Messages

61

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Re: Any SUP surf rentals in Cocoa Beach, FL?

« on: January 30, 2023, 10:05:12 AM »

http://oceansportsworld.com/rentals/

62

The Shape Shack / Re: Ultralight Board Designs

« on: January 29, 2023, 05:13:21 AM »

Deck pad adds a full pound. The lightest pads available add 3/4 lb to any board. Sucks, but that’s the way it goes. My guess is the 3M PSA contributes a lot to the weight.

Softer and thinner deck pads are lighter than firmer pads. Pad weights vary by color with all the US manufacturers. You need experience in picking pads to find the lightest.

63

The Shape Shack / Re: Ultralight Board Designs

« on: January 27, 2023, 05:22:21 AM »

Here is my setup. It’s very important to throw away the headset it comes with. You need reliable clear sound. I’m using this cheap $30 Sony headset. It works ten times better than the junk $2 headset it ships with.

I drilled a hole through the goretex plug and fit a plastic tube. It fits tight. No sealant required.

One single invisible leak anywhere on the board will make the detector scream loud and possibly confuse you. When you find the leak, cover with masking tape and continue the search.

64

The Shape Shack / Re: Ultralight Board Designs

« on: January 26, 2023, 04:22:49 AM »

HOW DO YOU ISOLATE THE PINHOLES.

Who gives a crap. You cannot ever identify a leak by looking.

You must leak test with an ultrasonic tester. You add vacuum to the board via the gore-tex vent bung. You will find leaks that are NOT VISIBLE PINHOLES. Proving just how critical using the leak tester is.

Tip, pressure wash (after sanding) the board with a garden hose before leak testing to remove any dust that might plug a leak point.

65

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Axis Hybrid boards

« on: January 25, 2023, 06:36:28 PM »

My 5’5 x 23.5 x 72 liter is 11.0 with deck pad.
My 5’5 x 23.5 x 92 liter is 12.4 with deck pad.
Full durable construction, not comp light.
But not building for anyone but my wife.

66

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Axis Hybrid boards

« on: January 25, 2023, 03:26:16 PM »

Some things to consider based on all the variations I’ve built and tested.

I have a 6’2 x 27.5 for SUP only. Used it a few times for light wind winging.
I have a 6’2 x 23.5 for SUP only. Used it a few times for light wind winging.
I have a 5’5 x 23.5 for winging only.
I have a 5’5 x 24.5 for winging only.

My old wing board was 5’0 x 28

All Kalama style boards.

In a back to back wave catching comparison, SUPing tiny knee high waves. I found the 27.5 caught more waves. LESS FALLING. Could be more aggressive positioning for the wave and paddling. What I found is, when you’re almost out of control balance wise paddling, this lack of control transfers to the entire flight on foil. Same results with my buddy doing the same comparison.

Winging my 5’5 x 23.5 wide versus 24.5 wide. The 23.5 is the winner for performance. BUT, I need to be able to put my hands on the deck and just stand up when the wind quits. My knees are shot.
I must avoid sailing on my knees at all cost, so 24.5 wide is my go to. Jacky and my buddy, love the 5’5 x 23.5 wide size. Better upwind, better pumping (better than a 4’10) , lighter. Much higher performance than short and wide boards.

188 lbs

67

Foil SUP / Re: Weight Matters

« on: January 24, 2023, 11:50:51 AM »

Customers are kooks. They don’t think twice about just putting their boards on the pavement when rigging, instead of grass. They put their knees on the board bottom while mounting the foil. They fall on the deck. Would you want to deal with ding complaints?

You can build a tough custom board that is lighter than production, simply because custom boards don’t need 50 footstrap inserts for every whacky customer preference.

If you want a no compromise ding machine, you have to build it yourself.

68

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Axis Hybrid boards

« on: January 20, 2023, 12:06:31 PM »

Go for it. I’m riding a similar custom board. 6’2 x 23.5. Great light wind wing board that is also great fun on windy days.

69

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: 2023 New Wings Thread

« on: January 18, 2023, 11:01:58 AM »

70

The Shape Shack / Re: Ultralight Board Designs

« on: January 18, 2023, 10:59:12 AM »

I once had a wise engineering manager say to all of our team, until you understand it better than the guy who invented it, you better copy it.

I was talking to a fellow shaper on the beach recently. I suggested he try a Kalama style board. Instead, we waxed on about all his better ideas, without ever trying one.

71

The Shape Shack / Re: Ultralight Board Designs

« on: January 16, 2023, 12:47:52 PM »

Regarding the tail, if you do the Kalama bevels, increasing towards the back, it makes the board pump great. Like a board with a kick tail, without having a kick tail.

It allows the tail to knife down into the water when pumping. No resistance.

72

The Shape Shack / Re: Ultralight Board Designs

« on: January 10, 2023, 03:48:42 PM »

BTW- Is anybody using Innegra?  I love it! It's a very light weight fiber with exceptional strength for ding resistance. 1, 4 oz layer of Innegra cloth covered by 1, 4 oz layer of glass is far more ding resistant than 1 layer of carbon cloth.

Yes, everything I build is the same as yours.

73

Prone Foiling, Surf foiling, Pump Foiling / Re: Swim Missiles

« on: January 07, 2023, 11:07:00 AM »

They look real nice!

74

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: 2023 New Wings Thread

« on: December 30, 2022, 03:43:40 PM »

Move Naish into the hard handle camp. A little birdie tipped me off.

75

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: 2023 New Wings Thread

« on: December 30, 2022, 03:30:59 AM »

So, what type of handles do these new prototypes have --  booms, hard handles or soft handles?

Cabrinha, bolt on hard handles
Armie, bolt on hard handles…so maybe Ozone goes hard handles too. I think they use the same designer.

I’m thinking F-one might be the only soft handles in 2023. Maybe Naish stays soft?