Messages

76

Foil SUP / Re: Oh My!

« on: September 04, 2023, 11:44:48 AM »

Those darn kids. Chris' dad is pretty darned good too.

77

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Favorite places to score swell while winging?

« on: September 04, 2023, 11:42:09 AM »

My favorites: Ka'a, Kanaha, and North Kihei for the long reaches, but not much swell. The Hatchery, Swell City, The Wall, Arlington, Rufus in the Gorge, and Rooster Rock on east wind days. SoCal kind of sucks for wind, though the swell is pretty good. Oregon Coast--Manzanita, Pacific City, various Astoria spots. Pistol River for crazy shit.

78

The Shape Shack / Re: All in One

« on: September 01, 2023, 11:54:44 AM »

I'm assuming that's automotive paint and you had a pro do the work.

79

General Discussion / Re: Outer Banks in September?

« on: August 16, 2023, 05:05:43 PM »

I loved the Outer Banks when I rode my motorcycle there in the '70s--september was great--fewer tourists. Just did bodysurfing, but the waves were decent and the little towns were crazy fun. I'm not sure it's as lively now--I think there are a lot more rich folks and they tend to be a bit quieter. But don't worry about how well-suited your board is, that's fine tuning. Go have fun.

80

The Shape Shack / Re: XPS Board Building Advantages vs EPS Foam

« on: August 14, 2023, 05:23:56 PM »

I do a once-over with 40 grit. Very light pressure--you just need to scratch it up

81

The Shape Shack / Re: XPS Board Building Advantages vs EPS Foam

« on: August 12, 2023, 07:44:59 PM »

Home Depot XPS is just fine. In fact, the quality is better than some of the "surfboard" XPS I bought. I think it's challenging to make XPS that is homogeneous. Some of the stuff I played with had areas that probably didn't foam well and had the consistency (and weight) of PVC. the pink insulation is perfectly homogenous. The only problem is that it's scored to break. Some folks break it and glue it back together with good foam glue (regular Gorilla Glue is NOT Da Kine. The clear non-foaming GG is better, but specialty foam welding stuff is WAY better). But really, once it's laminated, the scoring doesn't matter. I just use it as is. I'm getting ready to buy a silly quantity because I want to build an ultra-light trailer for my dirt bikes (yea! another project), and I'm going to use XPS to make a streamlined body. Towing behind a Tesla has special requirements. I've been fiddling and I have my ordinary modified trailer tuned up so it only cuts mileage by 20 percent. I'm aiming for nada.

82

The Shape Shack / Re: XPS Board Building Advantages vs EPS Foam

« on: August 09, 2023, 08:25:10 PM »

Probably the best strategy is don't hotcoat. In fact do the opposite--make sure any lamination is super sparse on epoxy--enough so that any trapped gas can escape through the surface. The things I've made with XPS didn't go in the water, except for a handplane.

83

The Shape Shack / Re: XPS Board Building Advantages vs EPS Foam

« on: August 09, 2023, 01:32:49 PM »

I think XPS delams BECAUSE it's waterproof. EPS boards equalize the pressure of water vapor throughout the board. Water vapor in an XPS board has nowhere to go.  That's why vents work on EPS boards. They don't work on XPS boards because the air can't move around inside the board. I've vacuum-bagged XPS a lot, and while a full vacuum will crush and deform the XPS a little, it's nothing like EPS which crushes down to a wad of plastic. I've never had problems laminating onto XPS as long as the surface is prepped (coarsely sanded).

84

The Shape Shack / Re: Ultralight Board II – SUP Foil Bumblebee

« on: August 05, 2023, 08:09:38 PM »

I think some folks might be missing the key point--it's XPS, which is closed cell foam. Water leaking through pinholes has nowhere to go. It won't gain weight and won't delaminate because delams are caused by water in the foam getting hot enough to release lots of water vapor and pressing against impervious layers of hotcoated glass. I'm going to have to build one of these. SHIT! I don't need another project.

85

General Discussion / Re: Foldable Cart Or Trolley

« on: July 30, 2023, 08:16:16 PM »

Simplest, and most portable is the Mule. Google it.

86

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Re: The Gorge 2023

« on: July 25, 2023, 08:52:38 PM »

The Gorge is definately best when you find the spots with less traffic.

Always.

87

The Shape Shack / Re: All in One

« on: July 24, 2023, 05:28:14 PM »

Actually, I don't think you'd need to worry about breaching. This design should benefit from the same lift self-regulating as ladder foils do. As speed increases there is less surface area required (lift is a function of velocity squared, so that's a big deal). The wing doesn't come out of the water to lose lift--just being close to the surface should ventilate the top wing.

88

The Shape Shack / Re: Tear-Aid Type A - works great for ding repair

« on: July 19, 2023, 07:45:38 PM »

Yes, great for bladders, though really, if I have a hole in a bladder I replace it ASAP (it helps that I can walk to Airtime), but aluminum tape for board dings is much lighter and works very well if you burnish it down with a credit card. Two layers, 5" long is about a gram. I have boards that have had aluminum tape sealing dings for ten+ years. My Flying Dutchman foil board had aluminum tape ding repairs that are three years old. It gives Mark Raaphorst hives, but it works fine.

89

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Re: The Gorge

« on: July 19, 2023, 07:41:07 PM »

I've broken ribs several times (motorcycle racing) and cracked my breastbone down the middle. My doc says my X-rays look like I've had open heart surgery. I wear an impact vest even for surfing (which looks a bit lame, but at 76, I'm simply not going to look cool) because my doc said a severe impact to my breastbone would open me up like a spatchcocked chicken. I think he's exaggerating, but it's working, I wear the vest.

90

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

« on: July 18, 2023, 08:34:11 AM »

How the hell are you printing those double wingtips?? Tip on the plate with a lot of support, or wings on the plate with a lot of bridging and support?? That looks difficult. The rest, not so much though there would still be plenty of sanding.