Messages

3211

Gear Talk / Re: 8'5 Naish Hokua feedback

« on: December 20, 2011, 10:27:47 AM »

It's difficult to get exact measurements for overall tail rocker.  I got 3.125 for the 8'4 just now, and the 8'5 came out about 1/4" more.

That measurement doesn't seem like it tells the whole story though.  That is an average from the middle to the rear.  In reality, there is a "tail kick" at the end where it drops off hugely, right about where the fins start.  I notice on the 7'3 and 7'8 they both have a noticeably steeper drop off at that point than the 8'4, even though the average tail rocker is very close (on the 8'5).  I guess what I'm seeing is the 8'4 is more banana shaped (even constant curve), and the 8'5 is a more pronounced drop off at the tail... the mid section is flatter... probably part of the reason why it paddles faster.

I think the winged tail creates an optical illusion when looking at the rocker curve.

The 7'8 actually has a constant curve rocker. See here http://ncpaddlesurfer.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-i-designed-my-710.html

The only way I could determine for sure, whether a constant curve or accelerating curve was used as the rocker, was to measure every foot, then plug dimensions into CAD. Then draw constant arc segment over rocker and see if you can make arc match. I was able to find the arc that matched the Naish 7'8 numbers I got exactly.

The Naish 14ft Glide is also a constant arc, as are most windsurf rockers. I have build downwind raceboards with accelerating curves and constant curve. The accelerating curve race board surfed better, but had a limited top end. The constant curve rocker was much faster. Both boards had identical total rocker heights at the tail.

My custom 7'8's use the Naish 7'8 rocker. It's a very fast magic rocker in my opinion. My custom just changes the Naish template from wide point 6" forward to the middle, taking on a template match to an enlarged Channel Islands Dumpster Diver.

The Naish literature claims the 8'5 doesn't require the surfer to shift his body weight over the rocker as much as some other SUPs. I think this statement would indicate the 8'5 is also constant curve.

3212

Gear Talk / Re: 8'5 Naish Hokua feedback

« on: December 20, 2011, 09:38:58 AM »

How did you measure the tail rocker?

Like this http://ncpaddlesurfer.blogspot.com/2010/09/shape-details-naish-90-mana.html

I bought an 8ft long piece of aluminum angle at Home Depot. Set it on the mid point of the board. Shim the board level on the sawhorses, just to ensure accuracy.

It gets a little tricky to measure on boards longer than 8ft, but you can improvise.
 

3213

Gear Talk / Re: 8'5 Naish Hokua feedback

« on: December 19, 2011, 05:26:54 PM »

The 8'5 gets in much faster, but then hits a speed limit, the 8'4 is slow to get in, but jams down the line... hmmm...

I checked my notes from when I owned the 8'4.

I measured 3.25 tail rocker and noted single concave to very light v in the tail. That's a lower rocker number than some other boards of similar length I have documented. So my notes indicate it should be fast.

What's the bottom like on the 8'5?

3214

Gear Talk / Re: Dry Suit Recommendation...Kokatat Gore-Tex Lightweight Paddling Suit?

« on: December 16, 2011, 03:09:27 PM »

They work great. You will not overheat. You can actually feel the wind blowing through the goretex suit keeping you cool. Proof it breathes a lot.

On really cold windy days, I wore wind blocking polar tech under it.

3215

Gear Talk / Re: Race paddle suggestions...leaning toward the Ke Nalu Mailko

« on: December 16, 2011, 08:34:54 AM »

I took the Kialoa out for a comparison - first time I'd used it in weeks. Oh my God. It will be a cold day in Hell before I go back to Kialoa. These Ke Nalu paddles are the real deal.

You made me smile. I had the same feeling couple of different times in the last 5 years. I've switched paddle brands so many times 

All these switches taught me one thing, we can adjust to anything. But it all becomes crystal clear when you adjust to a really smooth paddle, and try going back to harsh one.

3216

Gear Talk / Re: Board Width

« on: December 14, 2011, 01:59:24 PM »

P.S. DW, your NC videos are the most persuasive 'ads' for owning a Hokua that I've seen. Those are fun and inspiring to watch

Thanks. You should try my custom 7'8. It blows the doors off the production boards. It's way easier to paddle too. Take my drawings to a local shaper and get a copy.

3217

Random / Re: Wingsurfing anyone???

« on: December 12, 2011, 07:06:51 PM »

They need to go cross county. It can get boring soaring a ridge like that.

More than a few times, I recall looking at my watch soaring a ridge with no place to go.

It's amazing to see how much glider performance has improved, yet they look almost like they did in my time (early 80s). Kinda like windsurfing. It looks the same, but boy is the performance much better.

3218

Gear Talk / Re: AKUshaper.jnlp

« on: December 12, 2011, 04:33:42 AM »

It works on MAC.

3219

The Shape Shack / Re: I finally shaped my first SUP surfboard. "Did it my way"..

« on: December 11, 2011, 02:10:28 AM »

Nice job. The rocker cutting was really impressive!

3220

Gear Talk / Re: Board Width

« on: December 09, 2011, 04:12:24 PM »

With decent skill, you can surf any length from 7'8 to 10' and the stability is about the same, if the width is the same.

Once you know your magic width, go as short as you want.

3221

Gear Talk / Re: Starboard Widepoint 8-10 v Naish Hokua 9-5

« on: December 08, 2011, 09:50:34 AM »

The 9'0 Mana is the right board for your weight. Faster and way more fun than the 9'5 Mana.

29.5 too unstable for your weight     Man-up  you're a fly weight.

3222

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

« on: December 06, 2011, 05:19:51 AM »

Forgive me if I missed this somewhere, but can someone provide the phonetic pronunciation of Ke Nalu

3223

Gear Talk / Re: Dealer Recommendations

« on: December 06, 2011, 05:06:05 AM »

The most serious SUP shop I have seen on the east coat between NC and Florida, is the new Paddleboard House in Indialantic. It's part of the famous Longboard House. They opened a SUP only store right next to the Longboardhouse.

The people in the longboard house have embraced SUP big time.

http://www.paddleboardhouse.com/
http://www.longboardhouse.com/

http://ncpaddlesurfer.blogspot.com/2011/11/update-from-florida.html
here are photos of the store, inside and out. The inside photo shows only half the stock in the store.

Only one problem, they stock all the major paddle brands, but all were marked about $80-$90 above retail. I meant to ask about the pricing error, but never got around to it. Boards were priced correctly.

3224

The Shape Shack / Re: what makes stability in a shape?

« on: December 04, 2011, 10:15:18 AM »

Pulled nose reduces it
Pulled tail reduces it.
Vee reduces it.
Chines reduce it
50/50 rails reduce it. 60/40 more stable

3225

Gear Talk / Re: Check out this new Fanatic.

« on: December 03, 2011, 06:13:03 AM »

Wow, really nice looking board.

That striped multiply wood on the deck, is the same wood hidden under white paint on the older (pre-bamboo) Naish boards. I think they made a mistake painting it white because that looks awesome. BTW, that wood is still used under the yellow paint on the current Naish boards.