Garage Works - 3/7/2026

I got this modification request pretty close to the finish line.

First I sanded the fill coat down to 400.

Then I looked for any soft spots from the lamination.  I found two and opened them up.

Then I went probing for the insert holes and opened those up.

One the front insert for the back foot, I missed the insert - but that's ok since I had to fill the soft spots I found, I was mixing epoxy anyways.

Black pigment and milled fibers used as fill for the holes/voids.

I'll sand this down tomorrow and get a layer of clear coat on the deck, and this footstrap insert installation request is all pau!!!

I didn't take a picture of this, but I also outlined the cut for the block slot for No.26 (converting to Tow Boogie).  I'll also try to get that cut out and the slot routed tomorrow.

Parawing Session - 3/7/2026

Went back to Kailua for the dawn patrol.

NUKING WINDS!!!

That kite foiler was lit!!!

Same board-foil as yesterday.  The winds were not supposed to be nuking...

And I used the Flysurfer POW 4.0 (smallest parawing I brought).

Stu and Kalani made the trek over also.  The regular crowd was there.

Mark (from Hilo) was the early bird (on his Neilpryde Fly 4.0).

I was barely hanging on for at least half the session -

I could probably have used the Maliko 2.9 (I'll bring that tomorrow).

The water was pretty choppy and there were two predominant directions the bumps were coming in from.  Made for challenging conditions.

And even though the swell seemed bigger, the waves were not as rideable as yesterday.

The wind was strong enough that I got goofy starts without any real drama.

Nuking winds are awesome!!!  More tomorrow!

PF:4/W:2/PW:21/FD:20/S:9

Prone Foiling Session - 3/6/2026

And in the afternoon, La was working on some projects, so I figured I'd hit the beach.

These guys were chilling.

And Kalani had sent video - it seemed junky so I figured I should practice prone foiling again.

Silk 1050 on the long fuselage with the Silk 142 rear stabilizer.

I don't remember how taxing prone foiling is... definitely humbling.

I actually feel like I surf better than I prone foil (which used to NOT be the case).

I can say with confidence that Foil Drive-ing makes your prone foiling SUCK!!!

HUGE difference in track patterns in FD and PF.

I did manage to get three rides, with the last one being more indicative of what I used to get (before Foil Drive).  Having the Silk 1050 on may have been a factor...

I did make an adjustment on the mast position - moving it forward a notch and it did work better.

I think next time I'll use the Uni Progression 170 - and continue using that foil until I get used to doing this again...

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

Parawing Session - 3/6/2026

Morning session at Kailua yesterday -

Decent wind, waves at Jump City

Big stuff day -

Chris was dipping his toes into parawinging -

Stu was out also - he was getting more comfortable riding and even got through a jibe (just didn't ride out of it).

Mid session the bridge line that pulley rides came undone.  I had to go in to get the lark's head back on.  Then restarting got a little frustrating with a rather long lull.

I got back up eventually and got back upwind.

I did have a really good stashed pw ride at Jump City - totally made the session worth it!!!

I went in before Stu did (I had to get back to work, while he took the day off).

Fun session and I learned something about the Flysurfer setup.

PF:3/W:2/PW:20/FD:20/S:9

Garage Works - 3/5/2026

I sanded the carbon lamination this afternoon on Roland's board modification job.

Then I used acetone to clean the surface in preparation for a fill coat.

I used 2.5 + 1 ounces of epoxy to get the fill evenly spread

And I let it bake in the sun for a good setup.  It came out pretty nice!

I'll do another sanding and possibly one last fill (tinted???) depending how this fill coat comes out.

And I brought the next project out - this is the prospective tow boogie (Foil Drive based).

I identified the center line and eyeballed where the track block would best fit the rocker line of the board.

This is pretty similar to the footstrap insert installation I just finished - measure and mark where the slot will go, cut out the slot, glue in the block making sure there are no voids in the sides, then do a light sanding and laminate.  From there I'll route out the slot and this old board will have new purpose and will likely see a whole lot of action coming up -

Installing a handle in the back, I can use it to ferry me out to the offshore breaks.  And I can add a bungee net up top - towards the front to pack away a tow rope and a windowpane lead anchor.

I'll have to go through another learning curve, but using it as a tow boogie is an easy call.

I can use it as a powered boogie board also - 

On flat days I can use it to drag me out on a longboard with fishing gear and a cooler.

I am pretty eager to get this upcoming project done and across the finish line.

Parawing/Prone Session - 3/3/2026

Today was forecasted to have good wind - and it really was the only day this week that there would be sufficient wind.

When I got to the beach, there were whitecaps 

Big stuff day - except for the parawing... with the whitecaps I figured I'd be better off with the BRM Maliko 5.1

I was good for the first 15 minutes - then the wind pretty much died.

I was too stubborn to paddle in and swap out the Maliko 5.1 for the Flysurfer POW 5.0 - 

After I accepted that the wind was not likely to come back, I tried prone foiling.

I ended up riding a few waves.  I missed many more waves than I caught, but just being able to ride the big stuff prone foiling felt like an accomplishment.

From the wind chart, it looks like I need 17 mph to takeoff, and 15 to stay up and riding.

I really don't know why I'm too lazy to pack a second parawing.

Fun double duty session!

PF:3/W:2/PW:19/FD:20/S:9

Garage Works - 3/2/2026

This evening I sanded the excess glue off the inserts.  I also sanded more around the edges to make sure the epoxy would have a good mechanical grip.

The gorilla glue did a great job filling the gaps around the insert blocks.

And I cut out the carbon patches and taped up the insert holes.

I used patches to focus the layers in the areas under Roland's heels.  And patches work just fine since a majority of the carbon will be under deck pad (so you won't see it).

I used 7 ounces of resin - but probably an ounce and a half was on the roller.

Tomorrow I'll sand all the laps flush then add a tinted layer of epoxy to get everything smooth and level.

With that add, this will likely be done Wednesday evening.

Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 3/1/2026

Pretty close to yesterday conditions wise.

I bolted on my AFS Enduro 900/HA38 (the one I have been using this weekend is Prayot's).

Also my watch was dead so no data for today.

If the swell was just 1' bigger, this would have been a fantastic session.  But it was another day of short rides - focusing on the peaking sections.

It was actually crowded today - lots of FDers and eFoilers....

If the swell were 1' bigger I would have also gone to PVs instead.

Wind is forecasted to start coming back....

PF:2/W:2/PW:18/FD:20/S:9

Garage Works - 2/28/2026

And after running errands and grabbing lunch with La, I headed into the garage to try and get Roland's board modification closer to the finish line.

First off - I sanded the delamination repair areas and the rest of the top deck where strengthening patches are going to be placed.

Here's all the work completed.

Then I prepped the inserts and the slots

All glued in.

Tomorrow I'll shave off the excess glue, cutout the patches, and laminate.

I'm probably a few days away from being finished.

I've been conversing with Charlie over on Maui - he's been looking for a board to learn to Foil Drive prone with... and to wing with... he may be interested in No.34

Which means I'll have to build a replacement...

Foil Drive Dawn Patrol - 2/28/2026

Small waves this morning...

And a low tide.

Even Foil Drive-ing was a bit difficult (to get longer rides).

Same gear as yesterday (in fact I didn't even dismantle the setup from yesterday).

The usual suspects were around - and Mark the lifeguard was there!!!  Long time no see that guy.

Pretty distinct takeoff spot.

Rides were generally shorter than normal - but carving top to bottom was the focal point - and doing that in the small, compact waves were challenging but fun.

31 rides over the session.

"Almost" looks like a winging session!

PF:2/W:2/PW:18/FD:19/S:9

Evening Foil Drive Session - 2/27/2026

Parking for electrified foils only!!!

Enduro 900/HA40 for the smaller waves, all bolted on to No.43 via the 77.5cm Evolution Cedrus Surf mast with Zip Pod - 

I got out late so I was using the throttle liberally.

It was a pretty low tide, so there was lots of paddling out and back in, but that also gave the waves a little more incentive to stand up taller (than they would during a higher tide).

Lots of opportunity to get some hard carving in -

Kalani, Ben, Roland and Derek were all out.  Derek promptly took video

Lots of curves in the tracks - the Enduro 900 is magic!

17 rides in 52 minutes - that's good math!

After retrograding, there was a long discussion on parawing theory.  Nice way to end the work week!

PF:2/W:2/PW:18/FD:18/S:9