Garage Works - 5/16/2025

I was going to parawing this afternoon - but I figured I should get some yard work done first (which would give me an excuse to "rinse off").

I got the yard work completed (and actually a bunch of it) - but then it started to rain hard.  The wind was also gusty and shifting - I figured I should stay back today, get some more rest in and get some progress on the projects I have in the garage.

First up was inspecting the wing I got Brenda to fix.  You can see the dacron patch on the leading edge.  This is where the rear stabilizer brushed up against the wing yesterday. 

I also spent some time filling and sanding said stabilizer - it's better than new now.  I am going to give the SK8 750 another shot when the wind comes back next week.  I think I need to bring it back in the tracks a 1/4" and then it might be dialed in and I can really do a comparison against the AFS foils.

I sanded all 5 areas on Bill's board.  I also trimmed the carbon patch for the underside ding.

I got more fill on the repair, and then laminated the carbon patch under peelply.

Then I went ahead and got another fill slurry on the top deck dings.  I'll sand these tomorrow and get the carbon patches on.

I may also be able to get the pigmented fill coat on tomorrow as well.

And lastly - this came in the mail today.... the Team sticker for 2025!

Fun times!!!

Evening Foil Drive Session - 3/27/2025

Two unfortunate things happened today - 

First, an onshore flow was present - which made the surface choppy.  Not the worst I've Foil Drive-n in, but a far cry from yesterday's glassy conditions.

And it wasn't strong enough to wing either - so we were all stuck in the middle (too windy to FD, not windy enough to wing).

The whole FD crew minus Derek was present.  And Stu was out on prone, and a new guy Bob was using a gen 1 FDAP with a Dragonfly.

The other unfortunate thing that happened was my remote did not charge last night.  That made for a short session.

I've been having to fix some scratches in my foils lately - so I've been paying closer attention to the route Norm takes to get out.  I think I've got the channel defined now.

Considering the surface conditions, I don't think I missed much.

Maybe seven rides...???

Norm's wife Michelle made this sticker!!!!

If the swell really picks up tomorrow, I may bring out a shortboard tomorrow (unless of course it gets crowded - then it'll be the FD).

W:22/FD:48/PW:1/S:4

Garage Works - 2/8/2025

Marlon is headed to the mainland for a bit for work - so he and La ran errands.  La wanted to help take down our Traveler's Palm plant, so instead of doing yard work, I headed to the garage to work on No.40

To start, I sanded the whole board to 40 grit.

Then I rinsed it thoroughly to get the sanding dust off.

After the board dried, I started with the bottom deck logos.  And after giving the decals a chance to bond with the board, I went ahead and added the last fill coat.

To get the coverage, I placed about 9.5 ounces of ProLink epoxy.

And after the bottom deck fill coat hardened, I got the top deck decals placed.  When we got back from dropping Marlon off at the airport, I went ahead and placed the top deck fill coat.

This was 6 ounces of ProLink epoxy.

This last coat is thicker around the decals.  I'll sand with the broken in 40 grit just to get the cutting process started - but I'll transition to 60 pretty quick.

Tomorrow after sanding to 320, I'll install the plugs.

I'm waiting for a full-length deck pad to come in the mail and I also need to get some Napa 2K clear coat.

No.40 will likely be done by Wednesday.  I'll give the deck pad a couple of days to bond - it would be nice to anoint this under wing - but with the wind not really filling in, I'll likely first get it in the water using the Foil Drive.

Garage Works - 5/15/2024

I had another few hours to forward the projects in the garage.

Before these pictures, I got the caps on the top deck windows on Marvin's boards.  And I used some of that epoxy to put a small fill layer where I'd place the logos.  That's when I went surfing....

And when Marlon and I got back, I got the logos on and let those sit in place for a bit (for better adhesion)

Dinner called and I answered - but epoxy waits for no one.  After dinner I got back out and got the caps on the bottom deck of Marvin's boards.

These two should be finished tomorrow.

And I got the fill coat on the top deck of No.36

This is going to be a great wing board (and maybe even Foil Drive-able).

Tomorrow is a sanding day... I'll get the high points down, even everything out top and bottom, then will probably get the bottom deck second fill coat on to address any low points.

If that holds, then Friday I'll drill out the vent and leash plug holes, get those installed and the second fill coat goes on the top deck.  That makes Saturday the final sanding day.  Then I'll open the tracks, fair those in and get the wear coat sprayed on.  With no wind in the upcoming forecast, I'll get the deck pads on and let the board rest.

It looks like Tuesday the wind returns and later next week we'll have some nuking winds!  This board will definitely be done by then. 

Garage Works - 4/7/2024

I spent some time in the garage trying to make headway on Matt's board.  I sanded all the fill points flush, top and bottom decks.

So smooth....

I got two of the three decals on - still waiting on the Army Wings for the tail.  I also laminated a couple of patches where I thought reinforcement was needed.  These two spots should be covered by the deck pad.

And not seen in this picture, I installed the leash plug.

Tomorrow I'll grind open the leash plug, and do a light sand on the spots I epoxied today, then add a seal coat.

After all that - I felt compelled to make an adjustment to the Foil Drive board I've been contemplating.  I wanted an overall narrower board, and also a slightly wider tail.

I even printed out the template and transferred it to the blank.

It kinda looks like No.33 - but even if it does have nearly the same profile (I'm pretty sure the tail is narrower), this one is going to get the 16" tracks.

I just need to check with Dennis - if he wants a board, I'll make his before I start this one.  I also want to make another wingboard - similar in shape to No.25, but narrower (also with 16" tracks - I've been lucky with No.32 - I've been able to fit the smaller foils on to it, but I'd like to make more boards).

More Stickers on the Wing Board

A friend from work makes the die cut vinyl stickers I've been using on my boards.  The latest stickers I got are of the Great Frigate Bird - or Iwa in Hawaiian.  I am lucky enough to see these birds drifting along in the tradewinds when I'm in the surf in the afternoons.  I thought it fitting to acknowledge these expert gliders on my "gliding" apparatus.

I drew in the red throat sack with a Posca pen.  I think these came out great!

"Now I Can Put Stickers on it"

Apparently sometime in the past I had said something to the effect of "you can't put stickers on a board until it has been properly anointed".

Marlon made a point to tell me that since I've had this board out twice now, that I need to put stickers on it.  So here I am putting stickers on it.

I'll spray a little clear coat on everything, just to seal up the edges and the marker writing.  I'm finished with a ritual that I apparently started but can't remember.

Logo Sticker

I found a friend that had a cut vinyl sticker making machine and I asked her to make a run of logo stickers.

Here's one on the surf mobile

And here's another on our cooler.  I'll take pictures in the sunlight tomorrow.