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Topics - puget sound

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1
Classifieds / NK Speed Coach training pack + accessories
« on: August 13, 2021, 03:20:46 PM »
Anyone need a bunch of Speed Coach stuff? Mine died and I've decided to use my GPS watch instead.

I have a charger, 3 mounting pieces that attach to your boards, 2 receivers that fit into them, 1 plain mounting receiver, a white bumper (needs a cleaning), and the dongle that gives you access to the training pack. I used this with the NK SUP Model 2 Speed Coach. $30 gets it anywhere in the CONUS and saves it from landfill.

2
I've got it in my head to buy a Starboard Sprint, and the "wood carbon" construction seems easier to find. Anyone have experience with wood versus Starboard's carbon sandwich model? My thoughts:
  • 3.5 pounds is a lot of extra weight. Maybe not so much on the water, but lugging the thing around. The board I'm using now is carbon and slightly lighter than either Starboard, and even it can feel like log to carry back to the van some days.
  • On the other hand, $1,400 buys a lot of tacos.
  • Is one construction more durable than the other? I'd guess more material on the wood carbon would make it stronger, but I'm wary of wood sucking up water through an unnoticed ding.
  • Any noticeable performance difference?
  • Anything else I should consider?
Thanks in advance for the help. I'm stuck between getting the board I can get now (wood) and getting the fancier, lighter board later when i can find it.

3
General Discussion / Gorilla hot glue sticks
« on: June 11, 2021, 10:03:32 PM »
Anyone know if Gorilla brand hot glue sticks are good for gluing handles and blades to paddle shafts? I used my last trusty yellow hot glue stick. The local stores had generic clear sticks or these opaque white Gorilla sticks which have vague boasts like "100% Tough".

4
SUP General / 14' board + board bag + wind?
« on: May 31, 2021, 11:19:23 AM »
How necessary is a board bag for long trips on the freeway (75mph)? I figured it would protect the board from projectile gravel and the sun, but the combo I have is an awful PIA so now I'm wondering...how much damage would I risk by never putting it in a board bag?

Details: I have a SIC RSx23" and the matching board bag, which doubles as a bag for the SIC Bullet. The Bullet, which is more consistently chunky, is a good fit. The bag fits the high-volume nose of the RS, but then gets flappy where the board flattens out. Some trips have been fine, but yesterday, in higher winds and 300+ miles, I must have stopped a half dozen times trying to stop the thwapping. Tried nose first, tail first, quadruple checked the straps, tried tying extra straps around the bag at looser places to give it a better fit. Ultimately, driving at speed, it seemed like the bag was too big a temptation for the wind. I took off the bag and everything was fine. Less movement, no sound.

Surely some of you have solved this. Is it better to ditch the bag? Or is it worth getting crafty to produce a better fit? I thought about strapping a series of bungies around the bag next time...but what a goofy hassle.

5
The Shape Shack / How to fix delamination bubble?
« on: July 15, 2020, 09:47:04 AM »
I've got a delam bubble to fix on my SIC RS. Long story, totally my fault...

In April, I found my SIC handle was leaking. I removed some deck pad and found a small crack at the edge of the handle. Sanded down to good material, and fixed with some 6oz fiberglass. I paddled it like this all spring with the deck pad missing around the handle. No problems.

I finally got a roll of replacement deck pad this week. I left my board in the sun for an hour, thinking it would soften the existing deck pad adhesive so that I could scrape some more off and make the replacement pad fit. You guessed it...I found a big bubble of delamination when I came back, just behind where my heels would go. It's about 7" in diameter.

So...how to fix a bubble like this? If it's a matter of cutting out bad material, sanding, and laying some new fiberglass (or carbon cloth?), I can do probably do a decent job and get back on the water. If it requires a vacuum bag setup or other fanciness, I'll need to find a pro.

I'd actually be happy to hire a pro for this one, but my fav shop is a couple hours away and booked out over a month for repairs.

6
Gear Talk / Anyone try Black Project Texcarbon shaft?
« on: March 14, 2020, 07:48:58 PM »
Has anyone tried the Black Project texcarbon shaft? It's the silver one with the texture. Any problems with blisters during long paddles or the shaft not sliding well in your hand as you switch sides? 

I've been happy with smooth shafts, no desire to add wax or tape or anything like that. I did pick up a Texcarbon paddle once in a store and was surprised how prominent the texture is. Good, bad, indifferent?

Thanks!

7
SUP General / Fins: stalling and broaching
« on: September 01, 2019, 03:36:22 PM »
I'm reading old zoner threads about fins and board behavior. The terms "broach" and "stall" keep coming up, but I can't figure out what they mean in the SUP world. Or maybe I can't imagine how a fin would cause what I'm thinking. A little help?

8
Classifieds / SIC RS 14x26 sup board
« on: August 24, 2019, 07:27:13 PM »
14×26″ SIC Single Carbon Composites (SCC) with Innegra rails/nose/tail, 27lbs, 315L, with an 8.3" SIC weedless fin. Just bought the same board in a narrower version. $1,350 anywhere between Olympia and Seattle.

[I get errors when I try to post photos. Happy to email them]

9
Downwind and Racing / Downwinding at the Gorge
« on: June 24, 2019, 06:54:12 PM »
Made our first trip to Hood River this weekend--holy smokes(!). It won't be our last. This is paradise. My wife was researching vacation homes and retirement locations before we'd left. It was my first proper downwinder.

I grew up surfing and racing outrigger canoes 25 years ago, but I've only been on a SUP for a year. For you lurkers like me, downwinding and flat-water SUP are two different beasts. Flat water is like road bike racing: economy of motion, timely application of power, maybe some drafting, etc. Technique, fitness, aerodynamics. Downwinding seems more like surfing or XC bike racing. Reading the water, creating the flow by moving on the board, responding to the many variables that nature presents. It had been decades since I've dropped in on anything resembling a wave and...I'm hooked!

Wind this weekend was around 25mph. I did a Viento run both Saturday and Sunday. Got dunked 25x the first day...mostly learning how to move around on the board. The key (on my SIC RS, at least) was learning to scoot way back as soon I caught a wave, and jump forward as soon as it petered out. Day two I was down to 8 dunks for the same run, and had several magical runs of connecting 2 or 3 bumps together. Continuous improvement.

Many thanks to PonoBill and the other locals who have written about the Gorge. I wouldn't have known about it without you.

10
SUP General / Board security on road trips?
« on: September 27, 2018, 08:11:04 PM »
How do you keep a 14' board secure (theft-wise) on road trips? My family is planning to drive from Washington to California, staying in motels, and I thought I might bring the board with us. What do you do with the board at night? Leave it in the parking lot with Kanulock type straps? Squeeze it into a room?

I'm sure this is a newbie question, I'm just having visions of Oakland parking lots and missing boards...

11
Gear Talk / KeNalu Mana or...?
« on: September 15, 2018, 07:22:05 PM »
I read a bunch of old threads but still need some advice on buying a first "good" paddle. Please help!

I come from an outrigger canoe background where I used wooden paddles. For the last few months I've been on an SUP (totally hooked) with an 81" tall carbon paddle that has a 97 sq" blade. The shaft is probably too long and the blade too big. I can paddle it well enough, but with 97 inches there are no "easy" days. No injuries so far, but I imagine I'll hear a pop someday soon and discover an exploded shoulder.

The KeNalu line really appeals to me with its strong Zoner reviews and especially the modular way that the blade, shaft, and handle play together. I can imagine wanting to go up or down a couple inches, wanting to try different blades or handles over time. I have some old sports injuries to contend with.

From what I've read so far, I'm leaning toward a Kenalu Mana 82 or 90. Thoughts? I don't have enough experience with carbon to know what I like in shafts. Maybe the stock xTuf is a good place to start? Lastly, the cam on an adjustable shaft seems clunky, like it would get in the way of smooth transfers, but I do like the idea of being able to melt the hot glue on a fixed length shaft and try a slightly different length if necessary. Does the stock handle have that adjustability or do I need to order something special?

I'm 6' tall, 175lbs, 42 years old. Many thanks to all you active Zoners--this has been a great place for me to learn the ropes.

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