Author Topic: Sunova Driftwood - Build project  (Read 22006 times)

HYPRIAN

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Re: Sunova Driftwood - Build project
« Reply #45 on: July 09, 2020, 09:31:33 PM »
Tall Dude,
I don't disagree with you in terms of all the different possiblities of hull designs and EVEN MORE SO for Shape outlines for surfboards, but SUP hulls was NOT an 80s or 90s thing..it really got going after Y2K and had always started with FLAT PLANING bottoms because most were more concerned about STABILITY. Right from the beginning we eschewed what others were doing and went our own way. I did NOT even know about Bill Stewart.. the Stewart I know is Mike Stewart (now also on the Big Island of Hawaii ) who makes the Science Bodyboards ( and so do we as custom boards ).. So as far a LONG RACEBOARDS, we grafted a canoe nose onto a SUP and i was doing to integrate a SUP, Surfski and Outrigger into one piece of equipment - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jrXUIRJ8VA

But we decided to focus on our GUNS instead because we do want to SURF our boards regardless of LENGTH.. We made OC-1s before (21ft long) so 12'6 or 14 etc is no different, the longer the board, the more you have to pay attention to DRAG...so we tried all kinds of concaves and settled on the "variable width hull" where you stand WIDER than you MOVE - and PROPORTIONS matter in SUP because you're STANDING on it, the empirical tests we did over 2 years came to the proportion formula we have been in production for more than 5 years.



TallDude

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Re: Sunova Driftwood - Build project
« Reply #46 on: July 09, 2020, 11:08:29 PM »
Aloha Hyprian,
I can see you were there at the start and transformed what you knew from OC into the SUP designs. The first real race board I paddle was an Ohana. A couple of Outrigger crew guys from SoCal who widened out an OC-1 to 25" and put a flat section down the middle. This was around 2007. Another shaper who made prone unlimited boards Craig Richmond, widened out a prone paddleboard to about 26 inches. These where the fastest in all the races. Other companies would buy one from him, paint their logo and name on them, and put there top racer on it. You see Riviera, Rogue, Richmond on the podium, but they were all Richmonds. Joe Bark did the same thing, widened one of his prone unlimiteds. They were never that fast. The surfboard companies were doing the big flat all arounders with flat planing hulls. As far as racing, they were all slow. A few that were really flat and around 26" wide did ok.
 
BTW, all these races were just two SUP divisions added on the SoCal Outrigger racing events. An open class, and an unlimited class longer than 12'6. I've shaped a few unlimiteds myself and have a bunch of friends who are all shapers. We talk design all the time. Some shape for the big names, but most like me just shape for ourselves. I'm sure you know Jude from Huki. He and I used to have a lot of design discussions about SUP race boards. He even molded a few.

I wish the best for you and your company on the Big Island. I have friends there. Hopefully I'll get to check out your shop one of these days and ride one of your boards.
It's not overhead to me!
8'8" L-41 ST and a whole pile of boards I rarely use.

PonoBill

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Re: Sunova Driftwood - Build project
« Reply #47 on: July 09, 2020, 11:35:13 PM »
Geez, Hyperian, don't post after your fourteenth beer. What did you patent? That the fin goes on the bottom? Double concave is a knockoff? Get a grip. Do you actually think any of that is convincing? I don't know what everyone else thinks but I'd cross the street to avoid your boards. I don't need any drama in my life around a fucking surfboard.

I don't make boards, I'm a retired guy whose last gig was running an advertising agency that you, in your wildest dreams, could never afford. But here's a freebie. Write this on a piece of paper and hang it where you can see it: No one wants to buy anything from an asshole.
« Last Edit: July 09, 2020, 11:58:47 PM by PonoBill »
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

Area 10

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Re: Sunova Driftwood - Build project
« Reply #48 on: July 10, 2020, 05:49:20 AM »
I found my answer on updated websites.
Maybe a separate thread to show pictures and weight of these boards, rationale behind fin placement and all the good things that help remotely looking at boards.
Thats a good idea. I have two of these 14s, in double-carbon full PVC sandwich layup and use them for just about everything. I'm getting a video together which shows them in action but progress has been slow: SUP was banned during lockdown in the UK and since then the weather hasn't been co-operating. I've got footage surfing tiny waves and a bit of flat water so far, but not much else. It's a lot of work making these videos- I take my hat off to the master of them, David John.

burchas

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Re: Sunova Driftwood - Build project
« Reply #49 on: July 10, 2020, 07:21:13 AM »
...I have two of these 14s, in double-carbon full PVC sandwich layup and use them for just about everything. I'm getting a video together which shows them in action but progress has been slow...

Probably better if you put it on hyper thread you created to put it in context. This thread is doing HYPRIAN disservice and I don't think he deserves it. He's Good People, just didn't come across that way. He didn't even know it's me otherwise he wouldn't have posted here to begin with. He called me yesterday when he finally figured out it's me and we talked for a while.
« Last Edit: July 10, 2020, 07:30:06 AM by burchas »
in progress...

Luc Benac

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Re: Sunova Driftwood - Build project
« Reply #50 on: July 10, 2020, 07:32:58 AM »
He's Good People, just didn't come across that way.

That is an understatement. Talk about posting for the first time to a forum with potential customers with a bang. I am glad you can confirm, he does not communicate or treat customer in that language. That indeed would make me question ordering a board if difference of opinion should result in trailer park trash talk.
Sunova Allwater 14'x25.5" 303L Viento 520
Sunova Torpedo 14'x27" 286L Salish 500
Naish Nalu 11'4" x 30" 180L Andaman 520
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HYPRIAN

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Re: Sunova Driftwood - Build project
« Reply #51 on: July 10, 2020, 08:02:28 AM »
Aloha Everyone,
I hope you guys understand how it feels like when you've worked on something for years going against the grain of the fashionable trends and then be villified when it's the right thing to do.. Well I haven't logged on to the Zone in 10 years precisely because this is not the forum to share any new ideas. However the good news is I realized who Burchas was and the joke is WE had discussed doing this 13ft Raceboard before. I was very upfront with him about the real problem for a small company..SHIPPING LOGISTICS...so I contacted him offline and WE ARE GOOD...We are working on alternatives to get him what he wants.

I would have loved to make the board for Burchas but from experience I knew, I just couldn't ship a board like that by AIR CARGO...Even Before the Pandemic, all the airlines kept reducing the size of boards anyone can ship at ever increasing prices. The REAL TRAGEDY here for all of us is the AIRLINES ( at least in the US ) where quarterly profits and OVERLEVERAGED balance sheets means less and less service. Now with Govt. bailout and pandemic traffic, less planes etc. even our local Hawaiian Airlines have now restricted Inter Island shipments of air cargo ( not just baggage ) to 9ft boards officially. So if we can't ship by container to a regional port and maybe truck it locally then no point. As usual SMALL companies making BIG objects that do not have  the resources to have a big distribution network will be at a great disadvantage. The big and rich will get bigger and richer in the greatest money printing episode in the history of the US...unfortunately poor and small will get poorer and smaller. See you guys in another 10 years, feel free to bitch at me directly, contact info is on our website. Case is closed ! Aloha

Luc Benac

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Re: Sunova Driftwood - Build project
« Reply #52 on: July 10, 2020, 08:13:44 AM »
Yes shipping a single board is an issue on both side due to cost and timing and regretfully a big factor in a purchasing decision and the distribution network is as key as the quality of the product. This must be all the more acute when located on a small island. I do feel for you in that regard.
That said, you must have ways to send your products in small quantities to North America in a reasonable timeframe and manner otherwise, there would not be much market left.
It seems that UK has been a success in terms of representation based on the web page.

Also would be interested to have some clarity on the carbon/wood option. Carbon bottom - wood top?
I do prefer to have all general info lined-up in writing rather than the phone call in the evening after work :-) so that would be perfect if Area10 could follow-up on his original post as a place to go back and look-up info on the product/brand.
Sunova Allwater 14'x25.5" 303L Viento 520
Sunova Torpedo 14'x27" 286L Salish 500
Naish Nalu 11'4" x 30" 180L Andaman 520
Sunova Steeze 10' x 31" 150L
Blackfish Paddles

HYPRIAN

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Re: Sunova Driftwood - Build project
« Reply #53 on: July 10, 2020, 09:42:42 AM »
Aloha Luc,

We used to have a FL distributor but it was a disaster because the one time we relented to the distributor to make "cheaper" boards it ruined our quality rep... so we never touched it again. That being said we are working on finding distributors who are real enthusiasts not just transactional, we also want all our distributors to make all the money so they can grow organically "farm to table " so to speak ..i.e. once approved our distributors buy the boards at PRODUCTION COST plus 15% overlay to cover production management & logistics... a much much bigger margin than buying at wholesale and selling at retail...basically from a net position, the distributor is in the same position as us.. We primarily focus on Hawaii and let our distributors we trust manage their area as their own kingdom. We have enough on our plate in Hawaii to deal with, our lifestyle is more important as we are all getting older mid 50s..

As to the Carbon Wood construction, we vacuum bag EACH layer SEPARATELY - 1st layer S-glass to LOCK IN the foam shape, then the carbon  ( we just OVERLAP the rails and wood, otherwise the board gets too heavy ) , then the wood veneer & final glass layer so that board takes 3 baggings to get to where it is.. Our all wood construction takes 2 baggings thus the difference in cost.. The construction is already overkill in terms of structural rigidity since we have a stringer in most of our boards ( except the Raceboards by request to reduce weight )

There is no magic to physics...less WEIGHT will equal Less Durability ( less structural material ) - we minimize it to the max by at least doing DOUBLE vacuum bagging but TROPICAL woods are heavier but blended with Carbon, it's very strong..We just honest enough to be transparent about it... you can always make a board lighter, just REMOVE materials, it will be lighter, but it will SNAP easy. I dread sharing our build techniques openly so please contact me directly if you can. ian@hyprnalu.com - Have a great day everyone. Aloha

Luc Benac

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Re: Sunova Driftwood - Build project
« Reply #54 on: July 10, 2020, 10:15:44 AM »
Will contact you directly during the winter when/if I am coming closer to a budget for a board addition and have heard feedback from Burchas and Area 10. So far their reviews have always been spot on and helped tremendously with buying a board without testing.

ANd sorry, I should have posted in Area10 Hypr thread instead. https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,35410.msg414149.html#msg414149
« Last Edit: July 10, 2020, 10:20:33 AM by Luc Benac »
Sunova Allwater 14'x25.5" 303L Viento 520
Sunova Torpedo 14'x27" 286L Salish 500
Naish Nalu 11'4" x 30" 180L Andaman 520
Sunova Steeze 10' x 31" 150L
Blackfish Paddles

supthecreek

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Re: Sunova Driftwood - Build project
« Reply #55 on: July 10, 2020, 06:34:00 PM »
Aloha Everyone,
I hope you guys understand how it feels like when you've worked on something for years going against the grain of the fashionable trends and then be villified when it's the right thing to do.. Well I haven't logged on to the Zone in 10 years precisely because this is not the forum to share any new ideas. However the good news is I realized who Burchas was and the joke is WE had discussed doing this 13ft Raceboard before. I was very upfront with him about the real problem for a small company..SHIPPING LOGISTICS...so I contacted him offline and WE ARE GOOD...We are working on alternatives to get him what he wants.

I would have loved to make the board for Burchas but from experience I knew, I just couldn't ship a board like that by AIR CARGO...Even Before the Pandemic, all the airlines kept reducing the size of boards anyone can ship at ever increasing prices. The REAL TRAGEDY here for all of us is the AIRLINES ( at least in the US ) where quarterly profits and OVERLEVERAGED balance sheets means less and less service. Now with Govt. bailout and pandemic traffic, less planes etc. even our local Hawaiian Airlines have now restricted Inter Island shipments of air cargo ( not just baggage ) to 9ft boards officially. So if we can't ship by container to a regional port and maybe truck it locally then no point. As usual SMALL companies making BIG objects that do not have  the resources to have a big distribution network will be at a great disadvantage. The big and rich will get bigger and richer in the greatest money printing episode in the history of the US...unfortunately poor and small will get poorer and smaller. See you guys in another 10 years, feel free to bitch at me directly, contact info is on our website. Case is closed ! Aloha

Wow! Just wow.
It's tough out there isn't it?
so unfair!! 

Until today, I had great respect for the beauty of your boards.
I have friends that I admire, who promote your brand and I have actually recommended that my buddy become an ambassador for your boards.

You hijack a thread, besmirch Sunova, pump your own brand....bad mouth the Zone, then run for the door.  ::)
What a weenie  :(

Full disclosure: I'm the Sunova guy on the Zone.

HYPRIAN

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Re: Sunova Driftwood - Build project
« Reply #56 on: July 10, 2020, 08:58:24 PM »
Aloha SUPthecreek
I have greatest respect for Sunova which why i WAS ORIGINALLY shocked...it took me awhile OFFLINE to find out who Burchas was and WE ARE GOOD and I understand WHY.

You may be the Sunova, I'm not picking a fight with or Sunova just getting to the truth.. And you can't really comment and be sarcastic about how things really you don't understand the difficulty of logistics of hawaii - This just happened today - shipping rates up 47% by our monopoly operator - 90% of everything we have in Hawaii comes in by ship ..

https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2020/07/10/hawaii-news/young-brothers-seeks-47-rate-hike/?fbclid=IwAR0sP4L-BI2-5hvZy6NMHC4F4fwoS_GpBP-JejYX3Flo02-Ps_79SuX8FaE

So don't be judgemental when you don't know how expensive doing anything in Hawaii is ! - Aloha -

oceanAddict

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Re: Sunova Driftwood - Build project
« Reply #57 on: August 03, 2020, 12:42:56 PM »
Just got some hi-res full body naked porn pics. Maybe I should post it on the HOT Chicks thread, but which one :-\

so had it arrived? ride report?
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burchas

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Re: Sunova Driftwood - Build project
« Reply #58 on: August 03, 2020, 05:16:38 PM »
Just got some hi-res full body naked porn pics. Maybe I should post it on the HOT Chicks thread, but which one :-\

so had it arrived? ride report?

Yes. Iv'e been riding it for just over a month. Waiting for a big blow to have a more comprehensive report. Tomorrow should be blowing bananas with gusts
over 60knots so I'll try to put a video together. In a nutshell, it's a kick-ass board that turned out better than I thought it would in almost every way. Stoked!
in progress...

oceanAddict

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Re: Sunova Driftwood - Build project
« Reply #59 on: August 04, 2020, 11:35:30 AM »
Awesome! Glad to hear. good luck tomorrow and cannot wait to hear back/see footage.


Just got some hi-res full body naked porn pics. Maybe I should post it on the HOT Chicks thread, but which one :-\

so had it arrived? ride report?

Yes. Iv'e been riding it for just over a month. Waiting for a big blow to have a more comprehensive report. Tomorrow should be blowing bananas with gusts
over 60knots so I'll try to put a video together. In a nutshell, it's a kick-ass board that turned out better than I thought it would in almost every way. Stoked!
Infinity Blackfish, SIC Bullet Air Glide, Sunova Point Break #003, Sunova Soul

 


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