in every way. That shape is something like 5 years old by now.

3155

SUP General / Re: If you carry a waterproof phone...

« on: February 27, 2012, 09:11:22 AM »

I think the likelihood of surviving a heart attack on a Maliko run is vanishingly small.

I agree. I asked my doctor to give me a heart stress test. I know doing downwinders pushes my heart harder than any other sport I've done before. My doctor friends, who also do sports with me, had stress tests done too. Even though they are much younger than me.

3156

Technique / Re: The back foot -- getting it on the tail for for surfing

« on: February 25, 2012, 04:21:29 AM »

DW....what are your thoughts on what would need to be done to get your shape suitable for 240 lbs. I'm thinking about having an 8'er shaped for myself as incentive to get down to at least 240 and that board looks very much like what I have in mind. Wondering about the width though. I still have crappy balance so real stable is an crucial.

8'6 x 32 x 4.75 would be my best guess. I say 8'6 because to me, that length is the point where anyone can do it. The 8'6 length has replaced the 9'3 as the go too starting point for downsizing.

3157

Technique / Re: The back foot -- getting it on the tail for for surfing

« on: February 24, 2012, 10:18:41 AM »

DW,

LOVE that outline!

It's the Channel Island's Dumpster Diver. Image blown up and traced exactly. The Jacky size is an exact match. The Dwight size had the width blown out a touch. It took a lot of image searching to find one that would blow up and hit the width I needed, at the length I wanted.

I captured the true template without distortion.

With no experience myself, it can't hurt to copy the best.

I've owned a few heavy domed deck boards. Kyle Bernhardt had the most. Naish the second most dome. I was going for a deck between the Naish and the dead flat PSH. I'm pleased with how the rails turned out and the deck comfort.

3158

Gear Talk / Re: eBook on Choosing a Paddle

« on: February 24, 2012, 10:03:54 AM »

When you swap you might get a used blade or a new one, but you'll have the blade you want.

Thank heaven for fresh ideas. You're a genius Bill.

The longer I own mine, the more I love having my paddle hot glued at every connection. I've blown through way to much money in the past changing my mind on shaft lengths and blade sizes. FREEDOM from the shackles of the old way of doing things  

Just last week, I cut 3/4" inch off my shaft, then wasn't sure I liked it cut. I just heated things up and pulled the handle out 1/2".

3159

Technique / Re: The back foot -- getting it on the tail for for surfing

« on: February 24, 2012, 06:46:59 AM »

DW, I'm about your weight. How wide and thick are your 7-8s?

Full CAD drawings right here http://ncpaddlesurfer.blogspot.com/2011/12/cad-drawings-for-jacky-and-dwight-model.html

3160

Technique / Re: The back foot -- getting it on the tail for for surfing

« on: February 23, 2012, 04:51:54 PM »

abmatt,

Yep, been through all the same issues myself. I solved it though.

Some boards are a bitch to get your foot back there, and keep it there. Often, the tails just lacked enough volume for my 194 lbs to make it easy. Middle weights make it looks easy. But they should, they float high and dry compared to me. Then other boards just seem to have complicated rockers that make the board perform radically different with slight changes in foot placement. I hate that type of rocker.

I took everything I didn't like in all the boards I've owned and demoed, and tried to make something that would solve all "my" issues. I had a good rocker to copy (from a board I owned). Then I changed the template to widen the tail slightly, but more importantly I moved the wide point back, adding more float to the rear half of the board. Next I made sure not to include any V. I hated heavy V in everything I ever surfed. It adds shimmy wobbles when you're pushing limits volume wise and it's counter to everything we know is good for speed. V is slower. V is a displacement bottom. Flat is fast. Concave is fast, provided you don't add V. You add V for control and easier rolling rail to rail turning. We don't need this with a 7'8. And with super sonic speed, it turns BETTER than with V going regular speeds. Put V in a windsurfer and you'll get your doors blown off.

What I got when I combined all these ideas was the fastest board any of us has ever surfed standing.

The length at 7'8, eliminates the need to run up and down the deck. The flat bottom, nose to tail, gives it way more stability than you can possibly imagine. The wide tail makes you feel empowered like superman. It just flies and each little push of the back foot gives it jet like propulsion. It's a whole new world for myself and all the people using the new shape.

3161

Downwind and Racing / Re: original maliko 14

« on: February 23, 2012, 11:08:46 AM »

Wow, impressed you're dropping weight. Wasn't your original about 21 pounds? Switched glassing factory too?

3162

Gear Talk / Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle

« on: February 20, 2012, 08:30:52 AM »

I fumble the hand switch with EVA. Almost as clumsy as using gloves for me. I like a bare handle without the slippery finish. When I use palm style handles I need a little patch of grip. With the Ergo-T the grip is fine as-is.

The shaft still needs more grip to suit my taste. I'm back to using my old favorite grip from XM surf more. http://surfmorexm.com/content/clear-grip™-surfboard-traction

 This stuff is thin, light, and just the right amount of traction for the paddle shaft. Many other stick on sheets are either too aggressive or too thick and heavy.

3163

Gear Talk / Re: review of the Ke Nalu (Pono Bill) paddle

« on: February 17, 2012, 04:26:15 PM »

Just about ready to pull the trigger but really can't decide between the molokai and maliko.

I'm 5'10" 225, pretty strong guy, trying to work on my Tahitian stroke, spend most sessions trolling for waves up and down the coast on my 10'4" PSH.  I'll cover 2 or 3 miles up and down the coast during a session.   Anyone paddled both the molokai and the maliko and could give me their thoughts on how they compare. 

I use a paddle with a 90 sq in. blade now and I often don't find the catch very satisfying and feel that I could apply a lot more power to a bigger blade.

 

Thanks

You should tell us the brand of that 90 sq in paddle. All 90 sq inchers are not created equal. Then we can tell you about how much extra power the KeNalu might have.

3164

SUP General / Re: what about FINS

« on: February 17, 2012, 08:03:19 AM »

Shouldn’t we therefore be talking about intended board speed in a fin discussion?  

I'm with you on this one.

My feel from the board takes me to the smallest fin that produces enough lift to drive me, without stepping over that edge when it slows me down. So I test until I find that edge. The only time an over sized (compared to prone board) fin worked out better for me, was when I owned a SUP with  chunky monkey rails that didn't work very well. I sold that lemon long ago. I'm not SUPing with a slow board. My 7'8 screams.

3165

SUP General / Re: Sunset Pro Semi Finals up

« on: February 17, 2012, 04:40:55 AM »

wtf.  a little more info.. did i miss spell it?

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