Garage Works - 8/9/2025

These projects were completed yesterday.

This first one is Prayot's PPC M1 wing repair.  The strut bladder gave way.  These higher pressure, exotic material wings need to have thicker bladders - any high stitch or small piece of debris can be a seed for a bladder blow out.

I patch three spots and also armored them with extra layers of Tear Aid.

This is Marlon's Dominator Pro all patched up.  He took it out to Hau Bush this morning and got some good rides.

And this is Mark's wing board now converted to support Foil Drive.  I put windows on the top deck -

And the bottom deck.

And fixed a few dings that looked like they were water infiltration points.

All done!

Next up are Duke's paddle and Marlon's prone foil board.

Garage Works - 11/9/2023

Last time I was winging with the 4.7, I noticed a bleed through of air coming from the center strut.  I figured I should fix that (since I may be using this wing tomorrow).

This center strut bladder was pretty challenging to pull out from the housing. 

I found the pin hole.  I have no idea where this would have come from.

I got it patched up and I got the bladder back inside the strut housing.  Getting the two valves to sit properly really sucked.  I had to inflate/deflate about six times to get the bladder to stop twisting.

Now I'm pressure testing the wing.

I'll let it sit until morning.

Garage Works - 8/9/2023

Some things I've been working on -

Conversion of one of my older rear stabilizers into an asymmetric (for regular stance).

And I had to patch the 4.2 strut bladder that got popped by the 14" Marlin stabilizer.

I really need to get some other chores done (but this stuff is more interesting).

All Fixed

These things work brilliantly for fixing bladder valve releases!!!

There are two in place along the port and middle struts (at the leading edge).

I'm going to go ahead and install one on the last sprint valve so I don't have to worry about it.  I also ordered some new one pump tubes.  When those are delivered, I'll install those as well and this kite should be good to go!

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!!!

Garage Works - 1/30/2022

The wind did not pickup to the point where it would have been fun to wing - so after running errands today, I came home and knocked out some projects in the garage.  

First I took the deck pad sections I had templated and cut out from raw EVA foam sheeting, and used the bench sander to chamfer the edges.  Then I stuck them on the new wing board.  I didn't take pictures of this because Noe was the only other person home and she was taking a nap.  There are pictures of the board below, but it is underneath the other project I was working on today.

Prayot was having issues with his 5.2 wing.  I swapped out the center strut bladder and all is good (kinda - there is a slow leak in the main bladder somewhere also...). 

I also fixed the 5.2 bladder and an extra 6.0 strut bladder so he can use them as spares.

Did you see the deck pads on the new wing board?

I also trimmed some of the lifting grip deck on the skinny 4'10" and changed out the rear deck pad.  I had gotten a new wide Creatures of Leisure one at the Kailua HIC today.  

I also mowed the lawn, weeded part of the back lawn and cleaned up the garage.  Funny what you can get done when the wind is down.

Wing Maintenance

I was able to pick up the replacement strut bladder and promptly got to work on changing out the blown bladder.  First step, unseat the one-pump valves.  Next was to push the valve stems through the strut and tie lines on to them.

Pull the old bladder out, then pull the new bladder in (covered with baby powder).

This was the area that was blown out on the old one.  The first bladder I replaced was next to the valve stems.  I think I can fix this one.

Time to pull the valve stems back out and re-seat them.

And making sure the bladder isn't twisted and that it is seated properly.

I pressure tested the bladder and it held.  I also checked the tail of the struts on my other two wings to make sure the bladder was held by the strut muzzle (that's my name for the section you run the bladder through so you can pin it down.