inexpensive 14 footer!

[GMONEY]

http://www.clcboats.com/shop/boats/surf_boats/paddleboards/CLC-KAHOLO-SUP.html

I have been toying with the idea of getting a SUP and even doing some races. $ is the nuber one reaon I havent made the jump. My buddies are doing the SUP thing and love it. I found this board and becasue I can build it I can save a ton of money and still have fun with what looks to be a competitive board..

Gmoney

[stoneaxe]

I had thought about doing something similar when I 1st saw the gray whale SUP last winter.
http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=725.0

Haven't gotten it off the drawing board yet though. I'm actually kind of glad because my thoughts have been refined by exposure to a lot of the other boards I've seen. If I do build something it will be at least 16'.

The grey whale looks like a decent design for a flatwater/distance board but I wonder how it does in the surf.

[shapeshifter]

way cool! kits make building a board, which requires a considerate abmount of skill, accessable to almost anyone. those who need to develop those abilities, or lack the tools, and space can team up with someone who's willing to assist. imagine, the whole race takes on another facet those who choose to build their own.

i believe i saw one of these boards at the ta-hoe nalu and the finished quality is top notch. i'd say go for it.

[Shawn Michael]

Stoneaxe, after working with Joe Bark and considering your weight (Im 260) I think you are wise to go long.  Joe said that for that weight the best dimension would be 18'6X28 or 19x27 if you are more advanced.  After hauling around a 22ft outrigger it is easy for me but a pain if you have a small garage and car...BUT the as soon as you get it on the water it will all make sense.  I ended up getting 17'11 because that is what I could fit on the wall rack in the garage but now I am thinking about that 19X27 in double carbon....would love to demo against the penetrator

[stoneaxe]

Space is my #1 problem. My "workshop" is a 12' x 10' shed. I bring my big tools outside to work when weather permits. Projects of this size are tough because they are so time consuming and leaving 1/2 finished work out in the elements isn't a good idea. Even finished I would have a problem with a 18'+ board... I have problems with storage of the boards I have now....

This may just be a dream until my wife and I move...something we've considered of late. Two things high on my list for moving...walk to the water, a workshop/storage area for my stuff. The house is an afterthought....

A 19 x 27 double carbon...how sweet is that going to be...how do you spell e n v i o u s ? If Bill does his ke nalu distance/downwinder showcase hopefully we'll see some comparisons just like that. You should make the trip over.

[GMONEY]

I have the same issues with storage. As it stands I have a 10X10 shed and all my surfboards are stored on top of my airplane trailer. Things get a little sticky with the wife at times. AS far as the build process goes I am fortunate enough to own a percentage of a cabinet shop and have a dedicated area to call my own. I spent some time talking with some buddies and I am trying to get three or four guys to cash commit on building either this board or another I have found. I think doing mulitples will make things easier. Not to mention the extra sets of hands..

[Tom]

Looks really cool, but does 28 lbs. seem reasonable to you guys? I'd have to guess it would weigh a lot more.

[graywhale]

To clarify some issues about the Kaholo 14 wood SUP kit, consider the following:
1) The board was about 18 months in design/development, and was available for shipping as of three weeks ago.
2) It was designed as an open water paddler, and is very fast and efficient, competitive with any 14' board on the market (and I've paddled most all of them).
3) The second prototype was a 16' board (and several inches narrower), but it was very little faster (if any...I paddled it yesterday), and certainly not as competitive in its class.
4) The Kaholo was designed as a cruiser, but my personal interest is primarily racing, so I designed for that as well.
5) I've had paddlers on it from 100 to 270#, and it paddled well with all of them (one of the very few boards that can comfortably handle a really large paddler.
6) A realistic finished weight is right around 30#; maybe a couple more if you add a lot of accesories. It is made from 3mm marine Okoume ply, with one layer of 4oz cloth around the exterior, and a layer of 4oz on the underside of the deck.
7) It was not designed as a surfboard and if so, wouldn't be a good paddleboard.  While I suspect it could play in small mushy stuff, I haven't really surf tested it yet.

Well, I've tried to address all the issues brought up.  I would be glad to have everyone test paddle it.  There is one in Dana Point right now, and will be a couple in NorCal soon. There should be one completed on the east coast soon as well (in Annapolis). So, did I leave anything out???

Larry

[shapeshifter]

um, yeah... you need one or two of them in chicago for people to check out.

[GMONEY]

Larry, Thanks for the info! Ive been busy on the phone almost all day. There is a race here in SoCal in January could you appox. put a time on hours spent building this board? Everybody I talk to is very tenative to say how much TIME. it will take.

I figure 8 hours to layout, read manual and sort parts.
8 hours to layout formers and start hull./Also glass bottom of top hatch
8 hours to have hull preped for top cap
4 yours to install top cap.
4 hours to glass bottom
4 hours to glass top
4hours for flow coat
8 hours to wet sand and polish
2 hours for pad install+final details

50 hours plus or minus to be in the water.

Ive got to be missing something!

I can do an easy 12-14 hour day on Saturday
another 4 hours on Sunday after surfing
2 hours a day each week night
Then another 12-14 hour day on Saturday

Hell sets say I'm off by 50% and it takes another 25 hours thats still SO doable

Gmoney

Will it be possible to get the manual seperate?

[graywhale]

GMONEY - Your estimate is very good; 50 hours is what we usually quote.  I started one about two weeks ago, and was out of town through Thanksgiving week.  I'm glassing the bottom tomorrow, and the deck on Wenesday; should have it done in a week and a half.  You'll be using epoxy resin and slow hardner, so most steps need a day to cure.

After glassing, the fins go on next, followed by two more coats of epoxy for sanding.  You'll finish it with varnish (I like Goldspar #95, a polyurethane based varnish that is hard and clear - two coats should do it), which is the only thing not included with the kit.

Building in SoCal will be easy; I'm in Sacramento and the colder winter slows things down a bit (can still build one in 3 - 4 weeks though).  And, I'm available by phone and email for tech support.  Which race are you aiming for?  I'll be down in Dana Point and Carlsbad Christmas week, and coming down again for the Hanohano Mission Bay race at the end of January.

Feel free to give me a call at 916-300-6111.

Larry

[bstain]

gmoney,
The Kaholo is a wonderful board. Very stable, handles a wide weight range of paddlers and is as fast and just about any 14' board. I have a set of favorite boards that I have paddled and the Kaholo is at the top of my list as the most pleasurable. Larry provides excellent phone and email assistance throughout the building process. Larry and I have build and refined a number of paddle boards and now stand ups over the past few years. We don't have a fancy shop and really have constructed the boards in an average home garage type setting. Our goal is that the process was geared to the average home project type carpenter. I encourage you to test a Kaholo for yourself. I think you will find it is well worth considering building one.
Bill