Dawn Patrol - 11/1/2025

Hit the dawn patrol today.  The waves were smaller than yesterday - and made me question my judgement to bring out shortboards.  But realistically, this testing day was to help me decide what to do about my equipment debate.

The tide was on the low side - so in that regard I was glad to have the surfboards out.

I started out with the Firewire Cymatic (5'9" 34 liters).  I placed the Futures Alpha Vector 3/2 large trifin set in place.

I actually had fun on this setup.  I could feel the speed potential, but the waves I caught were a tad bit too small to get any great turns out if them.

I caught a handful of meh rides and paddled in.

Then I set up the CI Neck Beard 2 with the same fins.

With the little extra length and more volume, I was able to get into the small waves a little easier, but there still wasn't enough energy in the waves to push maneuvers.

What this experience showed me was I don't want to have to use boards with too little volume on smaller days.  And this pretty much was the deciding factor on my wanting to get the Firewire Neutrino 5'8" at 33 liters volume.  I'd be much better off with a 36 liter version, but I don't feel like the 5'10" version would be as fun for me.  I even went to Clips Surf Shop this evening to put the 5'8" under arm.  Unless I can get this board used or on sale, I'm going to pass.

I also talked to the saleman about my experiences with the Cymatic, the Revo Max, the Sweet Potato, and other boards - and then I found the one... the Album Twinsman Twinzer 6'0" at 37 liters.

I'm going to research this a bit more but this feels right - and all because I wanted to see what I could do this morning with a smaller board.

W:58/FD:127/PW:61/S:11

Evening Session - 10/31/2025

The wind was flukey again yesterday afternoon - gusts would pull through then periods of calm.

When I got home I finished sanding the CI Neck Beard 2, grabbed the Kohola thrusters, waxed the board and headed to the beach.

It was light offshores and waist high surf - not bad for late October.

At 35 liters this board paddled well.  Not as effortlessly as the Sweet Potato - funny how much difference a liter can make.

My first wave was pretty darn fun.  And so were then next handful.  I really loved the projection this board/fins have coming off the bottom and lining up for a run.

If I end up keeping this board, I'll replace the deck pad and use one that has front extensions.  I could feel my back foot forward of the pad anytime I wasn't turning.

What an awesome surprise finding/fixing/surfing this board has been!  Realistically though - I got this to see if the wide tail would be good knowing I've been eyeing the Firewire Neutrino...

For the dawn patrol I'm going to break out the 5'9" Cymatic and see how a further reduction in volume (that board is 34 liters) will impact wave catching ability.  The 5'8" Neutrino I'm contemplating is 33 liters... 

And I turn 54 this year.

And I foil like a madman (so when do I really have time to surf)...

But the chance at finding a magic surfboard that I gel with - even the chance that may happen is enough to drive the search for all this time.  I really only look forward to surfing when the wind is down/flukey, and when the tides are low when I have the time to go out.

If I do end up getting the Neutrino, I should probably look at thinning the quiver down to the boards I have gelled with.

Then I can use that cash to get a new foil!!!  Or if 34 liters is already pushing it, I can just sell the non-gelling boards and get a new foil!!!

Enduro 1100, or Silk 1050....

W:58/FD:127/PW:61/S:10

Garage Works - 10/30/2025

And I got some more work done on the Neck Beard 2.

Basically I just sanded the patches I added last time and placed more patches.

Underside of the nose -

This was a weird low spot on the tail.

I'll sand these down tomorrow.

If everything comes out alright, I'll go ahead and wax up the board and get it ready to surf.

Garage Works - 10/27/2025

I've been eyeing the new Firewire Neutrino by Daniel Thompson - but I'd prefer to get it at 35 liters and they don't have a version like that.  I saw this Channel Islands Neck Beard 2 in Varial foam for a steal on Craigslist.

I stripped the wax off a couple of days ago and there are a bunch of pressure dings on the top deck, several weird circular dings, and open/broken glass.  I had placed some fill into some open spots (nose and tail) yesterday.

Today I sanded the fill flush and cut out patches to place over areas than needed a little reinforcement.

Here is the tail -

And here is the top side of the nose.

Here's the tail patch

Nose patch (I'll need to get another patch on the bottom side of the nose tomorrow)

And I'm working to get this previous repair cleaned up and more flush.

I'll place more patches on the tail and nose tomorrow.  I might be able to surf this on Thursday.

If it surfs well, I may still end up with the Neutrino.

I have a bunch of Futures fins I want to cycle through this board - the Scimitar 2 +1, the Alpha 3/2 Vectors, the Kohola Thruster set, the Fiberglass EA, and even some other 2 + 1 setups.