Garage Works - 4/17/2024

I passed up a surfing session today so I could get some work done on this next board.

I originally had the intention of cutting the blank out of the billet foam.

Then I figured I might as well get the nose rocker cut in.

And why not go ahead and get the chines in place.

And why stop now - dress up the top deck.  And then I used the dragon skin to blend in the interfaces and remove more bulk material.  And I figured why not use the rough sand paper and get the shape dialed in.

This was definitely a lot further than I was targeting today - but after two hours I had a 90% shaped and sanded blank.

I like the lines on this one.  I still have more sanding to do to get the symmetry dialed in.  Then I'll mark the centerline again and determine where the track block will sit. 

This is a detuned nose - no slight bow shape on this one.  But it also isn't a straight surfboard nose either - with some volume, this part of the board will contribute to the overall stability and will also not drive to one direction or another when it goes underwater (like after coming down from a jump).

Tomorrow I may be helping Matt dial in No.35 - but I'll at least remark the center line and get the track block situated.  Getting a board to this point in two hours... this might be a record for me - I don't want to lose the momentum!

Evening Session - 4/16/2024

The crew was buzzing about the afternoon session - reports of good sized waves and light (to no) wind... all I could think about was getting the Foil Drive setup and hitting it!!!

The tide was low (so I had to paddle a ways out to get to deeper water) but that made for some exciting wave shape (steeper faces and some lip thrown).

I setup No.33 with the Spitfire 960/375P.  This unit and mast position is perfect!

I was on the throttle for almost the entire session - keeping position on the outside was challenging as the big sets would force you to go further out (to not get clobbered), while the smaller (head high) sets had you more inside to pick them up.

The wind also picked up mid-session - it was pretty much wingable strength.  But that also drove a side chop, which when mixed with the air-entrained water made for hard riding conditions.

That said - I did manage to snag several fun waves.  Prayot was also on the outside on his regular SUP surfing equipment.

From the graph, I picked up 17 waves in 72 minutes 

And this is the 4th time Marvin was out - and this is the 4th board he had out.

This one was a looker for sure - 17.5" wide at 45 liters.  He said he wasn't jiving with it (borrowed from Paul Cooper).  We'll see if tomorrow has good conditions to go back out - otherwise I'll probably wait for the wind to come back and get some home stuff done.

W:47/FD:24/F:4/S:9

Garage Works - 4/15/2024

I got a crack in my windshield this morning - a rock strike while driving on the freeway.  That will come into the story shortly.

These are the two templates that I've been working on that made the final cut.  These are the 5'0" x 22" April 2024 B and C templates. 

When you line them up together, you can more easily see the differences - the one on the left has a more pulled in nose and tail - and that's the final choice for No.36

I needed the apply the UV resin to fix the chip in my windshield in strong sunlight.  I was getting that all sorted out and the instructions had distinct time periods where you were just waiting.

And that's when I measured the blank, found the centerline and transferred the template.

I really like how this one turned out.

My current plan is to use a similar bottom deck profile as the latest Foil Drive board (No.33 - flat tail, square rail, subtle chines from the tail to 2/3s the way up to the nose where the rail softens).

You may be asking yourself - "Vic, why do you need another wing foiling board - don't you already have a few?"  

Well, No.36 is going to get the 16" tracks so it will be able to support the smallest foils I have - F One SK8 750 and Eagle 690, the Axis HPS 700 and maybe even the Triton T-1

And the boards I have now tend to be at extremes.  No.25 has a lot of volume (for me now - I guess time in makes you able to use smaller stuff).  And No.32 needs more track forward.  This template will take the best of both and fit it in between the two.  At 22" width (or less) it'll move across the water faster (for earlier takeoff) and it'll have less volume (more manageable while winging on a wave).  The nose shape should fit steeper waves better and will feel more familiar to Foil Driving (bringing the two disciplines closer for me).

The color scheme is going to pull from one of my earlier prone boards (the tiger striped 4'10" No.17) and what I just did with Matt's board (No.35).  And I'll use the rail tape trick to keep the transition clean.

I'll put footstrap inserts into this - and I'm thinking of placing a centered rear foot so I can use it only for jumping.

Lots of design criteria for this one - should be a good build!  

Garage Works - 4/14/2024

Yesterday had some stormy weather forecasted so I skipped the dawn patrol and focused fully on finishing Matt's light wind wing foiling board (No.35).

I did some light adjusting on the edges of the tracks, sprayed the entire board with a couple of layers of clear coat, and got the vent plug installed.

Here's the signature block for future reference - 6'6" x 20.5" x 3.75"

And just in time - Matt swung by to pick the board up.

I think he was more stoked than I was!

I told him to bring the board back once he figured out how he wanted the deck pad laid out.

On to the next one!!!

Garage Works - 4/13/2024

Besides Foil Driving this morning, I got some last second epoxy fill on the low spots.  I also took La and Noe to Kailua to get presents.  When we got back the epoxy had hardened and I sanded the board.  It's done!

Tomorrow I'll spray the clear coat on - it'll be in lifts so there won't be any weird bumps that I'll have to go back and sand (I'M DONE SANDING).  Then after that is done, I'll drill the vent hole and install the plug.  Matt said he'll try to get over here midday tomorrow.

And after some more tweaking of the Foil Drive unit and the Spitfire 960 positioning, I think it's finally good to go.

I went ahead and sanded off the old 960 mark and wrote in the new position for the mast and the base unit.  It basically came out to 2.5 cms up from the Gen 1 FDA+ mark.  This setting has the lift a nudge on the progressive side and an ever so slight back foot pressure (which I really can't seem to get rid of actually).

I may try the SK8 950 next time - using the correlation it looks like it'll be pegged to the front of the track.

Dawn Patrol - 4/13/2024

Dawn patrolled this morning with the same setup I used yesterday.

From the beach it looked really messy - onshore wind, white water everywhere.

I texted Marvin and he still wanted to go out - and I don't like storing my batteries with a full charge... out I went.

And the funny thing was as bad as it looked from the beach, it was decent on the outside.

The tide was on the low side - so the waves were breaking everywhere.  I just motored to wherever wasn't jumbled and I picked up rides.

The concentrated area is pretty much the same spot where I pick up waves when I wing.  It is pretty cool that I can do this (MAHALO Foil Drive!!!).

Marvin used yet another board today - his 5'4" Quatro.  With the extra volume, he was doing so much better.  Nothing but smiles!!!

Tomorrow is supposed to be stormy... and I am going to Noe's concert - not sure what the session will be tomorrow.  I am going to borrow/test some more Ezzy Flight wings - I may sneak in a short winging session at Hickam....

I am still trying to figure out a way to clean the Gen 2 setup... it doesn't seem right that I just hose it off and put it away - salt is not good long term for any of these materials.

This smaller cooler worked for the Gen 1 FD - I may pull down a slightly bigger cooler that isn't being used and try that.

W:47/FD:23/F:4/S:9

Evening Session - 4/12/2024

Got an afternoon session on the Foil Drive again.  The waves were pretty good and the wind calmed down - the water wasn't absolutely smooth, but it was way better than yesterday.

The tide was a little lower, but still out of foil grounding range.  I did manage to find the pipe with both my feet... no blood drawn. 

Of note, there were two kites and foilboards setup when I pulled up to the parking lot.  I'm guessing they were doing a downwinder and landed here.  AK Durable and Airush equipment.

I brought the Spitfire 960/375P - I think I finally got the drive unit and mast position dialed in!!!

Marvin and I launched around 4 pm and stayed out almost an hour and a half.

The Spitfire was definitely the right foil - handled the energy present way better than the HPS980.  The wave energy was reported by Surfline to be about 35KJ.

I got some ridiculously long rides -

24 rides in one hour and 20 minutes.  That's almost a wave every 3 minutes -

Marvin was getting the hang of it - for a while he was actually up on foil and trying to takeoff that way - and eating it.  I told him he should probably try to standup sooner since he was up on foil already.  He said he didn't know he was up - he was expecting to feel no drag from the pod before he was at the point where he could standup - turns out there wasn't much drag regardless if the pod was submerged or not.

Once he had that feedback, he was popping up faster and catching longer rides.  He acknowledged that a longer board, and even one with more volume in the tail would be better for use with a Foil Drive.

Dawn patrol tomorrow!!!!

W:47/FD:22/F:4/S:9

Garage Works - 4/11/2024

This wasn't in the garage, but it was something that would have been done in the garage...

I set up the Ezzy Flight 4.0 and the North Mode Pro 4.8 with harness lines and front leash attachment pigtails.

The 4.0 looks true to size compared to the North 4.8

And I got through the 40 grit sanding on Matt's board.  I want to place some more epoxy in a few spots, but as long as I do it in the early afternoon, it should harden in time for me to keep going through the sanding regime. 

I'm still debating about which board to make next - new Foil Drive prone board with the long tracks, a new wing board (also with long tracks) - up in the air right now

Evening Session - 4/11/2024

Marvin picked up a Foil Drive Max, and I told him when he takes it out that I'd like to tag along to make I can answer any questions - I didn't want his experience to be negative.

The wind was actually strong enough to wing and it was onshore - so the surf was on the messy side.

At least the tide was nice and high.

I thought the waves were going to be smaller than they were - I setup the HPS980/400P.  I could have used the Spitfire 960/350P (tomorrow - or I might even use the Vyper 170)

Despite the conditions, I did have a pretty good session.  The only issues were the onshore wind mushing up the waves (which had some size to them - head high in most cases) and the cloudy conditions which I have a hard time detecting contrast when the waves are all one color.

I had some long rides today!  I adjusted the setup to be more forward, and I think I actually got it too forward (but it could have been the waves also).  Not many cranking turns - more long glides.

This was the first time I've been in the water since Sunday - and the first time I've prone Foil Drive (d) in a while.  I botched the first several waves getting used to this again.  But shortly after I was dialed in and catching.

I actually ended up catching 14 in an hour... RIDICULOUS!!! 

Marvin said he wanted to go a smaller board already!!!!  That's Marvin -

W:47/FD:21/F:4/S:9

Garage Works - 4/10/2024

I got more sanding done today - top and sides on No.35 through the rough sanding.

And I was able to pick up the stickers I ordered from Helen for Matt

This looks sick!!!

And in the interest of time and being able to turn this over to Matt, I got two coats of epoxy over the sticker this evening.  I am going to try and get through the whole sanding regime tomorrow.  If can do that and spray the clear coat on, this board is done!!!  

Oh - and I routed out the track slots today also (no picture of that though).

And while I was at it, I drew up a template for the prone Foil Drive board Dennis is interested in.

This is the 5'0" x 22" x 4" 64 liter board

And this is a 5'2" x 22" x 4" 66 liter board

We'll see which one he picks.