Thursday Puffer

I decided to go fishing after work instead of doing laps at the pool. I was fishing for paipo on the flats (Fenwick 9'0" Medium Power Spinning Rod, Penn Spinfisher V 3500 with 6 pound test monofilament line) when I saw something moving out of the corner of my eye. I saw this guy swimming along. I managed to catch it with my bare hands (just cradled it really). It did not inflate and the spikes weren't deployed. I was more worried about keeping my fingers away from it's mouth (these guys can bite through hooks - my finger would be quite the snack - meaty and crunchy). It's neat what you can find on the flats if you keep your eyes open. I also managed to hook up with a paipo. I saw a pretty big weke (goatfish) following my lure (but it didn't take) and a barracuda sniped off my 1/12 ounce Kastmaster lure. I've lost more tackle to the small barracuda out here than I care to recall - I haven't even caught one to show for it. The funny thing is when I deliberately fish for them, they are no where to be found. Smart bugga's....

Alternative Surf Craft on a Rainy Day

We're down in Virginia Beach again (I wished we lived down here). Today's forecast did call for rain and we got it all while we were at our favorite surf spot. We also had some onshore breeze that chunked up the surf - but boy was it good to get in the salt water again! I brought down the mat, the paipo and the kickboard - but I had the most fun on the mat - most likely a function of how my left hip is hurting and I can't kick as hard while trying to catch the wave. The water was refreshing on initial entry, but you would quickly get accustomed to the cool temp. Fun day despite the rain and sloppy surf!!!

Blowing Off Steam

We had to get the van serviced this weekend (and the DC labor rates are RIDICULOUS) so we made a weekend out of it down in Virginia Beach. The waves were not that big, but relatively speaking they were AWESOME. Maybe six weeks since we were last down there - long time to go without surf... We miss it for the reasons you see in the pictures - fun in the sun(? - at least in theory - it rained on us). Saturday afternoon session was mellow and the kids were ripping it up. Body slammer beach break on Sunday morning with the high tide (spring tide levels) - the waves were a little bigger but the water was deeper - kids were a little apprehensive, but Marlon caught a few then we all )Me, La, Marlon and Noe) transitioned to body surfing (and we all had fun!!!). Now it's 'goodbye' summer - and 'hello' wetsuit weather (shucks - rubber sucks - say that three times fast). Thanks La for taking the pictures!!!

Not a Fluke

Although it may have a similar shape to a fluke (the fish), this paipo's performance is the opposite - and consistent with yesterday's awesomeness. Same surf spot, much hotter temps and a smaller swell, but still the same stoke! The waist high break could have been 6' Laniakea because I had the same amount of fun. Conclusion after two days of surfing - the paipo is pure awesomeness and a board to behold!!!

Virginia Beach on Dwellable

They Work!!!

Tried out two things today - the paipo I recently finished and a GoPro Hero 2 La and the kids got me - both work great! The paipo catches smaller waves very easily. I'm not sure how it would handle steeper waves yet (the rocker it has is very subtle), but it picks up beach break at the spot we go to in Virginia Beach really well. It turns really snappy too - lean to the inside of the turn and you're going; then pull the other way and SNAP - you've just made a good cutback. The rail and template shape work to promote maneuverability. I caught some good waves that peeled (relatively speaking - this was beach break after all) and the board got on to clean face pretty easily - all in all, the board is great and will be a good traveling partner. The only way I'll get skunked now is if it's flat. The GoPro Hero 2 worked great as well - so good it even caught my weird hair loss spots on my forehead (duckdiving picture). This HD version is bigger than the 5Mb version, but the pictures are also sharper and more defined (but you knew that). If you haven't gotten yours yet, don't hesitate - go out, get one then get outside! La tried both and from the picture, she positively endorses both!

Virginia Beach on Dwellable

Details Burnt In

The paipo was sanded (60-120-220), a couple of coats of polyurethane are on and the details have been burnt in. A few more coats of poly and a good wax jobs and this thing is ready for catching waves!!! This looks way easier to ride than the alaia (that this was once part of). The foiling is way better and without having to jump to a standing position, there are no reasons for not catching waves (which is why spongers have a bad rap with standing surfers - I think the people who just ride waves on whatever are the happiest ones around - but that is a secret, don't tell anyone...)

Paipo Ready for Poly

So here is the nearly finished paipo. I just need to label the board (burnt in branding), fine sand and coat with polyurethane. I'm going to try to have this one done before the next time we head down to Virginia Beach. There is gentle entry rocker on this one, mini-surf rails down the sides and the tail is what used to be the nose when this was a whole alaia (the one I made in California and that hung on the garage wall in Gulfport). I cut it in half over a year ago and surfed it at chilly North End Virginia Beach (rough cut and boxy rails didn't help much). Now with the shape, volume and rails dialed in, without even having this thing touch water yet, I am confident this will quickly become one of my favorite boards - and why not - shaped to ride anything, especially East Coast slop, getting quality rides on generalist equipment is way better than not getting any rides on specialty boards.

Getting the Itch...

I'm getting reacquainted with my surroundings again, and with that I'm also getting the itch to shape some surfcraft. First up (since it doesn't require making a lot of noise and pissing off the neighbors in an as of yet undetermined level of sensitivity neighborhood) is a Lindsey Lord proportioned paipo using the sawed up alaia (check the way older posts - this is more a tweaking exercise) and hopefully a few (but more likely only a couple) paulownia handplanes. I'll be focusing on the 0.4 length to width ratio. This stuff isn't by any stretch of the imagination 'new' or 'modern' - just look at a Boogie Board - looks like it already has that ratio in use, but it will be made and surfed by me with care and diligence.

Alaia + Jigsaw = Paipo + Hand Planes

As you might recall, a while back I built this alaia out of pawlonia strips. I did try to take it out a couple of times, but with my limited water time, I felt it more prudent to SUP surf or distance paddle instead of trying to learn to use the alaia.

So it hung on the wall in the garage at the Gulfport house.

Well, if you've hit the links I have listed here on this blog, you've surely seen some hand planes and paipos running around. So I get this idea as I'm packing for Virginia Beach earlier this week - "I really don't need an alaia to take up space again - what I could use is a paipo and a few hand planes to play around in the beach break with...."

The last thing I did before closing up the garage to begin our road trip was to break out the jig saw and take it to the alaia. La couldn't believe her eyes and repeatedly asked "are you sure you want to do this?" even as I was finishing up the cut.

Well - turns out the alaia is a much better paipo and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face - Thursday at 66th St at the North End of Virginia Beach!!! Washing machine conditions (no breaks between the short period wind swell), and the water was in the high 50's), but had to try out the "new" board!!!

Progress on the Cedar Paipo

Surges.

That is the best term to describe my progress on this board. Some good effort followed by days, no weeks of absolutely nothing.

Well I finally got off my akole and built the rocker table. Here you can see the spine and frames set on top of the rocker table.

Next I have to build up the lateral runners to match the curvature of the frames so I can glue the skeleton to the bottom decking. I'm sure I screwed up the description by using the wrong terms, but you'll see as it gets done.

Decking glued up on the Paipo

Both the top and bottom are all glued up.

I may have to do some cosmetic surgery on the top deck... the two halves were not jointing properly (I guess I waited too long to start the gluing - 3 years and varying environments = warping; just funny that it was only these two central planks and no others). I ended up using a jigsaw to cut through both layers in order to get the two halves to come together tightly.

Well, it was dark, cold, there was poor lighting and a few times I got off track. Hopefully the glue I'm using (came with the kit) will solve the problem. It is colored or has some sort of filler in it.

Anyways - tomorrow morning when the clamps come off, I'll see what the damage is.

If I have time, I'll get a 2x6, a 2x4 and start setting up the rocker table.

Progress

The bottom deck of the paipo is all glued up.

I have also drawn in a center line (to line up the keel during gluing) and drawn in the outline of the board (plus 1/2" for a working surface). I will bring home my Japanese pull saw (from work where I'm teaching a class on building a conventional board) and cut out the outline.

The other picture is the top deck almost glued up - just have to glue the two halves together. There was a significant gap in the two center pieces. I need the Japanese saw to make a clean up pass and get the two top done.

I also need to make a rocker table (simple one).