Windy Saturday Dawn Patrol - 30 November

Marlon and I headed out to get some early morning surf.  As soon as we left the house he noted "Wow - the wind really picked up quick".  That was telling as the surf was super choppy.

Marlon decided to sit this one out (too cold).  I headed out for a 40 minute session.  Tide was super full at 2.2', the swell was knee high with some waist sets, and the water was warm once you got used to it.  I had out the 4'10" and the CF1600 and caught several with four long rides all the way into the beach.

It was a little tough riding with all the chop, but it was still super fun!  In my lifetime of surfing, I have never looked forward to smaller, super mushy surf - now that's all I want to surf!

Thanksgiving Dawn Patrol - 28 November

Happy Thanksgiving to us all!  I am thankful for the life I live, my family, our health (Mom - let's get better now!) and the opportunities we make for ourselves.  I have been preparing this turkey for the past three days - started by deboning it, then brining it, then drying it, then stuffing it, smoking it and finally carving it.  Here it is this morning -

After the turkey went into the Big Green Egg, I went on a dawn patrol.  There was a mega high tide at 2.3', ZERO wind and a waist high swell pushing through.  I brought out the 4'10" and the Armstrong CF1600 - same setup as the past couple of sessions.

I stayed out from 6:30 to 8:45 - I had a bunch of long rides and banking turns from section to section.  I didn't want to leave, but the waves were backing down (counterintuitive to a dropping tide), the wind was starting to fill in and I had a turkey to check on.  It came out exquisite!!!

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!

4'6" Top Deck Trimming

Worked on the 4'6" for another hour this afternoon.

Used dragonskin and the sureform to get the volume blank dialed in a little more.

The board width is 18.75" and the thickness is at 3.75".  The approximate volume is 35 liters.

Still trying to figure out the glassing schedule on this one.  I've got some carbon tape, and a bunch of carbon - but I do want to keep this one lighter than the 4'10"  

Stay tuned... probably got another week on this one.  That's trimming out the holes for the reinforcement blocks, getting the high density foam inset, routing out the Futures boxes, getting the logos printed, glassing, sanding, filling, sanding, getting the leash plug set and finish sanding.

Crap - make that two more weeks.

Furthering the Cause

I spent a little time this afternoon working on the 4'6" prone foilboard.  Focus was on the bottom deck and rails today.

I used the planer to trim off a bunch of bulk - definitely going with the beveled bottom rail from now on.  After I got the blank to roughly where I needed it, I transitioned to dragon skin (drywall leveler) to start blending in the rails.

I'm going to try and make this one narrower than the 4'10" - shooting for 22".  Also going to try to keep the thickness - 3.5" so the volume and paddling power are high.

I ran out of daylight and had to call it quits for the day.  If I get home early enough tomorrow, I'll knock out the top deck and start the sanding regime.

Afternoon - Early Evening Session - 24 November

I didn't end up going windfoiling today - the wind was still up but when I went to check the surf, it looked fun and ridable.  It was better than yesterday (and there is still swell/energy this late in the season - can't complain).  I paddled out at just after 3pm - the tide was high around the same time at 1.2' (eek - I ended up paddling the board foil up after nearly all my rides just to make sure I didn't make contact... the Armstrong is too expensive to do that).

I brought out the 4'10" and the CF1600.  I did make that adjustment I've been talking about and it made all the difference!  First picture below was the original setting - second picture was the slight push back.  This correction of roughly a cm made that front foot pressure ease off and everything came into balance.  I was able to make back-to-back turns, bouncing off sections and on the lined up walls, I'd lean into it and was rewarded with blazing speed down the line.

I believe this is the critical spot to set the foil because on a few waves I did end up breaching - something that wouldn't happen if I had it set too far back (more control).  There were a few waves I caught that were a bit steeper - and I made the drops so I'm sticking with this setting.  I ended up staying out for 2.5 hours - so much fun when the equipment is set up right!

Saturday Afternoon Session - 23 November

It has been a really busy week.  The tidal cycle didn't help much either with the highs occurring either super early in the morning (0230) or mid day.  The trades were back with a vengeance, but there was a small run of southern hemisphere energy (thigh to maybe waist high) - so I figured I give it a go just to get some exercise (a whole week went by since I last foiled...).

Marlon had his longboard, but after looking at the chop he said he would sit this one out.  I brought the 4'10" with the CF1600 and paddled out for about 45 minutes.  I caught 6 or so and rode them nearly to the beach.  This was the second time I had this board out and I think I can push the foil back a centimeter or so - I felt like I had to keep more front foot pressure to balance everything out - not just relax and go like on the other two boards.

The chop did make the rides really dynamic - keeping balance was a large part of each ride.  And the wave would fizzle out after the takeoff so I was pumping more that I normally would.

I may try and squeeze in a windfoiling session since the trades are howling right now (I should be kiting with this wind...)

Crossing Off the To Do List

Fixed the port wing tip on the Infinity 76.

This was just the rough sanding.  I got it through the 120 and 220.  Going to sand this with wet-dry, then paint.

Anointing the 4'10"

Marlon and I got up for a dawn patrol.  By the time we got there it was already crowded on the inside and there were several people talking story at the benches.  We all were just staring at the awesome sunrise.

The surf was tiny and barely breaking with the 2.2' high tide pretty much at it's highest point.  There was zero wind and the water was pleasantly warm.  This picture was of the biggest waves from this morning.

I brought out the 4'10" and bolted on the Armstrong with the CF1600.  It was a while before I caught a wave (because there were none).  Marlon caught a few on his longboard.

When I finally picked one up, the first thing I noticed is how small the sweet spot for my front foot was - the board was really sensitive to foot placement and weight distribution.  I had a few long (relative term) rides and one with a few turns.  I bailed on two - the first someone took off to my left and was headed towards me - he thought it was cool watching the foil rise but I didn't want to chance running him over.  The second wave I wiped on, my leash was under my rear foot and that was not working for me.  On two waves I rode pretty close to shore - and as I tried to bail, I actually fell awkwardly and hit the board.  The first one was towards the back rail with my left forearm, the second time it was with my left shin.  There are no dings, but the top surface looks like someone stripped off the epoxy fill.  I'll let the board dry out and investigate this a little more.  

All in - I think I can pull the foil back a little more - the lift was coming on early, not a bad thing considering the size of the waves today, but during an average day, I think I'd rather have the control. Also the board paddles well and volume distribution feels good.  I don't think the weight of the board mattered at all.   

 

Surprisingly this 4'10" caught waves I would have brought the 5'6" out for.  This really opened my eyes to what you can do with a thick, wide, shorter foilboard.

#14 Finished

I got the deck pad and the traction hexagons on the board and waxed up the front half on Thursday evening.  This one is done.  I wanted to take it out, but the surf has been down and I've been exhausted coming home from work.

This board is a little heavier than I wanted it to be.  The full carbon wrap on a polyurethane blank maybe too much.  As I say that, I think it'll be fine because I prefer a little more weight on my boards for paddling momentum.

This board is also wider than the other boards I've made.  That was to offset the shorter length, but time will tell if that trade is worth it.

Almost Done with Number 14

Yesterday I got the board closer to being finished.  And here are some pictures of the board still bearing the sanding scars.

I sanded down the leash plug, cleaned up a few other spots, finished the labeling and got the whole boards gloss coated.

The only thing left to do is stick on the rear foot deck pad, thread on a leash loop, and wax it up.

This one has a big butt - more surface area for waves to push on.  Should be able to get this one wet soon!

Afternoon Session - 11 November

First off - Happy Veteran's Day to all you veterans out there.  That life is not easy by a long shot, so thank you for what you've done in service to our country and helping to preserve our way of life.

Secondly - Marlon and I got an afternoon session in.  High tide at 1500 at 1.2', hardly any wind, and lots of energy still coming in from the south!

I had the 5'2" out with the HS1550.  I did not eat it as much today (still did on a few waves), but I'm getting the muscle memory built for the smaller sweet spot.  I love hauling butt on this foil on the straight aways, then pulling a hard turn to shift away from a breaking section.  There were a lot of people out today, so a lot of turning was to avoid them (turns are fun so I'll do them regardless).

I turned off the back of one wave and started pumping back out - I got 10 yards back out and ran out of steam - a good start to pumping back out.  I think I just need to figure out a cadence and I'll be pumping out soon enough.

I was batting about 50 when I took off on steeper waves (of which there were many).  If the wave pitches, I didn't stand a chance.  If the front had a gradual slope or had an escape route built in (gradual slope to the left or right of where I was), then I stood a chance.  Awesome when I made it - awesome wipe when I didn't.

I did hit bottom once when fighting white water on the inside, but I couldn't find even a scratch.  During these lower high tide days, I have been paddling the foil upside down through the break zone until I get out past head high depth.  Best insurance from hitting the bottom by far.

To close off this great day, the sunset was spectacular.

Second Helping - 10 November

La, Marlon and Noe had music events to go to on Sunday afternoon.  I stayed back to finish some errands, to work on the 4'10" Foilboard and to get a second surf session in - this time with the foil.

With the waves up, I changed the front wing out to the HS1550.  This was the first day I had the HS1550 on the 5'2" - and the first three waves stuffed me full of humble pie.  I eventually got the pattern down and started making the steeper drops and finding the sweet spot (super small on the smaller board).

My old habits from surfing keep creeping back - everytime I see a steep, curling section, I want to paddle to it and takeoff as if I was on a standard shortboard.  Unfortunately, being on a larger hydrofoil quickly brings me back to reality.  I've made a few of these drops - but I have eaten it on way more.  I wish there was a foil that was smaller enough to let you make the drop without popping out the water, but still large enough to cruise the inside where the swell is smaller.

While I was riding the inside, I had several lined up racetrack walls where I could just ride on the foil without pumping.  Then as the section broke up, I would crank out a hard banked turn and shoot back 180 to do it again going the other way.  This wing definitely moves faster that the CF1600 and I can turn harder.  This endeavor I've embarked on has been one of the most challenging and rewarding pursuits - so much fun making it and getting worked over!

Also - because I didn't take any pictures, I sanded the 4'10" through the 120 and 180 grits.  I went ahead and sprayed the bottom with clear coat.  I drilled out the leash plug hole.  And lastly I painted the front half of the top deck and got a pinline around the painted section.

Awesome Sunday!

Dawn Patrol with Marlon - 10 November

The swell hit and it was solid.  Overhead on the sets!!!  I brought the longboard and caught 6 bombs on the outside before going to surf the inside.  There was no wind and the tide was low.

It has been a long while since I rode anything but the foilboards.  It was a nice change to ride the longboard, but I had a psychological block on moving my feet (because of the foiling - I don't move my feet).

It is awesome that we got this swell this late in the year - a true gift from the southern hemisphere!!!

More Sanding -

It never ends... at least it seems that way.  I got through the 60 grit final sanding (final before painting - and then there is more sanding after that).  I'll do a 120 and a 180 sand tomorrow.  After that I'll use a light colored spray paint to add protection against the direct sunlight.  Then I'll sand that coat down to just what is needed for said protection (see - the sanding never ends).  After that, I'll use a clear coat and cover everything to get it nice and shiny again.  After that - you guessed it - one last sanding - this one will be the 400 grit wet sand.

Then I'll drill out the leash plug hole and get that set.   If I get all this done tomorrow, I'll surf this on Monday (Veteran's Day!!!).

Sounds easy enough (not) - but I still haven't picked the paint color or printed out the logos.  I might just spray paint the logos on and use posca pens for the dimensions...