Wing Foiling Session - 3/29/2024

There was still wind today.  When I got to the beach, Prayot was already out.

The wind was up and down, but it looked completely doable on a larger wing.  I pumped up the SW2 5.2

For the foil, I fixed the C200 rear stabilizer so I wanted to test it out - I bolted on the SK8 950 

I have to admit, it is kinda cool when I see more than one of my boards out at a time.  Prayot has been using the one I built him more lately because his ankle is still hurt.

I really love this foil!!!  So smooth and carvey

Prayot had the Vyper 150 bolted on.

I didn't want to be out too late - and the wind was kinda shakey so I called it after a little over an hour.

The waves were small - but with the wind largely up, I was able to ride through the Cabins break without dropping off foil.

At one point the wind did drop off so pretty much everyone - Duke, Roland, Prayot (but not Eli) had to wait for the wind to pick back up.

This is Hickam's chart - it didn't feel that strong at WPB, but this was the general pattern.

Not a bad session!!!

There is a break in the wind forecasted - should let me get some things done around the house (Matt's board, resecuring the gutters, edging the grass, starting No.36)

W:40/FD:19/F:4/S:9

Garage Works - 2/20/2024

I skipped out on water time today - Roland came over to work on my AC.  Waiting for him, I went ahead and finished the ding repairs on Harris's wingboard.

This is where he put his harness hook through the rail of his board.

This is the spot that was leaking water.

This is the area that he wanted smoothed out and sealed - I sanded the bottom half down and laminated a layer of fiberglass across it.

I sealed up these two footstrap insert holes as they seemed to be releasing water when the board was in the sun.

And I sanded down the ding repair on Prayot's board.  There were a few pinholes/airbubbles after I sanded it down - so I mixed up some more epoxy and filled in all the holes.

Tomorrow I'll sand it down and it should be done.

Just in time to pick up another ding repair job (Red Jeep Ken has two cracks on his wing board).

Garage Works - 2/18/2024

I got some time to try and finish Harris's wing board.  This is the repair area sanded down.  There are some low spots that need to be filled.

And here it is post fill coat

And Prayot dropped off a board to be fixed.

I filled the void with epoxy/aerosil.  Tomorrow I'll sand this flush and laminate the carbon over it.

And the second Ken who wings over at Hickam called - dropped his board from the washing racks.  Another nose job...

Garage Works - 10/24/2023

I got Prayot's board sanded and sprayed yesterday.

Came out pretty good.  With the divynicell blocks, the back of the board has more weight (compared to the polyurethane blocks), but they are way stronger.

And here it is sprayed.

Nice and shiny

Using the peel ply definitely made this repair easier (less sanding).

With these two repairs done, it's time to start carving out No.33

Garage Works - 10/23/2023

This afternoon I got the ding repairs done on Tim's Greedy Beaver. 

The cluster of three small dings came out really nice.

The smashed in rail is structurally sound, but the cosmetics are lacking a bit.

Prayot's wing board got sanded and I opened up the boxes.

The router took a little too much out at this spot.

And then I got the fill coat on.

Tomorrow I'll sand down the excess fill coat, then get the spray coat on.

Both of these can go back to their owners tomorrow (so I can start the shaping on No.33)

Wing Foiling Session - 12/10/2022 (Second Run)

 I got a second session in on Saturday - this one was for the specific purpose of anointing No.28 (and getting the balance point for the Kujira 1210, and making sure there were no pin holes in the glass job).  The wind was still strong, but it wasn't crazy nuts like earlier in the day. 

I decided to use the Reedin SWX 4.2 again (wanted to get my money's worth out of it as both the SWXs and No.28 are all sold to Prayot and he is bringing it all back to Japan).

I got it perfectly balanced on the first try (but I had several boards marked up so I could define the relative position).  This board is really fun to carve around.  I didn't get a chance to take it out in the waves - but I was having too much fun inside.

Oh - and this guy was chillin' on the inside too (ended up seeing it at the end of a tack - and we both couldn't get out of each other's way - I ended up giving it a 'love' tap).

Super fun session!!!  I forgot how awesome the Kujira 1210 is - I was nailing dry tacks, nose down jibes and tightening up the radius on the turns.

I can't stop saying that the conditions were perfect for the 4.2 

I think it is time to get a new GPS watch.. Looking through the data, I got the foil up to 19.7 mph.

These boards are like kids to me - they all have their personalities, and you hate to see them go.  I'll have to make myself one of these -

Another successful anointing!

W:123/F:96/S:40

Garage Works - 12/8/2022

Got some work done in the garage this evening after getting home from UH.  Pictures are in reverse order.

I sanded down the leash plug on No.25.  Then I sprayed the clear coat on.

Then I wetsanded the rear stabilizer I used today (want to run some testing).

Lastly I sanded down the repair area on the Kujira 1440.

This one turned out really nice!

Getting Real Close to Done on No.28

Yesterday after work I got through the sanding regime - all the way to 400 and 600 wet sanding.

Realistically, this one was not that bad to sand.

This afternoon I drilled out the hole for the leash plug and I carved out a couple of spots I felt could be better.  Then I filled the questionable spots and installed the leash plug.  I placed one final touch up coat of epoxy and I'm done for the day.

Of note - if your shaper isn't cleaning all the inserts (finboxes, leash plugs, handles, footstrap inserts, etc) with acetone, or rough sanding the parts before installing, the mold release will hamper the epoxy bonding and you risk failure.  I used acetone on the parts for this board (good to go!)

Tomorrow evening (cause in the afternoon I'll be winging) I'll sand down the leash plug, touch up the spots I placed epoxy this evening, then apply the clear coat.  I'll let the clear coat sit for a day, but I'll at least try to get the deck pad cut out.  If I can get that far, I'll apply the deck pad and let that sit for a little bit.  Thursday the wind is supposed to start nuking and it'll stay up for over a week - 

Garage Works - 12/4/2022

And when I got home, I sanded the top deck of No.28.  Here it is all sanded.

And here it is with the second fill coat on it.  When we get back from Noe's orchestra performance, I'll likely put one more layer on the low spots on the rail, just to get everything level.

This next round of sanding should not be too bad as the bulk sanding/second fill coats seemed to be pretty good.  

I'll get the leash plug installed and drill out the hole for the vent also.

Garage Works - 12/3/2022

I sanded the bottom deck and rails of No.28 this morning.  There were enough low spots so I went ahead and applied a second fill coat.

I'll sand more again tomorrow and will likely add another fill coat.

Garage Works - 12/2/2022 Part 2

La and I had a really delicious dinner -

When we got back, I went ahead and got the top deck fill coat on.

This coat extended over the rail - so there is a double coat over the entire rail (both side, rear and up to the nose).

Tomorrow the family has activities starting early - that leaves me at home so I'll start sanding.  Have I mentioned I hate sanding???

Garage Works - 12/2/2022

I did a light sanding on the board this evening to get the high points of the board from the rail tape lamination.  After that I put the stickers/labels on the board.  And finally I got the bottom deck fill coat placed.

I'm taking La out for dinner tonight - when we get back, I'll get the top deck fill coat on.  If I can get through that step tonight, I can sand the excess off tomorrow (and place another fill coat on if necessary).  At this pace, I'll likely be done with this board mid next week (inclusive of the leash plug, vent installation, and the deck pad) and can test it out when the wind comes back (looking like next Thursday...)