Slippery Maliko Ramp! and board Repair Advice for Naish Glide 17'

[justingordon]

I just got my Naish 17' Glide and LOVE it.

However, I'm never going to carry it on my shoulder down the boat ramp at Maliko if there's gusty winds! I tried carrying the board on my shoulder, fin first, as I walked down the slippery boat ramp. A huge gust practically lifted me and the board off the ground. With limited traction on the mossy ramp, this was BAD. I did everything I could to save the board and me, but I landed flat on my back. Heartbroken to see my brand new board bashed up, I drove straight to "Gramps" ding repair. Gramps took a careful look at the nose damage, and suggested that he didn't need to professionally fix it, as the damage was mostly superficial in the paint layer, and that with so many wraps of carbon around the nose, it was a pretty safe bet not to take on water. So I shrugged off my awful grief and drove back to Maliko. This time I carried the board down the ramp using the handle. Still, a gust of wind hit me again, and I slid down the ramp into the water, but I managed to stay on my feet while sliding! Wow, I almost hit the board again!

Stoked to do a Maliko to Harbor Run on my new Naish 17' Glide!


Carrying board on my shoulder. Happy and easy! NOT!


Board Damage:




2nd time, after seeing Gramps!
Wind is pulling board away from me!


Here's the slippery ramp:



There's no more pictures of me going down the ramp, as I started another slide and the photographer went to try to help me!

And the run was a BLAST! Very windy the first half, and moderately light the second half. It took me about 1:43, ramp to sand. However, Livio and Conner came in behind me, saying they did the run in 1:04! What??? I've got to get to work!

The two suggestions I got for board repair were: Silver tape and JB Weld.

Thanks in advance for board repair advice, and any better ideas for not falling on that ramp. I've only done it ONCE and it's something you never want to do!

I'm training for the Olukai and Naish races, so if you want to train with me, let me know.

Aloha,

Justin
http://www.sugarranchmaui.com

[DavidJohn]

Bummer.. At least the damage is on the bottom of the nose so you don't have to look at it while paddling.. 

These boards are super tough..We were walking up our local boat ramp the other day in 20-30 knots and my friend had his 17 Glide catch the wind and swing around and went bang on the concrete but no damage was done.

With a good repairer it will come up like new.. I wouldn't use it to much like that.. Maybe get some 'ding tape' till then.. Good luck in the races and say Hi to my friend Jonathan.. He'll be there Monday.. 

DJ

[Takeo]

Boat ramps get very slippery, I avoid walking on any boat ramps.  Is it possible to enter off the rocks where it may be less slippery? 

As for repair, I've used Marine Tex which is a two part epoxy putty.  Sand the damaged area and feather out the layers of paint.  Apply the putty and smooth out with a wet finger as the putty starts to harden.  After it cures, sand to a smooth finish, just like doing body work, and paint with a spray acrylic, I've used Krylon. 

[Seattle-Wind]

Congrats on the new board, i bet it's awesome on Maliko runs! i did my first maliko run a few weeks ago, it was humbling to say the least, but it goes down as one of the most exciting things i've done. I noticed how slippery that ramp was too...

[JonathanC]

Feel your pain

I always go in over the rocks at Maliko, they aren't sharp. Lucky it was only your board you dinged and not your back, friend of mine broke his coccyx a few years ago doing the same thing with a windsurfer and rig on his head.

[bchmaui]

Try holding your board in your left hand and hold on to the dock that is on the right side of the ramp.
Better yet get some string loops put on your board and then you can put your paddle through them and then use your paddle to carry your board down the ramp.
Hope that helps.

[headmount]

The string loops bchmaui writes about is definitely the way... only use spectra line not string.  MR puts them on the 16s and Bullets.  Then enter the water fin or rudder forward so you can see what's happening with it.  At Maliko ramp I walk down the grids until I get to the slippery spot.  By then I can reach the water with the tail of my 16 and press it into the water creating a triangle of balance while I walk the rest of the way into the water over the slick as snot part.  In this way you can lean slightly forward which is better than getting on your heels where you can banana peel.  This guy isn't the first to bust his ass on that ramp.  It can be like walking on a iced up parking lot.  Carrying a race board on your shoulders is just plain crazy.  It can be dead still and then cannonball gusts of wind that blast out of the gulch with no warning.  It's just a fact of life.  As Jonathan says walking over the rocks especially at higher tide is the safest.  At low tide if you do this, be careful to walk your board out a ways slightly lifting the tail to insure you don't hit any submerged rocks with your fin while fully weighted on top of your board.  THose rocks  hide just underneath the water.  A bent rudder ruins your day and fixing it is more than money.  The guys who know how to do it right are incredibly swamped with work now and it could be several days before your board is back in your hands.  Be careful at the launch! and also when you're tired and loading it on your rack at the end.  Don't be afraid to ask for help if it's really windy.  These boards are expensive!  Out in the deep blue is the safe part.  It's the on land you have to be careful.

[newton333]

ya doesn't look to bad, i always thought those detachable little wheels were kind of useless but looks like they may help. like on slippery wet boat launches.  good luck