Garage Works - 4/26/2021

I got some garage time in this afternoon.  I did some final shaping on Prayot's rear stabilizer, then I laminated some carbon over it.  I used saran wrap to get the laminate butted up tight to the stabilizer.  Next step (tomorrow) is to trim the excess carbon, sand it down tight to the edge and put a fill coat of epoxy on.  Last step (probably Wednesday) would be to do a final sanding.

La took the truck out to run some errands so I pulled the new foilboard out.  I've been wanting to adjust the rocker on the bottom deck - and I did just that (lots of tension released!!!).  I went ahead and sanded the top deck a little as well to get the shape dialed in.  Tomorrow I'll do the fine sanding, and since I'll be putting a fill coat on the rear stabilizer, I'll put a void filling coat on one of the decks on this board.

The next day will be the void filling on the other side (I'll likely do the top tomorrow and the bottom on Wednesday - so I can keep going with track reinforcement block).

Evening Session- 3/25/2021

Marlon had finished his math by the time I got home, so La said he could go surfing.  There was a 2-3' swell hitting - Marlon brought the longboard and I (wanting to continue testing) brought out the same setup as yesterday (HS1532CS/300).

I had sprayed more acrylic on the foil to help build up a fill layer and to see if that would be enough to get rid of the "shuddering" I experienced yesterday.  The swell was a hair larger than yesterday, the wind was down considerably, and the tide was slightly higher - better overall.  I had some really fun rides - high up on the mast almost instantly, faster than the stock HS1850 and I'm pretty sure I poked wingtip out of the water when turning on some hard cutbacks.  I also pumped back out on a few waves.  I also breached a couple of times - it's the stock 300 rear stabilizer (need to cut it down so I have two chopped 300s).

With this chopped foil, I don't think I'll have a need for the stock 1850 riding prone anymore - it'll still be my primary winging foil, as will the HS1250 - but I think I can get by in the small stuff with this newly cut foil.  I saw Marlon catching a bunch in the middle of the pack - as always.

There was a lot less shuddering today - but there was still some residual.  I will now wax the front foil and try it out again tomorrow (to see if that helps).

Wing Foiling Session - 2/23/2021

Again my better judgement, I went wing foiling this afternoon after work.  The wind had been blowing all day, but as usual, it tapered off once I got there.  Truthfully, it was good light wind training with the new board - to see what the small changes in shape and rocker do differently that the wider board.

I was out from 4 to 5:30ish - you can see from the graph that it was a declining wind strength session.  I had the same setup as the last two sessions so it did make for a nice comparison (Ensis 6.0, HS1850, 300 rear stab, 85cm mast, NWFB).  I did not bolt on the chop shop 300 - maybe next time.

I think the fuller nose rocker makes this board takeoff on flatwater slower than the first board (whose steeper rocker would lend itself to coming up faster as the board gains speed).  This is an incremental difference, not night and day.  There is definitely less swing weight, and this new board likes to pull into turns more lively than the wider board.  I'm already pulling off my outbound tacks and coming out on foil (almost).  The NWFB also "bounces" off touchdowns better (this is where the nose rocker and volume helps).

The wind slacking did lead to a bunch of schlogging - but you can see in the plot above where the holes were located and where I was having fun.  In the track below you can see that I was able to hold my line for the most part (excellent schlogging skills).

Even with the lulls - this was still a fun session and I got to explore the lower end of the board's range.  The rest of the week is supposed to be howling winds!!!  No more schlogging  for the next several days!!!

Last Sanding on the Cut Down Uni 300 Rear Stabilizer

Yesterday I sanded down one tip that was about a 1/16th taller than the other.  Making sure the foil was distributed and complimentary to the untouched areas, I ended up barely exposing some core material again.  I ended up using some JB Weld and patched up the over trimmed area.

Tonight I lightly sanded the cured JB Weld and felt much better about the results.  I took the posca to the tip to dress up the sanded edge. And after several inspections, I finished with a coat of spray matte acrylic.

If the wind holds, I'm going to try this stabilizer out wing foiling (the tides are too low for prone foiling)

Wing Foiling Session - 2/21/2021

The wind didn't come up on this side of the island until around 10am.  I wanted to stay close so I went to Hickam around 11am.  The wind was up and down, but there was enough for me to test out the NWFB.  

I nailed three tacks on the outbound legs today.  You can see them on the GPS track below (look for the loops)

I took the foot straps off so I could validate the locations.  They were pretty much spot on - but that is also the same place I'd put my feet when starting.  Keeping my feet in the foot straps before up on foil limits my mobility - so pumping becomes awkward and if the wind shifts, I've lost it more than a few times.  I think I actually prefer foiling without straps - but I do want to start jumping....  Either way, the next time I put straps on, I'll try out the offset position - I might also try the foot hooks I have.

Chopped Uni 300 Sanded and Finished

I sanded the chopped Uni 300 through 120-180-220-320.  

After the sanding I sprayed clear coat over it, let it dry and then wet sanded it with 1000.  After the wet sanding, I put three coats of carnauba wax on it.  Here it is all done.  I believe I have the tips sealed, but I'll test it using a fresh water soak and a little time in the sun after to make sure.

Chop Shop Uni 300

I've been hitting the bottom lately with this Uni 300 rear stabilizer.  Instead of just filling/sanding it, I decided to go ahead and cut the tips down.  At full size, this rear stabilizer has a lot of stability and lift.  Cutting down the tips while keeping the chord width should loosen up the ride without losing the lift (which helps with not having to pump all the time).  Here's the paper template and the outline transferred to the rear stabilizer.

I used a dremel to cut the bulk off.  Then I used the bench sander to get it rough shaped.  Then I used the sander to fair in the cuts so the foil blends in, and to get it close to the finished shape and thickness.

I cut into the core layer - exposing a layer of kevlar.  I'll mix up some epoxy and fill the cuts and scratches.  Then I'll have to sand again to thin everything out.

Not too bad.  I plan on using this rear stabilizer for surfing and ripping turns!

Wing Foiling Session - 2/9/2021

The wind was forecasted to come up this afternoon - so I came prepared.  Since I'm about to have another wing foiling board to choose from (the Narrow Wing Foil Board - NWFB), I'll call this the Wide Wing Foil Board (WWFB).  The winds were not going to be nuclear, so I brought the Ensis 6.0 and the HS1850.  Perfect equipment for the conditions today. 

The forecast was not wrong.  In fact, on the gusts, the 5.2 would have been good also - but the 6.0 was great the whole session.  The wind was coming straight North - not a direction I normal wing in, but it has been a while so I'll take what I can get.  With no waves to be seen, I just worked on my transitions.  I never look at it as mowing the lawn - I always look for ways to go faster, foil higher and pull hard turns.  I also look at different foil/stab combos and mast positions to optimize for wave riding.  I also try out different pumping methods to get on foil quicker.  It's all just super fun!!!  Today I tried out a different leash - the Kaohi Coil (10') - I can now stop looking for the perfect leash (this is it!  Check the next post to see why - no dragging anymore!)

The track says it all... North winds.

Wing Foiling Session 1/31/2021

We towed Noe's Laser over to Hickam where she and I battled for supremacy of the oceans.  The first two runs I was off foil and got destroyed.  But on the last two runs, I picked up a gust and smoked Noe.  So it was a draw.

Ensis 6.0, HS1850, Uni 300, +1 trim fairing - good setup for today.

From the report, the wind looks like it was perfect.  On the water, there were some sizeable holes and schlogging was necessary.  I got in 6.97 nms and got to 14.5 mph on the powered runs.

La was out too on a Quest - fun session!!!

Wing Foiling Session - 1/28/2021

The wind was blowing all day in the 25mph+ range.  I punched out of work at 1500 and headed over to Hickam.  I bolted on the HS1250 and moved the mast all the way forward.  I also replaced the 0 degree fairing with the +1 - figured I'd see how it worked.  I saw the same thing happen today that I saw yesterday - as I drove up and looked out at the harbor, nothing but whipped up white water.  Then as I a getting ready to pump up the wing, the wind backs off.  I pumped up the Ensis 5.2 to err on the conservative side.

All the equipment worked brilliantly today.  The 5.2 was never overpowered and these Ensis wings really do help get the foil up and working (especially compared to the F One Swing).  The +1 fairing really helped keep the nose level, which in turn helped the board cut through the wind (instead of fighting it).  And the HS1250 helped me make several of my inbound tacks.

Speaking of tacks, I decided I would focus solely on tacks today.  The more you do something, the more it becomes second nature.  Towards the end of the session, I was nailing my weak side tacks (in bound, riding heel side goofy foot), and I was almost foiling through my outbound tacks.  I was out from 3:30 to 5 and I got 12nms in.  Peak speed was 16.5mph.  Wind was a notch stronger than yesterday - always a plus!

Fun after work session!

Wing Foiling Session - 1/22/2021

I got another winging session in this afternoon after work.  I pulled up to the parking lot and the whole bay was chopped up white water.  I decided to try something different - I bolted on the HS1250.  

I had to move the mast up as far forward as it would go - and I brought the torque wrench down to the beach with me in case I needed to make an adjustment.  With the wind as strong as it was, I pumped up the Ensis 5.2m.

The HS1250 worked awesome!  Granted the wind was nuking so I was not wanting for more lift, but it delivered smooth, progressive lift and I never felt over powered (on the foil/board side - the wing was something completely different).

I got 10 nms in today and topped out at 15.2 mph.  I had a harder time with the transitions today - primarily because the wind was so strong (gusts were way above 30 mph), especially the tacks.  I did jibe into some waves and luffed the wing.  I'll take it one step at a time!!!  There were a couple of runs where the gusts pretty much blow me down - think by popping the rear stabilizer.  Tomorrow I may try the +1 trim fairing.

Strong trades are awesome!!!

Wing Foiling Session - 1/21/2021

The first day of several days of strong trades started today.  I went to Hickam after work and setup the board, foil (HS1850/300), and wing (Ensis 6.0m).  The wind was definitely up - and I kinda second guessed the 6.0 - but in the interest of time I just went out with it.  I got in 12.3 nms in an hour and 45 minutes of winging. The tide was low at 0.2' while I was out.  The reef was dry and exposed in some parts.  For that reason alone, I was glad I went to Hickam instead of WPB.

Since I knew there wasn't going to be any waves, I figured I'd focus on transitions again today.  I started out jibing on the outside, riding toeside back towards shore and jibed back to heelside for a run back out.  If you look at the outbound turnarounds, you can see the wider loops where I was nailing my tacks.  And towards the end of the session, I got an inbound tack all the way through and rode out of it after switching - a solid first!

The next several days will have even stronger trades so more sessions to come!!!

Dawn Patrol (on Marlon's 18th Birthday)

I dragged Marlon out of bed on this, the morning of the beginning of his 19th trip around the great fusion reactor we orbit (Happy 18th Birthday Marlon!!!!).  La had decorated the living room and since his presents are surf related, I gave it to him as he woke up (we are getting him a longboard blank, enough innegra and epoxy to glass this new board - but we also got him a new wetsuit vest), but he was still wanting to go back to sleep.  I talked him into going.

We got there and the wind was brisk, but from the North so the waves were groomed clean.  Belly high wrap from the NW swell on the sets, with a fuller tide to boot (better for me on the foil).  Marlon said he thought it would be too cold, so he wanted to stay on the beach.  I told him I'd catch three waves and come back in.

The other Victor that surfs this beach was also out.

The HS1550/300/72/60 combo is super versatile - here it makes something out of nothing.

I came in after this wave and Marlon had changed his mind about going out.  I saw him ride some of the bigger waves that came in - cheater five going backside, hang 5, clinging to the pocket - he said it was totally worth it (and he stayed just the right temperature with the new vest).

Happy Birthday Marlon!!!!

Dawn Patrol - 1/3/2021

First dawn patrol of the new year.  The tide was really high and it was drowning out the break.  The air was a little cool, but there was no wind.  There was some residual chop in the water due to all the wind from yesterday (and I'm sure from the wind offshore).

Marlon brought his longboard, and I brought the wide 4'10" with the HS1550/300 tail.  At first I was trying to pick up some of the bigger waves (waist high).  After waiting a while, I followed the white water and started picking up the waves breaking on the inside.  These rides were shorter, but the faces were relatively steep - so I got to turn a lot more (which really is what this setup excels at).

I looked over and saw Marlon gliding on some of the bigger waves - I don't have that kind of patience.

Nice session (but we are both anticipating spring and summer - even though this is the best time of year for the weather conditions)