Messages

3181

SUP General / Re: Quiver Management - Suggestions Please

« on: January 16, 2012, 06:15:57 PM »

Yeah that pad does look strangely forward.

Since you're a fellow east coast surfer, maybe what's happen here in NC might apply to you. 8'6 is starting to look long around here. 9 footers are becoming extinct. 8ft and under is so much faster and better at handling our type surf. For a experienced guy like you the difference in stability going short is a non issue when you keep the same width.

3182

Gear Talk / Re: Naish Mana 9'0" or Starboard Converse

« on: January 13, 2012, 05:35:46 PM »

DW, I know what you mean about the handle.  My Catalina has the "ledge" handle and I love it!

The Mana looks to have a little more rocker than the Converse, but looks can be deceiving.  Anyone have any idea which one is more stable?

Jill

Stability is not an issue. I've never seen a women struggle on the Mana. The rocker is beginner friendly for those learning to surf.

3183

Gear Talk / Re: Naish Mana 9'0" or Starboard Converse

« on: January 13, 2012, 02:33:44 PM »

Naish Mana 9'0, the best women's board ever! My wife on one. If that Mana has the newer style handle, don't even consider hauling a board with those other handles.

3184

SUP General / Re: shrink/resize photos before posting?!

« on: January 12, 2012, 04:40:38 AM »

Not a Windows guy anymore, but what ever happened to just right clicking on a photo in Windows and resizing right there?

It was part of the TweakUI bonus pack in Windows XP.

3185

Gear Talk / Re: Has anyone had any experirance with bonded on strap handles

« on: January 11, 2012, 11:30:48 AM »

The early ones did release. They used double sided 3M tape.

The new ones use thick gel type super glue. You can't get those off. I had to take a grinder to my kiteboard to get one off.

3186

SUP General / Re: Grinding a Carbon Paddle Blade

« on: January 09, 2012, 06:32:26 PM »

For a Kialoa paddle, what kind of room do I have on each side before I hit foam? DW, you mentioned a 1/4 inch each side. Did you hit foam?

I did cut deep enough to expose the core. It never delaminated. It was a Shaka Pu'u. The paddle was no good to me wide, so I had nothing to loose.

I've cut them all. I trimmed 1/8 off the edges of a QB. I cut the end on a Nitro and a C4 XPR. Never had one delaminate. Maybe I'm just lucky, or maybe the wife doesn't stress the gear.

3187

SUP General / Re: Grinding a Carbon Paddle Blade

« on: January 09, 2012, 04:41:29 PM »

Wow, what a bunch of pu**ies 

This old red neck has cut down several carbon paddles to make them small for my wife. Back when all paddles were too big.

Easy to cut with a hacksaw. I trimmed 1/4" off both sides and sealed the edge with JB weld. The paddle is still in use after years.

3188

Gear Talk / Re: Anyone else have problems with Larry Allison returning emails or calls?

« on: January 07, 2012, 11:53:27 AM »

Can a guy go on vacation without people going postal?

Maybe he's off to SurfExpo and a vacation. Not everyone is a big corporation.

3189

Gear Talk / Re: Can Suction Cups Damage a SUP Finish?

« on: January 06, 2012, 05:59:01 PM »

I've been suction cups a long time. They stick-on super strong, yet big waves still tear them off. No delam.

3190

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

« on: January 04, 2012, 02:08:03 PM »

For surfing I've been using a Maliko xTuf at 74". Went back up to 78" yesterday to see how it felt. Answer: not quite as good.

Bill,

We have found, when pushing the limits of balance surfing small SUPs, short paddles severely hamper your balance. You want an upright torso for the best balance. Short paddles make you bend over a lot and really make you bonk a lot.

i have actually experienced the exact opposite as you. granted i don't think i necessarily surf a 'short' board since i ride a 9'0, and i am 6'2, 185. i now prefer a shorter paddle for surfing, and my current paddle is 5, maybe 6 inches overhead. i find the shorter paddle MUCH better for when the waves get big (and i know that big is a relative term, but for me it's big when it's over head to a couple feet overhead, and anything more than that i am just a spectator!).

when i surf the steeper, late-drop beach breaks the longer paddle is actually a hinderance. for those waves you already need to be in your surf stance, starting to crouch down (you can still crouch or get down and still keep a straight torso)  and be ready to go. with a longer paddle you are crouched down, but your arms are way up in the air while paddling, which its throwing off your balance. The shorter paddle allows me to bend at the knees a touch and lower my center of gravity and really dig in and take a later drop much easier. now even if it's a big day and it's a slow rolling, a-frame type wave, the paddle length wouldn't be as critical i would think. just my two cents, and YMMV!

Most of what you talk about is surfing related and not staying upright related. When I'm battling whitewater on the way out, having a short paddle really hurts my ability to stick the foam and stay upright.

The other area of improvement is trolling for waves. Just cruising and staying upright in wicked chop is easier when your paddle actually reaches the water. My paddle must always be planted to stay standing. If you can stand without the paddle planted, your board isn't small.

3191

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

« on: January 04, 2012, 12:33:41 PM »

For surfing I've been using a Maliko xTuf at 74". Went back up to 78" yesterday to see how it felt. Answer: not quite as good.

Bill,

We have found, when pushing the limits of balance surfing small SUPs, short paddles severely hamper your balance. You want an upright torso for the best balance. Short paddles make you bend over a lot and really make you bonk a lot.

3192

SUP General / Re: Why is it so hard to find a good shaper who will do an SUP?

« on: January 02, 2012, 05:23:35 PM »

DW,
But even if costs are double for making sups, they are charging three times the cost of a short board.  I just dont see how it can not be worth it; especially when shapers usually have too little work (note all the Support Your Local Shapers posts here).
I am a firm believer in custom boards - sup, long, or short. But that is also why it bothers me to think shapers are really missing the boat if they're not making sups.  And, again, i think it's mainly pride and an unwillingness to change.
I made a 12'6 (an incredibly bad one, btw) and paid retail for the foam, cloth and epoxy. Plus pad, vent, handle, it came out around $400. I would guess a pro could get the materials much cheaper.   i see new boards going for $2k and up. How does the math not work?

A pro won't shape crap construction grade EPS. They also won't use crap NON surfboard glass. Yes you can make boards cheap using the cheapest materials.

How many hours did it take you? is your time worth $50/hr or $10/hr?

Nobody's getting rich off this, so if they don't want the hassle, the low margin makes it easy to say no.

I had $600 in materials in my first 7'8. My 14 footers were $900 in materials. I refuse to shape for anyone but the wife and I. Not enough money in it.

I think we're several years away from being able to find SUP shapers everywhere.

3193

SUP General / Re: Why is it so hard to find a good shaper who will do an SUP?

« on: January 02, 2012, 01:25:32 PM »

BLANKs and CLOTH

It's way to expensive if you're not already into SUPs.

Cloth has to be bought by the roll. Enough to make tons of boards. Otherwise the cost per yard for wide SUP cloth is double.

There are no high performance SUP blanks in the blank catalogs for shapers to pick from. For prone boards, the catalogs are full of choices.

So a shaper needs to create a shape in CAD and send it to someone like Marko, to be CNC custom cut. Then you've got shipping cost for ONE big blank.

You really have to find the rare shaper who is into SUP.

3194

Gear Talk / Re: concave vs speed and planing

« on: January 01, 2012, 06:41:37 PM »

exactly what I mean   do sup  actually go fast enough to plane?

They do when you get down to 14 lbs and under 8 ft. As anyone who windsurfs can tell you, weight is EVERYTHING when it comes to planing. The lightest board wins the race to get on a plane.

3195

Gear Talk / Re: concave vs speed and planing

« on: January 01, 2012, 03:48:57 PM »

......experience on long boards. I always found the v  turns better and were faster down the line.

rarely have I seen a longboard actually plane. displacement hulls are faster at sub planing speeds.