Messages

3316

SUP General / Re: are closed cell foam board good?

« on: August 07, 2011, 12:25:51 PM »

XTR is pretty controversial. It used to delam a lot in the old days. Shapers still argue about whether the new stuff is truly safe now.

I had a custom Naish made with it back in the 80s. No problem with mine, but it did get pulled from the market because lots did have problems.

Anyone know what changed with the newer versions of XTR?

3317

SUP General / Re: are closed cell foam board good?

« on: August 07, 2011, 11:38:33 AM »

That board is a little wide for you. It might be hard to paddle and keep the paddle vertical.

Boards are made from 2 type foam cores. Polyurethane (heavier and cheaper) and EPS (lighter) and more expensive because it requires expensive epoxy resin.

The EPS core boards are sometimes wrapped in closed cell PVC foam. That might be what they are talking about.

I'd just make sure it's an epoxy board. I think epoxy is more resistant to spider cracks. Polyurethane/polyester resin boards should be avoided in my opinion. At least for SUP use.

3318

SUP General / Re: DK spinin' and grinin' vid.

« on: August 06, 2011, 05:33:26 AM »

It's the 2012 9'0 x 28 Nalu. I asked Dave 

3319

The Shape Shack / Re: regarding spackle....

« on: August 05, 2011, 12:58:44 PM »

Bill, Dr Whitehead is a guy with years of background in this stuff. Going back to windsurfings heyday. He's a professor at UNCW and hooked up with the local surf factory. I think about the time Clark Foam folded and they saw the need to change the way it was done.

After lots of experiments he created a formula that stoked the factory. They also worked with BGF Aerialite Cloth to match their formula. I think the only epoxy rebranded by Greenroom might be Aerialite epoxy.

I know Dr Rob mixes up batches locally, because sometimes they run out of slow harder and they have to call Rob to make me some.

the full story is here http://greenroomboardco.com/about.html

RR gets pissed on the shapers forum when Greenroom is mentioned 

3320

Gear Talk / Re: board with good stability and good in surf

« on: August 02, 2011, 07:11:36 AM »

It kills me how many people take a proverbial size 16 or size 8 shoe and try to make it fit a size 13 foot. With that said all I do is SUP surf I am about the same size as you guys and have stable boards down to 7'10" range.
 
Ask yourself: What kind of surfing do I like to do on my SUP? Classic log style, performance longboard style, or funshape ripping or full on short board hotdogging?
 
 Figure out what you want to do with the board find a good experienced shaper, be honest about your ability and have him build you a perfect fit. What you will end up with is a series of stepping stones as your ability progresses so will your boards. Rather than stuffing your proverbial SUP foot in a size 9 shoe.
 I get quite a few guys asking the same things as you and I build this 11' SUP nose rider longboard style that is made to fit the riders weight, mine is 3.5" thick 30" wide has the exact amount of foam in it that it takes to float me and thats how these are made for people. Ironically enough I build quite a few of these strictly surf SUP 11'ers and not to many months later the purchasers usually order a custom 9'6" performance longboard style SUP which I seem to be a good majority of my production right now. Good all around size for a variety of conditions and a good jumping off point to the sub 9ft SUPs.
 My philosophy as a shaper for well over 2 decades if you want to surf find a good experienced shaper who surfs SUPs to build your craft. You won't be sorry.
       

Hey Ron, since you deal with way more people asking you for advice than us regular people, I wonder how you go about learning the following about a person so you make the right recommendation. It's something I struggle with when asked.

1) Judging the persons personality. For example, are they cry babies when faced with a challenge. Or do they love new challenges and laugh and enjoy it more, the harder it is.

The answer to this question can make a huge difference in what we recommend. Unfortunately it's hard to come right out and ask it this way, but it's what we really need to know. I face the same predicament making windsurfing and kitesurfing recommendations too. 

The harder it is, the more fun for me. I can get people in trouble recommending what I would do 

3321

Sessions / Re: Naish 7'3" Honolulu summer south swells

« on: August 01, 2011, 05:52:18 AM »

Awesome. I so miss that place. I can see my wife doing the same on her 7'3 there someday 

3322

Wind Powered / Re: quest for fast flatwater board with windsurf option

« on: July 30, 2011, 04:03:29 AM »

Naish stopped putting the mast insert in the 14.

I windsurfed a 14 footer once. It's too long. You can't hold the rig and reach the tail to jibe at the same time. A very weird windsurf experience.

I think a 12'6 race board might windsurf better.

3323

Gear Talk / Re: No longer available?

« on: July 29, 2011, 03:19:19 PM »

According to the Naish website, this size is no longer made.

http://www.naishsurfing.com/boards/mana/

Looking to get my girlfriend a board in the size range.

7'8 Hokua works. My wife surfs the 7'3 Hokua and sometimes takes my 7'8 on mushy little days.

3324

Gear Talk / Re: 14' Fanatic Fly Race - Carbon - Damage question. - just a scratch?

« on: July 29, 2011, 09:09:07 AM »

Like bean says, carbon and fiberglass act the same.

But, a scratch could penetrate the hot coat and open a pin hole in cloth. That's why you should keep an eye on it.

On a positive note, the rails have the most layers of fabric and are the toughest.

3325

Gear Talk / Re: 14' Fanatic Fly Race - Carbon - Damage question. - just a scratch?

« on: July 28, 2011, 11:12:16 AM »

It looks harmless.

Check the scratch after a session, and watch for water dribbling from it.

3326

SUP General / Re: Naish Mana 2012

« on: July 28, 2011, 04:42:36 AM »

Welcome to the addiction.

For me, SUP soon replaced kitesurfing as my main passion. Imagine surfing at dawn for 3-4 hours with a huge grin. Then crashing at noon on the sofa. Your buddies call to say the wind is blowing and you say, "who cares"  I'm exhausted from all the fun I had before you guys even got out of bed  

You're life is about to change big time

10 ft leash.

3327

SUP General / Re: Flash crashes

« on: July 27, 2011, 06:27:58 PM »

I see the Flash crash logo all the time because I have a Flash Crash app on my Mac 

I love hitting that Flash Crash button. Screw Adobe!

3328

SUP General / Re: Has this been beat to death - fins forward?

« on: July 27, 2011, 02:39:59 PM »

No big deal. Depends on the vehicle, roof, and racks. Whatever way doesn't cause wind nose is the right way for me. Been hauling boards for 30 years on the roof.

3329

Gear Talk / Re: Sunblocking shirts?

« on: July 27, 2011, 01:54:38 PM »

I've got Victory core dry, Dakine, Quicksilver, O'Neil, Rusty, and probably some I forgot.

They all work.


What I look for is:

Not white. You can see thru them when wet.
Not black. Too hot.
Not thin and slinky. Too clingy when wet.
Thicker, and anything but white or black and I buy it.

3330

Gear Talk / Re: Sunblocking shirts?

« on: July 27, 2011, 01:02:57 PM »

Those SPF ratings on shirts make me laugh. Even a cotton t-shirt keeps my skin white as a ghost. Although it's much nicer to wear the polyester water shirts because they dry faster and don't feel as heavy when wet. I buy whatever water shirts the surf shops have on sale.

I found the extra cheap t-shirts made from 50/50 poly/cotton blend work well too don't feel have bad when wet.