Messages

106

Gear Talk / Re: The ventral fin from Larry W. Allison

« on: July 10, 2015, 09:58:07 AM »

The general idea is to counterbalance the effect of the rear fin.  So the closer to the nose the better. The forward position increases the lever, hence allows to reduce the size of the daggerboard. The limit depending on the rocker of the board. The board on the video is a 14' f-one, the one on the picture is a 14' prototype I built last summer, with a rounded hull inspired from canoes. The daggerboard really helps on this kind of shape.

107

Gear Talk / Re: The ventral fin from Larry W. Allison

« on: July 10, 2015, 01:14:09 AM »

blackeye, it's only a prototype, to test the general concept. My daggerboard is generally either down, or strapped on the deck. But I'm really convinced that cruising SUPs should have a pivoting centerboard, like old woindsurfs. The ventral fin is only a first step in this direction.

108

Gear Talk / Re: The ventral fin from Larry W. Allison

« on: July 03, 2015, 10:55:29 PM »

You are so right, Henrik F 

The real question is "Why don't they put a small centerboard on every touring SUP ?"  This is so obvious... Best tracking, increased stability, and a perfectly balanced board when paddling crosswind...



Check this little video :

109

Technique / Re: Paddling in cross winds

« on: March 21, 2014, 07:47:31 AM »

My little daggerboard in action

110

Flatwater and Touring / Re: Winter SUP

« on: February 06, 2014, 12:05:14 AM »

I'm afraid not

Here is a picture taken in Marseille, France, on the 1st of January, 2014 

111

SUP General / Re: What does your SUP carrying vehicle look like...?

« on: November 09, 2013, 10:30:25 AM »

just a 14' board on a 11'3" car 

112

Technique / Re: Paddling in cross winds

« on: November 04, 2013, 06:33:34 AM »

> In my experience, a big fin in those conditions feels like it is sticking deep and keeping the tail fixed and therefore becomes a pivot point, making the nose swing to the downwind direction even easier. 

Totally right ! But using a smaller fin means letting the tail drift, hence reducing the pivot effect but having the whole board drifting, even if you don't feel it in the paddle. I think the easiest way to get rid of this pivot point is to balance it with a fin under the nose.

113

Technique / Re: Paddling in cross winds

« on: October 28, 2013, 10:51:34 AM »

Previous versions, on a Redwood Paddle 12'6"

I still have to try different sizes, shapes and positions, before I think of a definitive pivoting system.

114

Technique / Re: Paddling in cross winds

« on: October 28, 2013, 10:32:58 AM »

Chilly

You are right, I still have to improve a lot of things, but it's already really efficient. I did a lot of testing last week, flat water, wind between 15 and 25 knots. I must have paddled more than 50 miles over the week. With that small daggerboard, the board becomes amazingly soft and balanced. It just wants to go straight.

On the next version, the upper part of the daggerboard will be in balsa wood with just a thin layer of fiberglass, so it should break before my skull or chest does. The lowerpart will still be in carbon fiber.

Basically, downwind, I strap it on the deck.

115

Technique / Re: Paddling in cross winds

« on: October 25, 2013, 01:20:53 PM »

Hello everybody,

My name is Olivier, living in Marseille, France

I just wanted to let you know that I've been working hard on this crosswind issue, and starting to have very interesting results with this f-one 14

116

Flatwater and Touring / Re: Spill your quiver

« on: June 10, 2013, 11:18:19 AM »

- Fanatic Fly 10.6

- Naish One 12.6

- And this slightly customized Redwood Paddle 12.6, perfect in cross winds