Garage Works - 4/17/2023

Before I went to the beach, I had spent an hour setting up the carbon for the top deck laminate.  After trimming the carbon and cutting the laps, I folded the carbon back and made sure to fill in any gaps from the bottom laminate and the carbon/innegra patch (observation from laminating No.30).

I used a 10.5 ounces on the first pour.  I focused on the area with the carbon/innegra and carbon heel patch first.  I made several passes with the roller to make sure the epoxy made it through all the layers.

Then I mixed a 7.7 ounce batch to make sure the rail laps were good.  I kept pouring the epoxy over the top laminate and rolled it onto the top laminate to saturate the roller and then I went on to wet out the laps.

I used saran wrap to make sure the edges stayed down (and to minimize what sanding I have to do prior to the fill coats).

Not bad!

I went ahead and wet sanded the KD 15" Marlin rear stabilizer because if I didn't I won't be able to sleep.

All better now.

The weather is ssupposed to get rainy soon.  That'll give me an excuse to get the final steps done on these two boards.  I also have to fix the mast tracks on Kalani's SUP Foil board.

I have to start saving up for the next piece of gear!

Evening Session - 4/17/2023

The new moon is coming up - and that swung the afternoon tide to foilable depths.

The Progression 170 came in today so I was obligated to foil.  I set it up with the KD 15" Marlin rear stabilizer on the 72cm Project Cedrus mast.

I figured since the surface area was close, I'd line it up with the Eagle 1090.  That was the perfect call as the foil was balanced (once I got used to the foil - I've been surfing so much lately, I had to get used to foiling again).

I was pretty wobbly on the first few waves, but I eventually got the feel for the foil.  It has glide.  It can turn.  I could pump it back out.  

On one pump back out, I hit the stall speed.

And despite the high tide, on one paddle back out I hit a high point - it got the stabilizer - I'll wet sand out the scratches.

Fun session and a good inaugural run for the Progression 170.  I think I switch out the stabilizer on the next session to one of my 14.875" rear stabilizers.  I also think I'll shim it slightly positive also so I can get a little more pump from the setup.

W:34/F:22/S:26

Wing Foiling Session - 2/5/2023

The crew planned to go winging today at Hickam.  Got a late start (Kalani's SUV battery died while he was getting manapua - I took him to get a new battery; and then Roland decided to go with the rest of us to Hickam) - but that only helped as the wind got stronger as the day went on.

Today was a testing and training day.  I can't recall having used the F One Eagle 1090 on this board before - so that was test and evaluation No.1.  After the third session (and having placed where I thought it should go, coming in and pushing it forward, and then finally nudging it back - but still forward of the initial point), I had the position dialed to have equal pressure on both feet and marked it.

I also tried to install a foot hook/half strap onto the spot where the rear footstrap went.  I wanted to see if this is a suitable substitute for a rear strap.  I think the answer would be yes - if I had a point to which I could screw it in - the existing inserts are too far inboard.  This is something I'll include on the next board.

And lastly, I swapped the DW210 rear stabilizer for the KD Maui 15" Marlin.  This stabilizer moves through the water with minimal drag.  I left the shims for this stabilizer at home so I did not get it dialed in, but I did take it out for a spin and it definitely has tremendous potential.

As far as training, I practiced both tacks - heel-toe and toe-heel.  The heel-toe was the first turn I learned to perform proficiently.  My success rate with it has varied, but I have learned to more glide a front foil has (and the more power I go into the transition with) the easier it is to make the tack.  The toe-heel tack has been my worst transition - but today while using the Eagle 1090 and the 15" Marlin - I was making pretty much every tack!!!

These pictures are one of the heel to toe tacks.

And this is one of the toe to heel tacks -

So here are the runs - this first session was 6.72 miles.  1090/210 - well powered on the 4.7 SW2.

This next run I swapped out the 210 for the 15" rear stabilizer and got in another 7.02 miles.  This is the run where I was getting tons of tacks in.

Funny thing - I didn't go as fast on this run as I did on the other two runs.

This was my last run - got in 7.36 miles.  I took off the foot hook and put the DW210 back on so I could go out to Firsts with equipment I was fully comfortable with.  Here you can easily see the difference between a tack (sharp point) and a jibe (crossed over loop).

And I zoomed in to the Firsts area so you can see the tracks I laid.

And the blue line about corresponds to the down slot below.

Great wind today!!!

Full house today - two guys I didn't know plus Arvin, Bill, Jim, Matt, Jesse, Ryan, Ken, Tim, Kalani, Roland and Harris.

I got four sets of gear into the truck today - 

W:8/F:7/S:11