Garage Works - 6/15/2024

I'm slowly getting this repair job done.  I had to go to Fiberglass Hawaii to get more pour foam (2lb density).  As you can see I got it all mixed up and poured in.

I meant to get the excess above the bottom deck shaved off - but there's been wind...

Garage Works - 3/23/2024

I got a bunch of stuff done today.  First I got delamination repairs on Duke's prone foil board completed.

He is only paying me $40 for the repair (he's having a baby soon with his girlfriend - I figured he'll be buried in diapers soon so I'd give him a break) - so I got it to functional, not perfect.  These XPS foam board with the perforated deck skins are weird, and they are even weirder to fix. 

I then cut out the templates I've had lying around.  These are No.33 and No.36.

And I transferred No.36 onto the glued up blank I made from the offcut.

And I got Noe to show me what she wanted fixed on her Laser.

I got the scratches/dings filled.  I'll sand them down tomorrow and maybe throw on a fiberglass patch for good measure.

Noe has already sold this boat to a KYC member - we are just trying to get it ship shape!

Garage Works - 3/17/2024

The ocean took some tax today.  I hit bottom trying to get out (three times) and I think the leash knocked off one of the Minx diffusers.

I took all of the three remaining diffusers off and epoxied them back on along with the spare that came with the kit.

I hope the epoxy that came with the kit is good stuff.

And speaking of epoxy, I got the mast track block installed on Matt's board tonight (falling temperatures are more important if the temps are up in the daytime).

I'll get the top polyurethane blocks installed tomorrow.  I may also hit Fiberglass Hawaii tomorrow to grab the pigment and carbon for the upcoming lamination job (which I should be able to get to this week in the evenings... depends on the wind which right now is forecasted to increase).

I didn't take any pictures, but I got these two foils patched up.  I knew better...

And last but not least, I addressed the scratches that were on the DW190.  There is a chip on the trailing edge that I couldn't completely negate.  The deep scratches are also still visible.

But overall not a bad tuning - this thing should be in stealth mode now.

This is the bottom surface.  You can still see the deep scratch and the chip on the trailing edge.

That was actually a lot of stuff happening - it went by quick though (I guess that means I was having fun).

Garage Works - 3/16/2024

I checked on Duke's board this afternoon - still moist.  I figured I'd go ahead and take off the carbon that had delaminated from the top deck.  I'll add some cuts to the foam so when I fill it and add the laminate, the repair will hold and will not delaminate (as quickly).

I also went ahead and cut out the delaminated areas on the bottom.  I had actually considered just adding resin and see if the repair would hold - but I realized I'd have to make the cuts into the foam here as well (to slow down the delam).  I just cut it out also.

Once this board dries, I'll get the carbon on - just not sure when that'll be (needs to be dry).

Garage Works - 9/3/2023

This is Roland's Hyper 190.  It was pushing salt out of a hairline crack along the fuselage/front wing interface.  I'm going to put some carbon fiber and epoxy over the cracked area to get this back into riding shape.

Here is one of the hairline cracks.

And this is what it looked like after I sanded to below the crack.  They were actually pretty shallow, so this should be an easy fix.

Garage Works - 8/22/2023

Here is Ken's H800 with all the scratches filled in.

Just after these pictures I went ahead and used the solid black paint marker and covered the red glaze putty.

I didn't take a picture of the final (for today) product, but it came out a lot better than when I first got it.

Garage Works - 8/21/2023

And after Marlon left for classes - I went into the garage to get No.32 closer to the finish line.

There are carbon patches in the foot well areas (that you can't see them under the top sheet).

I got the top sheet laid out, the footstrap slots cut out, and the laps dialed in.  I used 22 ounces of epoxy to wet everything out - which was a little more than what was needed - for the excess I used the roller and placed it on the bottom deck as a pre-fill coat.  Side note, I used 19 ounces for the bottom deck.

Tomorrow I'll sand the new laps, laminte the rail tape, and drill the holes for the leash cup and the vent plug.  After that, it's add the logos, place the fill coat, sand-sand-sand, then spray on the finish.

I also started the repair on Ken's Cabrinha H800.  I'm actually thinking about using this foil for the race on Saturday...

More sanding.... oh - what - fun.

Mast Repair

I emailed Kyle and he said to use urethane adhesive to fill the cuts after cleaning the frayed material away.

And I did just that.

The repairs went pretty quickly - and I think they turned out well.

I can see and feel the repairs, but I actually like the fact that they are on the mast - just like cool scars!!!!

I'll write more about this in the next post, but I actually think the mast moves through the water better than before.  That probably just me thinking the repairs help shed any potential low pressure points by introducing just enough turbulence.... but who knows???!!!!????

I glad it's fixed!

Garage Works - 3/12/2023

I'm trying to get these repairs out of the garage -

Here's Matt's board with the new foam spliced on.

Here's the outline of the template he was trying to get onto the board when he reshaped the nose.

I cut this out already but didn't take a picture.  I'll use the surform to get it foiled out, sand it out and then glass it.

On Jim's SUP foilboard, I sanded the middle layer that I had laminated yesterday, added a fill coat this morning, sanded that lightly to scuff it up, and then laminated the cap sheet on.  I'll get the fill coat on, grind open the tracks, sand everything, and spray on a clear coat.

I'll probably have this one done on Tuesday.

Fixing the 9m Drifter

I was testing the 9 and 11 meter Drifters last week to make sure the bladders were still holding air.

The 11m held its air, but the 9m wasn't.  It was apparent that the leading edge around the valve seams was letting go.

I stopped off at Hawaiian Watersports and got a few valve traps.  This is way faster than using adhesive.

I tested this one and it held.  But the one next to the inflation valve let go.  That's a task for tomorrow.

Wing Repair and Board Prepping

Yesterday while I was using this wing (Takuma RS 6.1) the leading edge bladder popped.  Today I went ahead and fixed it.  You never know what you are going to find when you pull a bladder.  The pop sounded small and noncatastrophic - and it even took a little bit of time for the air to completely come out - so I figured I got lucky and this hole was small.

And small it was.  I had this patched in no time.

And I went ahead and inflated it and left it inflated.  It's at my office - I'll check on it in the morning.  I'm thinking it should be good to go.

I also decided to sell the surfboards I'm not currently using.  Those would be the Firewire Sunday (shown here), the Firewire Greedy Beaver, and the Toots 7'4" Asymmetric

The proceeds from selling these boards will go to the Ocean Rodeo Glide AX wings I'm saving up for and to pay off the Firewire Seaside and Beyond.

I'll post more pictures tomorrow of all the surfboards moving around (bought and sold).  There is also a swell that is inbound - surfing tomorrow!!!

Fixing the Reedin SWX 5.2

I've been examining the 5.2 SWX after the last outting.  The wing actually did not get any holes.  What I had seen while out on the water was the one single aramid fiber that had split.

I went ahead and used Gorilla tape to make sure the damaged section wouldn't get any worse.

I cut off the split fibers and placed tape on both sides of the Xply.

We'll see during the next session with this wing if there are any issues (there shouldn't be).  At some point I was thinking I needed to add an equal amount of tape to the other side - but this stuff weighs nothing so I didn't bother.

I also filed the Kujira 1095 and the 178 so the rough edges shouldn't be an issue either.  I guess I got off easy from the last session.

Patching Wings

Tim pulled his 6.0 wing across an aluminum sign yesterday.  Roland likely landed his foil through his wing.

Today I helped patch both their wings.  Here's Roland's 3.6 Spin ready to go!

Progress on the JL Repair

I grinded the boxes open a couple of days ago.

Then I filled the voids that got opened yesterday.

I sanded down the fill this morning, and then added the top fill coat.  I should be able to sand the excess off tomorrow morning and then go through the final sanding.

Small Repairs on the 1440

I mixed up a tiny batch of epoxy and sealed the spider crack on the 1440.

I already wetsanded this so it is ready to ride.

Garage Works - 6/9/2022

The board I have in the garage to be repaired was still giving up water - when I got home from winging, there was a good deal of liquid where I had the board sitting.  I decided to go ahead and just open it to allow the water to drain freely or even evaporate.

I bet these high-density foam pieces go all the way to the top deck.

These boxes kinda just fell out once I trimmed the bulk of the foam away.

Now to let the interior dry out.  I should be able to sand the edges where the bottom laminate will hang over tomorrow, and possibly even epoxy in the reinforcement block.

As long as the interior drys out... there was a LOT of water in this board...