Messages

301

SUP General / Newport RI advice

« on: March 29, 2015, 06:24:46 PM »

I will be in Newport this coming Friday and for now, it actually looks to be warm with 4-6ft waves.  SSW swell / SW wind.   I have never paddle surfed Newport.  Usually south county RI or Cape Cod.   If the wind is up I will windsurf or windsup,  and have a pretty good comfort level sailing.  For SUP paddling,  I'm a novice by comparison.   Was wondering if there are any places that are smaller surf or easier if conditions are big.   
   Matunuck is my normal go-to in South county. If Block island buoy is over 8ft, I usually wimp out and go inside the PJ jetty.  Staying at hotel right on first beach,  so I figure I would check out first and second beach.    Any advice is appreciated.

JP

302

SUP General / Re: Paddling with Icebergs, Ice Flows and GW Road Kill

« on: March 29, 2015, 06:27:13 AM »

Nice scenery Rick,     I stopped by the Indiana dunes 2 weeks ago on my return cross country drive hoping to see that sort of arctic iceberg float.    Surprised to see some folks kayaking,  but no SUP's.   

What was the river ?   Quivvet creek ?  or up Wellfleet way?

JP

303

Wind Powered / Re: Fastest sailing WindSUP?

« on: March 18, 2015, 05:37:25 PM »

Sealion XL, 50 mm rocker, no flat area !!
I wonder how the Sealion 83 compares.   I was intrigued by it,  knowing where I am at with my XL and wondering about how much improvement by going smaller. 

Thanks for the opinions on the Quatro 110 quad,  I have heard nothing but praise about it.   It's tough to be on the east coast usa.   Unfortunately I would need to go to Maui to demo a few of these different boards.   Will be on OBX in a few weeks,  might get a chance to demo something down there.

With the rate of warming up around here,  I might be sailing and paddling in New England by the time I return from NC.

Cheers,  JP

304

Wind Powered / Re: Fastest sailing WindSUP?

« on: February 23, 2015, 02:47:15 PM »

I got a Sealion XL last spring.   It feels like it would be easy to get on a full plane as you are getting powered more and more,  but it is slow.  HOWEVER ...  It jumps onto a wave and feels great in very little wind.   I am so stoked to have gotten 30 wave sailing sessions on this board for the season.   Onshore, side-on, side, side-off,   used it every way.  For side shore, it's not going to really plane heading out,  you do an effortless schlog,  turn around and catch a wave coming in.  I sailed some on-shore conditions where I pretty much stayed on a plane the whole time as long as I was in the wave zone.

For the last 10 years I just windsurfed when it was over 20mph,  5.3 sail on a 8'6 Naish wave.  (I weigh in at 175 lbs, 6'4")  Every other larger board I ever used just felt like crap to me.   

I now have an inbetween range I would like to explore.   Say winds enough to marginal waterstart,  but less than 20.    I sailed the Sealion in super light conditions,  and got some great riding in.   Problem is I would stay on the Sealion when it was getting near the 20mph area and its draggy.  Some days footstraps seemed like they might be nice as well.  I will keep the sealion for the sub 15mph days and paddlesurfing.   

Thinking my answer is Goya 104 quad or Quattro 110 quad.   

WindSupping kicks ass,   being out when the kiters are marginal or going home when waves are good.

JP

305

SUP General / Re: What was the first thing you made?

« on: February 12, 2015, 07:05:24 PM »

Standup zone,  home of the ageing pine wood derby champions !   
They made rounding the wheels illegal after my brother and I took 1st and 2nd in our pack.

My father taught us that if you need something,  then build it yourself.   Grew up in a house with every tool you could want:  metal lathe, drill press, planer, sanders, jointer, band saws, jig saw, router, table saw, radial arm saw, mig tig & stick welders, torches, grinder, taps, dies, punches, pipe benders, brakes ...  As much education in that shop as my 4 year degree in engineering.

JP

306

SUP General / Wind-sup

« on: January 17, 2015, 04:44:44 PM »

I came over from windsurfing also.   My windsurf stuff is geared to 20mph minimum wind.  With the windsup,  I get out much more.  Use the wave forecast instead of the wind.  I bring two boards on most trips to the beach.  Sup and 8'6wave windsurfer. 

This years tally ended up being 32 windsup days,  6 windsurf days,  and about 15 paddle surf days.   So I agree with the windsurfing revival premise ... I'm more stoked on windsurf than I was a year before,  And the paddle is a whole nother world of fun.

One thing I don't get is how you windsurf with no foot straps?

Don't you just get catapulted all the time?

How do you gybe without your front foot in the strap?

Why don't the boards that as supposed to be sailable have plugs for straps?

Sailing without the straps is a new experience.  Very fun and gives you a new perspective.  You have to be careful not to catapult.  But you may not be hooked in that much.     Going out thru wave peaks is a new kind of elevator ride.   Usually you don't fall off but it happens.   Gybing without straps is very cool.  Most windsups don't plane well,  but do catch waves.   Planing thru a gybe without the straps is exhilarating.   Windsupping in choppy windy conditions sucks,  you need waves.

JP

307

The Shape Shack / Re: Carbon paddle blade build

« on: January 15, 2015, 08:19:41 PM »

Very good job.

Seems rather similar to a back-country, packable, snow shovel I made over 15 years ago.   I read this thread a while back,  but had to use the shovel today.  (Stuck car)

It interests me that you made a foam core on the paddle.   The shovel blade I made has no deliberate thickness to it,  It is quite strong with zero flex.   

I built the blade with a carbon and Kevlar layup on a steel construction shovel covered with saran wrap.  I vac bagged that part.   The narrow dia shaft is a re-purposed mountain bike handlebar that I made years before.

Makes me think about building something,  good to see people with a just build it attitude !

Jay

308

Gear Talk / Re: Warmth in winter: What are your goals?

« on: January 02, 2015, 05:48:11 AM »

Creek,  it's the "cold water mitt".  http://www.dakine.com/p/windsurf/accessories/gloves/cold-water-mitt

They get water inside,  but not a lot rushing in.  The water inside stayed warm.  I don't tighten the cuffs too much. 

Jay

309

Gear Talk / Re: Warmth in winter: What are your goals?

« on: January 01, 2015, 08:19:00 AM »

Speaking of gloves,   I got some Dakine mittens with the thin palm material this fall.  The rubber is more flexible than last ones I owned. (had similar Bare product 10+ years ago) I have paddled with them twice and windsurfed twice.   I have always been in the no-gloves camp,  have bought and tried 20 different pair over the years.   These mittens work in that I had a decent feel and grip on the paddle and stayed warm.  I didn't have any cramp or strength issues while sailing either.  The thin palm doesn't lose too much heat cause it's on the paddle.  The grip is a pre-curved shape.

JP

310

Gear Talk / Re: Warmth in winter: What are your goals?

« on: December 31, 2014, 10:05:46 AM »

I read about Creek's 3/2 session in winter and realize i am at the other end of the spectrum.   I got cold one day in September using my 3/2 for a few hours.   I have no body fat and get cold as soon as I stop whatever exercise i am doing.  Creek,  you are hard-core !

The only drysuit I ever liked was an Oneil oasis,  basically a wetsuit with a sealed zipper.  I tried a baggy top for a few years and was rarely comfy in it.  Drysuit sounds good,  but when you sweat in it,  it's no longer dry. 

The built in hood wetsuit is what works for me best in the cold.   I have a mutant 5/4,  and it's warmer than any drysuit i have owned.  For me,  It has a huge range,  it works from cold September days (no hood), normal October days, right thru late fall / early winter.   

I feel like I met my goal,  I paddled on xmas eve for an hour and a half and stayed warm.   Always thinking one more day,  one more day ...   I am satisfied with late December and have dried and put it all away.   I think I would get out a few more times if I was wintering in New England,  but happy to jump from surfing to skiing with only a week of down time between.   

Jay

311

SUP General / Re: Loving this sport into winter.

« on: December 28, 2014, 08:33:10 AM »

Nice winter run,  the whole Bass river.    My first paddle ever was on the Bass river from the 28 bridge to the sound and back.  That was two years ago,  finally got a board this spring.

 I got a surf session in last week on xmas eve.  Didn't even get cold despite 45 degree water and me falling in more than I needed to.  Quite a few folks out in RI,  about 15 surfers and 6 sups out at any one time. 

Say hello to Scotty for me,  Jay P

312

Sessions / Re: Winter Storm Damon

« on: December 14, 2014, 06:06:58 PM »

This suit even has a "Camel Toe"! 

Is that a pee zipper ? 

 I have a mutant 5/4 that's 5 years old and I love it,  not good for below 40 for my skinny body though.

JP

313

SUP General / Re: New anti-shark paint job

« on: December 14, 2014, 05:37:24 PM »

You know, sharks can read that Sea Lion logo and will attack you any way on principle.

I know,  that's why I need all the help I can get.   The fish shape looks pretty tasty as well.   My new caution sign hopes to jump out and yell "not not part of nature!"

Here is the Aussie product for those who have not seen this sort of thing.

314

SUP General / New anti-shark paint job

« on: December 14, 2014, 04:37:15 PM »

Many of you have seen the striped anti-shark wetsuits.  The same company makes a huge decal to put the same zebra on the bottom of a surf board.   I paddle my sup at coast guard beach during summer as well as a few other spots the GW's have been showing up.  Spring and fall I'm in Rhode Island where things seem quieter.   Here it is:  I used masking tape and a mega sharpie.  With the yellow,  it's like a giant caution sign.   Might turn out to be a better anti-theft device than anti-shark.   Some extra peace of mind for when I'm the first or only one out.

Jay

315

Sessions / Re: Winter Storm Damon

« on: December 12, 2014, 04:34:36 AM »

Cook,  same beach as the 2nd half of your "trippin" video.   I might have been there that day.   Or maybe down the road a few miles.

JP