Messages

241

Gear Talk / Re: New Blane Chambers paddle.

« on: October 16, 2008, 08:16:55 AM »

I just ordered mine - call Kialoa direct and they will send one to you.  More to follow once it gets here...

I got to use this new paddle in head high surf this morning (along with a new 9'6" - but that is another post).  WOW!!!

Higher cadence, less resistance, yet the same overall all the power I had with my C4 and qb Kanaha.

I've been battling golfer's elbow in my left arm - normally after paddling I'll have some dull pain for a few hours - nothing this time!

I vote "yes" to the Methane - thanks Blane and others that are influencing the market!!!

I also just ordered a Gillespe Balsa Surf with an 8" blade - it'll be here in a few weeks (I ordered it at 78" for distance paddling) I'll start another thread when I get it.

Vic

242

Downwind and Racing / Re: Fin location

« on: October 14, 2008, 01:13:54 PM »

Stuey -

Are you finding your boards track straighter with the fins that forward of the tail?  In your descriptions of the penetrator development, you reference yacht building principles - which would have the rudder further up from the stern on high performance craft. 

I have also thought about fin placement on surfboards - how you want your rear foot over the fin cluster to make use of them - and how that principle applies here.

I am trying to come up with the factors that will go into my next board - thanks for your feedback!

Vic

243

Downwind and Racing / Fin location

« on: October 09, 2008, 08:04:25 PM »

Question for those that know, or who have ordered custom racing boards -

Where is the optimum position for a fixed fin (no rudder) with the goal of tracking straighter? 

I thought the answer was towards the back of the board, and with the fin all the way back in the fin box.  But looking at the videos/pictures of stuey's penetrator and some of Ron House's monohulls (the red one Kyle M has been paddling), the fin(s) are further up.

And on www.surfingsports.com (blog pages), Wardog has posted pictures of a Starboard distance prototype board with the same fin config as Ron House's monohull (two fins similar to a keel/daggerboard - rudder setup). 

I would think some of the lessons learned in longboard windsurfing and modern yacht racing would apply here.

Thoughts (before I order a custom)?

244

Downwind and Racing / Re: the taste of humiliation...

« on: October 09, 2008, 07:54:07 PM »

Sounds like the weather is going to be an "equalizer" for the BOTP -

Should be a great race!!!

245

Gear Talk / Re: New Blane Chambers paddle.

« on: October 04, 2008, 09:13:26 PM »

I just ordered mine - call Kialoa direct and they will send one to you.  More to follow once it gets here...

246

Downwind and Racing / Re: Penetrator 572(18'8")

« on: October 04, 2008, 09:12:04 PM »

Wow!

247

Gear Talk / Re: Werner Carve

« on: October 04, 2008, 09:10:43 PM »

Can you feel any flex in the blade during the power stroke?  I was looking at this paddle in my local shop and seemed a lot different than the all carbon blades - more apt to flex (my opinion).

Did you get to drag the blade during a turn?  If yes, how was the shape for helping your turns?  Sticky, smooth?

248

Gear Talk / Re: Infinity 12'6"Race board setup for a day trip on Lake Tahoe

« on: October 04, 2008, 09:07:20 PM »

Can you post more pictures of your board (bottom nose to tail, bottom rail to rail, side from nose to tail)?

Second place in the race - you must be very happy with your board...

Thanks in advance!
Vic