Evening Session - 2/20/2025

I only had a short window today - but with the surf still up (a relative term considering it is the middle of winter), I wanted to get this board wet - the Hayden Shapes Hypto Krypto.

And I also wanted to try these Kohola Flow Tech fins a spin.  Same tubercle principle as on the Takuma Kujira foils and the AFS Silk/Enduro foils.

I caught three waves - and I got in some decent turns.  Not really enough to say how these fins are - but I didn't botch any turns and they didn't feel sticky.  I'd say this was a first good session for them.

The Sweet Potato would have been a better board for today's conditions as the Hypto Krypto is not the best groveler.

Oh - and both monk seals were back basking in the same spot.  I love this stretch of coast!!!

W:9/FD:30/PW:1/S:3

Evening Session - 2/19/2025

And after the sanding session, I figured I might as well rinse off the work day (and any sanding dust) - so I headed out for a quick session at WPB.

There were decent waves coming through!!!  And there was enough wind to mess up the surf (at least it looked that way from the beach - which kept the crowd light).

I figured the conditions would be junk - so I threw (figuratively) the Sweet Potato in the truck.  I had the Britt Merrick Twins still in the board - probably the best fins for this board (and the way I surf it).

I caught some really fun waves - where I was able to make multiple turns and run along the wall.  It was a ton of fun!!!  If you look at the section right in front of you and just focus on making the most of that piece of energy, then every wave you get is a fun one.

I picked off a handful of good ones then called it for the day.

These two were hanging out on the beach when I got in. 

With all the foiling I do, I sometimes forget how much fun surfing the right board for the conditions present can be.  It's good that I forgot my FD remote and it was low tide - forces me to surf (and remember it is awesome!!!)

W:9/FD:30/PW:1/S:2

Garage Works - 2/19/2025

I was going to go Foil Drive-ing this afternoon, but I left my remote at my office.  So I took a short nap and then hit the garage to sand the repairs I have stacked.

First up was Norm's Code 1130 wingtip repairs.

Tops and bottoms faired in and ready for the fill coats.

Bottom tips

After dinner I'll get a fill coat on the top side.  Tomorrow I'll get the fill coat on the bottom side - and that will setup Friday for sanding the rebuilt tips and filling scratches.  Sanding the scratches will blend everything together.

I also sanded Marvin's board - should be good now, but I'll see if he is good with how the window is (some white spots).

After these are done I'll work on fixing No.33 (leak by the top deck handle - I've already opened up the layer that failed - just need to fill) and No.34 (sanding the repair to the top deck where a remote was contacting it - Kalani always finds the weaknesses in my boards).

And after that, I have been debating if No.41 will be a trench board or another No.37 (shorter flat deck).  If I had a hot wire to cut the foam blank evenly, I'd do the trench board in a heartbeat - but I don't and right now it seems like a ton of work for not much gain in efficiency.

Dawn Patrol - 2/17/2025

Today is La and my 24th Wedding Anniversary!  I don't know where all that time went - it's been awesome and it all has gone by so fast!

That said, La did go to sleep late and she it was fine for me to dawn patrol!

Conditions were not perfect by a long shot - onshore wind (not quite strong enough to wing on regular gear - maybe light wind stuff), but there were still waves to be ridden and a decent high tide. 

4th session now on No.40 - this board is so awesome!!!

Same gear as the prior sessions with two exceptions.  I've got the V2 motor with the 20cm cable (so I could lower the pod), and a "no tape" cable guide that I 3D printed from PETG.

The cable guide worked perfectly.

The V2 motor is smooth as silk and runs quieter than my original Max motor.

Full house this morning in front of the Cabins - Shari, Dennis, Eddy, Kalani, Jason, Marvin and Robby.

Despite the less than ideal conditions, I was catching whichever waves had a small pocket.  Lots of cranking turns and I did pump back out on several waves.

I did try efoiling a few times and with the motor pod lowered a notch, it was easier and smoother.  With two batteries now I can now start practicing this more deliberately (and just change out the batteries).

Twenty-two rides in under two hours - about average now.

Super fun this morning!!!

It might be time to break out the wings again pretty soon.

W:9/FD:30/PW:1/S:1

Garage Works - 2/16/2025

Worked on some repairs today.

I got a second layer of carbon on Norm's front foil tips repair.

I also got the leash plug and signal window sanded and filled on Marvin's foilboard.

And I got No.34 back from Kalani - small patch required.

I'll have to do a fill coat on the front foil repair tomorrow.  And some sanding.

Dawn Patrol - 2/16/2025

Dawn patrolled Cabins at WP again this morning.  A lot choppier conditions today.  It eventually calm down a hair - but the first half of the session was super challenging.

This board does everything I ask of it.  Same setup as yesterday.

Two hours on a single battery, without having to paddle in between waves - the High Output battery is awesome!

Waves were harder to ride on the outside.  And the sets that were pulling through early seemed to back off a little.  Then I followed Marvin and Dennis to the inside and my wave count shot up.

25 rides in 2 hours.

Time to add the extra grip pads and sticker this board up!!!

W:9/FD:29/PW:1/S:1

Dawn Patrol and the Anointment of No.40 - 2/15/2025

This was yesterday morning's dawn patrol session - which was also the anointment of No.40!

Fun waves - but a little chop on the water surface.  Nice high tide made launching pretty easy (although I did drag the fuselage under the tail on the bottom for a second).

This board is just easy to use.  Where No.39 is a racehorse (built to go fast), No.40 is a shredder - to me it just feels like it wants to ride waves.

I ran two batteries today - first was the High Output, then the Max Power battery.

Immediate impression - this board is KILLER!!!   With the volume forward, takeoff feels more like the surfboards I've been using lately - so that makes me want to drive this board harder into the turns.

And with all the squiggly lines - there were lots of turns to be had.

Twenty-four waves in this session.

I went in and changed out the battery so I could get a back-to-back comparison (first time I've done this).

With roughly 1/3 less time out in the water, and getting to the same point battery charge-wise, I'd say there is a noticeable difference in capacity between the two batteries.

I did change the foil position slightly - and where it ended up was perfect.  The takeoff is progressive (just like on No.34 - so that is a factor of this bottom shape).  This will be important come summer and the waves get bigger.  This is in contrast to No.39 where the takeoff is faster (and it feels more like I have to manage front foot pressure).

19 rides in an hour!!!!

It feels really satisfying when a board build ends this well!!!

W:9/FD:28/PW:1/S:1

Evening Session - 2/13/2025

Not as big as yesterday.  Fuller tide.  And more wind.

Today was not as perfect as yesterday was - but there were still good waves to ride.

Marvin came out to try out the new High Output battery and High Efficiency motor.

I moved the mast forward a notch and bolted on the Spitfire 900.  I thought I might end up moving the mast to dial in the optimum position - but it was pretty good from the get go.

I did notice the whole setup felt a little slower than normal.  I have been using the Foil Lite bolt system and with the prospect of moving the mast out on the water I used the Wingscrew wing nuts.  That might have been the drag I was feeling.

But there was also a really strong current running West to East.  There was also a little more chop on the surface than I have been used to (from the past few clean sessions).

Not sure exactly why I was feeling off my game - but today was definitely more of a struggle day.

To add to all of that, Marvin mentioned his battery was moving inside the unit.  And after his mentioning of that, I heard/felt the same in my box.

I finished the session with 35% left.  I did efoil a few times - but I wasn't getting in the groove (still).  Otherwise I was a little harder on the throttle than I normally am - and the waves were breaking on the far outside - so that additional usage would explain the higher consumption.

Now to reflect on the positive - there were some great rides today.  Tons of carving and critical position riding where the waves were breaking.

I did have some abrupt/unplanned dismounts.  I'm attributing that to the chop and using a different front foil.

17 rides in just over an hour - no room for complaints here.

W:9/FD:27/PW:1/S:1

Evening Session - 2/12/2025

Went Foil Drive-ing this afternoon

The wind had been on the waves for a bit so it was not as smooth as yesterday - but the tide was higher and the waves were pretty darn good.

Same setup as yesterday - except I was using the High Output Max battery and I brought the mast back a notch.

The set waves were head and a half high and it was so good to swoop to the bottom of a wave where you could look up at the wave break right at you!!!

And I caught multiple waves like this -

The High Output battery is the same voltage as the Max battery - but having more Ah and Wh made the Foil Drive seem steadier and even a tad stronger compared to using the regular battery.

That might very well be all in my head - but the battery did seem like it was not dropping off as fast as the other battery does.  A possible explanation would be the Max battery has been rode hard for well over a hundred cycles - and batteries don't last forever.

Back to the rides - I was way outside the Cabins - pretty much where we go winging when the wind is strong (because the wind swirls at this point and if you get dropped in a lull it is a really long swim back in).

20 waves in an hour!!!

The mast position was probably a hair too far back - I didn't feel like I was wrestling the foil - but I also needed to work a little more to keep it in the sweet spot.

Truthfully I think I could have been on the Spitfire 900 (and maybe even the Spitfire 840)

No.39 has been working superbly.  I have zero complaints/tweaks/ideas on how to improve its performance.  I got the WMFG deck pad today - and it's on No.40 already.  I'm going to let it sit for a couple of days to make sure the bond is good.  That will give me a couple more days on No.39 to get its characteristics down.

W:9/FD:26/PW:1/S:1

Evening Session - 2/11/2025

Headed to get some waves at WPB on the Foil Drive.

The conditions were super nice!

Minimal wind, decent tide and swell with some energy in it - I'm wondering if it is west wrap...

Zach, Prayot, Roland were all out - and there was a guy on Foil Drive on the outside with me (not sure who it was).

As a first step in testing, I brought out No.39 - everything else was the same.

I forgot my watch so no data or wave counts - but sometimes that's ok.

It was breaking at the peak outside Cabins (where we would like to wing, but sometimes the wind gets iffy).  The wave would reel to the left and the pocket was tight - so I got to hook turns back and forth for mega runs.  SO MUCH FUN!!!

As narrow as this board is, it is super reactive.  It catches waves easily and I was able to pump back out without much effort.

I think I need to move the mast back a hair (or put the Spitfire 900 on at this position).

I'll ride this board for the next few days - then hop onto No.40 

W:9/FD:25/PW:1/S:1

Garage Works - 2/10/2025

I decided to stay back from water time today so I could get No.40 across the finish line.

Here it is all sanded down to 400 grit.

Top deck -

Bottom deck (with the tracks opened up).

And just to provide those following - here is the primary difference between No.39 and No.40 - "V"

I wanted to compare the flat tail of No.39 to the "V" in No.34 - but the longer length in 34 didn't make the comparison on level terms.

Getting the bottom shape on this board was an exercise in joining different curves and making them work together.  The upcoming testing will determine if it is worth the extra effort over a flat bottom.

After sanding, I headed off to get some clear coat.  The shop only had one can - so here is the board sprayed up with one can.

I'll try and grab another can tomorrow to get another coat on the board (makes it more scratch resistant - and prettier).

There are other differences between 39 and 40 - 

40 is shorter by an inch,

But wider by an inch.

40 is also thicker by a smidgeon.

And 39 is more streamlined, where 40 has some hips to it (taking off with 39, I had to be further back on the board than I normally rode - 40 has more volume forward so taking off "should" be weight further forward).

The WMFG deck pad is still supposed to arrive by Thursday.  Which means this board would get wet on Saturday morning.

That also means I'll start Foil Drive-ing with No.39 now to start getting a feel for its performance characteristics, before switching off to No.40 this weekend.

Let the testing (riding) begin!!!!

I think the next board is going to be a 5'2" - bottom shape to be determined by the upcoming 39-40 testing.  The shorter length will be for the summer swells (since Marvin bought the last 5'-Oh that I built).

Garage Works - 2/9/2025

I got through pretty much all the sanding today.

Here's the bottom deck -

And the top.  When sanding the top, I found a few voids - I kinda expect a few when I do think laminate layers (or innegra).

I figured I should go ahead and fill the voids while installing the plugs.

And here's the work I'll be sanding down tomorrow.  Two plugs and a few fills - should go pretty quick.

After that, I'll open up the tracks and fair in the cuts.  If I have time tomorrow - I'll pick up some of the 2K clear coat and get that sprayed on.

Then I just have to wait for the WMFG deck pad to get in and No.40 will be finished!

Next up - Norm's Code 1130S repair, replacing the tracks on No.32, and converting an older prone board into a modern Foil Drive board.