Messages

2161

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: The New all in one vario-flex paddle

« on: October 03, 2016, 01:54:35 PM »

Since my last review, I’ve been racking hundreds of miles on the paddle, including few 20+ mile competitions. I just love this paddle. The ZRE blade is so efficient, at 80SQI it preforms better for me than my QB Trifecta 86 at the same SPM but without the extra strain I get with the Trifecta.

We are now at the 4th prototype and I think this is it! For the last round, I’ve asked bob to modify the ferrule and  the adjuster clamp. Now instead of relying on third parties to manufacture the fiberglass ferrule, bob creates it in-house and it is a super strong carbon ferrule, just like the rest of the paddle.

Bob also improved his shafts since than, making them stronger and up to 2 oz lighter than before (I’m not sure how it is possible but can’t argue with facts).

Last week, I got the new prototype with the new carbon ferrule and modified adjuster, I was floored. The paddle came in at 15 oz!!! It is now lighter than my 1 piece QB trifecta and feel more solid than it as well.

Quite few paddlers asked me what’s the deal with this paddle and when they got to try it they were shocked to find out how good it felt compared to there QB’s and Werner’s. I have about 10 paddlers in my local crew switching to ZRE after taking notice.

I’m quite glad I pushed ZRE on this project, and I can’t wait for this option to go production and be available to all. This is truly an all-in-one paddle!

Thank You Bob!

2162

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: Red Paddle Hybrid fin

« on: September 28, 2016, 12:22:37 PM »

Do you know the weight and the volume of the new 14 elite?

2163

Gear Talk / Re: Preferred Rail Tape?

« on: September 26, 2016, 12:09:29 PM »

Helicopter tape worked very well for me especially because it came in so many width and length options. Much more bang for the buck than the RSpro.

Never worked with the RSpro so can't speak to that, but with the helicopter tape reapplication of the tape was very easy when needed.

2164

Gear Talk / Re: Is my paddle shaft too slippery? (Forgive the double entendre)

« on: September 26, 2016, 07:15:37 AM »

drf,  It must be all the lube I put on my hand as a kid, but I even have taken to use an exam glove to putting on Blue Lizard because I was convinced the beeswax made the shafts slippery.. Not so.  I even wash my hands before I go out - rub them with sand, etc.. but most raw paddle shafts and handles (the KeNalu shaft is the exception) are slippery.  I got the knobby strips, messed with racquet tape and have tried numerous sprays. This is an old photo, but shows the how.  The what has changed; I now use Rust-Olem 'Truck Bed Coating'.  About $7 can.  As I need all the help I can get out there - a slippery paddle is a real nuisance.

Jim

That stuff definitely worked for me, but I found that on the longer runs I still get blisters and raw hands.

I also got hesitant about this material as it is a chemical and someone else who used it mentioned cancer... Maybe just a head game but who knows.

2165

Gear Talk / Re: Is my paddle shaft too slippery? (Forgive the double entendre)

« on: September 25, 2016, 07:55:09 AM »

I could only find a roll of the narrow tape over here, rather than the patches.

Basically, it's twice the price over here, once you factor in shipping and taxes, whether you buy it from mainland Europe or the US.

It looks good enough for me to have bought some to try it out though. So, thanks for the heads-up.

It's very surprising to hear you don't have a local supplier in the UK. Maybe an opportunity for someone...

Anyway, I found the sheets to work much better for me than the 1" tape.
it's a lot more economical and does not make the shaft too thick (due to overlapping). It's also less prone to wear and tear due to the continuous surface area.

Also good to know that this material comes in 5 different grip versions, from ultra soft to firm where the most firm is the most durable version.

I've tested all of them and the firm is just as good the ultra soft but with the added durability. I used it recently on a 20 mile race, no fatigue, no blisters.

My only criticism for this product is that it could be somewhat thinner. I have a similar material from an unknown brand that is 0.5 millimeter thin and that makes a noticeable difference in the tape version, it's a pity this material is not as soft as the 3M. Tested it on a 25 mile race, and although I didn't get any blisters, my palm where somewhat raw for the rest of the day.

2166

Sneak Peeks, Rumors, and Wish Lists / Re: Red Paddle Co 2017: New FFC racing iSUP technology

« on: September 25, 2016, 07:22:32 AM »

That's a great addition to an already sick board. At 25" wide with a more streamlined shape this is going to be a speed machine.

I'm seriously considering replacing my 2015 model with this new one, and now
with the more standardized 8" fin box, I can fit it with most of my Larry Allison fins.

2167

Gear Talk / Re: Is my paddle shaft too slippery? (Forgive the double entendre)

« on: September 25, 2016, 05:57:33 AM »

I found that adding a grip to the paddle enhances performance considerably and indeed does help with fighting over-grip and fatigue.

3M recently came out with a new product simply called "Gripping Material" and it
Is of a superb quality. I've been testing few versions of it for the past 2 months. It comes as a tape or as sheets, with or without adhesive.

I've used many solutions in the past, including some mentioned here but this is by far the most effective IMO.

I just looked that 3m tape up - looks good (and not just for paddles) but a shame that for some reason there's no supplier to be found in the UK!

I found it on Amazon UK (shipped from the EU I guess) but it isn't cheap. One application of Mercian supersoft hockey tape lasts me about 6 months to a year, gives a huge amount of grip and helps a lot with blisters too - it's luxuriously soft and grippy. Costs about £5 a roll - but you can get cheaper options at less than half that price.

RSPro do a grip, but it's loadsa money, predictably.

I've ordered some of the 3M stuff, so I'll tell you I get on. A roll of it has cost about the same as 5 rolls of premium hockey tape, or 10 rolls of cheaper stuff. So it will need to be very good to make it worth it.

A10, I'm not sure how much it costs across the pond but here on Amazon
I found this: https://www.amazon.com/3M-Gripping-Material-TB641-Black/dp/B0093CQQNQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474807519&sr=8-1&keywords=Gripping+Material#feature-bullets-btf

So for under $19 I have enough material to cover all your 20+ paddles if I'm taking the economic approach or 12 paddles if I'm being spendy, either way, it's a good bang for the buck.

2168

Gear Talk / Re: Is my paddle shaft too slippery? (Forgive the double entendre)

« on: September 24, 2016, 10:06:24 PM »

I found that adding a grip to the paddle enhances performance considerably and indeed does help with fighting over-grip and fatigue.

3M recently came out with a new product simply called "Gripping Material" and it
Is of a superb quality. I've been testing few versions of it for the past 2 months. It comes as a tape or as sheets, with or without adhesive.

I've used many solutions in the past, including some mentioned here but this is by far the most effective IMO.

2169

Gear Talk / Re: 2016 Starboard Surprise with a 12'/6" by 25" Allstar

« on: September 24, 2016, 03:50:24 PM »

Larry, happy to tell you that based on this Starboard transformation, 2 paddling friends of mine decided to take the plunge and go 4 fins on their 2016 Allstars (12'6x25 & 14x25).

They first got hooked on yor wizardry after trying few of your fins I've been using, over their stock Starboard fins. Once they saw this post they decided to go all out.

The only sore spot in this story is that none of us are able to just drive and drop-in on uncle Larry being east coasters and all.

Will post some reviews once transformation is done.

2170

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: Red Paddle Hybrid fin

« on: September 24, 2016, 05:17:11 AM »

That's great Larry! All I have to do right now is get the new 2017
Red board so I could fit it to the fin. 

2017 boards should be here in a couple of weeks.

Nice! You got them pretty early this year.

What's the 14elite price?

2171

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: Red Paddle Hybrid fin

« on: September 23, 2016, 01:30:25 PM »

That's great Larry! All I have to do right now is get the new 2017
Red board so I could fit it to the fin. 

2172

SUP General / Re: Velocitek Makai - SUP Specific GPS

« on: September 23, 2016, 09:55:27 AM »

Just got my Velocitek Makai today, and the first thing out of the box I thought was "where is the leash point"... and there is not one. It did come with two mounting brackets, and two USB covers, but has anyone jerry-rigged a leash point onto these things? I can totally see losing this to catching a paddle or falling on it...  so am not taking it out on a downwinder this morning...

There does not seem to be any easy obvious place to burn or drill a hole through the plastic to attach a thin piece of paracord to..

If you have space for it, get one of the NSI loop attachment thingys and stick it on.http://www.northshoreinc.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=338&idcategory=93
They're flexible, so you can wrap the base quite a bit. Make sure you want it where you put it because it ain't coming off.

+1 for the NSI, they will only come off attached to a carbon piece 

2173

Sneak Peeks, Rumors, and Wish Lists / Re: 2017 Puma... really liking this shape

« on: September 22, 2016, 11:32:16 AM »

Thx!

2174

Sneak Peeks, Rumors, and Wish Lists / Re: 2017 Puma... really liking this shape

« on: September 22, 2016, 10:54:18 AM »

is that the JM challenge?

2175

Sneak Peeks, Rumors, and Wish Lists / Re: 2017 Puma... really liking this shape

« on: September 22, 2016, 10:15:32 AM »

So what's the volume and weight on your board, can you describe the rail shape from tail to nose, or even better, few pics?