Garage Works - 4/26/2024

And between borrowing an extension ladder and working on the gutters, and shampooing the carpet in the house - I did squeeze in some garage time.

I noticed a small difference in the top deck rails at the midpoint (one side had a side cut) - so I made a similar side cut on the other side.  And then I felt compelled to route out the slot for the mast track block.

I used the Hitachi router and got the bottom slot cut out.  Then I used the Japanese pull saw and opened up the top deck.

This will set in nicely!

I'll likely place the epoxy sometime tomorrow - if in the morning after the dawn patrol, then I'll also be able to glue in the top block (polyurethane foil block).

After those two pieces get installed, I'll shape the top deck where the block is (removing the excess and integrating it into the top deck shape).

Sunday will likely see the footstrap insert blocks going in place and possibly the carrying handle.

Another thing that got done was La was able to trim these velcro straps for me.  Hypothetically I should be able to stop using electrical tape to hold the motor cable steady.  We shall see - I'll test these tomorrow morning.  I've used narrower velcro straps in the past - but I didn't feel that they were really working.  These are 2" wide each - I'm pretty sure  these will fill the bill!!!

On It's Way -

I sold No.18 to Nick as part of the Foil Drive Assist Plus package.

Tricia was in town and she brought one of his travel board bags for me to pack the board in.

Here is No.18 all armored up.

And tucked into Nick's board bag.

The tail is nicely secured.

But the board is only 4'10" in a 6'1" board bag - so there is a gap in the nose.

I think Tricia will end up putting in a duffle bag to take up this space.

This board has pulled triple duty - it started life as a prone foil board, carrying me into some gnarly sized surf with the GoFoil GL140, and through COVID closed beaches.  Then it served as a high wind wing board - my first sinker attempts (looked what that lead to - now every board I wing with pretty much is a sinker).  And in it's last incarnation it was the board that opened up the possibilities of the Foil Drive to me.

I really don't like seeing boards leave the hangar - but if they go to good homes, that is a good thing.  And I beet it can pull triple duty for Nick!!!

And that makes room for more boards to be made and ridden!!!

Wing Foiling Session - 4/25/2024

I knew I had errands to run this afternoon - so I pulled a lunch session at Hickam.  In the distance you can see the Wet Hens were out also.  They actually had their main sails reefed.

The reports were promising so I brought some of the medium sized equipment.  I ended up setting up No.32 with the Eagle 890/DW190.

I wanted to keep the comparison going so I pumped up the North Mode Pro 4.8.  The more I use this wing, the more I really appreciate it.  This is a smoother wing than the Ezzy Flight (5.0).  It requires input from both hands where the Flight was more back handed.  The Flight luffs better but there is zero leech flutter on the Mode Pro.

And my arms don't feel sore either -

I think the Ezzy is faster and pulls a little higher into the wind.  But the Mode has a little more low end (and doesn't need a special technique to get going like an underpowered Flight does).

At this point, I'd call the Ezzy more dynamic, and the North more refined - but if I had both in the hangar, I'd have a hard time choosing which one to take out because they are both fun and high performance at the same time.

Actually it kinda is the same difference as the Axis Spitfires and the F One SK8s - the former being more visceral and the latter being super smooth and carvey.

As soon as I launched, I had to get a ways out to get into the wind line.  And the Wet Hens were all out - so once I got up I made a beeline for the outside.

And the waves were about chest high and coming in organized sets.  Really fun rides!  And with the winds more from the East, I was having an easier time nailing toe-side tacks.  In fact I think I can say that I had more tacks today than jibes!

I'm not sure if it was the conditions or the equipment - but whatever it was, it felt good to get so many tacks (heelside onto waves and toeside to recycle).

I'm starting to wonder what wind range I'm going to be using the 5.5 and 6.8 in...

Nice top end speed to cap a short lunchtime session!

The wind is supposed to start backing down - so this may be the last winging session for a few days (time to Foil Drive!!!)

W:53/FD:26/F:4/S:9

Wing Foiling Session - 4/23/2024

The wind/waves/tide were awesome today!!!

Koa, Kalani, Prayot, Roland and Duke (and one other who I didn't know) were all out.

I had to give the Ezzys back today - probably a good thing because using this wing back-to-back after the Ezzy 5.0 gave me a clear perspective on the differences between the two.  The North is quieter for sure - zero flutter.  And as far as I can tell, it pulls just as hard upwind.  I feel like the Ezzy is faster - but I had the SK8 950 out today and not the Eagle 890.  I feel like the North gets up faster (a little more low end).  Once up it has the same wide range as the Ezzy.

And tacking with this wing is about the same as the Ezzy - but the handles on the North are much nicer.

The surf was bigger today - and I caught several bombers!  This session was so good!!!

I forgot my watch today so I brought my phone out.

I got in a bunch of heelside tacks again - with the North it seemed a little slower - but that might have been the wind direction.  The wing actually felt like it wanted to be in my right hand while flagging - but there was a bit of north in the wind.

It seemed stronger than this (again this is Hickam's chart) - more along the lines of the gusts on a consistent basis.

I can't forget my watch again... the Strava charts are harder to derive the same information.

Awesome session today!

W:52/FD:26/F:4/S:9

Wing Foiling Session - 4/22/2024

I needed to redirect from winging Hickam to help with family requirements this afternoon - but I think it actually worked out for the best!

I setup everything the same as yesterday -

And it was EPIC!!!

The Ezzy Flight 5.0 is an incredibly versatile wing.  As long as there was a gust to get up, this wing would pull.

I nailed so many tacks (heelside) dropping straight onto waves... so perfect!!!  Hard to tell if it is the wing, the foil, me, or any combination of the above.

I'm going to have to pull the Norths into the rotation so I can see what they can do in comparison to these Ezzys.

Roland and Duke were also out enjoying the conditions.

I made fun spaghetti!

This chart was from Hickam - but the Kalaeloa meter showed similar.  

My speed looks like it was based more off the gusts.

I'm going to stop here as there are no real words that can capture how fun this session was.

W:51/FD:26/F:4/S:9

Wing Foiling Session - 4/21/2024

I got in a second water session this afternoon - winging over at Hickam.

Solid wind, but the waves were on the small side.

I brought the North Mode Pros - 4.8 and 5.5, but decided to continue using the Ezzy 5.0 as I only have this wing on loan for a few more days (and I'll likely keep using it in the upcoming week as the wind is supposed to be just like today through Friday). 

And with the strong winds, I decided to setup the Eagle 890/DW190 - perfect for today!

Today's stats have me wondering is it the wing, the foil, or me?  Definitely a notch up in the stats -

Pacific Yacht Club/MWR was holding a regatta inside the harbor, so I made a beeline out to Firsts.  With the high tide, I went straight through.  And the first approach I made to the waves, I busted out a tack into a drop on one of only a few breaking waves I rode today.  Bill saw the whole things and said it was awesome!

I did migrate over to Seconds - but the waves weren't really breaking there either.  The tide was just too high for the swell energy.

After a bit I headed in and did my speed runs (I hit 24mph with the 890... again - what was the difference here?  I'm thinking there is special sauce in the Ezzy 5.0)

In these gusts the Ezzy was really well behaved.  There was one backwinding - but probably my fault.

And in the lulls, as long as I didn't go down (which did happen twice), the Ezzy used whatever wind was present and converted it to forward motion.

24mph!!!  I bet if I had the Eagle 690 I would have broken the 25mph ceiling... tomorrow -

W:50/FD:26/F:4/S:9

Dawn Patrol - 4/21/2024

Nice waves on the dawn patrol this morning.

Same as yesterday, except for the 3-blade prop and the wingscrews.

I actually hit bottom twice while trying to get out - I see filling and sanding in my future...

Other than that, I have a great session.  It was nice and clean and the rides were really long.

Lots of carving to stay in the pocket.  Other times it was running to take advantage of the long walls.

Dennis was there early, but didn't come out until later.  Marvin also showed up.  By then I was halfway through my battery and my session.

25 waves today.  SO MUCH FUN!!!

W:49/FD:26/F:4/S:9

Garage Works - 4/20/2024 (part 2)

La and I ran some errands and I picked up this cool bucket - that is 1" too short to place the Foil Drive in straight.  That means I'll still have to dismantle the unit/mast to soak it in fresh water post session.  It's still a really cool bucket!

And I had ordered a set of M7/M8 wingscrews for the Foil Drive board.  The straight M8 set I had gotten previously did not fit properly because the port rear bolt had an ever so slight angle to it.  These have a touch of wiggle room and it all fits perfect now!  Which is great so I can start to try out different foil sets!

Worth every penny!

And Prayot paid Jeff a visit, and he picked up some stuff I was needing - the 3-blade propeller kit for the Foil Drive and a n Axis Skinny rear stabilizer.

And here is the 3-blade propeller all assembled.

Going to try this stuff on the dawn patrol tomorrow!!!

Garage Works - 4/20/2024 (part 1)

I spent a bunch of time in and out of the garage getting No.36 dialed in.  I chased several high points leftover from the rough shaping.  Then I used 180 grit to do the fine sanding over the whole board.

These pictures are not of the board as it stands now - I played with several iterations of where the inserts would go.

The back footstrap inserts will end up going where the polyurethane fill block will go so I won't have to use the divynicell - that'll help save a little weight.

Instead I ended up pushing the d-cell blocks out towards the starboard rail for my strong stance (regular foot) - should be able to jump this one, but I'll have to experiment with what feels better.

I'll cut out the hole for the track block and the footstrap insert blocks tomorrow.

This one is definitely looking more like a mashup of No.34 (front end and rear deck) and No.32 (rear half of the board).

I'll try and get these inserts epoxied into place this week.

Dawn Patrol - 4/20/2024

Marlon and I hit the dawn patrol this morning.  He brought his longboard and I brought the Foil Drive.  Kaylani also came and she brought her longboard.

I saw them split one wave as I was making my way through the lineup - pretty cool.

I setup the Spitfire 960 and the 375P on No.33 - perfect for today's conditions.  So perfect in fact that I got in 7.28 miles in just under 2 hours.

Kalani, Dennis and Marvin were also out on Foil Drives.  Rick, Regan, the guy with the KT Ginzu prone board, and Dean were also out on the inside.

The waves were really easy to pick up today - what wind there was came from side off so there was nice shape, which made powering on to them simple.

22 waves in just about 2 hours.  Most of them were really long and full-on carving turns trying to stay in the powered part of the wave.

So much fun!!!!

W:49/FD:25/F:4/S:9