Garage Works - 5/15/2024

I had another few hours to forward the projects in the garage.

Before these pictures, I got the caps on the top deck windows on Marvin's boards.  And I used some of that epoxy to put a small fill layer where I'd place the logos.  That's when I went surfing....

And when Marlon and I got back, I got the logos on and let those sit in place for a bit (for better adhesion)

Dinner called and I answered - but epoxy waits for no one.  After dinner I got back out and got the caps on the bottom deck of Marvin's boards.

These two should be finished tomorrow.

And I got the fill coat on the top deck of No.36

This is going to be a great wing board (and maybe even Foil Drive-able).

Tomorrow is a sanding day... I'll get the high points down, even everything out top and bottom, then will probably get the bottom deck second fill coat on to address any low points.

If that holds, then Friday I'll drill out the vent and leash plug holes, get those installed and the second fill coat goes on the top deck.  That makes Saturday the final sanding day.  Then I'll open the tracks, fair those in and get the wear coat sprayed on.  With no wind in the upcoming forecast, I'll get the deck pads on and let the board rest.

It looks like Tuesday the wind returns and later next week we'll have some nuking winds!  This board will definitely be done by then. 

Special Guest Garage Works - 5/15/2024

Noe is making some stamps for printing a logo when she makes drawings.

She carved the rubber stamp parts, then earlier in the afternoon we glued them onto some scrap plywood.

In the evening, we set about to get the stamps separated, trimmed and sanded.

I got her set up with the tools and she did most of the work!!!

Cool stamps!!!

Evening Session - 5/15/2024

Not quite an anointment (as I got this board second hand) - but this 5'6" Hammah Fish from J.Splee Surfboards is killer!!!

As you can see I have the Endorfin Twins inserted - these worked really well today (and made the rides incredibly fun).

There is a pretty substantial 'V' running in the back half of the board - and that made this board want to rotate rail to rail.  The rails are really pinched hard, so the board holds in steeper faces - 

This thing goes hard where fish are not supposed to...

I'm guessing this board has around 42 liters of volume - it was so easy to paddle into waves.  But it is amazing how all the volume is packed into such a manageable frame.  I actually didn't like the Greedy Beaver I had because of this issue - the size I got was just too big and corky for me to get into waves and turn - the Hammah Fish is obviously smaller, but it also just works better.

Marlon brought out his longboard and he was catching some really good rides despite the onshore winds.

I caught 4 and had to pay with 3 missed ones.  The rides I did catch were pretty long, the waves were steep and I got to get some great turns in.  My first wave was amazing - it's interactions like this that let you know you have a great board.

I am looking forward to a great summer with this board!!!

W:58/FD:34/F:4/S:10

Garage Works - 5/14/2024

I got the holes for the signal windows on both of Marvin's board filled this afternoon (again after a long nap... not sure why I'm dead tired coming home...).

Tomorrow I'll sand these down and get them capped.

Then I shifted my attention to sanding the laps on No.36

Here it is all sanded and dusted off.  While I had the epoxy for the signal windows, I went ahead and put a partial fill coat where the logos will go on the bottom deck.

And I felt compelled to keep pushing forward - I got the two bottom deck logos placed and got the whole fill coat placed.  I can already tell I'm going to have to do a second to get the low spots filled in.

This board is coming together nicely!!!

I'll get the top deck fill coat on tomorrow, then I'll sand the whole board once over to see where the low spots are.  I'll then put the second fills on (and sand...).

I think next time the wind comes up to winging strength, if I keep working on it daily, I should be able to get this anointed.

Garage Works - 5/13/2024

I took a long nap after work today.  And there was a seabreeze so I thought the surf would be choppy.

After I got up but before I started cooking dinner, I went into the garage and got the window holes cut into Marvin's two prone foil boards.  I didn't take pictures of those, but I did it.

Then I sanded the laps on No.36 in preparation for laminating the top deck.

Here it is all sanded.

Then I wiped all the nonporous surfaces with alcohol to clear any dust and oils (MARLON).

I didn't take a picture of the underlayment (scrap carbon fiber pieces and a patch of innegra) - but I spent some time getting that arranged and laid out.

Then I got the cover sheet trimmed and the laps cut in.

I cut slots in all the layers where the footstrap inserts are - primarily to help the layers lay flatter and to give any trapped air a route to escape.

I used 15.4 ounces on the first pour (mainly focused on the underlayment/patch).  Then I mixed another 5.6 ounces to get the laps wetted out.

I went over the thicker areas to make sure nothing was floating.  I think doing the underlayment separately helps to keep the lamination from floating (too much epoxy) or from being to dry.

I used the extra epoxy to make a small batch of glass bubbles slurry which I poured into the top deck window holes on the two prone boards.  I may have had an ounce left over (nice!).

So far this lamination job came out really nice.  I got surprised on the bottom deck with some sneaky air bubbles on the rail.  For the top deck I stayed with the board while the epoxy was hardening.  I even placed saran wrap to get some of the stray fibers to stay down and used that opportunity to make sure the rest of the lamination was sitting tight.  

If everything turns out ok, the hard part is done.  With the seabreezes expected in the afternoons this week, I should actually get a lot of progress done - two fill coats on each side, sanding-sanding-sanding, vent and leash plug installations, and more sanding.

I'm contemplating painting tiger stripes on the bottom deck...

Tomorrow I'll sand the laps and get a layer of epoxy on to where the logos will go to get a smooth surface established.  If you've read this far you have seen this before - this is the home stretch!

Evening Session - 5/12/2025

Marlon and I got a pass to go to the beach on Mother's Day.  We didn't question it and went (while La and Noe went to a Castle High School Band concert).

There was some onshore wind chopping up the surface - but it wasn't too bad.  The tide was rising so no issues with grounding.  And lastly there were waves - it didn't look so good from the beach, but they were actually fun.

Marvin asked that I test out the board to see what my thoughts were.  I figured the waves would be smaller so I brought the Spitfire 960.  Marlon brough his longboard and caught some fun ones.  Kaylani brought her longboard - but Marlon said she said the waves weren't so good for her.

There were some good ones out there still.

The good news is the windows I installed worked great.

The bad news is the board has some issues:

1.  The bottom shape was "sticky" to me - for a lot of the waves I motored for, I would have a hard time leaving the waters surface.  Kinda like when I was using the velcro straps instead of the electrical tape to wrap the cable.  That said, I am wondering if the universal fit mast adapter I slapped on was making the difference...

2.  On several waves, I'd actually pop up and get the mast to rise, but the motor wouldn't stop and I'd motor to the point of wiping.  I told this to Marvin and he said he was experiencing the same thing.  He equated this to the transmission "dead zone".  I had never experienced this on my boards so it caught me off guard.

3.  The tail end had a slight rocker to it - I ended up shimming the back end of the Foil Drive.

On a positive note, using this board felt more like surfing than using a foil board - I had one wave where I went right and the face got steep - I crouched down and started positioning to drag a hand - then I remembered I was on a foil...

But for most of the waves I had, I was contending with the three issues above.  I felt more like a crash test dummy than a test pilot.

When I was able to compensate for the board's quirks, the rides were really fun.

Here's the back window and the shim under the Foil Drive unit.

I think I could have used a tad bit more front foot pressure, but with the Spitfire 960 all the way up here in the boxes already, not much adjustment to be had.

With the lower volume, the battery was consumed faster - I had to stay on the throttle longer (and at times I didn't even catch the wave).  With that, I'm guessing No.33 must be around 55 liters.

Just like the waves - I was all over the place.

Not all these were genuine rides - failed attempts and getting stuck on top were about a third of these.  No matter - I went in to this session with a testing mind set anyways.

I dropped the board off at Marvin's house and gave him the feedback.  And then he asked if he could get the windows installed on these two boards also.  No good deed goes unpunished!!!

I think I may skip tomorrow so I can get the top deck laminated on No.36, and also get the window installation started on these two. 

W:58/FD:34/F:4/S:9

Garage Works - 5/12/2024

I've been working on this board for a couple of days - and I got it completed this morning.

This was the fiberglass cap going on top of the epoxy/milled fibers fill.  I don't like to leave fills uncapped because flexing and even some impacts can open them up.

And here's the same repair all sanded.

The nose job all sanded also.

And here is the finished product - signal window for the rear

And signal window for the nose.

IF I'm lucky, I may get to take this out and test it this afternoon (as I have met above minimum Mother's Day efforts already).

Garage Works - 5/10/2024

This is one of Marvin's boards.  This JS Industries Black Eagle was having issues with connectivity.  SO now it's in the garage undergoing the window installation.

I asked Paul where he had his windows installed - up front and in the back to the left.

He also said it just had to be big enough to expose the foam.

Here's the top deck hole already cut out.

And here is the bottom deck signal window hole cut out.

And to prep this for placing epoxy first thing in the morning when I wake up, I went ahead and sanded the surrounding area.  I'll put a fiberglass cap on top of a bed of epoxy/milled fibers with black pigment.  That way it'll never leak.

I'll likely get to test this on Sunday evening (at least that's the target).

Evening Session - 5/10/2024

Today was pretty shitty - I got caught up in a scam and had to call my bank to unwind it.  That totally stressed me out.  I really needed this session today...

I swapped out the Spitfire 960 for the Spitfire 840 - then moved the Foil Drive unit up about a 1/4"

This setting felt perfect -

But when you looked at the video footage Marlon took, you can see how back footed I foil.  I'm not sure if it was the Foil Drive position, or if this is how I normally ride (Marvin says I'm backfooted - I guess this is what he means) - but the foil and board felt very comfortable to me.

I love the 840!!!  The combo with the Skinny 365 was incredible!!!!  I gained a ton of maneuverability and probably only lost a fraction of the early lift (to catch waves early).  I did lose pumpability, but I don't mind the tradeoff.

Looks like the takeoff spot was concentrated - pretty cool pattern actually.

Marvin and I were talking to Roland before heading out - he is slowly moving over to the Foil Drive side.  And I heard him yelling a couple of times while I was riding.  I stopped by to talk a bit - then proceeded to catch a bunch more waves.  It was crowded on the inside... I am so thankful for the Foil Drive and the freedom it brings!

Let's call this 18 waves - which would be consistent with the past few days.  But these rides were really long - 

This has been an incredible run of surf for me - using the Foil Drive and not having to compete for waves, riding large waves and hitting ridiculous speeds on foil - incredible doesn't do these sessions justice.

W:58/FD:33/F:4/S:9

Garage Works - 5/9/2024

And when I got home, La was busy making leis for Saturday - so I went to work in the garage.

First up was checking out the KD Maui DW Race rear stabilizer.  At 140 cm2, it is a little bigger than the Skinny 360/45 (135 cm2) that I've been looking at - 

Looks like it'll be a good fit with the ART Pro 1001 (now I just need some wind...)

Then I started the lamination of No.36.

Carbon patch over the boxes and where my front feet will rest (for better energy transfer).  Then a nose to tail cap sheet.  All lined up -

And trimmed up to get the laps tight.

And all epoxied up.  First pour was 16.8 ounces - then I mixed up another 4.2 to make sure everything was tacked down.

This is before I placed a bunch of saran wrap over the laps and the spots that need to be held down (corners).

Tomorrow I'll do a quick lap fairing in, and then get the top deck laminated.  I'm still debating lapping like I did the last 3 boards - or lapping short to place a rail band (to hide the edges for the top deck lap).

I've got a few hours to think it over...