Converting Front Foils

The other thing I got off my to do list was converting the Armstrong front foils to accept the A+ barrel nut.  I set up an assembly line and knocked them all out.

Watch the video Armie put out - pretty straight forward.  The only thing to watch out for is some of the wings will splinter on the exit side of the bit.  That is no big deal - just means you will have to use the file a little more than if it didn't happen.

Since I had these laid out, I figured I should take a picture.  These are the surfing foils - CF800, CF1200, HS1550 and the HS1432CS

And these are the winging foils - HA1125, HS1250, HS1520CS, and the HS1850.

Tomorrow I'll throw a coat of wax on the two chopped wings (I noticed drag on the HS1520CS last time I had it out).  I'll surf the 72cm mast tomorrow - hopefully that will break this negative trend.

Wing Foiling Session - 6/6/2021

I hit Kailua this morning for the wing session.  Wind was nice and strong - same setup as yesterday (HS1850, Ensis 5.2).

This morning was awesome!!!  Got plenty of waves at Jump City - and rode while luffing the wing several times (because the wind-swell alignment favors regular foot).  I was finding it easier to pre-switch feet on the outbound runs and just jibe back (instead of tacking - too choppy on the outside).  And on the inside I could just jibe through and switch feet after the turn.

The 5.2 was perfect today - I was out from 8:30 to 10:15 and got in 13.26 nm.

Max speed was 15.9 kt - I'm pretty sure that was on a head high rolling swell, lined up and running full speed.  I was up on foil for most of the session - with only a few falls due to breaching.  

So much fun!!!

Mid Day Session - 4/22/2021

I did get out today for a couple of hours.  It was a little windy (but it would have been marginal winging), but the tide was favorable for taking out the Armstrong foil and there was surf coming in around waist high.

And here is the setup.  I originally set the mast up way forward - pretty much where I have the CF1200/300 set up.  I got 5 waves with that configuration, after which I went ahead and pulled the mast back a couple of notched.  I caught 3 on that setting, then decided to pull it back some more.  This was pretty much where the HS1250/232 would normally be set up.  Finally, I took it back a little further and there it stays for now.

I caught three notable waves today.  First was the pump back out ride - after riding a wave towards the beach, I pulled off the wave and started pumping out.  Once up and going, this front foil definitely moves with little user in put.  The last adjustment made the foil behave better - but this foil did not have the normal "carry" that I've become accustomed to - so much so that on two separate waves, I was riding and suddenly dropped off foil.  This front foil definitely can move, but you need to keep your speed up.  More to follow on this - 

Templating the Lift HA120

This is part of the next big garage project lining up - making my first front foil.  This is Prayot's Lift HA120 - and since I had the Armstrong HA1125 out, I figured I should make a comparison (as I was templating the HA120).

I just picked up first generation CF800 for dirt cheap - I'll be cutting the majority of the foil off - and using the female ferrule to serve as the base of a new front foil - probably designed closely to the Lift HA170 or 120.  This is going to be the first time I've done this - it'll be a great learning experience.

Latest Round of Garage Work Coming to a Close

I've been back in Florida visiting my Dad - that's why the posts have been scant as of late - but I got back yesterday.  This morning I drilled out the holes to 1/4" on Roland's fuselage.  I also used the tap to thread the holes.

I'm going to get one more thin layer of epoxy on, do some fine sanding and then install the helicoils.

I also got Jimmy's paddle finalized.

Lastly - since I sold the Slingshot Hover Glide foils, I used the proceeds to purchase this fine cardbox box:

As well as these items inside - the new FV200 rear stabilizer...

And the HA1125 front foil

I bolted on the A+ 60cm fuselage (did not drill the mast holes for the barrel nut - not sure if I'm going to or not), and got the front foil and rear stabilizer mounted.

More on this...

Wing Foiling Session - 3/27/2021

The family split up into different groups today.  After Marlon dawn patrolled, he headed out to Windward Community College to do some work.  La headed out to Kaka'ako to visit plant friends at the farmer's market.  I took Noe to Rainbow Bay so she could coach another sailor on how to better handle a 420.  After all that, I headed to Blue Planet Surf Shop to grab some swivels for the wing leashes, and then I finally headed to Hickam to get in a 'third' (or second depending on your criteria) session.  The wind was light but mostly consistent.

HS1850, Wide Wing Foil Board, 232 rear stabilizer, 85cm mast and a 60cm fuselage.

Ensis 6.0

Like usual, I made a beeline for Firsts.  There were a couple of areas where the wind was light - but I eventually got out.  There were waves - but Seconds was breaking better.  I spent 45 minutes out there - nailing tacks and jibes, and riding some bumps.  I did get stuck outside - was on an outbound run and I knew the wind was dropping - I kept going hoping I'd catch sight of a patch of wind.  I ran out of wind, but only had to wait a few minutes.  I caught a few more then headed back in to play on the inside.

I only got to 13.7 mph???? Going to have to use the HS1532CS to see how much more speed I can pick up - probably not too much as the HS1250 hits 17mph if I recall correctly.

Fun session!

Foil Trade

I regularly ply the Craigslist waters to see trends, look for deals and to look at what the second hand market is moving.  This also includes Facebook Marketplace.  I saw two Armstrong CF800s hanging out - and they haven't moved in weeks.  In reading the description on one of them, the seller said his CF800 wasn't for him as he was still learning.  I sent a message and asked if would be willing to trade for a CF1600 - and he said yes.  As great a wing as the 1600 is, I won't be using it as I have moved on - that and the 1600 feels like a puffier version of the 1550 (it is slower, more stable, and has more lift than the 1550).  I'm barely using the stock 1550 as it is....

So it was a win-win.  I got a wing that I can look forward to using on nuking wind winging days (like this past Sunday - recall that I observed that using the HS1250 with the 4.5 wing felt really comfortable, with the other combinations firmly on the challenging side).  I can also try this out on a solid south swell - I'm thinking overhead+.  I wet sanded the one scratch this foil had with 1000 grit - pretty much just knocking down the high spots.

Such mesmerizing curves... 

This is a small wing - the Uni300 rear stabilizer is not too far off this.  Prior to this wing, the Go Foil GL140 and the CF1200 were the wings I'd bolt on for the bigger days.  I had not found the top end of those two foils yet - I thought the sky was the limit, but looking at this one opens up a lot of possibilities.  Looking forward to some epic condition days to give this a run!

Chop Shop Line Up

After seeing a bunch of new foil announcements from Armstrong, I got the bug to chop down a wing - or two.  This afternoon I passed up a winging session (too many clouds and showers running through), came home and among other things, mapped out a couple of chop shop plans.  Here is a HS1550 with the HS1850 tips.  This is the same chop I did for a couple of the foilers at my beach.  The foil gets a lot looser after this, but still has the lift of the straight 1550.  This cut will be on the outer tape line.

A second view.

And this is an HS1850 with 2.5 cm marked off the trailing edge.  This will reduce the surface area by 235 cm^2 (so 1610 ish).  After rounding off the new tips, the area should be just under 1600.

I'll cut these this weekend.

Wing Foiling Session - 2/26/2021

With yesterday's wild rides still on my mind, I kept my eye on the wind all day.  It was blowing, but not as hard as yesterday.  When I got to the beach, I figured it was blowing hard enough to use the 5.2

I also wanted to see if the mast setting with the HS1250 was going to work again today.

Well - those plans were laid to waste - you can see the wind was either up and strong (luring me to go further out) or flat out dead (less than 10 mph).  That made for a long shlogging session.

I did get up on foil several times - the HS1250 just needs a bit more forward speed than the HS1850.  I think I would have had much more fun on the 6.0 and 1850.

And this is the most telling chart - you can see when I was up and riding, and when I was trying to just stay upright.

Wing Foiling Session - 2/25/2021

Hit Hickam again after work (its too easy - really wouldn't do anything else anyways).  The wind was crazy nuclear - white caps everywhere... smoke on the water crazy windy.  Jeff and Rob came over from the other side of the island.  And Jeff let me try out his 4.5 (which came in real handy since it was pretty crazy out there).  Jeff tried Rob's PPC wings - they look like good wings (but the Ensis look like they have more grunt).

I was out between 4:15 and 6-ish - check out the nuclear winds...

I started out with the Ensis 4.5 and the HS1850.  With the big front wing, I was able to get up on foil really quick - and the 4.5 was nicely powered with the blasting winds.  I made a beeline to get to Firsts - but it was super choppy, super gusty and I was picking up too much energy with the 1850.  I rode a shoulder and headed back in.  I also didn't want to put a hole in the borrowed wing.  I ended up working the inside - which was way more manageable.  

I got a top speed of 13.1mph on this outing - partially because it was blowing so hard, I was fighting to keep control.  There were some lulls, and that was probably when I was going faster (retaining control).

I headed in and figured I should try the HS1250.

You can see the break in the middle of this session - I went in and made a second adjustment to the mast (bumped it a hair further up from the first push up from the 1850 position).  The first runs I was not getting up quick.  It wasn't until I got to the middle of the bay where the wind line was established where I would pop up.  On the outside I was popping tacks like they were nothing - and I would make inbound tacks a lot easier than with the 1850.  I went ahead, headed in and nudged the foil forward - and what a difference that made.  Up nearly as quickly as the 1850 and it felt perfectly balanced.  I hit 17.1 mph on the second runs.  Going to have to use the 1250 more now.

Towards the end of the second session, the wind picked up again and there was a bunch of swirling.  By then my arms were done - super fun and challenging today!!!  Ken, Gary and Sonny were also out.  Big wind days are rare and to be cherished!

Wing Foiling Session - 2/24/2021

I hit Hickam after work.  The wind had been blowing all day - and it was holding through the time period where I could be out (3:30 to 5:45) unlike normal where it backs off.  I wanted to try out another footstrap setup today - pretty much where I put my feet when I ride strapless.

I also tried out the chopped Uni 300 rear stabilizer.

You can definitely see the reduction in the vertical surface area. 

With this placement, my rear foot is just in front of the mast.

Plenty of wind today, and there was even surf on the outside - but today I was focusing on the footstraps and transitions (as there are ever so slight differences in how the boards turn).  The 6.0 was a bit big for the gusts, but also a hair small when the lulls persisted - glad I rigged this one today instead of the 5.2 (maybe the rest of the week I'll be using the smaller wing).

This chart speaks volumes - lots of wind for sure; plenty of runs - but the real message is the HS1850 is probably getting speed limited (and capping out at around 15mph).  With the stronger wind filling in the latter half of this week, I'll bolt on the HS1250 to see if I can get a higher max speed.

I was getting complete tacks on the outbound runs.  I got my outbound jibes completed also.  I only got one inbound tack - for some reason I wasn't able to connect the dots and I'd get stuck mid tack.  More practice... but practice that seems like endless fun!!!