Another day of up and down winds - but I opted to take a different route today.
After all the preparation, No.33 finally got wet today!
I set it up with the Axis Spitfire 960/375P, and used the Magic Hub prop.
This board is several pounds lighter than No.18 and also several liters less volume - two big factors in how a board rides. I had issues catching my first couple of waves, but once I was up and riding, the board felt great! I got lucky with the mast positioning with the Spitfire 960 - so balance was spot on. Another sensation was I really didn't feel the battery weight - the board/foil just wanted to go. Turning felt just as good as ever.
I'm going to really like this board!
Some really long right walls today! Probably too long for my own good. At the end of a few of them, I would start to motor back out and I'd "gently" touch bottom. I did get a small scratch, but only one. I'm guessing the other groundings were on soft rocks (covered with seaweed).
By the end of the session, I was nabbing doubles. 17 waves in under an hour - even with lower volume, this board can catch waves! Surfline had these waves at 25kJ - I was on the boundary of using the HPS980/400P set up and the Spitfire 960/375P. The extra glide on the HPS would have made for earlier takeoffs and longer rides... but the Spitfire is so much more maneuverable.
On this board I placed the handle on the top deck. I wanted to be able to use the handle and in the other hand carry the foil with both arms extended - to impart the least amount of strain on my arms and back. The handle was even placed perfectly!
So the non-siuperlatives. I should relocate the cable guide closest to the battery box (to ease the tension on the cable). I may "need" to pickup the 3 bladed prop - to get a balance between the torque of the Majic Hub, the top-end speed of the normal hub, and also benefit from the reduction of the voltage sag.
I'd say this build was 100% successful. No.33 is the lightest board I've built. It rides awesome! The handle works like I was hoping it would. I couldn't have asked for a better anointment!
Now it's time to sticker it up!
W:125/F:108/S:58
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