Garage Works - 3/19/2026

And I got to pick up my new router and vacuum attachment today (delivered to Home Depot Kapolei).

When you get a new router, you have to test it.

So the vacuum attachment isn't the best - it did take in some of the cut material, but maybe 40% still decided to go elsewhere.  I might try to glue up the sides to get less bleed by.

And the bit slipped twice.  I don't know if that was the router breaking in, or something I'm going to have to monitor more...

But the handle trigger is really nice.  And the unit quieter than the Hitachi. 

I figured I should get as much done as I could, so after dry fitting the block and trimming a tiny bit to get a great fit, I went ahead and glued in the block.

And while I was working on the tow boogie, Noel stopped by and dropped off the board he's been using for Foil Drive-ing to get a ding fixed.

I got the ding opened, sanded and prepped for fill.

And I got the fill placed.

Tomorrow I'll sand the fill down and get a fiberglass patch epoxied on.

That means Saturday I can fair it in, sand a bit and get a coat of spray paint on the board.

Surf Check - 3/19/2026

I told Noe that I was headed to check the surf and that there would be a high chance one or more of the monk seals would be chilling on the beach -

Noe did go today to see the small one up close.

Wind was onshore so the waves were pretty crumbly.

I figured I should get another ground handling session in, focusing on turning the PT Hybrid.

I got in 15 minutes before the rain started again.

Roland was just in his van - the surf didn't look nice enough to get him out.

The weather is going to start turning for the worse again - until Monday (when I have to go back to work).

Garage Works - 3/18/2026

Noe is back home (if only for a short Spring Break stint) - 

While La and Noe were clothes shopping, I hit Foodland Farms and grabbed a bento and this!!!

I haven't had kava in a long while.  I really didn't feel much - but I did notice my speech was a bit delayed and a tad slurred (I had to take a few phone calls while eating).

Anyways - back in the garage I got the patches sanded down

And the clear coat sprayed on.

Tim already grabbed the board -

And I got this in the mail - the replacement for the Triple 777 PT Skin 5.4 that Kalani bought from me - this is the Triple 777 PT Hybrid 5.7

I got to the beach pretty late so I just focused on ground handling this new parawing.

I really like how it flies!  It lofts in very little wind (probably due to the enhanced air foil section), is really stable in flight, responds well to bar pressure and collapses easily.

It was blowing light (under 15mph) while I was at the beach - this was definitely below minimum getting up of foil wind speed.

This makes me think I should put up the Paia...

Humans aren't the only creatures to express affinity for this beach -

There were two monk seals chilling on the beach

And I also got this new rear stabilizer in the mail - the KParts Mako Carve Pro Medium,

I think this will pair well with the Enduro 900, Silk 1050, and the Enduro 1100 - we shall soon see...

Garage Works - 3/17/2026

Got these signal windows sanded CAREFULLY

And covered in fiberglass

And pressed to optimize the epoxy-fabric ratio

Top deck - same deal

I used 0.14 ounces of epoxy (with slow hardener to buy time) and it was just enough for the 3 windows

I'll still likely have to feather in the edges, and then I can spray with clear coat

This should be done tomorrow

Foil Drive Session - 3/16/2026

Less wind today - so much smoother surface conditions

Nice high tide

Wave energy was down a notch - but still really fun!

Same gear as yesterday, but used the HO battery and I moved the foil forward 1/4"

Roland used the Appletree.  He said he was touching down on the back side turns.  And he needs to move the footstraps back.

The waves were really good - if you were patient overhead sets would come through and present bowls to bash and slash!!!

Got some really long rides -

I tried to kick out before reaching the surfboard lineup.

15 rides (I missed 4 waves when they would flatten out from underneath me).

Super fun session!!!

PF:4/W:2/PW:22/FD:22/S:9

Garage Works - 3/15/2026

Tim just got a Foil Drive and his board has zero connectivity in the water.

So here it is back in my garage getting signal windows.

Here's the bottom deck window.

The two top deck window holes.

Windows filled

Bottom deck hole prepped

And filled.

0.1 ounce resin and 0.04 ounces of hardener per window.

With this epoxy work done today, I can sand and get the fiberglass patch on tomorrow.  I'll have to be careful sanding because that purple is a sticker under the fill coat.

I may have to keep the patch a tad bit proud to preserve the lam.

Regarding the Modification of No.26, I just ordered a new big router and vacuum collar - I kept staring at the cut I was going to have to make to clear the block slot and I didn't want to have to clean up all the shavings.  This new tool should be in on Wednesday - and this board should be done by then.

Afternoon Foil Drive Session - 3/15/2026

It has been a week since I've been in the water - this storm system and work did a good job keeping me out.

The winds shifted and were blowing in from the West (at least it wasn't onshore).

The waves were actually really good - 187kJ according to Surfline

And to top it off - it was high tide at 0.9'!!!

Stu came out - 

I used No.43 with the Cedrus Surf mast, Zip Pod, Enduro 900/HA38 on the standard fuselage - 

The waves were overhead on the sets.  There was enough wind to wing with a 5.0 - but that meant paddling out through some good breakers.  I was good with the Foil Drive.

Outside Towers and Fenceline were working really nicely.

Good drops followed by walls I ripped up and down.

If I knew it was going to be this big, I would have bolted on the Silk 850

 (but the Enduro 900 was still great)

I caught 15 rides in an hour - can't really ask for more than that!

The next time I bring the Enduro 900, I think I'll move it up a notch - I think I can get more glide with it moved up.

PF:4/W:2/PW:22/FD:21/S:9

Garage Works - 3/11/2026

Roland came by this evening to pick up his Appletree board.

And I promptly went to work on modifying No.26 into a Tow Boogie (powered by Foil Drive).

I used the Dremel to get the outline cut out.

And I also spent some effort trying to breakdown the stringer.

I'll use the router to remove the bulk material working from the stringer area out towards the rail - twice (once on each side).

After that, this will be pretty much a repeat of most of the work I have been doing recently.

With the weather being all over the place, chances are I'll get through this project pretty quickly.

Garage Works - 3/9/2026

This was from yesterday - I guess I forgot to post it.

I got the final sanding done.

And I got the clear coat on

Pretty darn flat if I do say so myself

And the holes have a nice bevel to them.

Hopefully Roland got these inserts marked properly.  He is a much more centerline rider than I am.

Now I just need to get this board over to him (I think he is avoiding me because he doesn't have the cash to pay for the modification....)

Garage Works - 3/8/2026

I took a long nap this afternoon - 

When I got up and wasn't groggy, I hit the garage and got Roland's board modification sanded down.

Unfortunately, I found a couple of spots that needed additional epoxy fill.

I got those spots filled - so tomorrow when I get back from work, I'll do the final sanding and get the clear coat on.

This one is pretty much done -

Parawing Session - 3/8/2026

Dawn patrolled again out at Kailua - that stretch of coast was the only spot with strong usable wind.

That's Mike in the picture taking anemometer readings - good strong wind (but not as blustery as yesterday)

I downsized board and foils - AFS Enduro 1100/HA40 and No.40

I also downsized on the parawing - BRM Maliko 4.0

Stu was out - downsized to a 4.2 wing.  Kalani was out on the same gear (but eventually switched out to a longer fuselage and a surf rear stabilizer).

With the strong, relatively steady wind, the Maliko 4.0 was perfect!  No.40 and the Enduro 1100 were perfect also -

The waves at Jump City were awesome!  I stashed on a few and the rides were fun going right - where with a wing I'd have to carry the wing when the apparent wind drops off - with the parawing I just retract and go. 

The wind dropped off the second half of the session and I got stuck (and couldn't get back up on foil) - I had to do a short walk of shame.

If I had packed the Maliko 5.0, I think I would have been able to keep on going.  I should make a habit out of packing a second wing...

In preparation for the new season parawings being released, I have been trying to sell off the non-Maliko V1 parawings.

Yesterday I sold the Ka'a 3.6 (and maybe the Ka'a 4.8) and the Flysurfer POW 5.0

This will allow me to get the Vayu Pyro!  And maybe one of those snazzy new AFS Silk V2 front foils...

PF:4/W:2/PW:22/FD:20/S:9