NC Paddle Surfer
This Blog has MOVED
Move over to my new Blog site here SUP SURF MACHINES
There will be NO more posts at this site. It will be kept as an archive only. [Link]
Board For Sale
Hunter's board. Contact him at hcbrown1@gmail.com
This is a 10'6" Bic Sports Ace Tec Board. It's a great all round board that
is very stable. It's in very good condition. No dings or damage of any kind.
You can see some marks where the rack straps ran across it but there is no
damage from it. Board was not used more than a dozen times and has been
garage kept. It is 31.5" wide and weighs approx 26lbs and sells for over
$1100 new.
This board does not include a paddle or leash. It comes with board, fins
and deck pad.
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CB Inlet Goes Off
Beginning of a 100 yard long wave ride.
Wow, endless wave
Surf Machine testing Jacky's new 7'8 W.R.
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A Few Shots Found in the Camera
Z surfing Jacky's 9'9 two weeks ago. (I was in Mexico that weekend)
Jacky at the inlet Saturday
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Hanging with my Buds
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Jacky's First Surf on Her New Board
She likes it
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Jacky's New Board is Here
7'8 long 3 3/4 thick
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Incredible Morning of Surf
Waves that went on forever and ever. The waves held throughout the deep high tide. An amazing morning.
Surf Machine
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Logo Work in Progress
Jacky's new board. ETA Tuesday
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Board For Sale——-SOLD
The 8'2 x 30 Funboard is back For Sale again. It was too small for the original buyer, so I took it back and gave him my 9'9 Longboard. Price is $750. Call me 910-297-4567. 
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Amazing Video
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More Contest Photos
WB Loop Gallery HERE
Experts only type conditions for SUP on Saturday
Jacky on the new 7'8 board
Saturday
Sunday on the 9'9 longboard
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Wahine Surf Contest
The 2013 WB Wahine Contest ran Saturday and Sunday. Jacky won her heat Saturday and won the final on Sunday in the over 16 SUP Surf division. Saturday's conditions were on shore wind and a rainy mess. I did not go Saturday. These photos were taken Sunday. Low tide, breaking in 1 ft of water, is what they had to work with.
Photo that appeared in the Sunday newspaper here
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Board FOR SALE
8'2 x 30 Funboard $750 with fins 910-297-4567 [Link]
Everybody Tries the New 7'8
The best 7'8 yet. A clear advancement over the original design. It does the impossible. Faster. Looser. More hold.
My first surf on it, about 7:00 AM
Brad's turn on it.
Surf Machine finally shows up and takes a crack at it
Jacky gets her shot at it.
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The NEW 7'8 Shape is Done
First surf tomorrow morning.
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Tons of Photos Today
Jacky on her 9'9 longboard
Jacky on her 7'3 Manatee
Scott on my 9'9 LB
Brad on Jacky's 9'9 LB
Jacky on the 7'3
Brad likes Jacky's longboard
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Shaped a Sexy One this Afternoon
105 liters 
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Jacky Rips this Morning on Her Longboard
9'9 x 29 x 4
Double carbon tape on the bottom
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Sunday Fun at the Inlet
Hunter on his 7'8 and Jacky on the 8'2 Funboard
Jacky
Hunter
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The New 8'2 Funboard Gets Wet
It's a total mess in the ocean, but the new board must get wet. Stability is the best I have ever experienced in a 112 liter board. It seems to catch everything. So far, I think its performing as I had hoped. E wind please go away.
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Fun Longboard Waves Tonight
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Post Curing at 110 Degrees
Sanding tomorrow
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Here it is….the New Funboard
Finished weight 14 lbs with heavy duty glass job. Hot coat on. Proboxes set to McKee. Headed to the bake room.
8'2 x 30
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Sneak Peak
Nose of the 8'2 Funboard
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Jacky's New Board is Done.
9'9 x 29 148 L
First Surf Tomorrow Morning
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Another Idea Taking Shape
8'2 Funboard
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Board FOR SALE
Z's Manatee For Sale. Call him at 919-667-6036 $750
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The New Board Gets Tested by Brad
It passed the test! Brad liked it. Brad is a nose riding SURF machine. The surf was a wind blown mess this morning
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39 Photos of the New Board in Action
Z and Jacky try my new 9'10 Classic LB. Z didn't want to try it. But after some teasing he did. Now he wants it. It's my best board. The fastest, easiest, and most fun big SUP I have ever surfed.
Jacky
Z up next
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Surfing Photos of the New Board
Not sure its called surfing in this mess. The board feels great.
Never mind
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Complete Photo of my New Board
9'10 x 30 x 4.25 161 liters 18 lbs
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My new 9'10 x 30 Classic LB 161 Liters
Glassed heavy for lots of walking the deck. Amazingly only 18.0 lbs. It's a resin tint job.
Freshly wet sanded. It still has some sanding dust streaks on the nose.
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4.5 Strapless Wave Sailing Today
Kook
Kook
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Almost
It gets wet July 4th.
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Sneak Peak
Can you guess the inspiration for this board? 
My deck pad template for the new board in the shaping room now
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New Ideas in the Works
A huge block of foam arrived today
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Fun at Corncake Sunday
Hunting for something. Give me anything!
Not much there
Looking better, but beach coming up quick!
Bam, the beach. Steep and deadly here. Not like Cocoa Beach 
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Boards FOR SALE
Time to clear out space in the garage so I can shape up some new ideas
11'3 windSUP $800 SOLD
11'3 windSUP $800 
This 7'8 x 28.5 rocket. 13.5 lbs. $650 SOLD
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Awesome Saturday Morning in Cocoa Beach
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Cocoa Beach Strapless Wave Sailing Today
Side Off wind. Just like home
A few powered moments
Mostly light wind strapless wave sailing
Cocoa Pier
Local, Dave
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Where is Everybody?
More crowded in NC than here
Surfed every morning. Sorry no photos.
Looking for food
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Good Surf, Poor Cameraman
Jacky in Cocoa Beach
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It's good to be back in Florida
The whitecaps vanish when I rig up!
The local crew chillin………this will be us someday
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Wow, Great Waves
Curtis on my 7'8 design on the south shore of Oahu
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These People Get It!
It might be an ugly tail, but it works. It looks like they used a real windsurf rocker. I'd love to measure one and see if I'm correct.
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Never Skunked when Strapless
It works with a paddle
Brian giving it a try
No wind required
It flies on a wave
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4.0 Strapless Wednesday
Jacky trying to get home after getting swatted like a bug by the honking wind
Must be my turn on the 4.0
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5.0 – 5.5 Strapless Sunday
The wind switch flipped on at 1 PM
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Good Surf this Morning
Jacky's on her 7'3 Manatee
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4.5 Strapless Wave Sailing Today
11 AM Jacky on 4.5m
1 PM my turn on the 4.5m 
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Vac Bagging Jacky's Deck Pad
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Getting Closer! Jacky's Strapless Machine
Mast track and FCS handle
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Jacky's Board is Shaped
Strapless Windsurfer
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Your Carolina Cup Winners Here
Jacky stopped by the race and took these. I was busy shaping her new board
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The Best Down-the-Line Surfing Windsurfer EVER
All true, for my local conditions. Blowing 12 mph and getting long, multi-turn down the line wave rides. So many, Jacky had to follow me in the truck. Downwinding on a windsurfer now rivals doing it with a kite and surfboard. For me, it feels better. More like SURFING with sail, and less like KITING with a surfboard. More of a surfing feel in my opinion. Really fun. Disclaimer, this not Hookipa. This is a more fun combination for here. I think it would probably be fun for most places. Not counting the known epic windsurfing places around the world.
The board just flies when a swell rolls up behind you. Unlike a windsurfing SUP, which dogs. Rocker is everything.
134 L Strapless ONLY twin fin windsurfer
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Sorry, everything shot with an iPhone today
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The New Board Curse
The wind keeps trying to kill me. Rigged the 4.5. Way over-powered. Weather stations nearby report gusts to 36. Off shore buoy reporting gusts to 56. I just want a normal day to confirm the board is dialed in perfect, before I shape a second one for Jacky. The board does feel great so far.
On Beach Reading
Off Shore Reading
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Epic Fail
Hit Corncake this afternoon. Blowing sand like I haven't seen in years. Easily 3.7 to 4.2 sailing. Dummy me, shows up with 5m. So mad I haven't been able to connect with the right wind and sail to test this board.
Can't sheet in. The wind is trying to kill me.
I know this is going to be a disaster, but have to try anyway.
Yeah right, no way I can jibe this over-powered.
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Strapless Tonight
The new board continues to exceed expectations.
This board wave-sails, so much better in typical summer conditions, than a true windsurf wave board, or a windSUP. Imagine the typical SW conditions at Corncake. Light on the inside, honking outside. Side off wind. You come smoking in toward the beach. Searching for a wave, find one, and try to surf it. It turns into a lame ride, as the sail power goes away, and the true wave board, bogs like a dog.
This is where this new board kicks ass. It doesn't bog on the inside. The tail floats and flies. I could get on the tail, spin without bogging, flip the sail, sail clew first out of the bottom turn, smack the lip and redirect and the board takes off again. Repeat, again and again. Jibe in light wind right in front of a set, and still not bogging down. Just effortless and fun. So ideal for our summer conditions. This is not Hawaii. I don't need no stinking straps. I don't need a tiny 7'6 windsurf wave board.
I think a lot of industry have been puzzled by the flop of the windSUP. Most thought it would be a big hit. Now most brands have dropped the windsurf option from their SUPs. Well its the rocker folks. Change the rocker to a windsurf rocker and strapless rocks.
FYI, the board is 15.5 lbs without pad.
The twin fins feel so good!
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Strapless Windsurfing Done Right?
That is the question. So far, I think I'm onto something. Windsurfing SUPs are OK, but not really right for windsurfing. Pretty lame actually. So this looks like a SUP, but instead of a SUP rocker, it has a real windsurf rocker. This board flies. It has the get up and go typical of a real windsurfer, while having the width and volume of a SUP. So it jibes and tacks in no wind, like a dream. It goes upwind in a northeaster like a kiter. Look out you kiters. I just made kitesurfing obsolete. haha!
Unfortunately the side-on wind of a northeaster isn't a good test for down the line surfing, so we didn't get a good feel for that.
The wind started out 11-13 mph. So I rigged the 6.9m Ezzy Tiger. Then the wind built to 20-23, so trying to actually surf became impossible. A 5.5m would have been ideal to try. But it was home in the garage. Stoked for an awesome summer of windsurfing strapless in the SW winds of corncake.
134 L 8'9 x 30
Dwight
Unweight, stay attached.
Brian McKenzie trying my board
He made it
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My Deck Pad Design – Vac Bagging it Down
Anybody want to clean my garage 
Notice the toe kicks for strapless windsurfing
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windSURFmachines
Post Cure in the laundry room at 110 degrees
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Windsurf Progress
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The Twins are Here
They look small…….
Hope they work
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Shaping Finished
8'9 134 Liters pure strapless wave sailing
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Putting the SURF back into windsurfing
This is my attempt to change the game for me. Putting some stoke in wind-SURF-ing. This will be a strapless only wave board. Inspired by the CI Fred Rubble. With a true windsurf waveboard rocker, thickness flow, and deck shape. So it won't work for SUP. It's getting MFC twinzer 17cm fins. It will be a flop, or a blast. It's going to be interesting!
Hot wired and waiting to be shaped.
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Almost like Summer
Just board shorts and a top………woohoo 
My 7'4 Manatee 
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Here it is, Jacky's New Board…..Finished
10.75 lbs finished weight. 12 lbs with pad.
7'3 Manatee 102 Liters
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Jacky's board is 11 lbs
Pre-sanded weight shown. It should be 10.5 lbs sanded. Add deck pad and fins, 12.5 lbs is probably a safe final estimate. 
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Jacky's New Wardrobe
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TIGHT
Deck lamination under vacuum
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My Tuesday Morning
The vacuum bag. My vacuum manifold. Lots of breather fabric.
Removed from the bag, release ply still in-place
Release ply getting pulled 
Board flipped and deck ready for lamination tonight
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Jacky's 7'3 Shaped. Spackle Tomorrow
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Jacky's 7'3 Manatee
Windsurfer cut on the top rack. Below that is my final piece of foam. Board TBD.
Jacky's 7'3 Manatee after all hotwire cuts
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FOAM !!!
Next in the shaping room, Jacky's Manatee. Then my strapless windsurfer
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FOR SALE – My personal 7'8 (the original)
The original that started it all. Weight with pad and fins 14.8. Tough as hell. $650 without fins (Firm)
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Real Waves Saturday
Brad
Surf Machine
Jacky
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The new 7'4 ready to surf
Weight Update- After getting some inconsistent weights, I gave in and bought a postal scale and reweighed all my boards.
Weights complete with pad and quad fins installed are:
13.8 lbs 7'4 Manatee 110L "Vacuum Bagged" 2×4oz deck 2×4oz bottom, 1x carbon deck
14.4 lbs 7'8 Jacky Model 90L "table lam, not bagged" 3×4oz deck 2×4oz bottom 2×6oz deck patch
14.8 lbs 7'8 Dwight Model 100L "table lam, not bagged" 3×4oz deck 2×4oz bottom 1×6oz deck patch
15.5 lbs 7'4 Manatee 110L "table lam, not bagged" 2×4oz deck 2×4oz bottom 1x carbon deck
16.5 lbs 8'5 Inlet Runner "table lam, not bagged" 2×4oz deck 2×4oz bottom 1x carbon deck
7'4 Manatee – Vacuum Bagged 
Original Manatee
Only different between the new and old is changing the pointed corners on the tail to round. [Link]
9.5 lb 7'4 Manatee
9.5 lbs is the final laminated weight. Today it gets hot coated. Using calculated poured hot coat weight, this step adds 2.0 lbs. Sanding may remove 0.5 lbs. Finished estimated weight = 11 lbs bare board. With pad and fins 12.5 lbs. After seeing all the guys vacuum bagging custom SUPs in Florida, I was motivated to bag all my boards, not just my wind-SUPs.
Actual Numbers
2-layer 3.6 oz S Aerialite bottom
2-layer 3.6 oz S Aerialite deck + 3.74 oz 1K full carbon coverage under the deck pad.
1.35 lb EPS – stringerless
Volume 110 liters
7'4 Manatee in the vacuum bag
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A New Shape Done
7'4 Manatee with rounded squash tail
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My Spring Project
I'm addicted to being strapless. My own take on this coming this Spring.
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Lady Surf Machine
Jacky surfs the 8'5 Inlet Runner
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Flying Manatee
Jacky wins today. She was a down-the-line rocket on the 7'4 Manatee
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Wind-SUP Paradise
Jacky
First session with our ocean going friends
Second session with our flat water friends
Kelly Park
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Like Summer!
Dwight now wears an orange hat
A big mess out there
If it wasn't for the summer like weather, would I really be out in this mess?
Dave's new 8'8 Cannibal
Mark kiting. Yes, it was windy enough to kite. But who kites anymore? Haha
Jacky on the 8'5. We shared this board today. It was the golden ticket. Loved it.
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Cocoa Beach, Sunday Morning
In the photo below, notice the guy outside with a floaty on his hat. He's maybe 85 years old and surfing a PSH Hull Ripper 8'11 wearing a coat, wetsuit, and booties. There is hope for all of us.
7'4 Manatee
Jacky's addicted to the 8'5 Inlet Runner
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70 Degree Water!
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Home Sweet Home for the week
Our Hotel View
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Spectacular Sunday
Jacky's new favorite board. The 8'5 Inlet Runner. It doubles her wave count and it turns great
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7'4 Manatee in Action
Target Spotted
Target Hit
Surf Machine said its my best board
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7'4 vs 8'5 vs 11'3
How the 3 boards rank in knee high surf.
Stability-
1) 7'4 Manatee
2) 11'3 windSUP
3) 8'5 Inlet Runner
Catching Mush-
1) 11'3 windSUP
2) 7'4 Manatee
3) 8'5 Inlet Runner
Speed-
1) 11'3 windSUP
2) 7'4 Manatee
3) 8'5 Inlet Runner
Most Fun in knee high surf-
1) 11'3 windSUP…….I could surf this board for hours. It just puts a dopey smile on your face
I think the 3 boards fit their design intent. The 8'5 Inlet Runner for moving around the inlet, tracking down quality surf. The 11'3 for turning nothing into endless fun. A must have board for us. The 7'4 Manatee, for turning less-than-epic days at the pier into something a little more spicy. The Manatee is a good choice for someone wanting to go short, without needing the skills required by the 7'8 Dumpster Diver. The 7'8 is still going to be the ruler, when surf is epic.
7'4 Manatee
Jacky
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7'4 Manatee First Surf Test
Easy, super stable, catches everything. Paddles straight. Paddles fast and glides better than expected.
Stupid EASY. Rider weight 204 this morning.
I caught this wave
In front of Linter's Winter pad.
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Saturday, Near the House
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Zo .jpg)
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Brad on his 7'8
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Almost Done
In the water New Years Day
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The 7'4 Manatee
The paper template. Hot wire next.
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Another one in Progress
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Tons of Photos Today
Surf Machine
Dwight
Love the 8'5
Surf Machine
She looks good from the bottom
Brad
Surf Machine
Brad
Surf Machine
Brad
Surf Machine
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8'5 version 2 paddle test
I like it
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The Fin Stash
The tool box can tumble in the bed of my truck and every fin stays in place. 
My demo fin collection. For shaking down my shapes.
Mounted in their new home. Homer's Tool Box from Home Depot. Complete with foam lid and key holder
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Another Inlet Runner Almost Done
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8'5 x 31
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Action shots of the new 8'5
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The 8'5 Inlet Runner
Surfed the inlet today. Sorry no action photos.
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My New 7'8 is FOR SALE
$775 without fins. I'm too heavy for it at 195 lbs. Max weight for this board is 185. 910-297-4567. You must pick up.
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The 8'5 Inlet Runner is shaped
Hot wired and ready for shaping
Hot wired
Shaped and spackle applied
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My New Board
Stability of the new board is less than the original. I call this the Dwight Model Version 2. To compensate for reducing the thickness by 1/4" and shaping the rails ultra thin. (matching a prone fun board rail size), I increased the width by 7/8". I'm a bit surprised the stability is a lot less. About mid way between the Jacky Model and Dwight Model in stability at my current weight of 195 lbs. For Scott, who weighs only 175 lbs, he found the V2 model more stable. The difference being he rides high and dry on the original. Placing his CG too high above the water. You want the deck flush with the water. For how it surfs……sporty! With the tail being 3/4" wider, it actually feels way sportier and feels SMALLER. Much snappier. Going back to the original board, it feels a bit like a caddy. When we get some real waves again, I expect it will take my surfing to another level.
The waves have departed. The new board curse.
Here she is. 7'8 x 30.38 x 4.25 with ultra thin rails.
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Laminating the Bottom
Dennis came by today to watch my methods. Dennis has built some beautiful vacuum bagged bamboo skinned surfboards. After watching me, he said he's never laminating the old way again.
Deck laminated yesterday. Notice the pencil line marking the deck pad location
Wetting the cloth
Rolling it up
Unrolling
Squeegee as you unroll
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Fun Thanksgiving Day
I love glassing more than I love shaping. Probably because of the way I laminate. I'm using white pigment on this one. A brilliant idea I got from Neilson Surfboards.
The wet out table AFTER the cloth has been removed. Look at amount of resin pulled out of the cloth on roll up. Light weight!
Deck with 1st layer on.
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Fin Boxes Set Tonight
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Back in the shaping room
The hot wire template
The new board is shaped. It's a sexy looking one
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Another Fantastic Morning at Jetty Park
Another amazing morning
SUPed all morning, then switched to wind SUP when wind hit 20-25
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As Good as it Gets
Jacky at Jetty Park
Dave, the rookie
James MacLaren of www.16streets.com
Jacky
Jacky…….Surf Machine would have been in the curl
James
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Cocoa Beach Surfing Wednesday
Dave, the rookie. Jacky laughed so hard when she took this photo
Dwight
Dave, the rookie. Jacky took the photos, blame her Dave!
Dave, the rookie
I tried Dave's board. A Neilson with some interesting construction. It has white pigment in the resin. No yellowing and no rail shatter marks. None in the shop rental either.
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Daytona Pier Surfing Tuesday Morning
Jacky
Jacky on her 7'8
Rita
Rita of Mad Dog surf shop on her 8'5 Hokua
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Windsurfing is NOT dead in the Cocoa Beach area
Dwight
Dwight
Jacky with that sinking feeling!
Jacky
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CB Surf Thursday – Forecast was FLAT
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Beware Florida!
Truck overloaded for a road trip. 6 boards on board.
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Time to shape something new
The foam has arrived. Enough for many new boards.
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A 7'8 hits the water in Ventura CA.
Mark's new board made to my design drawings
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New Board in the Planning
Vote for your favorite. 2 votes cast for this one
Leave a comment please
2 votes for this one
Length will be 7'8
We have 1 vote for Option B
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Monday – Hurricane Sandy
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Justin on his 7'8
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More Hurricane Sandy
The boys in Florida have big ones!. This is about what it looked like at our house Saturday around 4pm.
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Hurricane Sandy Swell Friday
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Brad at Oak Island
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Interesting Fin Developments
I'm going to try this. I'm pretty sure I can modify some fin tabs to get the same adjustments. It should be close enough for testing.
Sketchy but Fun
I think you have to be a windsurfer to understand how sketchy a northeaster can be in light wind. We need more windSUPs at the north end. Too good to miss.
After the session. 10-12 at the start. 
Waves, then Wind! A Long Day of Fun
Jacky
Brad and Surf Machine
Brad
Brad
Brad
Jacky
Jacky
Dwight
Love the 6.9 sail
Jacky
More Horsepower
Wind Sports Rule the Day
First up, the kite and my Firewire. Next, my 11'3 wind SUP. The wind SUP was my favorite today.
Dwight
Dwight
Dwight
Dwight
Jacky
Dwight
Dwight
Dwight
Z and Dwight 
Sunday Morning
She loves the board
Out there pretty far 
Wind's UP
Fun at the Inlet
Jacky and Meghan way out there. Inlet was good early, way out there.
The herd is moving closer to shore as the tide comes up.
Jacky
Ian
Ian
Do you know this guy? 
Sail Time
Dear Wave, are you hiding from me?
Fun with longboards at the inlet
Jacky on her new board
Brad
Brian (CB1) on my board
Ian
Brian's dog
Beautiful Waves at #15
Jacky on her new board
Jacky's New Board
Weight before pad and fin = 20.5 lbs. With pad and fin 23.5 lbs. It has a 5 layer deck. 3 carbon patches, plus 2 full layers 4oz S.
11'3 wind SUP machine 
Fun Morning
Surf Machine
Jacky
Scott
Brad 
Jacky's New Board – in Progress
Shot with my new toy below
Doubleheader at Oak Island
Endless rides at the inlet
Long rides. Jacky loves it here. 
The wind kicks in and we add a sail.
The Green Machine is Done
Ready to challenge the north end northeasters 
Bake Time
Baking in the laundry room. Sanding starts Tuesday evening. In the water by the weekend!
Fresh from the Bag
A busy weekend of board building. 
Sunrise at Carolina Beach Inlet Today
wind SUP the south end
The 11'3 windsurfs great. Faster at all times and just wants to get up and go 
Jacky on a 5.5m
Dwight on a 6.3m
Z
Jacky's head dip
Everybody wants to sail the blue board 
Fun with the new board
Z surfing my new board
Z likes my new board a lot.
Jacky trying the new board 
My real cost to build an 11'3 wind-SUP
blank $293 epoxy 2 gallons $148 S cloth 20 yards $160 carbon tape 24 ft $36 carbon sheet 3 yd $90 fin box $15 mast track $15 handle $15 divinycell $30 vent $25 deck pad $100 fin $90 micro-balloons $25 squeegees $12 tape $10 sandpaper $20 mix cups $20 stir sticks $6 pad glue $12 pad spreaders $5 paint brushes $6 tyvek suits $22 plastic sheeting $30 plastic gloves $6 disposable scissors $10 pigment $6 Total $1,207
These prices include freight, UPS, FedEx, and Taxes. 
Jacky's board For Sale
Jacky's board for sale here
The 10'6 on the right 
The new board surfs GREAT
I surfed my new 11'3 in a light on shore wind with some chest high sets coming through this afternoon. The boards surfs great. The rocker has the same total lift, nose and tail, as my Amundson, but the way my rocker "curves" is very different. My rocker does what I like in a board. I'm stoked. Now I just need some wind so I can windsurf it.
The photo shows a deck pad feature I created. A very long arch bump placed for windsurfing foot support. I wanted to stay with the strapless theme. It turns out this arch bump is awesome surfing. It falls under my front foot surfing a wave. It definitely helps with board control surfing.
Mast track, handle, and a long arch bump located for windsurfing 
My New 11'3 wind SUP Board is Done
I started sanding at 7am this morning. Finished and surfing in front of the house at 3pm. Exhausted! The rocker is performing exactly like I expected. The stability is better than the Amundson. Now I just need to test it with a sail.
The weight is a disappointment at 27 lbs with pad and big fin. These 1.5# Marko blanks are heavy. The bare 12 foot blank weighed 17.5 lbs before I shaped it. After shaping it was 8 lbs. The board has a full triple layer S top, plus 2 layers carbon under the pad, plus full length carbon tape top and bottom. I wanted it to survive windsurfing a northeaster. For Jacky's board I'll have to drop a layer of S glass to get the weight down. I may end up shaping 3 boards and keeping the 2 lightest ones and selling the other one. BTW, I'm still working on ideas for dealing with the ragged edges of the carbon tape on the next one. I've seen some big name brands leave the ragged edges. There has to be a better way to use this tape.
Tight Fit
The 11'3 was a tight fit in my board baking room! 
Igor's Daughter Sydney and her Friend Erin
Sydney and Erin
The bag is sucking hard.
11'3 windSUP in production. 
More 7'8s
Ian Smith's new 7'8 below. Dave Cavanaugh also picked up his 7'8 today (no photo). So many 7'8s now it's hard to keep track of them all. I think, the Greenroom is somewhere north of 10 7'8s built now.
Follow Surf Machine in Costa Rica
Follow Butch, Brian, and Justin in Costa Rica over at Brian's blog here
Brian on his 7'8 in Costa Rica now 
My Life Last Week
Food supplied at the factory.
Pollo Enchiladas
Real Gorditas
Dangerous job for these guys
My Lunch, the day I got sick. Driving and vomiting all the way from the plant to the hotel 
My Mexican Adventure
Photos of:
A day at work
An off day at the beach. No surfboards! Bummer
The meal that made me sick. From a high end restaurant.
Erik's 7'8 from Holland is Done
Amazing job for his first board build. This is the board shaped in his house! Remember those amazing photos of Erik's room all sheeted up in plastic I posted earlier!
Hi Dwight, First of all, thanks by making this possible. Putting those drawings on the web was the coolest thing to do. It made me venture into the world of lines and shaping once again. In a modern way. With the best result yet. Thanks for the tips and the advice, that really helped a lot. I finished the board just yesterday evening by cutting up a deckpad, half of it anyway, and sticking my "bag-o-pads" traction on the deck. Turned out pretty cool I think. It should give killer traction. I got the fins from Australia, they were sold out all over Europe. They were pretty quick though, like 5 workdays. Pete Casica contacted me on Swaylock's and I bought five plugs from him. Really nice and helpful, great. The final sand was hard as ever and on some spots I hit the glass slightly, especially the rails. But I don't want to put more epoxy on and sand again… Maybe I will anyway. I had a custom bag made by a Dutch guy (Patrick at supsurfing.nl) and it came out great for 150 euros. Nice bag. It has been a great journey so far with magical moments and hard work the like. I'm still learning. Here's a couple of pics, hope you enjoy them as much as I was taking them . I can't wait for some swell to arrive so I can surf it! Mahalo Erik
Guess where I am
Good Wind SUP Conditions Today
Shaped
Wind SUP blanks are here
Bonus Photos
Taken with the waterproof camera today 
More Time Travel
Today from Taughannock Falls State Park on Cayuga Lake. Soooo Fun! 
We entered a Time Machine Today
We returned to the birthplace of windsurfing for us. Myers Point on Cayuga Lake near Ithaca NY. Back in 1980 this beach would have been lined with 20 Windsurfer One Designs. It was amazing to see a mint condition Wayler windsurfer on the water from that era. 
Some Topsail Island wind SUP today
Chuck on his Kona and 7.5
Jacky's new friend 
The Wind Keeps Blowing
Nukin Again
The fastest I've ever gone on the 11'3 today. On the verge of catapulting.
Who needs straps!
Nuclear Wind SUP
Jacky on a 4.5 at the North End of CB
Dwight's turn on the 4.5 sail
Getting Serious
I bought a full roll of 4 oz S cloth from the Greenroom today. 
Fun Wind SUP Sunday
The NO harness session. Wind so light I never hooked in. Stayed upwind easy.
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Z grounds the lawn mover
Z loves high performance……. 
11'3 wind SUP 
Zs lawn mower, getting no love 
No Crowds Here!
Fort Fisher Recreation Area 
Just us…..
Wind-SUP Sunday
A kiter, a Hobie, and Jacky
Made me smile
12'6 SUP 34 knots no straps 
Beach Party
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Our parking spot came with a DJ and beach party
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Some fun surfing by paddle and sail today 
Hunter's GoPro Shots from CB Pier
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Hunter's new 7'8
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With HILife decal picked up during his Hawaiian vacation
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The Waves Have Returned!
All Jacky
Video from the Inlet this Morning
Beautiful Day for Wind-SUP
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High Wind-SUP 20-25 SW
Wind-SUP in the evening and Surf-SUP at sunrise
Fun Day
Wind-SUP and Kiting the North End Today
Hunter's New 7'8
The Jacky Size 
North End Wind-SUPing Tonight
SORRY to all those that posted comments or questions and never received answers. I found 6 comments stuck in a blogger black hole. No idea why so many comments didn't post. You can always email your questions. Just look at my profile for contact info. 
BAM
Erik's 7'8 in Holland
Erik is shaping this board in his house! Amazing job. Excellent symmetry. The shape looks like a pro did it, not a first timer! Very impressive job.
Finish shaped
Rail bands done. Ready for scrubbing round. 
SUP and Sail Weekend
FOR SALE – Naish 7'3 Hokua – $799
Contact Hunter: hcbrown1-at-gmail.com
Like NEW condition
Jacky SUPs her longboard
Wind-SUPing CB Inlet Tonight
7'8 Jacky Model in Holland
Erik's 7'8 fresh off the hot-wire in Holland 
Silly Fun at the Inlet Today
One endless ride
Oak Island Goes Off Today
Another Photo from Oahu
Curtis on his 7'8. 
Another 7'8 ready to surf
Brian picked up his new 7'8 at the Greenroom today
Update from Oahu
Curtis on his 7'8. It has become his go to board for all conditions. 
WINDY Masonboro Morning
It Sails!
It sails well. 11'3 SUP with 6.3 sail
Playing at CB Inlet
11'3 and 10'6
Finally, the Perfect Quiver
After surfing nothing but a 7'8 the last 18 months, no other board seemed fun anymore. Our 9'0 collect dust. We finally sold it. 9'5's didn't cut it either. Then we bought this 11'3 to windsurf. But, as usual, when you buy new windsurf gear the wind doesn't cooperate. So we SUPed this monster at the inlet. It was crazy fun. We felt silly and were grinning like fools out there. So much fun. I think we found the perfect quiver.
11'3 and 7'8 
Our Downwind Raceboards are FOR SALE cheap – one sold, one left
$895 each. The fastest boards I've done. Long glides. 
Beautiful Day for Windsurfing
A big thanks to Igor today. He loaned us his two Mistral windsurfing SUPs. Wind was 10 mph. So much fun. I'm thinking it might be time to put the downwind race SUPs on Craig's List and get a couple of old school longboard SUP/windsurfers. No point in having beautiful weather and not be able to get in the ocean. With no waves, and light wind, we're stuck on land with our current gear. That's not acceptable anymore.
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Caught it
Jacky
The boards hang off the back of the truck a lot, but it works.
The simple things are fun again. A tack!
Action Sports Doubleheader. (SUP morning, Kite afternoon)
Dwight
Dwight
Jacky 
7'8 in Oahu
Curtis, yesterday in Waikiki 
6.2 ft @ 7 sec Awesome Day
Surf Machine on his 7'8 Jacky Model
Dwight. Many close calls with the pilings today for everyone
My best photo of Z today
Z
KaBoom…..right over the pilings
Z
Surf Machine heading for the pilings
Dwight, aborting ride to avoid pilings. I still got sucked into them after I went down.
Heavy…..Surf Machine
Surf Machine
Dwight
Surf Machine
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Newbie on Jacky's 7'8
Scott Burnside tried my board and Jacky's board this morning. He liked Jacky's board more, even though it was twice as hard to stand on. Scott has only SUPed 3 days in his life. The last time was 2 years ago. Pretty amazing to see a 170 lb guy with no SUP skill do this! Scott's a shortboarder. We've been trying for a long time to bring him to the dark side. Scott thought the board was fast.
Scott on Jacky's board – all photos of the same wave
Pumping the inside
the new 7'8 on the rack at the Greenroom
The Dwight model with custom paint – for showroom stock 
Strong Wind, Fun Kiting
I took the straps off my surfboard today and left them home.
Lots of crashing today as I try to make the switch to strapless
Scott is making the transition to no hands kiting! 
Only the Bad Today
Jacky
Jacky
Z
Z 
What it's like to downsize from 9'3 to 7'8
Curtis (~200 lbs) is surfing my 7'8 Design in Oahu. Below are some of his comments to me (spanning 9 days) as he makes the courageous drop in board size from 9'3 to 7'8 all at once.
—————I used the board on Wed and Thurs and I got such a great work out, I was spent the whole day and thirsty as hell. I had to use all of my resources to work this board, it reminds me of when I first got on a SUBoard, Kooking out!
…..it is stable too. It rides like a short board, you got to pump it down the line. When I hit certain sections of the wave the board just takes off. I want to try it on a nice head high wave.
I had all weekend to think about how I was going to adjust to make my life easier in the break since I didnt get wet at all on Sat or Sun. This morning was nice, paddled out in the line up as the morning sky started to rid of its darkness, my friend and I were met with a empty line up with shoulder to head high glassy sets rolling in. the board works great, a real short board feel. I was using a SF4 quad set that came with the board, my friend let me borrow his K2.1 quad set, I will try it tomorrow. I didnt want to use the K2's until I figured out the wave catching part. I pretty much got it down now, I really get a good work out and am all sore now but, it is a good kind of sore.
One problem I had was my nose going under water while standing, now I understand why, also my nose digging in while I am catching the wave.
I used the board Mon – Thurs, each day wave catching got easier. The biggest problem is still front to back rocking instead of side to side tippyness, I guess I am leaning forward, that's why. I will prep my new longer paddle and use it next week. ……..my whole body is sore from using the shorter SUB, I lost 2 lbs too.
I love the board, everybody is eyeing it up. Nobody has anything close to this. I already had a offer to buy it. My friend thought there is no way in hell that I would be able to ride that, to be honest, I had my doubts too. Everybody wants to try it, but they are afraid to ask. Once I get it dialed in, I will share the fun. Jay Richardson did a great job building this board, it is light weight and solid. I really like the xTrak pads too.—————–
Curtis is now trying to make the transition away from a short (6" over) paddle for surf. We all thought super short paddles were the hot shit for wave ripping back in the day. With the progression of paddle technique through racing, we know better today. An efficient paddle length, closer to what we race with, will get you into more waves. Ditch digging is so yesterday. As a bonus, standing more upright, improves balance when standing outside waiting on waves. It also keeps your board trimmed properly. On short SUPs, there is no margin for error in trim lengthwise. Just bending at the waist, like a ditch digger, throws your C.G. forward several inches and instantly screws your board trim. 8" over is the new 6". Some are even doing 10" over on these 7'8s and catching anything and everything. Curtis's experience is pretty typical. Once you adjust to the board length, it becomes so easy and fun. The stability is already there via the width. 
Curtis's 7'8
Glassy Clean Fun this Morning
Surf Machine – the setup
the payoff
Surf Machine is human!
Bam!
CB1 (the other Brian) demos my board
CB1's best imitation of Surf Machine
Welcome back from rotator cuff surgery 
My Board Design in Oahu
Curtis in his 7'8 at Waikiki 
Fun Surf Today
East coast surf isn't half bad. I had a fun, dropping into some big steep bombs early this morning. I never really found any steep drops in California. Maybe next trip.
Jacky 
Back in the land of 6 sec tiny waves
Surf Machine
Jacky 
Made in Oahu Reproduction
Curtis in Oahu had my design reproduced
7'8 x 30
How we Traveled
We flew Southwest to San Diego. They charge $50 each way for SUPs. Hassle free and no damage. Near impossible to damage when the board is wrapped in a near hard case of foam, then slipped into our board bags. Here are photos of the foam case. It's split at the middle. This makes it easy to remove the board at the hotel, then repack for the trip back home. No need to rewrap or re-tape anything. Total cost of foam about $30.
I created a split hard case using sheet foam from Lowes and foam tubes from Wings
Slide this half over the board tail
Slide this half over the board nose. Then slide it into the board bag. 
Pipe, Swamis, and Beacons
Swamis around 3pm. Much bigger earlier today
Jacky's last wave of the day. Getting small. Between Pipe and Swamis
Beacons about 4 pm. Getting windy by then. 
Fun in Encinitas Today
Today we met our old friend Brendan, a life long surfer who grew up in Southern California. His dad was a lifeguard at Swamis in the 50s, surfing redwood boards back in the day. We know Brendan from the few years he lived in North Carolina, windsurfing and kite surfing Carolina Beach. All the old wind crew know Brendan. It was great to see him again.
Brendan making fun of us Jacky made him do it
Brendan showing us the best place for lunch
Brendan showing us the best places to surf
Looking down the cliff
Reef break
Brendan's favorite break, near his house too!
At the bottom of the stairs. Jacky testing her Surf-Fur coat.
The entrance to his home spot. 
Road Trip Today
Large crew of kite surfers out today in horrible weather. They must be desperate for wind, compared to the spoiled NC kiters.
Jacky scored this sick after surf / kiting coat by Surf-Fur 
Cardiff Reef Today
We surfed Tourmaline this morning. It was small, and strangely crowded. So we made a run to the Wahoo Taco Shop, then drove up the coast. We discovered Cardiff Reef looking fun with only 3 people out! Tip, watch out for the $71.00 parking ticket. The ticket booth was closed. In Florida, that means free access. In California, it means you're bait for the parking police.
Dwight
Another Terrific Day of Surfing San Diego
Jacky 
All the following are one wave ride
This wave was typical of most waves today
Jacky Surfing Tourmaline St San Diego
It takes a brave woman to turn and paddle into that
Here she goes……
Should I keep paddling?
Maybe not a good idea after all!
Lets try a smaller one
Oh yeah
End of the ride
Bam!
Another biggie aborted
In San Diego Now
Kitersurfers means bad news. WIND……boo
Tourmaline Street
Surf Trip
Check back Tuesday for the first photos from our trip 
Enhanced Weekend Bonus Photos
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Best Surf in Weeks! Woohoo
Brad
Surf Machine
Brad
Fearless Todd
Jacky gives right of way to the dolphin
Surf Machine
Surf Machine
Where's that barrel?
Brad
Surf Machine
Looking for that barrel again
Jacky
Brad
Surf Machine
Come on…………… cover me!
So close!
Surprise Surf this Morning
Saturday Morning Surf Session
Surf Machine
Jacky
Surf Machine
Jacky
Jacky 
Steve's First Session on his Dumpster Diver UK Edition
http://www.csx355.blogspot.com/2012/02/hot-january-cold-february-dws-710.html
Steve has fun sense of humor. Especially with his imaginary conversation with me! 
Hunter's at the Sunset Pro Right Now
Sent from his phone
Fun Surf Today
Brad
Jacky
Jacky falling off a cliff
Boom!
Jacky Surfing Oak Island Today
Bonus Vacation Photos
Jacky at Ponce
Daytona (Ponce Inlet)
Wave Jet
Jacky at New Smyrna
Jacky at New Smyrna 
Daytona Beach Today
Side off winds in Daytona made it the place today
Jacky Charging New Smyrna Inlet
Jacky
Jacky
Jacky
Jacky
Jacky
Jacky
Capt Ron
Jacky
Awesome Day! 
Jacky Surfing Ponce Inlet
Ponce Inlet is Daytona Beach Florida for those non east coaster's.
Jacky
Jacky
Wave Jet people were doing demos and photo shoot.
Beautiful Day of Kitesurfing
We kitesurfed Cherrie Downs Park today. Sorry about the lack of photos. By the time I grabbed the camera, everyone was done kiting.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad 
Tiny Surf in Florida
Surfed New Smyrna today after the surf contest ended. Bummer they had to compete in knee high surf.
Then headed over to Steve's shop/warehouse to pick up 3 board bags for 7'8 supSURFmachines. We are in the ideal size range for windsurf bags at 7'8. These have the right space for padding up for our fly away surf trip in March.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad 
Z's board ready to go!
There is a fire sale of boards made obsolete by these customs. If you know someone looking for deal, here is the list of boards. Contact me and I'll put you in contact with the owners.
1) 9'2 PSH WR
2) 8'6 PSH WR (several)
3) 8'0 PSH R
4) 9'2 C4 custom sub vector
5) 7'8 Naish Hokua (like new)
7'8 x 29.5 x 4.5 
Surf Update
I just received a text from Surf Machine. The new board surfs exactly like the original. Kudos to the Greenroom for nailing it! 
We Padded Surf Machine's Board Tonight
It looks awesome 
The Greenroom Reproductions are Here
If you want one too, it's as simple as calling David at the Greenroom and ordering the Dwight size or Jacky size. The price is $885 plus the shipping cost on the blank. The Greenroom number is 910-799-2772.
Z's board
Surf Machine's Board (H. Bones is his daughters name)
Slide Show of Surf Machine
No surf this weekend, so I threw together this slide show from some shots about a month ago of Brian surfing my 7'8 x 29.5 board 
Steve's UK made Dumpster Diver
Head over to Steve's blog to see more of his UK made Dumpster Diver http://www.csx355.blogspot.com/2011/12/custom-nc-dumpster-almost.html
Jacky rips the pier for Christmas
3 shot sequence
She likes it
Santa brought Jacky a KeNalu paddle with flex 60 shaft
The following all from the same wave
The next wave sequence
It's not over yet
My big boy 7'10 completed in the UK
Head over to Steve's blog in the UK to read all about it HERE
Greenroom Progress Day 2
Surf Machine's board 95% shaped
The Greenroom Copies of my Shape in Production
Rough blank and Jacky's board side by side
Rough cut blank
Jacky's board at the factory to help with duplication
Surf Machine and Hendrick (the shaper) 
7'10 big boy Surf Machine FOR SALE
The original board is for sale. This one is too big for me. It needs someone in the 200-220 lb range.
Giving it away for $400. Available for demo. 14 lbs,
SOLD
CAD drawings for the Jacky and Dwight model 7'8s
The Dwight size is good for up to 200 lbs. The Jacky size is good up to 175 lbs.
Posted here in case any back yard builders want to try one, or anyone wants to take one to their local shaper to start a dialog. There are already 2 readers of this blog, in other parts of the world, getting them made. You can read about Steve's adventure in getting one made in the UK here.
I have no finanical interest in this. I only make them for the wife and I. The Greenroom has offered to duplicate them for the local guys.
Surf Machine Surfs Jacky's Board for the First Time
Brian (177 lbs) loves it. No changes. The Greenroom will be making a copy of the "Jacky" model for him. Z is getting a copy of the "Dwight" model done by the Greenroom.
7'8 x 28.5 x 4
Jacky the Surf Machine at Ponce Inlet
The following shots are all the same wave
Multiple turns down the line for Jacky
Looking the other way. Wall to wall prone guys 
Rocket to Mars
A big crowd watches the launch
Jacky today
Update from Florida
Longboard House adds Paddleboard House next door
How they teach windsurfing now
Jacky
The gangs all here
Inside the Paddleboard House 
Jacky at Satellite Beach Florida
She loves the speed
"that is the most fun SUP I have ever surfed" – Brad Jones
My opinions so far, a short board bottom (no V) requires more toe pressure to lean into a turn, but the reward is crazy amounts of explosive power and speed. With a V bottom you can roll into a turn without much effort, but then the speed is gone on exit, with pumping your ass off to recover the lost speed. We just don't have many days with power in our wind driven waves. This short board bottom changes everything. Not only do you explode off the bottom, but you rip the inside wave remnants most boards just coast and cruise on.
Brad said the board rewards those who know how to surf. Translation "surf the tail" and you shall terrorize the waves.
Jacky did surf her board today! I just didn't get any great photos.
Brad on the wider, thicker one (mine)
Brad on the thinner narrower one (Jacky's)
7'8 x 28.5 x 4 
Jacky's Lean Mean Surfing Machine
This baby has thin rails 
First Look, Jacky's Board (7'8 x 28.5)
My 100 degree post cure room. Sanding it Saturday morning, 
Hot Coat Done. Post Curing Tonight
Jacky picks blue for her board
The 7'3 Hokua's new owners Jace and Amy
Click here to see the new owners of Jacky's 7'3 
Jacky's Board is Shaped
7'3 Naish Hokua FOR SALE $599 firm
SOLD
Priced dirt cheap because of limited customer pool of light people. under (150 lbs) 
Surf Machine demos my 7'8 shape
He lands it
He wants one! 
Jacky's board got hot wired tonight
1/2" thinner and 1" narrower than my 7'8. Same length 
Jacky Surfs the New 7'8 at Oak Island
Wind Junkies Swarm the North End
4m sails and 7, 8, 9m kites
Windy walk of shame
Large crew turned out today 
7'8 Naish Hokua FOR SALE $799 Firm
SOLD
Flawless, with improved deck pad and McKee quads 
Future and Present Design Details
The new Sharp Eye in the planning stages (dimension visibility off)
The Sharp Eye with dimensions
The Sharp Eye traced. This design is for my buddy, not me!
My current 7'8 Dumpster Diver thickness and rocker
The 7'8 Dumpster Diver
7'8 Dumpster Diver dimensions
The Channel Islands Dumpster Diver traced
My rail shape and deck flat zone at the mid point 
The new board gets WET
We went down to Oak Island to escape the wind and test the new board's float, stability and paddling. So far, it's awesome!
Options forming…..
1) When a board is 6 lbs lighter, it accelerates so fast with each stroke, it takes half the effort to catch a wave. The old Naish feels like I'm pulling a tanker with my paddle blade.
2) Lighter boards float better. The new board is 3 liters less, but still floats me better.
3) The balanced template (wide point in the middle) paddles straighter.
4) The new board is so easy and stable (30% more stable than the Naish) that it just made the old 7'10 Dumpster Diver obsolete.
5) SUP may never be the same again! Woohoo.
Floats just right……..
Only with a 14.5 lb board can you get excited over 6" surf
Comparing the Naish stability. It feels like the bottom is round.
The NEW 7'8 Dumpster Diver is Done!
2 layers 4oz S bottom, 3 full layers 4oz S deck, plus 6oz E under deck pad. Finished weight with deck pad 14.5 lbs. Designed 3 liters less than my 7'8 Naish. 11 liters less than my 7'10 Dumpster Diver.
Photo by Jacky with her new iPhone 4S 
Post Curing the New Board
Baking in the laundry room at 100 degrees
Shaped my 7'8 x 29.5 Dumpster Diver today
Capt Ron's new paddles
Ron’s web site
fresh from his new mold
How I designed my 7'10
There are 2 basic rocker types used in surfboards. The red markings show accelerating curve type rocker. I know Angulo uses this type
This shows the constant curve type rocker. This is the fastest type. The 7'8 Hokua rocker is shown here. 
The 7'8 Hokua template (image hidden)
An image of the Hokua is inserted into my CAD file to confirm the measurements taken in my garage. Perfect match.
The 7'10 template I built
The 7'10 template traced from a Dumpster Diver image. 
Another Blank in the House
Can't wait to shape more! 
7'10 Surfing Tonight at the House
The surf is crap, but I'm putting my time in learning the new board. Jacky thinks I look better surfing it. To me, I just feel weird. Such a different feel after being on a fish template the last 11 months.
Volume Check Photo
Floatation Look
Fin out
That was easier! 
The 7'10 finished photos – Updated
Finally a photo that isn't washed out by all the white 
Build Update
1) hot coat sanded
2) pin holes filled
3) handle installed
4) finished weight 13 lbs without pad and fins
7′8 Hokua weighs 20.5 lbs
Yikes 7.5 lbs lighter than the Naish! 
7'10 Sneak Peak
Check back this weekend for the finished board 
Glassing my 7'10 now
1st layer of 4oz S glass is down 
Andy's new 2012 7'8 Hokua
Andy got one without shipping damage! 
Bombs Away!
Bombs Away pretty much describes the surf this morning
All photos are Brad on one wave. That's all I took. Too cold to sit and take photos. Burrr!
Shaped and ready for spackle tomorrow
So much easier than shaping a 14 footer!
Shaping my 7'10 has started
It feels very odd shaping something so tiny compared to all my 14 footers. The foam is tough as nails compared to the cheap-o light foam used in race boards. 
Rocker and template hot wired today 
Shaping a New Board
7′10x 30 C.I. Dumpster Diver shaped by DW coming soon 
My first real SUP blank. High quality foam. 1.5-lb stringerless. This will be my 10th board built. 
Enjoy!
Notice the clown at 2:07 with a leash. I'm shocked. For those that don't kite, leashes kill kite surfers. We never ever wear leashes. 
A look at Kelly Slater's quad placement guy, Bruce McKee
MCKEE’s look in detail at the NITTY GRITTY of quad fin technicalities. How quads work & How quads differ from thrusters Quads give more drive, speed, security, climb the foam better, let you drop in and drive without nursing the bottom turn. They can drive everywhere with a greater boost than a thruster so sometimes you must adjust your technique to cater for this new boost of energy. By knowing how to fine tune them they can be adjusted to perform in practically any way you desire. Quads are faster due to having all fins driving through turns, or even just running across a wave face. All fins are propelling the board forward much like sails or propeller blades. This is because a board in these situations, is in a constant lateral drift and the water passing under the board, divides between the fins to pass out both sides of the tail while redirecting off the fins, rearward, to form thrust. The back fin of a thruster generally sits in the dividing line of this displaced water so provides no added speed but gives direction and control with a dragging effect. Depending on your fin positioning or ‘cluster’, your quad can be as pivotal as you want. The goal is, though, to select a fin positioning formula that provides a balance of looseness, drive and security, a happy medium you might say. Like cars, you can have a long wheel-base or a short wheel-base, or something in the middle. It’s the same with fin positioning on surfboards. The McKee Multisystem formula is a good choice for that ‘happy medium’. Comparing quad fins to car wheels is a simplified way of imagining the corresponding affects of changing fins. Big stiff fins= Big grippy tyres. Flexy fins= Soft low air tyres. Thus big stiff wheels on the front plus Soft or small low air tyres on the back gives a car with a lot of oversteer. Bigger rear tyres than front = like a formula one race car. Pivot can also be adjusted depending on your fin selection. Rear double-foiled fins, compared to flat-faced fins of the same size, will pivot more. Larger proportioned front fins than rear fins will also pivot more. Fins that have less rake are more pivotal. The fins should be balanced around what is called the ‘sweet spot’. The sweet spot is generally the position of the back foot when performing a cutback or top turn. Boards will ‘over-steer’,’ under-steer’, or feel neutral depending on all these factors of rake, size and foil and how they relate to the location of the ‘sweet spot’. The sweet spot is determined by the tail area, plan-shape and length of the board. If one side of the board has different fins to the other side, it will be like two different boards when turning right or left. Asymmetric mixes are another way to ultra fine tuning a board for point break conditions. Control Control comes from the correct choice of fins for the surf conditions. Depending on the type of board and size of the wave, a different turning arc and amount of hold are needed. Quads with the correct fin choice have much more hold than ‘Thrusters’. The worry of the Thruster’s central tail fin leaving the water is eliminated with a quad. No more ’nursing’ the turn.DragToo much toe-in of the fins can create a quick accelerating, loose but ultimately draggy board as the fins start to wedge-up at high speeds. Increased Vee will reduce the effect as it ‘feeds’ the fins. Low speeds More ‘toe in’ as with three-fins and twin -fins loosens up boards for small waves and low speeds. This is generally determined as the shaper’s choice. Choosing a quad Different shapes for different waves: My shapes for quads are exactly the same as I would shape for three fins, though obviously for those wide tailed fish or with any wide tailed board, if you want them to hang-in in bigger waves, then a quad setup is the best choice. VEE tails do ‘feed’ a quad’s two back fins by dividing the water between the fins thus reducing the possibility of a wedging effect, though with the correct ‘toe-in’ angle this should not be a problem when a concave tail is required. Quad fin selection The mentality that quads are for small waves and three fins are for power waves is still promoted by some die-hards. I would suggest that they actually try a quad in power waves and thus this incorrect fallacy would be instantly extinguished The addition of an extra fin on the tail will obviously add to the total fin surface area thus providing more hold. The addition of the fourth fin leads many to reduce the size of the back fins in relation to what would have been used if the board were a thruster. A heavy back-footed surfer will relish in the extra hold of an extra back fin of equal size to that out of their thruster set. This requires a new full-powered approach to surfing and the only limit will be your own leg strength and talent. ‘Front-foot’ surfers or those needing a less demanding effort to turn will benefit from reduced size back fins of double foil and or all fins of reduced size.Fin placement & rear fin choice? In the past l have placed fins in hundreds of different positions all over the tail. For the ‘M4Quattro’ purist, the ‘Mckee M5 Multisystem’ is just a security blanket or like training wheels because for them the ‘Thruster’s’ central fin is obsolete. The quad cluster can be moved forward to loosen up a board and for shapers of custom boards, many compensations can be made for weaker riders or for special needs such as looser guns but with the advantage of not losing drive. Although taken off the current formula there is the shapers option to move the cluster at any amount not exceeding the stupidity level. I personally had great results on pintails by moving the positions forward up to 2cm or ¾” forward. The videos of Tom Carroll in Hawaii are examples of the result of these positions — The variations are limitless!With the rear fin positions, the closer they get to the rails the more hold, yet the greater the time delay in re-centering the board in preparation for the next turn. You also produce a greater ‘twin-fin’ effect, with the board feeling like it is staying on one tack, needing you to throw it across between turns. Also you increase the risk of ‘rail-grabbing’. There is a correct distance between the back fins correlated to the tail width at 12” up. Fins close to the rail mean that they have to be reduced in size or toed-in more than fins placed closer to the stringer. There is a happy medium that provides a ‘thruster-like’ re-centering with the correct amount of drive. This also allows for the use of larger rear fins, still providing looseness but without having any rail grab to worry about. Choice of rear fin should be determined by your weight, power, wave size and type of board, say shortboard or gun. Guns and boards for waves with push, generally need more control than drive and a more forgiving lateral movement when riding forward on the board, so double foiled back fins are my choice here. Fish and guns over 6’8” generally gave a greater difference in size between the front and rear fins. Shortboards under 6’8” for power waves can have fins of a closer size depending on the looseness required. The further forward they are on the board The looser and more pivotal a board will become. Overdoing it, and you enter into a situation of over-steer. You are moving the fin positions forward of the ‘sweet-spot’ so the board can become unbalanced.On guns and long-boards, this is can be an added benefit. If you forget about the ‘Multisystem’ concept (the option of a central ‘Thruster’ tail fin), the cluster can be moved forward to leave those guns and longboards as loose as you like without the worry, as in three fins, of the tail fins leaving the water. I recommend a maximum of an extra 2cm further forward on the McKee formula so as to not get too crazy. On shortboards big movements forward are not so advisable as there is not as much nose length and weight to counterbalance the oversteer…Though if you like 360s..
If you use the McKee Quattro & Multisystem formula the size ratio between the front and back fins can become a lot closer, even to the point where a strong surfer in power waves may choose to have bigger back fins than front for full directional drive. Distance from the tail and the location of the cluster in relation to the sweet spot will be a determining factor on choice of front and rear fin size correct for your weight and ability. Tuning your quad fin setup to work best for you. Is the tail sliding too easily? Go with a larger rear fin setIs the tail too tight? Go with a slightly smaller rear fin setIs the board lacking drive? Go with slightly larger front fins. Is the board too hard to turn? Go with slightly smaller front fins and rear fins. Does the board feel out of control? Try a rear fin with a symmetrical or 80/20 foilWanting drive off the bottom and loose of the top? Place a flatter foil or bigger rear fin for the bottom turn side and a smaller double foiled rear fin on the off the top side.. note that this will also be the cutback side so study your choices.
Well have fun and I look forward to some feedback! McKee.
All my experience up until just recently had been with edge quads, not McKee. I'm liking McKee better at the moment. A lot more drive and still I can tune it loose.
Dwight
Saturday Morning Zippers
Brad on his 8'0 PSH Ripper
Brian on his 8'0 PSH WR
Brad
Brian
Jacky on her fresh set of McKee quads
Jacky made the turn and rode it out!
Jacky was fast today
Having Fun with Jacky's 7'3
This is the 5th board I've quaded. I'm getting efficient. I love doing them. Look close and you can see the divinycell block the stock Naish fins were set in.
Looks asymmetric, but it's not. Factory boxes are off. Typical of many boards.
Lazy man vacuum bagging glass over step
7'3 finished and looking perfect 
Jacky Thursday Morning
A really fun morning. It got better as the tide went up. I had one dream wave almost in the pit. The lip was licking the side of my head. Fast and fun wave!
7am
Sunrise Surf was Good Wednesday
Jacky shot these. My first wave of the morning.
I love the speed of this thing.
Waves Every Morning
Brian
Butch
Dwight
Dwight
Dwight
Jacky
Jacky
Hunter
Butch
Brian
Brian 
The Waves are Still Good!
Thin crowd this morning
Like a Dream – Hurricane Swell this Morning
Surf Machine Drooling
Having Fun with Quads Again
Ready for a long winded tale about quads?
There are 2 quad standards in the surf industry. Edge quad (Stretch) and McKee. Shapers often tweak these standards to suit their own styles, but in general terms, these are about as close to a standard as you're ever going to get in surfing.
Companies doing Edge quads: Stretch, PSH, C4.
Companies doing McKee quads: Channel Islands, Rusty, Naish
My Naish came with the rear fin locations tweaked from the published standard for McKee. The board never quite felt as good quad as it did thruster, so I decided to move the rear fin boxes to match McKee specs exactly. Presto, the board now rocks quad and thruster. I can have fun with both.
The day after I performed the fin box surgery on my 7'8, I get this tweet from FCS telling me Kelly Slater had just won Teahupoo on a McKee quad. Kelly actually gave props to McKee for the fin placement. That made me feel a little better about the surgery I had just performed on my board!
If you're wondering what the difference between the 2 systems is all about, the more you move the fins from the rail and toward the middle, the more you pick up some of the benefits of thruster, while still holding onto some of the advantages of quad.
Slater's quiver with quads located per McKee specs 
The red dots indicate the factory fin box location 
Freshly re-quaded to McKee specs
On the beach this morning
I like it! 
Kitesurfing Hurricane Irene at Bald Head Friday
Too much fun for photos
Sorry, only took 6 photos today. This was the only decent shot. Way too good to be wasting time shooting. Last evening and this morning were like a dream. You should have seen Jacky. I've never seen her surf so good. The new tail pad bump is helping a lot.
Jacky on her 7'3 
The Morning after Hurricane Irene
We lost power at 2:30 am. It came back on at 8:30 this morning. Wave size already down to chest to head high due to off shore winds in the 30-50 range
2 levels of the walkway buried
I think that was the keep off the dune sign
The steep beach is gone. Nice and gradual now.
Beaches Gone, Walkways Next
Walkway to beach. Beach gone, walkway likely gone by morning 
Hurricane Irene at 3pm Today
Boo
Depressing from the inside
I haven't done this in years 
Hurricane Swell Morning
Z on his 7'8 Naish
Gotcha!
Surf Machine on his 8'0 PSH
Surf Machine
The inside reform spanks him! It got me today too! 
How I Increased my Surfing Performance
Ever hear about people who can't chew gum and walk at the same time? Well maybe I'm one of those. I've been putting Dakine tail pads on my SUPs in a failed attempt to get better feel for the tail of the board. It just wasn't working for me. I'd surf a wave and still wouldn't know "exactly" where my rear foot had been when it was over. I think the paddle caused enough of a mental distraction, that I was not aware of where my rear foot was. Other that what I'd feel in the way the board performed on the wave. I wanted more.
So I built my own tail pad with a double height arch bump. A bump so high, it feels slightly uncomfortable testing it on the beach.
But on the water, WOW. The pad felt fantastic and I was "fully" aware of my exact foot position on every wave. I felt empowered and my surfing felt better than ever. Maybe SUPs need bigger arch bumps.
Jacky loves it too!
7'3 Hokua 
7'3 and 7'8 Hokua's with new deck pads
Jacky's board weight 7.72 kg
The Deck Pad Work has Begun
I vacuum bagged my custom tail pad tonight
9'0 Naish Mana FOR SALE
It still looks like this…….like new $1549 retail asking $999 
Caught a couple on Jacky's board this morning
Autry on Justin's 8'6
Brad on his 8'0 narrow
190 lbs on Jacky's 7'3
Brad 
Redecking my Naish 7'8 Hokua
Knowing that I was going to remove the Naish deck pad, I decided to experiment with color accents by washing away some of the factory silk screen. Then using a magic marker I filled in other areas. This gives a hint about what the new deck pad will look like using white and black/white marble pads to make my own pad design. Stay tuned for part 2 when the new pad is installed in a few days. The old pad was getting slippery. Time to freshen things up with new grip.
Deck pad getting pulled off
Pulls right off. No mess, no fuss. Naish uses some kind of cement to adhere the pad. None of that messy gooey 3M film.
Fresh razor blade with points sanded round to prevent cutting the glass deck.
As stripped
The weight? Converts to 17.5 lbs. Sounds about right.
Cement remnants sanded off.
Paper template made for cutting the new pad. The green tape is 3 layers thick to make tracing the paper template easy. 
New Mystery Naish
This one looks sweet. Swallow winged quad. I wonder what the dimensions are. It wasn't in the leaked Naish specs we've seen so far. UPDATE. It is a kite surfboard.
Marker 9-10 at 11am this Morning
Jacky on her 7'3
Dwight on the 7'8
What is it?
Is this a 7'3 or 7'8 Soft Top Naish Hokua? Who is this market to?
Is it marketed toward kids? 
Surf Videos are Back
Video shot this morning at the North End 
Cabrinha Demo at WB
Video by Z. Damien of Cabrinha in the video. 
Cabrinha 2012 Gear Demo this Saturday Only
Nuclear Butter at 10am
We rolled at 9am, to beat the heat. The Basin was blowing WSW 25-30, super low tide, and the best fun you could possibly have down there. At 11:20 am, the wind started the SSW shift and dropped below 20. The wind was returning at noon, but the sweet WSW was gone.
Z you call that a jibe? haha. Z tried my windsurfer today. He's getting closer to joining the windsurfers.
Twisted to the max and pulled flat, yet insanely balanced. Sick!
Now this is a jibe!
Jacky
Dwight on Zs kite 
Honkin Windy
We hit the south end at noon. Wind was SSW at 20-25. The best side shore wind we've seen in awhile. By 2pm it was 25-30. Butt kicking good wind! Sail flatten to the max
Jacky
Z jumping his new 2012 Switchblade and Jacky on her windsurfer
Hiroshi, Jacky, and Z
Jacky's rig
Dwight trying Zs new kite 
Morning Surf was Fun
It looks like Stan has got some "Brad style" in his bottom turn. We all learn a lot surfing with Brad and Surf Machine. Thanks guys!
Stan looking good on his new 8'6 PSH WR. 
Another Beautiful Morning
This was taken Sunday between 9 and 11am. Saturday was the same, although we windsurfed here Saturday morning.
Acres of butter
So fun…..
A Great Day for Kiting with a Surfboard
Jacky getting some tips from Z on using the surfboard with a kite
Z on my 5'11 Firewire
Z on my Firewire
Scott
Jacky getting some air time
Scott 
Having Fun with Quads Again
Ready for a long winded tale about quads?
There are 2 quad standards in the surf industry. Edge quad (Stretch) and McKee. Shapers often tweak these standards to suit their own styles, but in general terms, these are about as close to a standard as you're ever going to get in surfing.
Companies doing Edge quads: Stretch, PSH, C4.
Companies doing McKee quads: Channel Islands, Rusty, Naish
My Naish came with the rear fin locations tweaked from the published standard for McKee. The board never quite felt as good quad as it did thruster, so I decided to move the rear fin boxes to match McKee specs exactly. Presto, the board now rocks quad and thruster. I can have fun with both.
The day after I performed the fin box surgery on my 7'8, I get this tweet from FCS telling me Kelly Slater had just won Teahupoo on a McKee quad. Kelly actually gave props to McKee for the fin placement. That made me feel a little better about the surgery I had just performed on my board!
If you're wondering what the difference between the 2 systems is all about, the more you move the fins from the rail and toward the middle, the more you pick up some of the benefits of thruster, while still holding onto some of the advantages of quad.
Slater's quiver with quads located per McKee specs The red dots indicate the factory fin box location Freshly re-quaded to McKee specs
On the beach this morning
I like it!
Kitesurfing Hurricane Irene at Bald Head Friday
Too much fun for photos
Sorry, only took 6 photos today. This was the only decent shot. Way too good to be wasting time shooting. Last evening and this morning were like a dream. You should have seen Jacky. I've never seen her surf so good. The new tail pad bump is helping a lot.
Jacky on her 7'3
The Morning after Hurricane Irene
We lost power at 2:30 am. It came back on at 8:30 this morning. Wave size already down to chest to head high due to off shore winds in the 30-50 range
2 levels of the walkway buried
I think that was the keep off the dune sign
The steep beach is gone. Nice and gradual now.
Beaches Gone, Walkways Next
Walkway to beach. Beach gone, walkway likely gone by morning
Hurricane Irene at 3pm Today
Boo
Depressing from the inside
I haven't done this in years
Hurricane Swell Morning
Z on his 7'8 Naish
Gotcha!
Surf Machine on his 8'0 PSH
Surf Machine
The inside reform spanks him! It got me today too!
How I Increased my Surfing Performance
Ever hear about people who can't chew gum and walk at the same time? Well maybe I'm one of those. I've been putting Dakine tail pads on my SUPs in a failed attempt to get better feel for the tail of the board. It just wasn't working for me. I'd surf a wave and still wouldn't know "exactly" where my rear foot had been when it was over. I think the paddle caused enough of a mental distraction, that I was not aware of where my rear foot was. Other that what I'd feel in the way the board performed on the wave. I wanted more.
So I built my own tail pad with a double height arch bump. A bump so high, it feels slightly uncomfortable testing it on the beach.
But on the water, WOW. The pad felt fantastic and I was "fully" aware of my exact foot position on every wave. I felt empowered and my surfing felt better than ever. Maybe SUPs need bigger arch bumps.
Jacky loves it too!
7'3 Hokua
7'3 and 7'8 Hokua's with new deck pads
Jacky's board weight 7.72 kg
The Deck Pad Work has Begun
I vacuum bagged my custom tail pad tonight
9'0 Naish Mana FOR SALE
It still looks like this…….like new $1549 retail asking $999
Caught a couple on Jacky's board this morning
Autry on Justin's 8'6
Brad on his 8'0 narrow
190 lbs on Jacky's 7'3
Brad
Redecking my Naish 7'8 Hokua
Knowing that I was going to remove the Naish deck pad, I decided to experiment with color accents by washing away some of the factory silk screen. Then using a magic marker I filled in other areas. This gives a hint about what the new deck pad will look like using white and black/white marble pads to make my own pad design. Stay tuned for part 2 when the new pad is installed in a few days. The old pad was getting slippery. Time to freshen things up with new grip.
Deck pad getting pulled off
Pulls right off. No mess, no fuss. Naish uses some kind of cement to adhere the pad. None of that messy gooey 3M film.
Fresh razor blade with points sanded round to prevent cutting the glass deck.
As stripped
The weight? Converts to 17.5 lbs. Sounds about right.
Cement remnants sanded off.
Paper template made for cutting the new pad. The green tape is 3 layers thick to make tracing the paper template easy.
New Mystery Naish
This one looks sweet. Swallow winged quad. I wonder what the dimensions are. It wasn't in the leaked Naish specs we've seen so far. UPDATE. It is a kite surfboard.
Marker 9-10 at 11am this Morning
Jacky on her 7'3
Dwight on the 7'8
What is it?
Is this a 7'3 or 7'8 Soft Top Naish Hokua? Who is this market to?
Is it marketed toward kids?
Surf Videos are Back
Video shot this morning at the North End
Cabrinha Demo at WB
Video by Z. Damien of Cabrinha in the video.
Cabrinha 2012 Gear Demo this Saturday Only
Nuclear Butter at 10am
We rolled at 9am, to beat the heat. The Basin was blowing WSW 25-30, super low tide, and the best fun you could possibly have down there. At 11:20 am, the wind started the SSW shift and dropped below 20. The wind was returning at noon, but the sweet WSW was gone.
Z you call that a jibe? haha. Z tried my windsurfer today. He's getting closer to joining the windsurfers.
Twisted to the max and pulled flat, yet insanely balanced. Sick!
Now this is a jibe!
Jacky
Dwight on Zs kite
Honkin Windy
We hit the south end at noon. Wind was SSW at 20-25. The best side shore wind we've seen in awhile. By 2pm it was 25-30. Butt kicking good wind! Sail flatten to the max
Jacky
Z jumping his new 2012 Switchblade and Jacky on her windsurfer
Hiroshi, Jacky, and Z
Jacky's rig
Dwight trying Zs new kite
Morning Surf was Fun
It looks like Stan has got some "Brad style" in his bottom turn. We all learn a lot surfing with Brad and Surf Machine. Thanks guys!
Stan looking good on his new 8'6 PSH WR.
Another Beautiful Morning
This was taken Sunday between 9 and 11am. Saturday was the same, although we windsurfed here Saturday morning.
Acres of butter
So fun…..
Lion on the Beach
Dog shaved like a lion
South End 
More 2012 Naish info
Most interesting in this video to me, is the black area is not black paint, but unpainted, showing the carbon underneath. So maybe I was correct in my earlier speculation that all the black nose cones seen on Hokua's, is actually carbon to make them ding proof. The new dual density deck pad sounds appealing. 
Basin Parking Situation
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Hello Mr. Fisher,Thank you for your comments and I apologize for any inconvenience you have encountered. The Ft. Fisher boat ramp renovations were performed using Coastal Recreation Fishing License (CRFL)funds, Motorboat Registration funds and Division of Coastal Management funds. Due to the variety of funding sources we included facilities for all types of users.
Included at the site is a temporary offloading parking space for single vehicles near the ramp and beach area for the kayak and canoe user. Also at the site is approximately 15 single vehicle spaces and 26 vehicles with trailer spaces. Single vehicle spaces being almost 40% of the parking, which is substantially more than any of our other 207 free sites. I have also witnessed on several occasions quite a few folks parked at the site with trailers full of canoes and kayaks that can also utilize the trailer spaces. Pic attached. I have also included aerial photography from October of 2010 that shows 22 trailer boats at the site.
Currently, the site is managed by the Wildlife Resources Commission and I'm afraid if you are not parked in an appropriately marked spot for the type vehicle you have you could be subject to ticketing or towing. It is an extremely busy site and unfortunately we didn't have an unlimited amount of property to accommodate all of the users all of the time. I would suggest getting there early in the morning on the busy weekends or holidays to reserve your parking space. I hope you continue to enjoy our access areas provided free of charge and again apologize for any inconvenience.
Sincerely,
Erik D. Christofferson Division Chief of Engineering ServicesNC Wildlife Resources CommissionDivision of Engineering Services http://www.ncwildlife.orgMailing Address: 1720 Mail Service CenterRaleigh, North Carolina 27699-1720919-707-0153
Basin blowing 20-27 tonight
New wave sail tested tonight. It passed! 
The Waves are Back! Woohoo
I only had time to snap a few this morning
Justin is today's Surf Machine on his new 8'6 PSH WR
Igor and his daughter Skye, kite the Basin
Windsurfing a Long Left, so jealous
Another Robby Video worth a look
Alexa Goes Surfing
Jacky's niece from Atlanta, goes surfing at CB inlet on Jacky's 9'0 Mana 
For Surf Machine
I know you dream about this place. The video must be fresh because he's got the 2012 graphics. 
Naish Fanboy Finds 2012 Photos
Robby with new graphics. Color on rails reversed from 2011 scheme. New deck pad look. Black nose on all 2012s
Kai Lenny
Robby. Looks like 8'5 Hokua to me
It looks like Kai replaced his tail pad
Race boards, all with black nose cone. Could the nose be carbon reinforced to make it ding proof?
New bottom design on the windsurf boards. Photo from the distributors meeting on Maui.
Carbon nose, or just black paint to make ding repair paint matching easy? Carbon rail or just paint?
Carbon rails, or just black paint? Less wood decking? 
Scary Stuff
Naish surfer Vetea Poto David. Naish lists his quiver as 8'5 and 7'8 Hokua. Wonder if that's the 8'5 way up there? 
Drift Surfing
The wind has been relentless, so we went back to something we did a lot when we were newbies. Drive 3 miles upwind, launch, then relax, drift, and surf!
Back then, a 3 mile surf session would kick our butts. Today it was awesome fun. These new short SUPs make this wind blown shore break so much more fun. Our balance in the wild and wooly seas was easy-peeze. Wind at your back sure makes you stable! We could actually do something with those crap waves on these boards. 
Finally-we see another girl on the 7'3
Jacky Flying
5.0 tonight in the Basin 
CB1 got it again in Hatteras
CB1 is killing it in Hatteras
Brian McKenzie on his 9'0 Naish Mana
CB1 reporting on his 3rd straight day of fun surf 
Fun down winder today
Awesome 5.0-5.5 Day
Jacky on her 5.0
Mike and Jacky (Mike's an Apache pilot and so is his girlfriend!)
Jacky, Z and Mike
Jacky and Z
Unknown kiter way down there
Our rigs today (5.5 for me and 5.0 for Jacky)
Z shakes off the rust and tries windsurfing again
Zs walk of shame
Z gets me back. Wind was killer from 1:30 to 3:30, then lulled a bit. 
An Evening of Kitesurfing
Z kiting on his 12m
Just Z and I tonight at the Basin. Wind 16-20 
The Basin Magic Strikes!
Forecast was zip, actual was 20-22 SW
Jacky
Dave
Jacky
Jacky and Dave
Jacky
Jacky showing off for the camera
First duck jibe in 11 years. Not bad!
The ham doing a head dip
She's still got her hat after the head dip
She likes the cameraman
Surprising Fun Surf this Morning
Jacky on her 7'3 Hokua
Justin on his 8'6 PSH WR
Will Jacky make this drop?
Yes, she made the drop! The 7'3 is upping her game.
Brad with his pretty new narrow 8'0 ripper.
Jacky
Surf Machine on his old C4. The PSH is in the shop for ding repair.
Z doing his Surf Machine imitation.
Surf Machine
Jacky 
The New North End Rippers
Head high Bomb for Ian
Hold on tight!
Like a pro at age 9
The new rippers in town, Joey and Ian
Joey (hope I got the name right) 
Channel Bottom…..Zoom-Zoom
Recently I was surfing and noticed how cool the water looked flowing off the tail when it was laying upside down in the water. It made me wonder, is this the source of the rocket propulsion I feel when surfing it.
Jacky's 7'3 
Sunday Morning Glass
Ian, the newest and youngest north end ripper
Jacky on her 7'3 Hokua
Lots of long fun waves this morning
Brad on his NEW narrower 8'0 PSH ripper
Brad
Surf Machine and Jacky
Ian on the 9'0 Mana
Jacky
Jacky
Jacky
Jacky
Brad
Surf Machine on his 8'0 PSH WR
Butch cruising on his 9'5 Mana
Beautiful Photos from Last Night at the Basin
All photos thanks to Kevin and Vincent who stood out there with Kevin's camera.
Vincent
Dwight
Dwight
Vincent…..offering windsurf lessons in the Basin
Vincent
Oops, a kiter caught trying to windsurf. Come to the dark side, the force is with you
Kevin
Kevin
Jacky in yellow, Oliver in blue
Kevin
Jacky
Jacky
Jacky
Oliver
Jacky
Kevin
I won't even try to spell your name 
Speechless
Another Good Day at the Basin
Last night nobody was at the Basin, tonight it was a full house. Lots of kites and sails. My wind meter showed gusts to 25.
Jacky on 5.5 sail and Oliver on blue sail
Jacky
Only 29.7 mph tonight. 
31.1 mph on GPS tonight
Last time I was a windsurfer, GPS didn't exist. It was fun tonight trying it out
On a 6.5 Ezzy and JP Freestyle Wave 101 
Fun Morning….surfed the 7'3 Hokua too, Woohoo!
8 SUPs out this morning at Sea Watch
Jacky on her 7'3 Hokua
A lot of pretty waves like this at Sea Watch this morning
Jacky at high tide
Awesome morning of surfing from 8 to 11 am
CB1 on his 9'0 Mana. 
Kai Lenny's new video
Hit 13.9 mph Downwinding Tonight
I'm a lazy downwinder, so my average speeds are always low.
YEAH 
Just a Few Photos this Morning
Jacky on her 7'3
Jacky
Jacky
Dwight on the 7'8
Dennis on his 9'0 Mana 
Friday Morning Surfing Fun
Surf Machine
Jacky, oops!
The 6 AM crew
Surf Machine
Jacky
Oops
Brad
Brad
Jacky 
The Windsurfers Win!
Fun at the Basin today. Z trying to jump over me with his kite, and me trying to blow his doors off with my windsurfer. I win! haha
The 6.5 that smoked Z haha
Jacky flying! 
Sunday Morning Surf, just a few out this morning
Z on his 8'6 PSH WR
Z
Dwight on my 7'8 Hokua
Rocketman on his 8'0 PSH WR
Dwight, thinking, can I make it around this and be like Surf Machine
Can I…..
Nope, total kook
Surf Machine
Surf Machine
Surf Machine
Jacky on her 7'3 Hokua
Brad showing me what my board can do in the hands of a real surfer
Brad
Sequence shot from above hit
Brad
Lip smackin mad man. 
Sick Morning. Even Sicker before 7am. Photos taken after 8am
Z
Z on his 8'6 PSH WR
Jacky
Jacky
Jacky and the barrel that got away
Brad
Jacky, Brad, and Surf Machine
Jacky
Jacky
Surf Machine
Who else, but Surf Machine
Surf Machine
Surf Machine
Jacky on her 7'3 Hokua
Surf Machine on his 8'0 PSH WR
Brad on his 8'0 PSH WR
Brad
Surf Machine 
Can you duck dive like this?
The Basin Blows Tonight
Jacky sailing 6.0 and Ryan kiting on 11m
Wind averaging 20 with higher gusts. She loves this 6.0 
Camera Setting Screw-up Today
The surf was excellent from 6:00 to 7:30. Photos taken about 8am.
Surf Machine 8'0 PSH WR
Jacky 7'3 Hokua
Surf Machine
Jacky
Jacky
CB1 9'0 Mana 
The Surf is Still out there
Jacky
Zo's board getting a demo ride
Zo, I don't think you're getting it back!
Jacky
Dwight
Some good size is still out there!
Drake
Dwight
Dwight
Jeremy 
Beautiful Morning of Surfing
Brad
Jacky 
Windsurfing Fun Tonight
Jacky on the 5.0 Ezzy Panther
I used the 5.5 Panther
Vincent is giving lessons. Its been years since lessons were offered locally 
We feel like 30 year old kids again!
Sometime in the mid 80s we started windsurfing the Basin. We spent 100+ days a year windsurfing there until 1999, when we switched to kitesurfing. It's great to be back. We had a blast today.
Jacky on her 6.0 Ezzy 
Only Snapped a Few this Morning
CB-1 on his 9'0 Mana
Hunter on his 7'3 Hokua
Butch on his 9'5 Mana 
Rodeo Surf Today
Surf Machine 8'0 PSH WR
Surf Machine
CB1 9'0 Mana
Brad 8'0 PSH WR
Brad
Z on 8'6 PSH WR
Z
Surf Machine 
Jacky's new 6.0 sail
Rigged in the rain 
Windsurfed the Basin
We windsurfed the Basin tonight on my new 6.5 Ezzy. It worked like I had hoped. The low end matched the 12m kites. The Basin renovation looks complete now, including new parking signs that made ALL the parking spots for boat trailers only. The kitesurfers, windsurfers and kayakers got totally screwed. No parking for us and there are more of us than boat trailers. The Basin is a 3 foot deep mud hole. Hardly the popular boating place it was 20 years ago. There are just a few car parking spots down the road. Not where anyone with recreational gear, kayaks, windsurfers, or kites would want to haul piles of gear to and from the water. Lets hope the parking is policed with some common sense.
12m kites and my 6.5 Ezzy
Parked in the trailers only lot 
Pretty Surf this Morning
Jacky had fun today!
Jacky on her 7'3 Hokua
Hunter on his 7'3 Hokua
Hunter
Hunter
Hunter
Hunter
Hunter
Hunter
Z on his 8'6 PSH WR
Z
Hunter
Jacky
Surf Machine on his 8'0 PSH WR
Brad on his 8'0 PSH WR
Jacky
Jacky 
Cute Video
My Renewed Effort to Windsurf More
A new and bigger sail arrived today. If this sail is fun, I promise to windsurf more and kite less.
The Hot New Bamboo PSH Hull Ripper Specs Revealed
These are the hot NEW shapes coming this Spring to Surf House.
The "Hull" rippers are the shapes Blane created using knowledge gained from raceboard development. The bottoms have a narrow planing surface, blended into an overall wider width at the rail. The result is a board than rips like a narrow surfboard, without being narrow. Better rail to rail surfing and more speed!
We’re not sure why only two colors, but that's what it is.
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Arial}p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 13.0px Arial; color: #ffffff}p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px}p.p4 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px Helvetica; min-height: 18.0px}table.t1 {width: 493.0px; border-collapse: collapse}td.td1 {width: 139.0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px; border-color: #000000 transparent transparent #000000; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td2 {width: 100.0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; border-color: #000000 transparent transparent transparent; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td3 {width: 105.0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; border-color: #000000 transparent transparent transparent; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td4 {width: 27.0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; border-color: #000000 transparent transparent transparent; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td5 {width: 51.0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 1.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; border-color: #000000 transparent transparent transparent; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td6 {width: 121.0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 1.0px; border-color: transparent transparent #000000 #000000; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td7 {width: 4.0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; border-color: transparent transparent #000000 transparent; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td8 {width: 78.0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; border-color: transparent transparent #000000 transparent; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td9 {width: 8.0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; border-color: transparent transparent #000000 transparent; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td10 {width: 105.0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; border-color: transparent transparent #000000 transparent; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td11 {width: 27.0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; border-color: transparent transparent #000000 transparent; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td12 {width: 51.0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; border-color: transparent transparent #000000 transparent; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td13 {width: 139.0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px; border-color: transparent transparent transparent #000000; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td14 {width: 100.0px; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td15 {width: 105.0px; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td16 {width: 27.0px; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td17 {width: 51.0px; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}td.td18 {width: 146.0px; border-style: solid; border-width: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; border-color: transparent transparent #000000 transparent; padding: 0.0px 7.0px 0.0px 7.0px}
8'9” x 30 1/8” x 5 1/4” 8-9 Hull Ripper Color
White
(Wide)
Red 9'1” x 28 7/8” x 4 1/4” 9-1 Hull Ripper Color
White
Pro
Red 9'2” x 30 3/4” x 4 1/4” 9-2 Hull Ripper Color
White
(Wide)
Red 9'6” x 28 7/8” x 4 1/4” 9-6 Hull Ripper Color
White
Pro
Red 9'6” x 30 1/2” x 4 3/8” 9-6 Hull Ripper Color
White
(Wide)
Red 9'11” x 31” x 4 1/4” 9-11 Hull Ripper Color
White
(Wide)
Red 
Massive and Fantastic Photo Morning by Jacky
Surf Machine 8'0 PSH WR
Dwight 7'8 Hokua
Surf Machine
Dwight on Zs 8'6
Oops, never knew that was behind me
Dawn Patrol this Morning
Z trying my 7'8 Hokua again
Test Results: Go short or go slow. 8'6 is too big and slow.
My Steep drop of the day
Will I survive?
Yes, I lived to surf another day. Heart may have stopped though…..
Holly Smokes this thing is fast. Just got off the 8'6 and wasn't prepared for the speed!
Yeah I'm a Kook, but now I'm a fast and loose Kook!
One happy boy today!
7am this morning
Surf Machine 8'0 PSH WR
Dwight 7'8 Hokua
Z on his 8'6 PSH WR
Z
Z
Dwight
Surf Machine
Surf Machine
Dwight on Zs 8'6 PSH WR
Z on my 7'8 Hokua (the next 5 photos)
7'8 Hokua at Indo
Sweet Downwinder Tonight
SW 15-20 made for a nice downwinder. The new boards are working like a dream. They do everything I dreamed of, when I came up with the shaping changes for this years batch.
The changes in this batch are:
Reduced width at the nose.Lower nose rocker. Added some vee under of the nose only.Hold the width behind center, moving back, while reducing the tail block width.The Goal:Eliminate the "boof" when I run into the back of a wave. The boof kills momentum and glide. A pointy nose pierces the back of a wave and doesn't boof, but can submarine and toss you over the bow and can reduce stability. Getting the right compromise is key. I've got it nailed for our SW wind and waves now. The nose rides at the perfect elevation and the boof is gone. It doesn't slow down when it hits the back of a wave.Improve the foot steering (surfability). The narrower tail block has done this. Paddle steering not required.Keep the glide going with less input from the rider. It does this.I used my new extra long Werner Nitro (just purchased for downwinding use only). It felt sooo good!
Whoop-ass Windy
The whole Wilmington crew hit Oak Island today. Scott, Brian, Dennis, Mike, James, Tony, Cy, Dwight, Jacky
Scott
my 5.3 on the beach 
Jacky's Week in Cocoa Beach
She kited too, but don't have any photos of it. 
81 degrees everyday this week
in Cocoa Beach! Why did we come home? Yuk, get me out of here! 
DW raceboard For Sale
14'6 x 27 DW raceboard For Sale. I built 3 boards this Winter with identical shapes, but different carbon layups. The first of the three built includes a windsurf sail fitting (removable) and was done using bomber thick full carbon top and bottom. This is the one for sale. Price is $950 firm. This construction would cost over $3000 from a famous shaper. My shape is optimized to excel at downwinding in close spaced ocean wind chop (SW summer wind).
This is the board for sale. The windsurf attachment unscrews if you don't want it.
The DW raceboard being windsurfed 
Itty Bitty Waves on Itty Bitty SUPs
From Saturday morning 
Sebastian Inlet this Afternoon
We probably could have kited late this afternoon, but decided rest was the better option. Driving home tired is not fun.
The swimming hole under the bridge 
New Smyrna Beach Today
The forecast was poor for surf, kite, and windsurf today, so we went on a scouting adventure to New Smyrna Beach, near the inlet. The water was very cold compared to Cocoa Beach. Lots of surfers in full rubber, while nobody in Cocoa is in rubber. We stopped by Steve and Marty's shop (Sandy Point Progressive Sports) and found some nice fins and water shirts.
Elusive waves (I'm very comfortable on the 7'8 in any conditions)
ENE wind less than 10 (7'8 Hokua)
Not worth the effort 
Smoke on the Water!
We hit the water in the morning fully lit on a 12m kite. Soon the 12m was fully depowered and I was still on this HUGE Fly Door kiteboard. The board is more comfortable than my 140 Cabrinha. Unreal board. It's flimsy as a noodle. That is likely part of the magic that keeps it from feeling big when the wind goes off. It sure is nice to have a board that goes in light wind, yet doesn't send you racing back to the beach for something smaller when the wind kicks in.
At noon we went windsurfing. Lit out our minds all day. Cocoa Beach is a windsports paradise. Kite, windsurf, or SUP, it has it all and rivals Hatteras for fun. Air temp 85 today!
Worlds Biggest Kiteboard? 163 x 46
Jacky on her 4.7
Jacky……4.7 fully lit 
Another Good Day
I kited, SUPed, and windsurfed today.
Dwight on David's 13m Crossbow
Dwight on David's 163 Fly Door (awesome board)
Fantastic Day of Surfing
Jacky
Jacky, the big wave magnet
Jacky
Jacky ducking again
Jacky
Jacky on her 7'3 Hokua
Jacky
Dwight on the 7'8 Hokua
A second bottom turn on the same wave as above. Yahoo, lots of turns today.
Dwight
Dwight
Passed right by us surfing
Dwight
Dwight
Dwight
No wetsuit required. Locals trunking it too. 
Sex on the Beach
Jacky and Cindy enjoying the Horseshoe crab show. They are all mating on the beach.
WooHoo……Kelly Park Goes Off
80 degree water and 78 degree air greeted us today at Kelly Park. Warmer than last year down here.
We got here at 4 pm and it was still blowing hard!
Jacky on her 5.3 
Road Trip
Vacation Starts Tomorrow 
Windsurfers Rule Jaws
The Downwind Boards are Done…..Yeah
Windsurfing footstraps have turned out to be the best SUP handle ever! Well not counting the new Naish handles anyway. All stickered up with imaginary sponsors. HARD WORK, but cheaper than spending $5000+ on all carbon boards made by somebody else.
I'm sick of board building again! We'll have to wait until next Winter to see if the shaping bug returns. 
Saturday Morning at CB Pier. Extra Long Period Swell
Brad 
Brad 8'0 PSH WR 
CB1 returns from foot surgery! On his 9'0 Mana 
CB1 
Surf Machine 8'0 PSH WR 
CB1 
Brad 
Jacky on her 7'3 Hokua 
Surf Machine 
Brad 
Todd on his 8'6 PSH WR 
Brad 
Todd 
The Flying Machine 
Surf Machine 
The only picture of me and I'm on the wrong wave. Look behind me! 
Does this make you want to Windsurf?
Almost Done
Filled and sanded. The difference between what you see here and what Starboard is doing with their carbon construction, is the thickness of the fill coat. In a production environment you need to apply the filler coat thicker, so the entire board can be finished by power sanding. Since my labor is free and weight is everything, my fill coat is extra thin and requires a lot of hand sanding in addition to some power sanding to avoid sanding through into the weave. Tricky, but worth the hassle to save every ounce of weight. Adding paint could be shooting myself in the foot compared to the way Starboard does it without paint. But it works for me.
Ready for paint 
Windsurfing my Downwind Race Board
No walk of shame with 14'6 of waterline!
Surfed at the House this Morning
It feels like summer. Heavy fog and pretty clean corduroy at sunrise, turning to summertime wind blow surf within an hour. No gloves or hood and burning up in my wool suit. The good times are returning.
Jacky
Jacky 7'3 Hokua
Jacky, another one caught deep
Jacky
Jacky, one that got away
Jacky too deep again. Elusive devils those sets.
Jacky
Dwight 7'8 Hokua
Dwight
Dwight
Dwight
Dwight
The 14'6 Carbon Twins
One came out of the bag at 20 lbs. The other at 22 lbs. The 22 lb board has a larger double carbon zone on the deck to handle my lard butt. Jacky gets the 20 pounder. The board will gain about 3 lbs with hot coat, finbox, and deck pad.
FYI, the variations in black color are caused by the peal ply.
If you wonder why 14'6 and not 14', it's for glide. My gliding increased when I added 6 inches. Also, when I swapped between my old 14'6 and a Glide 14, the loss of glide was noticeable. Since I only do downwinders, fitting into racing classes is not a concern.
Identical Shapes 
OMG the 6'4 Naish SUP
I want it! That looks like a blast.
Busy Times
I'm taking 4 straight days off to laminate the twins. Bottom of board one done yesterday. Deck of board one done this morning. Bottom of board two Sunday. Deck of board two Monday. Hot coat, fin boxes, handles, all next week going into the following weekend.
Carbon layer
Glass layer
Peal ply 
Did SUP just go the way of Windsurfing?
Remember when high performance windsurfing killed the sport….
Are we seeing this issue creep up on SUP surfing?
Take this morning for example. Summertime lame, wind blown surf. Not the sweet Winter surf we've been spoiled by lately.
Break out the longboard SUPs, or stick with the shortboard SUPs. We tried both this morning. Wow, after being spoiled by the 7'3 and 7'8 Hokua's, everything else bores us to death. We all quit after surfing maybe 1 hour at the most.
A reminder of the good old days on the 7'8 in this video.
Jacky this morning on 9'0 Mana
Jacky 
Ideal Weather for Laminating
Wetting Table
Mixing Resin
6 oz carbon under 4 oz glass
Bagged on the rocker bed, vacuum pump doing its job 
FCS is full of Marketing B.S.
The FCS Press Release:
FCS introduces an innovative new cord/coil stand up paddle surfing leash. This leash is specifically designed for stand up paddling, which features a short section of coil that will not tangle like a full coil. That coil functions as a shock absorber, reducing the board’s tugging force on your leg and helping to pull the board through the back of the wave quickly and evenly without having it rocketing back at you. The coil also allows you to noseride while minimizing the amount of leash dragging behind the board. This is an exclusive FCS innovation and it comes in calf and ankle cuffs and big and regular wave sizes.
Time for a history lesson folks at FCS. I invented this leash during the summer of 2007.
It took several attempts to convince XM Surfmore to make it for me. I first introduced my design to the SUP world in Oct 2007 on the standup zone click here
I gave up on it simply because the coil wore out too quick and it was a huge pain in the butt to get more made. I had them build two batches for me. 4 leashes in total. Hunter at Blowing in the Wind gets credit for talking XM into doing it for me.
The Twins
get their high density foam inserts for the finbox
I'll be doing spackle and sanding all week getting ready for lamination 
Basin Magic Today
The Basin magic wind went-off this afternoon. All that strong NW wind went SW at 2:30. South of the Kure Pier, the ocean was lit up with whitecaps. I took the board shown below for a quick run. I'm thrilled with the boards performance and behavior. No changes needed for the next two under construction.
I went with my Werner Nitro surf paddle on the run. The previous run about 2 weeks ago, I used my Quickblade Elite (8.3"). The feature that makes the Nitro a great paddle for short SUPs, also makes it ideal for downwinding. The extra narrow width (7 3/8), combined with the tip scoop, make the downwind board accelerate like a top fuel dragster. Downwinding is nothing but a series of hole shots. Burst of acceleration, followed by lots of gliding. The QB Elite is FOR SALE as of now.
The board I used today. The heavy carbon DW/windsurfer board.
2 identical copies of the board used today. Fresh spackle applied. Ready for light carbon glassing next weekend. 
Jacky's Back on the Water!
I only spent 10 minutes taking photos today, so not much to show you. Today the waves felt weak. A day when the 9'0 Mana would have out-ripped all the little boards. I need to start loading the Mana on the truck too.
Jacky on her 7'3 Hokua
Jacky
Jacky
Found this on the beach
Surf Machine
Surf Machine 
Real Downwinding
I wish we had wind like this!
New Downwind Board Gets Wet Tonight
I blew off work an hour early hoping to catch something before the wind shut down. I found fog thick as pea soup at Fort Fisher. Less than 200 yards visibility. Just up the road at the condos we sometimes launch from, almost clear skies. So I launched there and ended up with a very short run to the house. The wind felt very off shore once on the water. Wind gusts were definitely WSW and very few of them. The wind went from 15, maybe 20, but only brief blasts. Nothing sustained that was worth a hoot. 10 minutes into the run it turned into a leisure run waiting on a miracle return of the wind that never happened.
I was able to confirm in my own mind, the new shape is what I was looking for. Improvements in the function of the nose, just the way I envisioned it when I shaped it. Stability is good. Weight is not. I'm used to lighter boards. I'll be hitting the shaping room this weekend to knock out 2 more identical to this one, minus a few pounds and without the windsurf insert. I have stocked up on the high end light carbon needed to get these right.
Below is the speed data from tonights run. The other charts are some runs from this past summer. The new board has some good speed, even though it felt like I was pulling a truck with the board not being 22 lbs.
New Google Earth Images Taken Oct 23rd 2010
Bald Head Island. Great Kite Spot
CB Inlet
Shell Island
Oak Island. The sands bars create good surf, and sick kiting in the slick pond 
The New 9'0 WAA Bamboo PSH has Landed at Surf House
29 wide
25 More Photos from the Fantastic Weekend
Brad
Brad
Dolphin in the background
Oops
Dwight
Brad
Surf Machine
Surf Machine
Surf Machine
Surf Machine
Dwight
Dwight
Dwight goes right, Surf Machine goes left
All the following are the same wave
Can I make it around this section?
Can I? Taking bets…..
Not looking good
Don't give up on me
Hell Yeah!
Squeeze a tiny bit more from it
That's what going short does for you. SPEED, a new world for SUP
When it goes wrong! (not from the same wave in sequence above) 
Fantastic Surf at CB Pier this Morning (and 24 degrees)
Dwight 7'8 Hokua
Justin 9'3 Sub Vector
Brad 8'0 PSH WR
Brad
Brad
Dwight
Dwight
Surf Machine 8'0 PSH WR
Surf Machine
Surf Machine
Surf Machine
Dwight
Dwight
Dwight
Dwight
Dwight 
My new Downwind and Windsurf Board
All in one. The original plan was to build a 22 lb ultra light downwind planing board. Then I obtained some military Harrier Jet carbon fiber some guy had stored in his barn for years. The deal was too good to pass up. The carbon was twice the thickness I normally use. The result was a 28 lb board as strong as a Harrier Jet, so why not add the mast insert and sail it too! Of course now I have to build another one with light carbon to get my 22 lb board too.
With Cabrinha handle. Handle works sick, but may be too risky to have there with a sail onboard. A footstrap may replace the handle when sailing.
14'6 x 27 
Hunter's First Surf on his 7'3 Hokua this Morning
After 3 or 4 weeks of waiting, some waves finally hit on a day when Hunter is not working. Sorry about the photo quality. Shot with my iphone and cropped heavily.
The following sequence is one wave
Hunter loves the 7'3. Stable! Fast! 
The Crew Hits a Tiny Hamlet Street
Surf Machine with new miners cap
Todd on his PSH WR
Dwight on the 7'8
Surf Machine gets Wave of the Day
Not – Wave of the Day
Brad
Am I surfing or taking a dump? 
Nice Naish Video
This little guys board looks like a smaller custom version of Jacky's 7'3 Hokua. It has to be 6' something. Template looks just like the 7'3.
More New Toys
The new toy is Aperture 3 from Apple. Their pro photo software. Formerly $199, now $79 thanks to the new App Store for Macs. Woohoo, thanks Steve Jobs! A slide show from old photos of my first days on the 7'8 Hokua. Probably weighing close to 200 lbs in all that rubber. Surf is flat today and I have a head cold. Look for more slide shows this weekend as I get bored being stuck indoors.
Downwind board pulled from the bag
Pulling the bag off
Stripping the peal ply and breather
Fresh from the bag, full carbon covered with 4 oz glass 
Baby Sitting the Vacuum Pump Now
Carbon on the 16 ft long wetting table
Under vacuum and weighted down on the rocker bed 
6'6 SUP
Click Here for Gong Sups article on how to paddle a 6'6 SUP. My 7'8 Hokua is long to these guys. The 7'8 paddles pretty normal. The only cool tip I picked up in the article is to try a correction stroke on the other side without switching hands with the paddle. That sounds like it could be handy now and then.
Click Here too the guy on the 6'6 is having fun in nothing surf
I'm glad I don't have to do this 
7'3 Hokua – Jacky's Christmas Surprise
After 3 months off the water to rest an injured back, Jacky finally returns to surfing at 8:00 am this morning in 30 degree weather! That new 7'3 under the tree was all the motivation she needed.
The Three Amigos
Surf Machine
Jacky on the 7'3
The Flying Surf Machine
Jacky
Brad
Brad
Surf Machine
Brad
All the following photos are Jacky on one wave, in order
Jacky – like summer inside the R4 wool lined suit
Surf Machine (at 172 lbs) on Jacky's board 
Big Photo Day on the 7'8 Hokua
The following 5 photos are from the same wave
Chicken Move! Autry would have killed this section
All the remaining photos are the same wave in order
Still trying to be like (Autry) Surf Machine
Still standing! 
Awesome Windsurfing Video
Hunter's 7'3 Hokua Arrived Today
The 7'3 on the rack at Coastal Urge
Another try on the 7'8 Hokua
Another bust weekend for surfing the 7'8. The wind was too strong for it to be fun. Strong enough to knock me off balance and double the challenge of surfing the 7'8.
Comfortable flotation
The wind is killing me
Lame stuff near the beach 
2011 PSH Rippers?
The raceboard inspired Hull Ripper bottom shape
Notice the rail shape and vee bow
A Little More Downwind Board Progress
In the time beween my last board construction run, I read somewhere on the web that guys had found sign shops to be a good source for scrap high density foam. I asked my neighbor, who owns a sign shop, if they had any foam like Core Cell (I had one small piece left over to show him). A few days later he brings me this awesome 1.5" thick high density foam perfect for setting fin boxes.
FYI, Bark uses plywood in his custom carbon raceboards. Way heavier that good high density foam, but certainly cheaper. High density foam is expensive and expensive to ship because it comes in 4 x 8 sheets if you buy wholesale.
Hole routed and ready to set high density foam
Foam covered with plastic sheet and weigh applied. Foam is under weight, set in epoxy and filler. 
Paddle Edging Secrets
There has been some discussion on paddle edging recently on the Zone. I thought it might be time for another blog post on the subject.
I’m approaching 4 years of SUP experience. I have owned some boards that were famous for rail chips! In those years, I've only had 2 rail chips. That is a record that is hard to beat. I always use car door edging on my paddles, except on raceboards. My secret to avoiding the draggy catch and release caused by door edging, is to simply not use it on the bottom edge. All you have to do is tape over the edging with some nice electrical tape in your favorite color and it stays put.
Kai Lenny's Little Brother
More Surfing Videos
It looks like he SUPs a Naish prone surfboard. 
Day 3 on the 7'8 Hokua
My 9'0 Hokua order is CANCELLED. This 7'8 is the best SUP I have ever surfed. It's one of those rare magic sticks that we call a "must have" in the quiver. So much easier to stand on than you could ever imagine possible for a 7'8 and surfs at a whole different level. I'm sure 200 lb guys with good SUP skills could surf this too.
Today I ran the fins I saw in Robby Naish's 7'8 Hokua. The Q1 trailers. Although I had M5s in the front and Robby had M7s. It felt spot on.
After this mornings session, I'm "dreaming" of surfing like Autry (a.k.a Surf Machine).
All photos from the same wave
A Good Day for Shaping
Entered the shaping room at 8am. At 3 pm it's finished and ready for spackle tomorrow.
A Naish Geeks Dream Board Chart
These boards have all been in my garage and were personally measured in careful detail. Enjoy! (The 7'3 is my estimation…..for Hunter). The nose and tail widths of the 7'8 provide clues about why it is stable.
The shaping room is ready. All I need is motivation 
Day 2 on the 7'8 Hokua
Hunter takes the 7'8 for a test drive. Hunter weighs 145. The 7'8 was like a Mana to him. Stable as a house boat. He's ordering the 7'3 Monday.
Hunter on my 7'8
Dwight totally defeated by the 8'4. Sitting on it, is about all I can manage today.
Hunter on the 7'8
7'8
Stable 
I Surfed the 7'8 Naish Hokua Tonight!
Way easier than I thought it would be. Easily handles my 185 lbs. More stable than I remember the 8'0 PSH WR. I think the biggest difference between this and the PSH, is more width carried forward. I can really lean on that extra meat forward of center. It makes paddling into waves much easier, than a board that sinks the nose with the slightest error in fore and aft weight shifting. Well actually not weight shifting, just leaning forward can sink the nose on many boards at my weight and height. This extra meat up front feels like the magic potion for me. Pure shaping genius by Harold Iggy.
As for how it surfs…..FAST as a rocket. Look for me to be firing down the line. This stick is going to help my surfing a lot.
I think the 9'0 Mana and this board might be all the quiver I need. I may have to place my 9'0 Hokua order on HOLD until I get more testing in. Maybe I should order Jacky the 7'3 and take her surfing to the next level.
Tonight we had light offshore wind, with rebound waves coming off the beach making it slightly messed up. I fell once in one hour of surfing. The challenge was about like day one on my 9'3 Hokua. I can see it only getting easier from here on out.
The fins. Notice the tiny rears. Only 3 1/2". A little small for my weight, I think.
The 7'8 Hokua at Coastal Urge
I hear a 7'3 might be coming to Coastal Urge too. 
Who's Going to be the First…
around here to man-up and ride a 7'3 SUP? This is Jacko in Australia at 165 lbs.
the 7'3 Naish Hokua quad beach break specific model 
Today's Garage Progress
The hot wire rig for Brian S. It's connected to a variac
Jacky's board roughed out this morning 
Northeaster at the North End this Morning
Wind averaging 16 mph at 10 am. Gusts to 22, but fading fast, like usual. Not enough to use the 10m Fuse today. I did a shortened downwind surf run due to the fading wind.
Dwight on the Firewire
CB North End 
Hot Wire Work
Gorilla glued blank extension in place. Rocker already hot wired
Extension piece rough trimmed
People always ask, what are you doing different on this batch? I traced last seasons template design in red, to show the difference with the new shape (in blue)
Comparison of tail template changes. Fuller hip, narrower tail.
Hot wire work done. Ready for the planer. 
It's That Time Again
The foam for downwind boards number 7 and 8. This foam came from Craft Hardware in Wrightsville Beach. They stock 1 lb EPS for contractors building docks. It's not ideal because it comes 23 1/2 wide, but it's cheaper due to no shipping cost on my part. Shipping doubles the cost of EPS.
The EPS survived the drive home
Safe in my garage 
Just Me and Igor this Morning
Our new ride
Igor
New Video of the 64 mph Record Run
I Want One……by Christmas Please!
Photos from Australia. Lucky buggers! (Thanks DJ)
Wow, high quality Naish fins
Note to self, I must not gain weight during the Winter
Sunday Morning Shots
Dwight
The 8'0 Twins
Brad
Surf Machine
Don't Look Back!
Surf Machine
The human bullet
Ouch! 
Unbelievable! You have to come see this….
Yesterday Apple released AirPlay for my Apple TV. I just wirelessly streamed Jacky's Movie Trailer video from my Laptop to my big flat screen TV, blasting the full movie surround sound experience through my system. I was shaking the walls. WOW, just like IMAX, well almost. Compared to watching it on my laptop it feels like IMAX.
A steal at $99 
Oak Island was Fun Today
Dwight on the 9'0 Mana
Dwight
Dwight
Dwight
Dwight
Dwight
Dwight
CB1 on his 9'0 Mana
CB1
Alligator by Ian (a.k.a CB2) 
Wild Man Does it Again
Last year this crazy guy jumped a smaller pier in the UK. Today he jump a bigger pier!
After Work Sessions are Short!
Only time for 30 minutes of surfing at the house. I miss daylight savings time already.
Firewire El Fuego long term report
Thrusters rule! At least on this stick. It sure is nice to have 5 fin boxes to be able to make your own choice. The 2 lb foam with bamboo deck isn't tough enough to handle the loads a kiter places on it. I never jump my surfboards, so it's just pure surfing loads with the extra drive from the kite. I had to pull up the deck pad and put carbon patches on the deck. I hid the carbon under the pads. It's doing fine now and still looks sexy in bamboo.
9 am this morning at CB north end 
Nitro Wins
After using the Nitro a few weeks, we decided Jacky had to have one too. The whole package (clever handle design, oval flex shaft, and narrow dihedral blade) works awesome.
Werner's unique handle
The Nitro blade 
Naish Jackpot
I found some sweet photos of Robby on the new Hokua's in Fiji…..begin drooling now
7'8 Hokua
7'8 Hokua
7'8 Hokua
9'0 Hokua
9'0 Hokua
9'0 Hokua
7'8 Hokua 
Brad's the Surf Machine Today
The Original Surf Machine is out of town. The camera battery died, so this is all Jacky was able to get this morning. Oops…
Brad on his 8'0 PSH WR
A Little Morning Video
CB1 on his 9'0 Mana 
Fun Evening Session at the House
Huge Photo Day
Oak Island 5 mile downwinder
CB1 trying to be like Surf Machine
CB1 stylin that 9'0 Mana
Nobody goes harder than the REAL Surf Machine
CB1
B dog on his 8'0 PSH WR
B dog
Surf Machine, Commited
We see why Surf Machine picked this spot this morning
Surf Machine
The animal a.k.a the Surf Machine
Wimpy DW trying to be like Surf Machine
B dog on his 8'0 PSH WR 
CB1s new Stick
Stylin on his 9'0 Mana
Oak Island was HUGE
Funny SUP Video
I love those sandy beaches of the Great Lakes 
A Downwinding iMovie Trailer
Fun SUP Videos from Zoner alap (on Vancouver Island)
Andrew up first on his 9'0 Mana
Andrew’s son Paul up next on the 9'8 Starboard 
New Surf Movie of Jacky (Go Full Volume and Full Screen)
Made with iMovie 2011 
The First 9'0 Naish Hokua Reviews are in
I’m stoked the reviews show it works for big guys!
From Waz in Australia:
I am 92kgs (202 lbs) and was riding the new 9'0 Hokua and swapped down to the new 8'5.
After doubting whether or not I could stand on it, I was surprised that it wasn't as bad as I thought.
A few wobbles later, I caught a nice one and it surfed like a shortboard with a paddle in your hand.
This board is very fast and loose!!
Highly recommend it
I am not normally a big Naish fan, but these 2 boards are defiantly on the money for performance and finish, so much so I bought the 9'0 Hakua!
Both well worth a demo.
From Swanie in Australia:
I am 6' and 95kg (209 lbs)
Surfed it this morning in fairly clean waist high surf. Slight northerly wind.
Loved it!
Don’t let anyone say it won't float you. It floated me fine and paddled well. In the first 15 minutes there were a few mermaids trying to ravage me but after finding the sweet spot on the board any wobbles were gone and it was great.
It is fast! It made sections easily. Basically for a guy my size this is a 6' blown out short board. It turns on a dime. Makes late take offs with ease.
Totally suggest you demo this if you are considering steping down from a larger board or if you are after a more performance type board. The concave deck seems to help with stablity.
From Piros in Australia:
I’m still wet from riding it as I type this , just came in. Wazza my mate (another school teacher) just picked one up he's 92 kg I'm 90 it floats low in the water with us on it BUT that's not a bad thing because it helps with stabilty but you have to work on it as it was pretty choppy this arvo , the concave deck is great really helps with balance. I loved the plane shape it looks the goods.
Surf wise it was great easy to find the sweet spot , plenty of speed. We rode it as a 2+1 I think a quad set up will make flow more through the turns (my opinion)
From shimmyshazbo in Australia:
surfed the 9'0 with the quad setup this morn in 2 ft clean waves with a bit of current and a few cross waves thrown in. been riding the naish 8'10 and im 82kgs (180lbs).
i too loved this board, caught waves so easily, heaps of speed, so much so that i could snap this board around more than the 8'10. really stable and loved the concave deck. this board is worlds apart from the 8'10, i feel i can relax more when paddling through the shore break and i didnt fall off at all while turning to catch waves.
picking one up today! yeeeeew! 
9'0 Naish Hokua……Real Photos!
Some deck concave
I guessed it correctly
The new PSH Hull Rippers have baby race board bows! 
A Google Search on Channel Bottoms Found the Following Goodies
The greatest thing about the channels is that there is no top end speed limit. They just continually build speed. You're taking the water that would normally run across the board and down the rail and catching it and storing the energy, releasing it at planned locations along the deck, more so the tail though, as opposed to the rail. The only negatives that I have heard from channels is that they're too fast, I can't get in the barrel. I just tell surfers to deal with the speed and surf accordingly. They also hold on the face better because they've got like fingers on the wall. They sit and hold better. Run higher and hold longer in the barrel once the speed is controlled and understood. If you don't outrun it you can stay in it longer. I guarantee that once you get on one and learn it you will always have one in your quiver for the rest of your life.
The 7'8 Hokua Bottom……DROOL……… 
Is there a perfect paddle?
Not really, because paddle feel is very personal. As of just recently, we've finally reached the point where we've owned paddles from ALL the big brands.
We learned with C4s, moved on to Kialoa, then back to C4, then to Quickblade, and now Werner.
Werner peaked my curiosity with some interesting marketing claims.
1) A palm grip designed to put your wrist in the best ergonomic position. Straight instead of kinked.
2) Narrow paddle blades without loss of area, designed to reduce stress at the catch. Or dig deeper for more power, less deep for less power.
It seems to work as advertised. Especially the blade design. The smaller area Quickblade shown below actually is harder to pull at the catch and more stressful on the body. The larger area Nitro, with narrow width, feels easier on entry, yet doesn't feel gutless as you follow through on the stroke.
Werner Grip Designed to straighten wrist
Generic palm grip with heavy bent wrist
Which one feels more powerful? Not what you might think 
They're Here………..just not here
The Aussie's beat us. They got ALL the new goodies from Naish today.
9'0 bat tail Hokua on the rack in Australia
Forget the one he's holding, check out the 7'8 Hokua on the floor with bottom channels showing at the tail
The wings of the 9'0 bat tail Hokua 
OMG more Naish Goodies
The NEW Naish web site has gone live with all kinds of goodies here
OMG…..look at those sexy channels in the bottom of that 7'8 Hokua
The fins I see in Robby's 7'8
Can I have one ASAP?
I'll take one of these too!
There is a NEW Surf Machine in Town
the NEW Surf Machine
Commitment!
CB1 and CB2
Mrs CB1 and CB2
CB1 and CB2 
2011 PSH Ripper Sneak Peak???
Being a backyard hack board shaper, I love studying photos and video to see what's up and how certain shapes behave. Blane is up to something this Fall and here is what "I think" is going on.
Blane shaped some downwind race boards this summer. Then he tried surfing them and discovered the displacement bow (boat bow versus surfboard bow) does some magical things. For one, it doesn't catch and dump your ass should it go under for a split second.
Fast forward to today and he's shaping Ripper models now called the Hull Ripper. Notice the race board inspired boat bow? It appears he's taken advantage of the displacements bows ability to run dangerously low and not catch. The nose rocker has been lowered. He's claiming the boards are FAST. It all makes sense to me. I'm not sure I have the surfer skills to manage such a low nose rocker in beach break surf. But I'm sure people more skilled than me will tear it up on these.
Surf Machine, when you getting one?
The new secret Hull Ripper from PSH
The Hull Ripper
Austin on the 9'3 Hull Ripper
The bow design inspiration? 
The DW Racer that inspired the Hull Ripper
Austin surfing the DW Racer and discovering the boat bow works in surf
Nice Naish Article
Read the full article here
Harold Iggy About Naish's Most Popular Models: “My most popular model is the Mana 9'5",” says Iggy. “It’s a wide-style stand-up board designed for small, slow, mushy surf. It’s so easy to ride and easy to turn. People often have the misconception that stand-up boards are huge—that they can’t even turn. With some boards even reaching under the 9-foot mark, this is changing, and I think it will continue to change further in the future.” 
kitesurfer breaks 62 mph barrier
Oak Island Goes Off Again
The forecast was W wind at 14. The actual wind was 20-27. Awesome kitesurfing session.
2010 Naish 9'3 For Sale —–SOLD
Time to clean out the garage in preparation for going shorter when the 2011 models arrive this Winter. Cost $1500, now half price. Some photos of Jacky and I surfing it. A trip down memory lane. Nothing better than Winter surf. Zero rail dings and weighs 18 lbs. 5 FCS fin boxes. Run it quad or thruster. Includes board bag.
Race Postponed
Coastal Urge SUP race is postponed. Banner removed. 
North Prototype in the House
Ken Winner sent me this 2011 10m Prototype Fuse to test and report on
Photos by Jacky this Morning
Brad in his C4 Slingblade
Dwight on Jacky's 9'0 Mana
Rob on his Laird
Surf Machine on his 8'0 PSH WR
Surf Machine
Brad on Jacky's Mana
Dwight without the wetsuit and still surfing Jacky's Mana 
Magic Morning
Super fun surf this morning. Light offshore wind and nice swell. The Three Musketeers (DW, CB1, Z) had a blast swapping boards all morning. For once, we all agree on the magic model in each line (Naish and PSH). For PSH, it's the 8'6 WR bamboo and for Naish, it's the 9'0 Mana. You can't wipe the smile off your face when surfing either of those. They just stand out. The Musketeers all weigh about the same, so that could be why we all agree.
CB1 on Jacky's 9'0 Mana
Rob showing us how Laird rips
Rob was killing it this morning
Z on his 8'6 PSH WR bamboo
Rob on his Laird
Z on his ripper
CB1 on his 9'2 WR bamboo 
Future 9'0 x 28 Naish Nalu
The hot new shapes just keep coming! Iggy's been a busy shaper.
You could probably call this a pro model version of the 9'0 x 29 5/8 Mana.
More photos here
Kalama goofing around
Kalama getting serious 
Surf is Still Out There!
Surf all week for the after work crew. Tonight Jacky got home early from work and was able to take some photos. I get to surf her 9'0 Mana all week! Yippee
Jacky was told by her doctor to rest all week. She's getting an MRI on her back Saturday. Maybe we'll finally find the source of the pain she has been having since Spring.
Dwight 9'0 Mana
A few beauties rolled through
Playing in Poo
The weather did not cooperate today. 45 degree off shore wind and light. Sketchy kitesurfing and just enough wind to make SUP a challenge too.
We’re still feeling the affects of the heavy rain all last week. Poo runoff into the ocean everywhere. Water considered unsafe for swimming. Yesterdays high winds cleaned up the poo. Today's wind allowed the poo to return
Dwight trying not to drop the kite
Get me home, where did the wind go?
Lets try that 9'0 Mana
Wave of the Day (my only wave)
Enough poo for one day! 
Wind Sports Rule the Weekend
Dwight on the Firewire
The "other" North End Crew
Scott and a little whitewater, switching to his windsurfer now
The Winner! CB1 looked like he was having the most fun today 
Storm Photos
Some photos of Jeoffrey on Bald Head Island
From the roof of his house
Jeoffrey's back yard
The golf course 
The street in front of his house 
What Happened Yesterday?
My blog traffic went through the roof. 700 page views on Tuesday! Someone must have linked something on my site to a heavy traffic web site. Anybody know what site was driving traffic to me Tuesday? What brought you here yesterday?
A Letter from Grand Bend
Hi Dwight – love the blog!
I am looking for some advice if you don’t mind giving it.
I am a windsurfer who sails Lake Huron, Ontario side (Grand Bend) – big messy waves with the prevailing nw wind. We have just bought a cottage here last year so I have had a year to windsurf. It is great sailing on the sw flatter water (perpetual intermediate sailor – I have many newer boards and sails (Hot Sails SF’s like you) ) but on a nw (onshore) or w the waves make it very difficult to enjoy or even get out. Your location looks similar conditions to your site from your pic’s. I have read or your blog that you used to windsurf, the kitesurf, then windsurf and now it looks like you are back to kitesurf. My question is: Should I try kitesurfing?? At my spot there are many kitesurfers who seem to have no problem getting out through the waves and actually make sailing look somewhat effortless. What are your pro / cons of windsurfing vs kitesurfing? Please post on your blog if you would like – I’m sure there are others out there looking for similar information.
Thanks and good waves! Joe Looby Grand Bend, On Canada Ps I sup too and love it.
Joe,
Kitesurfing is easy compared to windsurfing, now. During the early years of the sport that was not true. Kite design has advanced tremendously in the last 12 years, surpassing sail design in range. One kite is all you need.
The pros and cons and when I prefer one over the other…..
Pros and Cons of Kitesurfing-1) People are still getting killed doing it. Just last month a guy died on the Canadian side near Buffalo.2) You should never kite alone, especially during your first 2 years. You need to be around more experienced kitesurfers every time you go out. Learn from them. Take a lesson. It looks easy, but can kill you in an instant.
3) It's so easy to get out through big waves, it's like cheating to the extreme.
Pros and Cons of windsurfing-1) It takes a lot of gear and money to cover the full range of conditions.2) It's very challenging in waves and takes years to master.
3) Speed is more fun with a sail.
4) It feels more akin to SUP.
When conditions are best for just cruising on the water, I enjoy the pure soul of windsurfing.When the waves are huge, I prefer kitesurfing with my Firewire.
If you can devote the time to learn kitesurfing safely, and with other kiters, then go for it. If you're only able to kitesurf when on vacation at the lake, then it might not be a good idea. It takes some consistant time on the water to break past the stage where you're a danger to yourself. The guy who kites 3 times a year is a danger to himself. It's like the skier who pulls his skis out of the closet once a winter and then ends up riding the ski patrol sled down the mountain all busted up.
Nice 9'0 Mana Review from Andrew
Click here to read it on the Zone
Here are photos he sent me of his vacation 
Bonus Photos
Just in, some bonus photos shot by Jeoffrey from the boat. Way better than shooting into the sun from the beach!
Cat loving her new 9'0 Mana. She's surfing waves!
The girls and some dope in a red shirt
The Morning Crew
CB Inlet this morning 
What you missed this morning….
It was a Coastal Urge girls (mostly) surf outing, with tips by Jacky this morning at CB Inlet.
Jacky
Kathy
Hannah
Cat
The girls were loving the Mana's this morning. 3 of the 4 girls now own the 9'0 Mana, with the 4th likely soon. The guys snuck a few rides too. I wish we all had one. I'm starting to feel like a board pig.
Sorry about the lack of good photos. I was busy helping others learn to surf.
Jacky and Cat, with Jeoffrey getting towed back to the boat
Coastal Urge crew heading home to Bald Head
Even CB1 snuck a ride on the 9'0 Mana
Jacky and Kathy
CB1 with Jacky's Mana 
Hannah, Coastal Urge Wilmington Store Manager trying the 9'0 Mana 
Another Hurricane Igor Sequence
Wow, that wave would have me crapping my pants. Check out Bobby on his 9'5 Mana at Topsail!
Bobby ripping on his 9'5 Mana 
Hatteras Igor Surf
The windsurfers held their yearly contest on the Outer Banks this weekend. Lucky them, they scored once in lifetime conditions. The CORRECT wind direction and HURRICANE swell. That never happens during a planned event. Several of the CB north end windsurfers were in the event.
Hurricane Igor Video
The morning started out with light off shore wind. Clean, pretty, easy, and big waves. Around 11:30 (at low tide) the wind came up and the waves started breaking harder. About that time the lineup emptied out and only our crew was left surfing.
Jacky and I surfed our Hokua's early, then I went back to the truck and got Jacky's 9'0 Mana to compare. The 9'0 Mana was way more fun for me and for Jacky. I think the 9'0 Mana is the most fun board in our quiver. Jacky agrees. It's one sick fun board. I wish we had two of them.
Hurricane Igor Sunday Session
Also check out Surf Machine's photos on his blog here. His photos show it way better than mine.
Surf Machine
Sam
Surf Machine 8'0 PSH WR
Z on his 8'6 PSH WR
Dwight on the 9'0 Mana trying to fight the head wind of 20 knots
Sam on his 9'2 PSH AA 
Surf Machine 
and we did some of this too
6 miles of endless waves, downwind to the house.
Dwight
Z and Dwight 
9'0 Mana tearing it up on the other coast
From the pacific northwest, Andrew (alap on the zone) ripping on his Naish 9'0 Mana. Andrew's having an awesome time on his new board.
Andrew ripping on his 9'0 Mana 
Hurricane Igor Surf at CB Inlet
Craig and Jacky are the movie stars today
Swell is Showing – Wind go Away
Z testing my Firewire 
Z loves my Firewire 
Wind is marginal for kitesurfing. Hard to rip it up 
Surprise Surf Today – and Fun!
Dwight and Jacky, Mana versus Mana
Dwight
Dwight trying to reach the nose, 9'5 Mana 
Andy 8'10 Hokua 
Surf Machine Turning Nothing into Magic 8'0 PSH WR
Surf Machine
Machine Jr. 8'6 PSH WR 
9'0 Mana Day 2
Jacky's review – So fast she flew off the back. Big smiles. She said "easy peeze". Fun, fun, fun in nothing surf. She made fun of Z saying it was glassy calm out there. Really it was psycho chop from on shore wind, but the board made it feel like glass.
My review – not ideal for my weight in mushy weak surf and psycho chop. The 9'5 Mana was actually faster, looser, and more fun for me. Strictly because I overweight the 9'0 in these weak conditions. In better surf the 9'0 would win, but then I'd probably be on my Hokua.
The 9'0 does exactly what we wanted. A board for Jacky that would do the job the 9'5 Mana does for me. It turns crap surf into fun. The Mana's fly in weak surf and feel loosey goosey. In powerful surf and steeper waves, they feel slower because the extra width limits high speed potential. But width is your friend and fun when the wave is weak. The right tool for the job is key for maximizing fun.
Jacky 9'0 Mana
Jacky 9'0 Mana
Dwight, all 3 photos are the same wave. Long mushy rides! 
Dwight 9'0 Mana
Dwight the 9'0 Mana 
Shape Details – Naish 9'0 Mana
Here you go Steve. All the goodies on the 9'0 Mana shape! All shots from my favorite camera. The iphone 4 with HDR image processing.
Single concave through nose to within a foot or so of front fins
Hint of double concave with tiny vee just forward of fins
Pretty normal vee though the tail
9'0 Mana
9'3 Hokua 
The 9'0 Naish Mana is HERE
This beauty is more high performance than she looks! It's very quick. Spins on a dime. This is the ultimate all around ride for fit women wanting to surf waves. A board not too difficult, light and loose. Something you won't outgrow. Not so big it will try to kill you. For guys, it's a stick that will rip for the weekend warrior, who doesn't get the water time needed for the Hokua range. I can't wait to steal it on a big day. I had a blast surfing it before Jacky got home from work!
iphone 4.1 HDR photo
The new heavy duty bags.
Can't Miss
Easy Peeze
It catches everything 
OMG check out the 7'8 Hokua
Check out Robby Naish at 1:02 on the 7'8 Hokua. This bad boy is designed for surfers up to 190 lbs. Oh yeah! I want one.
Going all Cork
I tried Versa-Traction between the front and rear traction pad this weekend. Way too slippery. It works for SUP, but not when a kite is pulling you. Tonight I added some more cork. These are OAM pads make with cork. I doubt there is much cork in them because they don't feel a lot different. But the traction did feel freaky good, so maybe it makes a little difference. I bought them for the color!
Firewire El Fuego 5'11 x 20 
Another Hurricane Photo from Thursday Evening
Enhanced with iPhoto
Chris Hill on his Surftech Mitcho 9'8 at Topsail Island
Oak Island and El Fuego
Oak Island goes off again. We're finding E wind blows about 4 to 5 mph harder there, than at home.
El Fuego and its slightly fishy template feels like it's made for kiting. There is none of that nose dancing you get from a shortboard with the wide point at center or slightly behind center. For those that don't kite, when you drive a shortboard with kite power at 20-25 mph, they don't like it so much. You can't always go slow, you need to drive upwind sometimes. El Fuego loves to drive upwind. It can take a lot of front foot loading and it seems to love it. It smokes upwind smooth as silk.
Dwight 
El Fuego – The Right Tool
I took El Fuego for a spin in 12 mph wind this morning. My 12m kite was barely flying. Lines going slack as I nursed it to the water. The fishy shape felt sooo much better than what I had been using, a 6'3 x 18 something wide Stretch. El Fuego is 5'11 x 20 wide. That extra width is just what I needed. It was never fair that kitesurfing specific surfboards were always 18 something wide. Great for the average 155 pound kiter, not so great for me.
The fishy shape felt so dam good. I could pump the front foot so easily and feel some results! It was crazy to be able to even ride in todays wind!
I took it for a spin strapless and strapped. Strapless never felt so easy and sweet! The traction pad kick under the front foot is awesome. The kick makes the front foot so much more secure under the drive of the kite.
Here is what Firewire says about this board.
Full High Performance Fish surfing! The main ingredients are the forward volume and nose area that provides resistance under front foot loading, when pumping down the line whilst looking for speed from nothing. The Fuego's lack in thickness and width from the centre to tail allows for on edge rail carves to offload that speed with plenty of squirt! The Firewire Fuego can be surfed as a Quad or Thruster with almost no adjustment to stance required. The rails are super forgiving. Ideal for someone looking for more float in a shorter board, but not wanting to go the full chunk, the Fuego offers multiple choices in the pursuit of small wave fun without sacrificing performance
Thursday Hurricane Photos
Photos by Scott
Z man on his 8'6 PSH WR 
Z 
Saturday Morning
When Hunter dropped from his 9'3 Ripper to the 8'4 Hokua his game went rock star. Go short people!
Hunter 8'4 Naish Hokua
Hunter lands it!
Hunter 8'4 Hokua 
Newbie Andy 8'10 Naish Hokua
Surf Machine 8'0 PSH WR 
Friday's Photos by Z
Surf Machine 8'0 PSH WR
Brad
Brad 8'0 PSH WR
Brad
Brad
New Toy in the House
My new Firewire for kitesurfing. Pads are not stuck down yet. I'll be installing strap inserts before that happens.
Yummie 2011 Naish 9'0 and 7'8
Massive Photo Day from Oak Island
Dwight….kited and SUPed today
Dwight
Andy who LEARNED to SUP on this 8'10 Naish 2 weeks ago. Impressive! 
One wave sequence of the two of us. Shot by Andy. Thanks Andy 
Hurricane Danielle Fun Today
Oak Island was the call today. We had it covered. SUP and Kitesurfing.
Jacky
Jacky
Jacky haulin the mail
Jacky
Jacky
The tools for the job today
Dwight 6'3 Stretch quad
Dwight
Dwight
Oh Yeah, we did some of this too 
North End CB
I pulled an old photo and enhanced it with iPhoto. Just to get me in the mood for the weekend! Taken at Marker 12
Waves at Dark Tonight
These photos were shot at dark. That forced the shutter speed down as low as 1/20. The low shutter speed made for some cool photos.
Brad flying
Brad
Todd number 1
Todd number 2
Ouch! 
Hunter Takes the Prize
The first 4 photos feature Hunter on one wave. A big deal for us surfing beach break crap. It was a 15 shot sequence 3 bottom turns and 3 lip hits. Hunter scored the most quality photos this morning. Some days it's Surf Machine, others it's Brad, but today it seemed like all the good stuff was Hunter. Do we have a new rock star at the North End?
1st Bottom Turn 
Lip Smack
2nd Bottom Turn
3rd Bottom Turn
Hunter
Hunter 8'4 Hokua
Brad
Jacky 8'4 Hokua
Jacky
Brad 8'0 PSH WR
Sunday Morning Crew 
Oak Island was the place for kiting today
Dwight
Dwight, photo by Jacky
Z wants to land
Clean side shore wind 
Life is Good Again
The tourists are gone…
Lots of room to kite at the north end of CB tonight. Blowing 20 side shore. Nice!
My 12m shot with iPhone 4 
NC's Best Downwind Course?
I think this downwind course might be the best in NC. The Fort Fisher Basin (Zekes Island on the map) has been famous with windsurfers from all over NC and SC for the past 25 years for its high winds. The most consistant, and strongest SW winds in the state, not counting Cape Hatteras. Just this past Thursday it was ripping 30 knots down this course. While the ocean was less, and is always less. This course gets some kind of wind amplification. Years ago we had NOAA come speak to our windsurfing club and try to explain this phenomenon. They attributed it to a surface low that develops everyday just inland of Southport. We thought it might be some river venturi. Whatever it is, we should have done some downwind runs on the course a long time ago. It will have to wait until next Spring now, as we just sold our downwind boards and put a close to this season of runs.
For those not from NC, this is the mouth of the Cape Fear River and the point is Cape Fear. The yellow pin marks our home.
We should be able to make lots of runs next Spring in winds easily exceeding 30 knots with several 40 knot runs. The best part about this run, is there is a ferry running the same route. You can walk onto the ferry with your board and surf home. No car shuttle required.
Messy Sunday Morning
Z on his new 8'6 PSH WR
Jacky
Z man
Jacky 8'4 Hokua
Jacky
Surf Machine (aka NCBA)
Surf Machine 8'0 PSH WR
Surf Machine 
PSH paddle design, the morning report
Jacky was catching more waves and missing way fewer on the new PSH paddle. I could easily see a faster paddle cadence and higher board speed. Smaller paddles equal quicker acceleration. Of course we knew that part, but what you don't know until you try it, is how much smaller you can go before you stop accelerating quicker. Clearly 7.3" wide is not too small. Factor in the power loss from big dihedral, and it's really impressive. You'd probably have to go below 7" in a flat blade (Kialoa) to feel similar power, assuming equal blade heights. FYI, this applies to surfing small boards, not racing.
The Morning Crew
Me sneaking a few on the 8'4 Hokua
Jacky with her PSH paddle 
Kitesurfing Bald Head Island, thanks Coastal Urge
Magazine quality shot taken by Jacky
Dwight 
Dwight
Dwight
Z man
The crew heading home after a fun day at Bald Head Island with Coastal Urge
The new PSH paddle design
You may recall Blane Chambers was a pioneer in the small paddle blade movement. He invented the narrow Kialoa Methane. At the time, the Methane was more narrow than anything else on the market. Now Blane has gone one step farther and released a 7.3" PSH blade with dihedral. Yes folks, he's gone dihedral. Big dihedral, like a C4 blade. I just bought this PSH blade to save Jacky's shoulder blade. She's been in tremendous pain and unable to sleep due to pain under her shoulder blade. She's been to the doctors office twice now for pain injections. This new paddle should greatly reduce the strain on whatever is wrong. Some of it is probably the nagging dislocated shoulder injury she suffered kitesurfing 10 years ago. Stay tuned for how the new paddle works. I'm sure everyone will want to try it this weekend.
7.3" wide PSH compared to 8.3" wide QB 
Why we go short
Why we go short? Someone asked this question recently. This morning I read the Naish press release for what's ahead and they answered this question perfectly, so here it is.
“The Hokua 7'8 and 7'3 lead the pack for stand-up boards designed for beach break surf conditions. While the classic SUP friendly breaks allow the use of longer boards with more momentum, these boards target the short and steep beach breaks that are common in many areas."
So if you think what you stand on is short now……….
BTW, that 7'8 Hokua is rated for surfers up to 190 lbs!
Get to it, downsize now and learn to stand up on one of these. 
The Bamboo Crew tears it up this morning
Jacky tearing it up on her Naish 8'4 Hokua
Jacky
Hunter 8'4 Hokua
Hunter (sequence shots) on his 8'4 Naish Hokua
Hunter lands it
Hunter
Surf Machine on his 8'0 bamboo WR
Brad tearing it up on his 8'0 PSH WR 
Brad lands it 
Don't be sad for this guy. He'll be on bamboo next weekend 
16 SUPs at CB Inlet this morning
Sorry folks, I thought I took lots of photos when we moved closer to the inlet and the sets got huge. Checked the camera and nothing there. I must have imagined all the photos.
Jacky on her 8'4 Naish
Surf Machine on his 8'0 PSH WR
A Bamboo Invasion 
North End Goes OFF Tonight
A Double Lifter
Dwight
The iPhone 4 Photographer 
Jacky Works the Early Shift
And that means it's time for me to blow off work and steal her 8'4……
A few shots from CB inlet this morning
The 8'4 leaves me exhausted after one hour
Sam on his new 9'2 PSH AA
Brad on his new 8'0 PSH wide ripper
Brad
Sam 
The Impossible is Possible
I surfed this bad to the bone stick for one hour tonight. It's freaky to think I can surf this thing. Looking at it, you can't figure out why I would be able to surf it. It's small! Hunter surfed with us on his new 8'4 too.
Jacky got injured and had to give it up. Surf was good tonight. Closing out hard on the sand bar with some size. Jacky was hit by the board on her thigh. It's bruised pretty good tonight.
Jacky's 8'4 with Versa-Traction on the nose.
Hunter's 8'4 and the sick new bag it comes with. White on one side and black on the other. 
Horrible Conditions
Surf Machine on Jacky's new 8'4 Hokua
Surf Machine testing Jacky's 8'4 Hokua
Surf Machine
Surf Machine shows us how its done
Dwight testing CB1s new stick
Jacky lost in the slop on her new 8'4 Hokua
CB1 on his brand spankin new 9'2 PSH bamboo wide ripper 
8'10 Naish Hokua FOR SALE
email for incredibly low price fishersfortblog at bellsouth.net
Jacky just bought the 8'4. She doesn't need this hot stick anymore. Includes Naish padded board bag and fins. This board is full wood wrap sandwich, just like the hot new bamboo models, except Naish painted over the wood. Flawless condition. You can't ding these wood sandwich boards. Buyer must pick up. No shipping.
Bamboo Demo Party All Weekend
Lots of new toys landed in town today. Coastal Urge has the 8'4 bamboo Hokua and Surf House has the PSH bamboo Rippers in stock. All these bamboo boards are light and ready to blow minds. We could use some bigger surf, but we'll be out at sunrise anyway. The North End of the CB is the place to be. See you there.
Naish 8'4 Hokua Limited Edition
PSH 8'0 Ripper 
PSH 9'2 Ripper
Dwight on the 8'4 Hokua 
Amazing Story
Read about 12 year old Riggs Napoleon's amazing race here.
Be sure to scroll down to Paddle Surf Hawaii's comments
FYI, Rigg's father is a world class waterman. 
Oak Island Went Off Today
Oak Island doesn't disappoint. The most steady SW wind around can be found there. Lots of kiters and windsurfers getting some. The first photo features the kites of the three Pleasure Island amigos who invaded Oak Island today.
Dwight, Jacky and Zs kites 
Locals 
Local windsurfer 
2011 Naish Sneak Preview
Some images are leaking out as we await the big Naish web site update.
I know the lengths. I had to scale the photos to approximate the width
1st image: 9'0 x 28 1/2 Hokua. A smaller version of this one at 8'5 is also coming. Pine deck from the Thailand factory
2nd image: 7'9 x 29 3/4 Hokua. Bamboo deck from the Chinese factory
3rd image: 7'3 x 29 3/4 Hokua. Bamboo deck from the Chinese factory
if anyone has more photos please send them!
North End Session Number 2
CB1 lit up on his windsurfer. My new Cabrinha 12m below. Nice kite! I forgot the camera, so these were shot with my iPhone 4.
Morning Photos by CB1
Who is this guy? Gotcha! hehe….
14'6 DW Raceboards for sale
Our current downwinding boards are up for sale. I'll shape new ones this Fall. It's a lot easier to sell while we're still in season than after the season, so they are available now. We go into our northeaster season soon. That's when we switch from downwinding back to kitesurfing and windsurfing. If you want to get into it cheap while there is still some season left, this is a good solution. These are full carbon vacuum bagged boards. Tough and light. $950 each. Contact Info: email fishersfortblog at bellsouth dot net or call nine one zero two nine seven four five six seven.
If you like whitecaps with your waves….
Surf Machine and CB1 discussing the morning session.
Sweet Video
The way this 195 lb Aussie rips on the Naish 8'4 is just amazing. Hunter, if yours ever comes in, there may be a line waiting on the beach to try it! 
Worn out
Top 2 photos: Dwight on a kite. I still remember how. It was fun. I'm using Jacky's 9m and her board.
3rd photo Brian and Z
4th photo Z's new 9m
SUPed in the morning, then wind sports in the afternoon. A complete day of fun.
Sunday Morning Video
Now I want one of these
How many toys can I fit in my garage. Windsurfing a race board adds a new dimension of fun. This is the Naish Glide 14 footer 
Jacky's a Cabrinha Kite Girl
Jacky on her new kite today at the north end of Carolina Beach
Jacky's 15 yr old Nephew
Jacky's brother and his family are visiting from Atlanta. The Mana sure makes it easy!
Tuesday Evening at the House
The 9'3 Hokua was fun tonight. I need to work harder on solving my goof ball backside style.
6 AM July 4th Session
Back in Paradise
I windsurfed. I kitesurfed. Fun morning. Z's new Cabrinha kite is nice! Kite images are of Z.
Lake downwinding better than ocean?
We did a downwinder on Cayuga Lake today. Wind was 5-15 mph. Glides were easy and easy to keep going. Easier to glide and keep the glide going, than when in the ocean, I think. Even with wind only about 5 mph, gliding was easy. I think the lack of ground swell running under you, like it does in the ocean, makes it easier to keep the glide going. Ground swell can sometimes being a nuisance, knocking you off a glide. I'd love to downwind on a lake in 25-30. It must be sick.
Watkins Glen NY today
Seneca Lake 
Pit Stop While on Vacation
At a rest stop in Pennsylvania, we watched this Amish woman tubing in a dress down the Susquehanna River. These photos were taken with my iPhone 4. All but the top photo was cropped using iPhoto. Amazing camera in this phone.
Windsurfing Magazine asked me to write our story.
It arrived in the mailbox today. I'm headlined on the cover! Bye-Bye Kites!
Morning Photos
This is all I took from this morning. Sorry, I'm getting lazy. I'm having too much fun surfing to mess with photos. Surf was pure glass from 6-7am, and sick. This was taken at 8am
A few snaps from this morning
Andy on the Hobie, and Bobby on the Mana. Bobby was stress testing his! That's all folks. I snapped one wave as I headed home. Andy went right, Bobby went left.
iPhone 4 Surf Report
Shot from our front porch, then I walked down to the beach and shot some more. It needs image stabilization. Maybe that will come on the iPhone 5. The screen quality is so fine, it looks 3D compared to the old one.
iphone 4 Surf Report from fishersfort on Vimeo. 
Small Surf, but good news………..
I found this message in my inbox after surfing. Wohoooooo!!!!
FYI, I started my fight with the Apple web site at 6am on the 15th. Three hours later I finally got the order through.
New Naish 7'3 in Action
I think it's the new 7'3 Hokua
If you're as blind as me…..
This next bit of rambling may help you.
Jacky and I wear contact lenses.
I have a history of not wearing sunglasses as often as I should. When I do wear them, I take them off at any opportunity. I just don't see as well when light is reduced. Jacky's the same way. I wonder how many other blind folk don't see as well with sunglasses on? When I'm driving, the sunglasses get taken off every time a cloud blocks the sun. Well not anymore. Keep reading.
About 2 years ago, I won a pair of Kaenon sunglasses at a Coastal Urge race. I was very impressed with how well I could see with these sunglasses on, finally! I could even wear them on a semi cloudy day and not feel like I had to rip them off.
About a month ago, Jacky went shopping for new sunglasses and tried on some other brands. She experienced the same old crap. She couldn't see real well with them on. She decided she had to stick with Kaenon's, they are just so much clearer, especially when you don't see well. 
If you know how to fish
Unfortunately I don't…….
Yellow Boards are Popular
People like them!
11 SUPs out this morning
Jacky on the 9'3 and Zs Dad trying to surf my 9'5 Mana.
Weird wind this morning. Off shore strong at sunrise, making for clean longgggg rides. Then a total glass off and elusive waves. Then a shift down the beach, along with an onshore wind. All between 6 and 10am.
SW 20-25 makes for fun night
[Do you know the guy in the photo?
Our neighbors took a SUP lesson today and came home with this brochure. I had no idea until today.
Our Afternoon Video
We bumped into a SUP clinic happening on the beach. They were at our take off spot for the afternoon downwinder.
CB Inlet was working this morning
New Size Naish Hokua Spy Shots
5 fin boxes. Setup quad. Wide and short. Diamond tail or bat tail. Fuller nose compared to other Hokua's. It looks thin. Anyone want to guess the length? The rear fins in the quad, look set in off the rail a lot. More of a drivey setup, than squirrely loose setup.
It cleaned up at sunset
A short clip
The battery died on me, but I did catch a cool wipeout before it did.
iPad video link (Adobe Must Die)
A few shots from this morning
This must of have been nice
I was browsing iPhoto today and found these photos of some wonderful sessions, I have zero memory of. Getting old is a bitch! The lower photo looks like I'm on the 8'10
What my board is capable of….
Robby Naish showing us how its done. You'll never see it perform like this under my feet! 
Bamboo 9'5 Mana at Coastal Urge
The new Mana with exposed bamboo and authentic Gore-tex vent. The old Mana also had a wood veneer deck, but was painted over white.
Surfing Video's are Back!
We had fun this morning. Sunrise to 10am without wind. Rare around here! 
Marker 15 was Popular this Morning
10 SUPers out at sunrise today.
Jacky in the bottom photo on the 9'3 Hokua. Photo credit to Andy. Check out more photos by Andy here
Jeoffrey's Gone to Naish Heaven
[Pretty Waves Today
No time for good pictures when it's this good. Surfing takes priority!
Coastal Urge Bald Head Island Location (Cape Fear)
Cape Fear Point Break?
The point looked sick at low tide. I didn't see it at high tide.
Summertime Sunday Morning Fun
The Podium Finishers
12'6 recreational mens winner Bryan Batten
Elite division podium
Elite Women 14' Karen Wrenn 1st, Katie Moore 2nd, Kim James 3rd
Above-Chris Hill mens 14' Elite winner and new Hobie team rider. Congrats Chris!
14′ and over recreational women. Jacky with her new Kialoa paddle
Waterman’s Challenge top three
Coastal Urge Waterman's Challenge
Karen Wrenn taking Jacky's board for a spin.
Billy Parker smoked the course on his kite and had a huge lead going into the SUP and swim legs. Billy took 1st place.
Billy finishing the swim while another competitor rounds the mark. The swim leg was last in this event.
Billy Parker racing Jacky's old board.
Coastal Urge SUP Cup Prerace
Intra Coastal SUP Cup Banquet
Peter Trow presentation.
Also premiering tonight was the SUP Cleanup video to be shown at the Outdoor Retailers show in Utah this summer. They have 15 chapters around the world and still adding more.
The SW wind is Back!
The BIG Weekend is Almost Here
Sign up here if you haven't already
Pre-registration on-line is required.
The Bamboo 9'5 Mana
In the US now!
The Naish Javelin
They arrived today at Coastal Urge. Info here
A Downwinding Afternoon
Wind was averaging 25-30. Bald Head Island showed a peak gust of 35. Swell was too big and hurting glides and speed. Surprise near end of video. 
A Windsurf Morning
Brian and Scott discussing something, while Alan's out on his 5.3 and Jacky in red on the 4.7
Jacky on the 4.7
Me on the 5.3
Sunday's Downwinder was Fun
Maybe My Best Downwind Video
I think this video gives the best view of what our downwind runs feel like.
Jacky's Board is Fastest Again
With each batch of boards I've done, Jacky's board always turns out the fastest. The reason, width. The narrowest board wins, all other things being equal. Last season mine was 28 wide, hers was 27. Same rockers. This season mine is 26.5 wide, hers is 26.0 wide.
Here is the GPS data from the run showing when I was on Jacky's board. Fast and effortless glides that just don't stop.
Our Downwinding Fins
My downwinding fin
Jacky’s downwinding fin
Our small fins. Low drag, good for flat water. Not enough directional feel for downwinding.
Fridays Downwind Run
My GPS Data from this run 
The Awesome Downwind Conditions Just Keep Coming
We've done downwinders 3 days this week, and the weekend looks great too. Two nights this week I played with my new Garmin GPS. Tonights peak speed was 10.2 mph. The glides just kept coming and coming with ease, as the graph shows with the frequent spikes in speed. Downwinding has been a blast this week.
Fun Downwinder, New Camera Angles
GPS downwind test run
Here is a snapshot of my starting point (our home is marked) and how far I drifted downwind paddling straight out to reach my starting point for the run, where I turned the GPS on. The wind died on me quick tonight. It had been super windy, but shut down fast and created a wobbly run. My glides were not fast, just average. My speed averaged 7-8 mph on each glide. I've glided a lot faster on days with smaller waves and stronger wind, so I think 10 mph or better should show up on GPS on a good day.
It's time to ban camping at Freeman Park
Here are photos of the garbage pulled from the surf Sunday morning. People can be pigs. It's out of control up there. Just look at how nice the south end is today. The south end is what the Freeman Park should be like.
Jacky's New Board is Done
WINDY Saturday
We were over powered windsurfing at 10am, so we switched to downwinding on our SUPs.
I introduced Brian to downwinding today.
The Basin Disaster
What I did Today
Jacky's downwind board 14'6 x 26
The Dangers of Downwinding
This is DJs 17ft Naish tumbling in the wind like a rag doll, with no hope of catching it swimming. Be smart out there. Wear a strong leash AND wear an inflatable life belt or jacket, on you, not tied to the board. DJs leash broke and he ended up holding onto a channel buoy until he was rescued. Don't expect someone else to come save you. They can't paddle upwind and get to you when it's blowing 30 knots. If a 30 pound board can tumble in the wind like this, imagine our 23 pound boards flying away.
Dennis Builds one for Tony Delgato
It looks sweet
[The Best Downwinder of the Year
We've been downwinding a lot this week. Classic summer sea breezes every day. Yesterday we did a run at WB. Just too much easterly bend in the wind up there. The wind and waves hit you more from the right side than the rear. Down here in CB we're not affected by the Wilmington sea breeze bending the wind around to the east every afternoon around 2 pm. Tonight the wind was around 25 mph with waist high rollers. The glides were fast and effortless. Probably the best downwinder this year. We both had a blast.
Afternoon Downwinder
It was a wonderful holiday with 3 days of surfing capped off with a downwinder in 10-15 mph of wind
Jacky and Brian McKenzie Photos Today
Brian having fun walking the nose of the 9'5 Mana
Jacky's Race Board Shaped Today
Below I'm showing some of my shaping details. The deck concave at 3/4" deep. The rail tuck starting near the back, then middle, and finally the front. Notice how the amount of tuck keeps increasing as you move forward, finally wrapping heavily up front. This allows the nose to ricochet when it hits the back of a wave. It prevents the forward rail from catch steering and kicking the back sideways. The rider stays in control and surfs the wave without any ill affects from slamming the backs of waves. No nose piercing of the waves either. Punching through a wave can make a board catch steer. That's why I favor wide noses that ricochet up the backs of waves instead of punching through them.
Local Made Bamboo EPS Vacuum Bagged Custom by Dennis
Downwind Raceboard No. 6
Hot wired and ready for shaping.
Downwind raceboard number 6 will be Jacky's. It's going to be 14'6 x 26 with a target weight of 22 lbs.
I’ve got my rockers and template dialed in just right for our ocean conditions during the summer SW wind. They plane early and they hit very high top speeds. It's easy to keep the plane going without poking the wave ahead in a way that knocks you off a plane. The stability is very high at a narrow width.
A few months ago, a fellow shaper set me the Naish 14 ft glide rocker, fully mapped in detail. I was stoked to find Naish's glide rocker, and the way it curves throughout the board, matched the rocker I had developed (independently) exactly from the tail to about 2/3 of it's length. My rocker deviated in the forward 1/3. Mine being more gradual, while the Glide curve accelerates more rapidly. With my rocker working just right for our SW wind, I didn't take anything from the Naish and kept mine the same.
I have not added any design features for flat water or upwind racing. This is strictly a no compromise, optimized shape for SW wind. It should be an awesome summer of downwind runs past our house.
Like Summer Today
A Few More
Jacky doing a head dip
Feel the SPEED
I shot video of 6 runs, but vibration kept shuting the camera down. Only one good run was filmed completely. Look close and you'll see the fin break loose on me once during the run. 
Windsurfing Rules Again
Jacky in the 3 photos above. Dwight in the upper photo.
About board quality, here is an update, since a few people have asked about this since buying Naish. My knowledge of "windsurf" board construction was out of date. Being out of windsurfing for 10 years, with zero exposure, left me way behind in knowledge. I cancelled all windsurf mags when I switched to kiting 10 years ago. I freaked when I saw no PVC sandwich in that broken Naish. Little did I know, wood sandwich had replaced PVC as the cutting edge construction with windsurf boards. Invented by Starboard, an entry level brand nobody took serious when I left the sport. Imagine the surprise to return to windsurfing and find Starboard had become the largest windsurf brand and wood was now the go-to material of choice.
Now that I've installed quad boxes in my Naish's and seen and felt the wood in my hands, I'm blown away by how tough it is. No wonder PSH has gone nuts over wood. The bonus of using wood, is the boards surf like good poly customs, without the dreaded hollow pop-out feel of PVC boards. These Naish boards don't have gel coat either, so no paint chips. 
Jacky Playing with the Mana
Spring Break in Florida
Morning Video at Cocoa Beach
The New JPs Smoke
Holly Crap, the new generation windsurf boards are FAST. Wind was hitting 30 at times this afternoon. What a blast. These shots are all Jacky. I should have surfing video from our dawn session uploaded this evening.
Guess Where our Truck is Parked
Road Trip
Loaded with Kitesurfing, Windsurfing, and SUP gear. Life is good when your gear is worth more than your truck! Next update Monday from a location with warm water.
A Wonderful Story
Chapter One
Chapter Two 
Andy on Saturday
Sunday Morning
Sorry, this one was too funny not to post.
You'll have to suffer with lots of photos of me today.
Dwight this Morning
Jacky is M.I.A. The shore break was taller than she was. The 9'3 Hokua
Z man, the New Surf Machine?
On his new 9'2 custom Sub Vector
Brian Autry, Formerly Known as Surf Machine
Brannon Smith this Morning
On his Sub Vector
Demo ride on the 9'5 Mana
Brad this Morning
Bad-ass Naish Quad
The 8'10 is now a quad. Time for Jacky to get some air!
Swiped and Enhanced
Brad watching, me surfing the Mana
8'0 Naish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyma6jaEBEc 
Great Weekend of Surfing
Although not much proof of how good it was. Beyond camera range today at CB Inlet. Autry has better water shots from Yesterday at Masonboro and soon he should have some shots from today.
Autry above 
8'4 Naish Video
Sunday at the Pier
Jacky on her 8'10 Naish today at the CB pier. It was so windy off shore today, I didn't think we'd be able to catch anything, but it turned out to be pretty easy surfing.
Wave of the day and too deep. Darn! 
Desperate Quad Test
No waves, but it was still fun trying. They felt good.
Q-1 FCS same as Controller/PSH Trailer??
This one looks close to me.
New PSH Fins
Very cool to see PSH likes pivot trailers too. Those Futures Controllers, all us Sub Vector guys fell in love with had pivot trailers. Maybe the Sub Vector posse was onto something.
The Naish 9'3 Quad is Ready to Rip
I just hope the rider can match the boards performance
9'3 Naish Bagged
Here it is Curtis. Breather cloth and bag removed. You are looking at wet peal ply. Tomorrow the peal ply will get ripped off. The red is a pigmented cab-o-sil and epoxy mix. It was needed this time because my boxes were not the exact cant angle I needed for this board. So I tilted the boxes and added filler. With painted boards, you can add pigment, which makes working with epoxy a lot easier. I learned the pigment trick from the Nelson factory.
Why FCS Fusion Boxes
I was asked why I used FCS Fusion fin boxes. http://www.surffcs.com/truth/ Click “Testing” tab, then “Impact Testing” Watch the videos 
EPS Quality
Can you spot the differences? Each sample is from a different supplier.
A) From Cobra in Thailand. The best fused EPS I've ever seen. Waterproof. Amazing quality.
B) From China. Close to sample A. Quality fusion of beads. Also looks waterproof
C) USA foam from Carpenter. Construction grade EPS. Not waterproof.
9'3 Naish Quad
Setting the toe below
Waves only a SUPer could love
Igor and Jacky
Sweet Wood Lam Shortboards
Here are the sweet vacuum bagged shortboards by Dennis. Dennis helped me with my first vacuum bagged raceboard. Look for Dennis at WB on this new stick
Sunrise Test
The quads work. It seemed to paddle fast. Waves too small to telling anything. Igor was out this morning too. He had fun yesterday on his Mana. He's stoked.
Naish Wood Lamination
Here is a tiny sample of the laminated wood layer covering the entire bottom of my Naish Mana. This piece of wood was removed when I routed out the quad fin boxes. It looks very much like what's inside a snowboard or ski. It sure makes for one tough as hell bottom skin. You won't find dimples or shell cuts in this boards bottom. I pealed away the inner layer of glass to expose the wood. The wood is sandwiched between layers of glass forming a tough as nails outer skin. I'm stoked by how tough this non divinycell (PVC) style of construction is. I can understand Blane's stoke on wood laminates.
Almost all Naish boards have wood laminations. Some Starboards, and now the semi-custom PSHs. Lots of windsurf boards have it too.
Dennis, if you read this, send me photos of your wood lam shortboard project.
The Quad 9'5 Naish Mana is Here
and it's all mine
More Yellow in the House
This bad boy is 9'3 and 18 lbs
Warmer Weather and Downwind Fun
The summer wind returns. It was wonderful today.
8'4 Naish
Look at this 209 lb guy on the 8'4 Naish.
Jacky and I Share the 8'10 Today
Dwight, Jacky, then Brian Autry below
Bagging the Patches
Quad 9'5 Naish Mana
Today's project was to quad my Mana. I can, so why not. It's fun and gives me more things to play with. First up is the layout. I tape over the existing front fins and recreate the shapers dots. Once I have the front fin marks, I can layout the rear fins off those. I choose to use Stretch's quad placement for the rears. Stretch moves his rear fins in 3/4" farther than his fronts (off the rail). This gives a quad more drive. The last photo shows the fins set in epoxy tinted with red pigment. Tomorrow the boxes get glass over patches.
I learned some interesting stuff about the Naish construction routing the holes. I could see 1mm thick wood vacuum bagged to the entire bottom. You can see the stripes of the wood grain if you look closely at the photos. There appears to be no gel coat, just primer and paint. That is great news. We all know gel coat chips and falls off in huge junks on the rails of some SUPs from 2 years ago. Gel coat is that thick tan colored crap used when placing a board in a mold. It fills the gaps. Yuk! I'm very impressed with the Naish construction. With a wood bottom it shouldn't get the bottom dimples you get with PVC foam bottoms.
Fun Surf this Morning
Waterman's Challenge combined with Intra Coastal SUP Cup
A new race course. Higher entry fees. I can't complain though, Coastal Urge runs an impressive event and it's worth every penny. We're lucky to have such a first class event in our own backyard.
The race is open to everyone
http://www.intracoastalsupcup.com/race.htm
EJ and Brandi will be doing the paddle clinic. http://www.intracoastalsupcup.com/clinics.htm
The new PRO's only Waterman Challenge, following the SUP race on the same day. (I wish I could do the windsurf and kitesurfing legs) http://www.intracoastalsupcup.com/waterman.htmCoastal Urge’s 1st Annual Waterman’s Challenge is a race incorporating kiteboarding, standup paddleboarding, windsurfing, and OC-1. This is an invite-only race with the top board, paddle, kite, and sail manufacturers in the world competing against each other. They will be utilizing their best waterman or woman to test their skills in all four disciplines.The Waterman’s Challenge will be held on the afternoon of May 15th 2010 at Wrightsville Beach, NC. The exact location is beach access #33 in front of the Blockade Runner Beach Resort on the Atlantic Ocean. Proceeds benefit SUP Cleanup.Invited: Airush, Bark, Bic, Best, C4 Waterman, Cabrinha, F-1, Flexifoil, Hobie, Jimmy Lewis, Kialoa, Liquid Force, Mistral, Naish, North Kiteboarding, North Sails, Ohana, Oxbow, Paddle Surf Hawaii, Quick Blade , RRD, Rusty, Sandwich Island Composites, Slingshot, Starboard, Surftech, Wainman Hawaii, Werner. 
Weekend Project
Guess what's getting quadded this weekend? Check back tomorrow for progress photos. The FCS Fusion plugs with jig.
Oh Crap! this is the hotel I stay at when in Pakistan
Pakistan police parade six Taliban terrorists – and 26 hand grenades, suicide vest and detonators to be used for attack on luxury hotel, Pearl Continental
Daily Mail: Last updated at 12:52 AM on 09th February 2010
Pakistan police claim to have foiled a bomb attack on five-star hotel, Pearl Continental as they paraded six suspected Taliban militants along with an arsenal of suicide vests, hand grenades and detonators.
The militants arrested on the outskirts of Lahore included a 14-year-old boy and a prayer leader from Pakistan's Khyber tribal area near the Afghan border, said police official Zulfikar Hameed.
Police seized an explosive-laden suicide vest, 26 hand grenades and five detonators from the suspects, who were travelling by car and motorcycle, said Mr Hameed.
The prayer leader was wearing the suicide vest. They told police they were targeting Americans at the Pearl Continental hotel in Lahore, the country's cultural capital, he said.
Despite their intentions, the men did not know for certain whether any Americans were staying at the hotel, Mr Hameed said. 
OMG the new 8'4 Naish
Could Jacky surf this one? Hummmmm 8'4 x 27 1/2 x 4 3/8
Sunday Fun
There were some bombs out there today. It blew hard NE early, then died and left the ocean big and messy. These were the conditions that entered my mind when I demoed that 9'5 Mana. I was thinking wow, this board is so stable it would be like cheating on days like this.
4 Hours of Fun and Carnage
Surf Machine (a.k.a. Brian Autry) doesn't ever hold back!
Surf Machine aborts just in time! 10'0 Sub Vector 
Time to pay the piper for Mr Smith 
Brads turn to pay up 
On to the good shots now. First up Todd on the 9'0 Bat tail 
Dwight on the 9'5 Mana 
Dwight on the 8'10 Hokua
Dwight on the 9'5 Mana again
Brad on a 9'0 custom Sub Vector
Sunset Session
Fun sunset session at the house. I tried the 8'10 first. That didn't go too well. I caught 2 waves and fell 10 times. A little too choppy out there from the all day NNE wind for that little ripper. Photos on the 9'5 tonight. If you look closely, you can get an idea of how much rocker this board has.
My best Autry imitation. I'm still working on it!
Strange, but this blunt nose board punches through waves with the ease of a pointy nose. By the way, I didn't fall.
Don't Miss This One
Demos again! Sounds fun
What You Missed?
Boo…. if you did miss it 
Sunday Session at CB Inlet
This video was shot using Autry's method. So most of the video I'm not in the cameras view. After editing there is not much to show you. The wool lined Patagonia made it possible to surf today (temps in the 30s) and have fun. If you are a cold weather wimp, spoil yourself with wool.
The Friday Downwind Run
Someone asked what's up with the baggy wetsuit. It's a windsurf specific wetsuit designed with baggy arms to prevent fatigue. Perfect for downwinding and windsurfing. 
NEW Sub Vector $500 BELOW Retail
My new 9'2 custom EPS Epoxy Sub Vector is now sitting on the rack at Surf House in Carolina Beach priced at $500 below retail.
Hurry if you want to take advantage of my momentary bout of insanity.
You can also pick your deck pad color
BTW, the wait for these is 4 months
This is Z mans custom Sub Vector (identical to mine) with his personalized tail slogan.
Why the Yellow Boards Rip
I measured the 9'5 Mana rocker today.
4″ tail rocker
6″ nose scoop
These are numbers you would normally associate with boards designed to rip. They are more than most boards I have measured recently for a board that size, and a lot more than some boards put in production just 2 years ago. That's why this longboard style SUP turns like a ripper model.
The 8'10 also has big rocker numbers
Igor sent me a text today. He picked up his 9'5 Mana during lunch and headed straight to the water. He caught a fun little session that confirmed his findings during the demo. He loved it.
Tonight I rushed home to get some of that strong summer wind to test my down wind board. The wind died on me.
YELLOW, our new favorite color
Our new Naish boards arrived today.
We took advantage of the manufacturer demos offered during the Cold Stroke by Coastal Urge. That turned out to be an expensive decision, because I fell in love with 2 boards. The 8'10 and 9'5 Naish.
The 8'10 is the real deal. A SUP that looks like a real shortboard, and comes pretty darn close to the feel of one. Jacky on the 8'10
Then came the 9'5, a longboard that actually rips. Not just a lazy log on the water. To cap it off, it's the most stable board I've ever SUPed on. Igor also had a blast on it. If ever there was a board you could pass around to your buddies and say try it, this is the one. You're an instant SUP surfer with this board. No balance required.
In one day I went from a guy who thought one all around board (the Sub Vector) was all I needed, to a guy who had to have the most radical shortboard SUP, and easiest longboard SUP, I've ever had under my feet.
The value of the Naish package helped with the painful decision to sell off our Sub Vectors and make the switch. Each Naish comes with a FREE "padded" board bag and sweet wood core fins.
Go Yellow, I'm converted!
The Most Advanced Race SUPs now Built in SC ??
Anyone remember Berky Composites from Islamorada Florida? The most advanced slalom boards built in the US during the 90s. Jacky and I owned 2 of them. All carbon fiber and built using higher pressure forming than the industry norm.
http://www.lmshape.com/page05.html
Well the guy behind that brand has resurfaced in South Carolina. He built a 38' trimaran. Now he's doing race SUPs. This is someone to watch out for. He designed for the top world touring pros of windsurfing. If you're looking for an edge, this is a guy worth checking out.
Interesting News this Week
This week I met with some old friends from Pakistan. I worked on a job there with them in 2006. I learned my friends were hit by a bomb in their offices and survived, but were thrown across the room. This happened just a few months ago. Everyday life is tough for them. They protected us like secret agents. Now I understand their protective measures were no joke. These photos show my daily routine and the measures they took to protect us.
Every morning they picked us up at the hotel in 3 identical white cars. We drove across town to a location where we hid behind a concrete wall. Behind the wall 3 identical buses arrived and we switched from the cars to a bus. The other buses were loaded with local Pakistani workers. We mixed in with locals. These buses had the windows covered with curtains to hide us. The buses took us to the work site. Coming home in the evening we did the reverse. Musical buses to cars! By the way, I enjoyed working there. Nice warm people.
Hiding on the bus behind curtains
Checking our bus for bombs
Barbershop
Checking for bombs
Chuck Patterson's Race Report
http://chuckpattersonsports.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/2nd-annual-cold-strokes-classic/ 
Naish Demo Day
The van loaded with Naish boards. All for me and Igor. Nobody else braved the temps in the 30s.
Matt from Naish getting the 8'10 ready
The 9'5
Notice the lonely mast foot. The 10'6 we had was missing the foot insert
8′10 fins
8′10
9′3 bottom showing the V. This is likely why the 9'3 is only a little more stable than the much smaller 8'10. The 8'10 is single concave.
Custom Sub Vectors Arriving Next Week
A batch of sweet looking custom Sub Vectors arrive next week at the Surf House. There is an extra un-claimed one in the batch. Stop by and check it out. I love the color of this copper one.
9'0 Sub Vector For Sale CHEAP
This board was made by C4 in California. It sells for $1725 new. It's hand shaped EPS/epoxy construction. Never dinged. It won't paint chip, ever. Jacky is going smaller. Time to unload quick so she can get another board.
email fishersfortblog@bellsouth.net for price
I can box and ship ground freight.
It was shaped thinner than the production models. But it's still way more stable than boards much bigger.
Jacky's Prize
Jacky on the Race Course
Chuck Patterson chatting with the racers on the course
Cold Stroke Race Report
Costal Urge Rocks!
Everyone who raced took home a prize. All 83 racers. About 100 entered, but some didn't show. Temp was in the 20s today.
Chuck Patterson joined the recreational racers for fun. He was cruising around the fleet chatting with everyone. Taking photos and having a blast. We enjoyed it too. He chatted with me and Jacky on the course. He'd drift back in the pack to chat with people, then zoom ahead and chat with others, almost effortlessly.
Womens Elite 12'6 Class
Mens Elite 12'6 Class
Unlimited Recreation Class Mens and Womens Winners
That is Jacky on the top step holding her prize. A Naish carbon shaft/wood blade paddle. It is gorgeous and light!
12′6 Recreational Men's and Women's Podium
First place mens won a JL Mano
First place womens won a Surftech Laird
Paddle for other places
Kialoa booth. Check out the new paddle blade graphics.
The Starboard Teams race board. Dead flat for most of it's length. Interesting for sure.
The new JL race board, production model
Come to the Cold Stroke Saturday (94 racers as of tonight)
I was at Dockside this afternoon and the parking lot looked like a trade show. It seemed like all the brands had tents setup. New boards were being taken from the wrappers everywhere I looked. All in preparation for heading to the trade show in Florida after the race.
All area SUPers should come check out the manufacturer displays tomorrow. It should be fun. I spent 4 hours surfing a lot of Naish board todays. Super fun day. The 8'10 is sick!
PSH Boards Coming to Town?
(Jan 7, Encinitas Ca) Boardworks announced that Blane Chambers of Paddle Surf Hawaii has signed on to be the latest addition to the newly formed SUP division.
The puzzling part of this new development is what will happen to the price of PSH boards? They can’t continue to sell at bargain basement prices. They’ll have to fall more in-line with others. It’s hard on the consumer when they retail for $1250 one season, then $1550 the next, then down to $950. Now what will the price be? This should be better in the long run. Stability of pricing equals better resale value. Wider brand accessibility for all. 
The Basin is CLOSED
The remodeling project has begun. When it's finished, we won't have to worry about people running over kite lines, because vehicles won't have beach access anymore. Those lazy people who couldn't walk 100 feet to the water will be pissed. haha on them.
New Sub Vector Color
I like it.
By the way, C4 went back to painted rails. Fine by me, much prettier.
We Felt the Freak
We understand what the Super Freak is all about now.
We windsurfed the Basin in 20-25 NE wind this morning. That folks, is dead off shore wind and gusty as hell by coastal standards. We rigged the sails for heavy wind and slogged to the wind line. We prepared to get yanked around, and have another frustrating session, as we try to adapt to gear 10 years advanced over what we rode last. To our total shock, the Freaks made the wind butter smooth and soft as a kitty. Like going from C kites to bow kites. Well done Jeff Henderson. No wonder all the locals ride Super Freaks.
We also dialed in the boards perfect too. I never would have thought moving the mast foot 1 inch would make a huge difference. These new super short boards are far more trim sensitive than boards were 10 years ago.
More Boards Coming
Coming this Spring to Surf House? Rusty hooks up with Boardworks to bring 3 models. 9'8 to 10'8.
Also coming are Dennis Pang's race boards.
Todays Downwind Run
The camera is mounted on my belt 
Wool Lined Wetsuit
My wool lined wetsuit turned inside out below. This is one wild looking wetsuit.
Now for the story behind this suit. If you haven't been to the Surf House yet, let me warn you, it's the most expensive place you'll ever eat at. You'll understand that comment if you've been there with the wife. If you haven't, let me explain the genius behind the Surf House Cafe/Retail concept.
Every time you stop by for a bite to eat, the wife ends up browsing the retail section. $$$, she always finds some new item she wants. Genius huh!
Well yesterday my male will power against shopping failed me. This arctic blast we're having at the moment, combined with yesterdays huge swell, made me weak. I was feeling sorry for myself and my lack of desire to get wet in this bitter weather. With my will power barely in check, I decided to try this wool lined suit on. Just for grins and giggles to see what all the fuss is about. The plan is to not like it, because it isn't cheap! Then I could continue with my excuse for not going surfing in arctic weather.
Where the plan goes to shit. The suit felt like a cozy layer of my favorite snowboarding underwear. So warm, and so wonderful feeling. It slides on nice with the wool against your skin. It fit like a glove, probably better than any suit I've ever owned. The flexibility feels better than anything I've tried before. Maybe because it only uses thin neoprene due to the thick wool layer built in. Somehow it just felt so good I couldn't walk out without it.
If you're feeling the need to spoil yourself, you need to try this suit on! http://www.surfhousenc.com/
The wool lining is thick and plush
Dual neck seals. Notice the inner and outer pieces you pull over your head.
Patagonia
For the NY Crew
Us windsurfing the Finger Lakes of NY
For the Charlotte Crew
Me windsurfing Lake Norman in front of the place were we lived
The Good Old Days
Jacky wave sailing the real Corncake Inlet. Before hurricane Fran closed it. Corncake was windsurfing nirvana. Side off wind and clean rights all day long. She's using a Hot Sails Maui sail.
Smoke on the water at the Basin. Me on my custom Angulo 
Our Competition Years
Jacky and Martin, mens and womens winner of the NC speed contest
The Islamorada Pro-Am contest from the air
The contestants take over the entire Holiday Isle Resort
Jacky hanging with Robby Naish and his wife
Jacky leading the women's fleet
This one's for Jeff H.
My Hood sail by Jeff Henderson. This sail was ahead of its time. Very cool looking material.
The Beginning
Jacky and I met hang gliding in 1979. This is me hang gliding above a sailplane at Harris Hill NY. Soaring Capital and home of the soaring museum. The black cord in the photo is my CB radio. It was the only way Jacky could find me after going cross country. During one cross country flight, she didn't find me until late at night sleeping along side the road freezing my butt off.
Now I Know
I've often wondered what it looks like to learn forward loops!
Windy Wednesday
Epic for windsurfing on Wednesday. Photo from the 4WD only Fort Fisher Recreation Area
Surf House Christmas Party
The party with live band….
Accidental Stability Check
We had wonderful NNE wind at 20-25 this morning, but the temp was only 40. So I waited until late morning, hoping to time my downwind run just before the wind died and right as the temps rose.
That didn't work out as planned. The wind was about 0-3. About the worst conditions you could ask for, after a morning blow from the NNE. The ultimate balance challenge. Lumpy seas left over from the morning wind and no wind now.
Notice my feet almost hanging over the rail. At 26.5 wide, there isn't much room for my natural stance width.
The run is nothing exciting, but I am excited by the insane stability of my newest shape. I did the entire run without getting wet. I could go down to 25.5 wide without any issues on the next board. Crazy!
Freestyle is the Most Shocking Difference in Windsurfing
My how windsurfing has changed in 10 years. Unbelievable. Sorry to my kiting friends, but this is way more fun to watch than handle pass twisty thingy tricks. Kitesurfing is struggling to reinvent the pro circuit to make it more interesting.
I Love This!
No More Strap Toe Jam
Oh the agony of booties and straps. Thursdays windsurf session brought this memory back. With kiting, booties and straps are comfortable. But windsurfing, oh boy does it stink. The load on the straps windsurfing is nothing like kiting. Imagine a supermodel in high heels with pointed toes, then you'll get an idea of what it feels like. The sail load drives your toes into the booties with high force. TOE JAM!
Vibram Five Finger booites prevent the dreaded strap toe jam. The catch is, you have to widen your screw spacing big time. The Vibram bootie is very wide at the front. It spreads your toes, so the front of your foot is very wide.
Sunrise Windsurf Mission
Rigged and waiting for the sun to rise. The wind switched on just after 8am, but didn't get great until 9:30. I've been waiting 2 weeks for a good basin day to get the new gear dialed in.
Wow, I've Been Discovered
Jeff Henderson wrote about me on his blog. Jeff is the owner and designer of Hot Sails Maui. I'm a fan of Hot Sails going back to my prior life as a windsurfer. I owned one of Jeff's original sail designs from Hood Sails when he lived on the east coast. He took the knowledge he gained in sail design as a young man and followed his dream. He moved to Maui and created Hot Sails Maui. That was like 20-25 years ago? I like sticking with a sail designer with experience! I avoid sail brands that change designers like they change underwear.
That old original Hood sail was redesigned by me into a camber induced sail, right when the camber inducer was invented. I wrote an article about how to make your own camber inducer and modify the sail. The article was published in a magazine and they gave me a lifetime free subscription for it. The mag folded a few years later.
Here is Jeff's blog http://www.hotsailsmaui.com/blog/2009/11/new-fades-on-super-freaks.html 
Wide Tails
Photo from last weekends Miami Pro-Am windsurf race. Believe it or not, these are the latest designs for light wind racing.
Jacky and I did a SUP ocean downwind run today. The new boards are so much fun.
The Hatteras Ferry Terminal Today
Jacky trying to sail a 4.7 with wind gusts to 42 showing at the terminal. That doesn't work! We heard about the wind readings after we finished windsurfing.
Me taking Jacky's 4.7 for a spin
The view looking up and down the beach 
This One is a Freak
My latest race board finally gets wet. Tested in this afternoons SW wind of 8-10 mph.
At 26 1/2 wide, it's as stable as my original (personal) 28" wide yellow board. That board and this board have wide tails, with this one having an "extra" wide tail. Wide tails rule for down wind runs in my opinion. All my wide tail boards excel at staying on a plane while walking the deck to trim the nose. Pin tails don't have that luxury. Wide tails just run and run, like the Energizer Bunny.
I’m claiming this one as my personal board. My next and final board, will be Jacky's. It will likely be 25 1/2 to 25 3/4 wide. Then I'll retire from board building until next Winter.
Thanksgiving, Like Summer at the Beach
Wonderful Memories
Ah, the joys of windsurfing I had forgotten about.
1) Don't kick the fin when water starting
2) Be prepared to loose skin during light wind water starts
It’s good to be back…..
Enhanced Oldies
Brad
Autry
Sexy Beast
My sexy new 5.8 Hot Sail Superfreak getting tested by CB1 this morning. Wohooo……
It’s fun to be back into windsurfing after a 10 year absence.
The North End was rockin
Awesome Kite Jump
A Real Race Fin
This is my new race fin. Custom made by Maui CNC. Maui CNC is the company making fins for the world tour pros (windsurfer) under various brand names, including Tectonics, MFC, Maui Ultra. These are the best built fins you can get. They specialize in fast turnaround of custom CNC G-10 fins made in Maui. I heard Ken Winner once ordered 2 or 3 grand in custom fins for race board development a year or so back.
These are so much better than the junk surf fins made from 3/8 fiberglass slabs that some guy with a grinder rounds the leading edge and tapers the back. Leaving the middle un-foiled and dead flat with no regard to anything resembling a proper foil.
Will it make me faster? Probably not, but at least I'll know my fin isn't slowing me down.
New Race Board Done
Race boards number 4 and 5 completed. On the left we have 14'6 x 26.5 with extra wide tail. On the right we have 14'6 x 27 with wide tail.
Wide tail model
Extra wide tail model 
Sunday Morning
Surfmachine was on fire this morning
Surfmachine pays for it
Jacky
This doesn't look good like a good ending is coming up
Ouch! Hunter gets taken out….
Hunter 
Big and Clean
The second wave hold down coming up!
Oops!
I see a PR Winter Vacation in our Future
Could this be us soon?
I've been burned out and bored by kiting this past year. I haven't touched a windsurfer in 10 years, after doing it for 20 years. Now that I've pulled my head out of the sand, I'm blown away by how much the sport has progressed in the last 10 years and now I'm hot to try it again. I'm going to take CB1s rig for a test session and see if the fire has returned.
North End Sunday Morning
Jacky's laughing at my falls…..
Pulled the Bag Today
Sealed the Blank Today
Almost Windsurfing
Hot Sails Super Freaks are here
A Real Race Fin
This is my new race fin. Custom made by Maui CNC. Maui CNC is the company making fins for the world tour pros (windsurfer) under various brand names, including Tectonics, MFC, Maui Ultra. These are the best built fins you can get. They specialize in fast turnaround of custom CNC G-10 fins made in Maui. I heard Ken Winner once ordered 2 or 3 grand in custom fins for race board development a year or so back.
These are so much better than the junk surf fins made from 3/8 fiberglass slabs that some guy with a grinder rounds the leading edge and tapers the back. Leaving the middle un-foiled and dead flat with no regard to anything resembling a proper foil.
Will it make me faster? Probably not, but at least I'll know my fin isn't slowing me down.
New Race Board Done
Race boards number 4 and 5 completed. On the left we have 14'6 x 26.5 with extra wide tail. On the right we have 14'6 x 27 with wide tail.
Wide tail model
Extra wide tail model
Sunday Morning
Surfmachine was on fire this morning
Surfmachine pays for it
Jacky
This doesn't look good like a good ending is coming up
Ouch! Hunter gets taken out….
Hunter
Big and Clean
The second wave hold down coming up!
Oops!
I see a PR Winter Vacation in our Future
Could this be us soon?
I've been burned out and bored by kiting this past year. I haven't touched a windsurfer in 10 years, after doing it for 20 years. Now that I've pulled my head out of the sand, I'm blown away by how much the sport has progressed in the last 10 years and now I'm hot to try it again. I'm going to take CB1s rig for a test session and see if the fire has returned.
North End Sunday Morning
Jacky's laughing at my falls…..
Pulled the Bag Today
Afternoon Session Bigger than Morning Session
Unfortunately, I missed it because I was buried in EPS snow. Z and Jacky surfed at the house. Z said some sets were double over Jacky's head. They were both wired on adrenaline when they finished. Oh, and it was pure glass too. Painful to hear about.
Everyone Wants to Be Like Surfmachine
Surfmachine returns (a.k.a. Autry)
Z, who's your daddy?
Back to Surfmachine
Brad showing Surfmachine he can do it too
Surfmachine again
Surfmachine’s secret identity was revealed when I spotted Z's entry for Autry in his iPhone. Brian Surfmachine. 
Hot Wire Cutting the Next Board
Race board number 5 is under way. 26 1/2 x 14'6 
New Race Board from Jimmy Lewis
Hunter's Blog
I just discovered Hunter's blog. Focus is the brand of custom kites Hunter and Paul founded. They design and build them in-house. I've been so far out of the loop since picking up SUP, I had no idea.
http://focuskites.blogspot.com/
http://www.focuskites.com/
Those are dam good looking kites!
More Sunday Photos
One Interesting Idea I Might Test Myself
This handle idea has my interest.
Sam Pa'e did a nice job with this video at Makaha. PonoBill on Maui is also a fan of tail handles.
They swear waves just wash right over you and no leash rides.
Opinions… 
Random Morning Shots
Jacky foreground. Autry on the wave.We missed you out there Brad!
Brian, are you sure you want to stand up right now?
Who's that over there?
Z man
Brian Autry
One Wave by Surf Machine
a.k.a. Brian AutryWe drove north this morning for ideal conditions.9'3 Sub Vector
The End. Finally! 
Greenroom Factory Open House
We went to the open house this afternoon. We didn't win the raffle for a free board. Darn! The guy who won had just ordered a custom board hours earlier.
Lots of blanks
Laminating room.
Shaping room
There is a paint room too, but didn't take a photo of that.
Lots of goodies on sale at the open house. We scored $10 changing robes, $30 shoes, $22 traction pads. Lots of sweet deals at the factory. If you missed it, you screwed up.
Rough and Sloppy Morning
They Work!
I normally go all Winter without booties. Deck pads and booties don't like each other. I surf like a stumble bum with booties. But these Five Finger booties really do seem to make a difference. I picked these up at Coastal Urge Friday.
Arctic Downwinder
What happened to our weather? 85 last Saturday, 50 this Saturday.
The fisherman like it
Boy does 23 lbs feel nice!
All 14'6 of her. It's a real nice ride.
By the way, it was yellow last weekend. I decided I liked windsurfer classic white better, so I sanded it down and repainted it this week. 
Greenroom Factory Open House
Next Saturday, do yourself a favor and check out the Greenroom surfboard factory. This may be Wilmington's best kept secret. It's not located where you think. This is not the Greenroom on South College Road. This is their factory, hidden behind the back door of the dry cleaners next to Buffalo Wild Wings at Monkey Junction. Hidden behind that unmarked door, is a huge surfboard factory occupying 3/4 of that retail space. The dry cleaner only has a tiny space inside the building.
The Greenroom makes and markets their own epoxy resin, all over the US. Their epoxy is one of the best on the market.
The Greenroom also builds one of the highest quality custom boards out there. A little known secret, is that most all surfboards are made with E cloth. But, the Greenroom uses lots of S cloth in their boards. S cloth is twice the cost of E, so 90% of surfboards do not contain any S cloth. But not at the Greenroom. They use the best stuff out there. Check them out next Saturday. You'll be glad you did.
I get my supplies there. You can pick up a custom board, or buy a kit for building one yourself and maybe get a few tips while there. Jimmy is very generous when it comes to helping home builders.
P.S. I hope everyone caught the fantastic surf tonight. The best session we've caught since the hurricanes were in town. 
No title
Discover how working with a professional shaper can drastically improve your surfing. 
LOCATED IN THE HANGERS BUILDING IN MONKEY JUNCTION OCTOBER 24 th 11am-6pm RAFFLE FOR FREE CUSTOM SURFBOARD TICKETS AVAILABLE AT FACTORY AND SHOP
TAKE YOUR SURFING TO THE NEXT LEVEL. JOIN US AT THE BOARD FACTORY FOR FREE FOOD, A $5 CHANCE TO WIN A FREE SURFBOARD (DRAWING AT 4) & A Q&A WITH LOCAL SHAPER, JIMMY KEITH. L earn how we utilize carbon fiber, parabolic stringers, marko eps blanks, and the aerialite glassing system to improve maneuverability, drive, and durability . BOARDSPORTS 910.799.2772 / FACTORY 910.791.8136
This is so Cool
Look at this photo of EJ racing on his Star-Board prototype. The nose is throwing a huge bow wave like a “motor boat”. It is just amazing to see these displacement designs advancing to the point they throw a bow wave that huge. I can only imagine how fast he must be going. 
Why I'm Not Shaping a Surfing SUP
I just realized I forgot to answer NCBA on this one. The short answer, I’m not qualified. Sure I could shape up something that looked like a surfboard, but that doesn’t mean it would satisfy me. More than likely it would do one thing well, and three things not so great. This would send me on a quest to shape more. It would never end. Look at me now with downwind boards! At least with downwind boards I have a knowledge base that is applicable. Downwind planing hulls are not surfboards. They are more like windsurfers you power with a paddle. I’ve been measuring windsurf rockers for 30 years. Being an engineer, I always had to know what the bottom details of every board I owned were. Just so I understood why they performed like they did. At the top levels of the sport, the shapers with the windsurf backgrounds are leading the way for “downwind planing shapes”. Foote a windsurf guy, Richard Greene, a legendary windsurf raceboard guy (SIC), and Harold Iggy (Naish). And now Peter Thommen (shaper to 8 or 9x world champion Dunkerbeck) has joined the SUP chase. We’ve got all the best of the best windsurf guys doing it now. It’s this windsurf connection that provides the roots of my love for planing and down-winding. 
New Board Gets Tested
We made two down wind runs today. The video was shot on the first run. On the second run, the wind hit 20 knots, but I didn't take the camera.
Jacky and I concluded the older board generates higher bust speeds, while the new board gets up to speed and holds the speed easier. The original (older) board is capable of a higher top speed than anything on the water we have tried. It's a rocketship, that constantly slams into the back of the next wave. That is the biggest challenge with the older board. How to manage the acceleration and keep the plane going. With the new board, it gets going easier, and keeps going easier, but doesn't get the turbo boost. In a distance race, the new board would win due to its ability to maintain speed.
Knowing exactly how these two boards differ in shape, I can make some assumptions about why this is. Although, I'm no expert, so I could be wrong.
The two boards tested today are the same width, same tail rocker and same nose rocker. But, how these rockers get from the tail to the mid point, and mid point to nose, is very different. On the new board, the rocker is more gradual through the middle, making it very efficient standing in the middle. To make a rocker more gradual through the middle, the curve must accelerate more to reach the total tail rocker value. The older board has a rocker more gradual in the area you stand at, when you take a step or two back. When you flatten the rocker "curve" back there, it makes the transition through the middle of the board more curved. Compromising performance in the middle, but increasing it a step or two back.
On the next board, I will tweak the rocker one more time and try to get a compromise between both boards.
Brian Autry, regarding the 12'6 racing class. All 12'6 racing shapes will be displacement within 2 years. I'd also guess the proliferation of displacement hulls 2 years from now, will cause a "surfboard" racing class to emerge. Just so the casual racer can show up with their surfboard, and not feel like they have to buy a race board to have fun. It takes about a year for the production boards to catch up and get displacement hulls in shops.
I think planing racing hulls will become a niche board, used in windy places. We'll probably see down wind races only become a reality in the traditional hots spots for windsurfers and kitesurfers, like Corpus Christi, Hood River, and Maui.
Not anti-flat water
It appears I upset some because I don't like flat water SUPing. I live on the ocean, so the ocean is what I like to do. If I had a home on the waterway, I'd probably build a flat water board.
I’m not into competition racing, so that style board would not be worthwhile for me. I was never an athlete. I've always been the tall skinny dork. I'll leave competition to the athletes.
Now its time to get back to building my board.
Another SUP give away
I’m giving my 14ft Race board away for $599 too. My new race board is almost done. There is no room for it on my racks in the garage. 
SUP give away
Get this thing out of my garage. $599 takes it.
Jacky’s 9'0 bat tail 
Primer Today
White paint goes on Friday. Yellow paint and pinstripe Saturday. Water test Sunday. Color scheme will match Zs sub vector. 
Finbox Installation for Mark
The yellow foam block sitting on the deck is what I embedded in the EPS blank at the finbox location. This particular piece is for the second board I'll be building. This yellow foam is rock hard PVC foam, a.k.a Divinycell.
Tonight I routed the hole in the deck for the finbox. You can see the hole in this photo.
Next I level the board and set the finbox in the hole using epoxy and cab-o-sil.
A junk fin and tape holds the box true. It's really just that simple. This is how windsurf boxes are set, not surfboards. This box installation is much stronger than a surfboard installation. For one, it's a windsurf box, not a surfboard box. Windsurf boxes by Chinook use fiberglass filled Dupont Zytel. It's so dam tough, it's near impossible to sand flush after setting. A surfboard box is cheap plastic, usually a 2 piece box and doesn't have the high glass fill.
I don't have to glass over the box because the PVC foam is so hard, and the box so tough.
Autry, no flat water race boards are in the cards. Why build a board for use on 4 days a year. The 4 Coastal Urge races. I'd never paddle flat water, if it wasn't for those 4 races.
This board is built for one thing, planing, and planing only happens with wind or waves at your back in the ocean. Super fun. 
Weight 20 lbs
Sanding tonight, yuk. The only part that is not fun.
Weight after hot coat is 20 lbs. That means the weight with finbox and paint should be around 23 lbs. Not to shabby for a 14'6 garage special. If my memory is correct, Randy's 14'0 Foote carbon board was 22 lbs. 
Sealed the Blank Today
Afternoon Session Bigger than Morning Session
Unfortunately, I missed it because I was buried in EPS snow. Z and Jacky surfed at the house. Z said some sets were double over Jacky's head. They were both wired on adrenaline when they finished. Oh, and it was pure glass too. Painful to hear about.
Everyone Wants to Be Like Surfmachine
Surfmachine returns (a.k.a. Autry)
Z, who's your daddy?
Back to Surfmachine
Brad showing Surfmachine he can do it too
Surfmachine again
Surfmachine’s secret identity was revealed when I spotted Z's entry for Autry in his iPhone. Brian Surfmachine.
Hot Wire Cutting the Next Board
Race board number 5 is under way. 26 1/2 x 14'6
New Race Board from Jimmy Lewis
Hunter's Blog
I just discovered Hunter's blog. Focus is the brand of custom kites Hunter and Paul founded. They design and build them in-house. I've been so far out of the loop since picking up SUP, I had no idea.
http://focuskites.blogspot.com/
http://www.focuskites.com/
Those are dam good looking kites!
More Sunday Photos
One Interesting Idea I Might Test Myself
This handle idea has my interest.
Sam Pa'e did a nice job with this video at Makaha. PonoBill on Maui is also a fan of tail handles.
They swear waves just wash right over you and no leash rides.
Opinions…
Random Morning Shots
Jacky foreground. Autry on the wave.We missed you out there Brad!
Brian, are you sure you want to stand up right now?
Who's that over there?
Z man
Brian Autry
One Wave by Surf Machine
a.k.a. Brian AutryWe drove north this morning for ideal conditions.9'3 Sub Vector
The End. Finally!
Greenroom Factory Open House
We went to the open house this afternoon. We didn't win the raffle for a free board. Darn! The guy who won had just ordered a custom board hours earlier.
Lots of blanks
Laminating room.
Shaping room
There is a paint room too, but didn't take a photo of that.
Lots of goodies on sale at the open house. We scored $10 changing robes, $30 shoes, $22 traction pads. Lots of sweet deals at the factory. If you missed it, you screwed up.
Rough and Sloppy Morning
They Work!
I normally go all Winter without booties. Deck pads and booties don't like each other. I surf like a stumble bum with booties. But these Five Finger booties really do seem to make a difference. I picked these up at Coastal Urge Friday.
Arctic Downwinder
What happened to our weather? 85 last Saturday, 50 this Saturday.
The fisherman like it
Boy does 23 lbs feel nice!
All 14'6 of her. It's a real nice ride.
By the way, it was yellow last weekend. I decided I liked windsurfer classic white better, so I sanded it down and repainted it this week.
Greenroom Factory Open House
Next Saturday, do yourself a favor and check out the Greenroom surfboard factory. This may be Wilmington's best kept secret. It's not located where you think. This is not the Greenroom on South College Road. This is their factory, hidden behind the back door of the dry cleaners next to Buffalo Wild Wings at Monkey Junction. Hidden behind that unmarked door, is a huge surfboard factory occupying 3/4 of that retail space. The dry cleaner only has a tiny space inside the building.
The Greenroom makes and markets their own epoxy resin, all over the US. Their epoxy is one of the best on the market.
The Greenroom also builds one of the highest quality custom boards out there. A little known secret, is that most all surfboards are made with E cloth. But, the Greenroom uses lots of S cloth in their boards. S cloth is twice the cost of E, so 90% of surfboards do not contain any S cloth. But not at the Greenroom. They use the best stuff out there. Check them out next Saturday. You'll be glad you did.
I get my supplies there. You can pick up a custom board, or buy a kit for building one yourself and maybe get a few tips while there. Jimmy is very generous when it comes to helping home builders.
P.S. I hope everyone caught the fantastic surf tonight. The best session we've caught since the hurricanes were in town.
No title
Discover how working with a professional shaper can drastically improve your surfing.
LOCATED IN THE HANGERS BUILDING IN MONKEY JUNCTION OCTOBER 24 th 11am-6pm RAFFLE FOR FREE CUSTOM SURFBOARD TICKETS AVAILABLE AT FACTORY AND SHOP
TAKE YOUR SURFING TO THE NEXT LEVEL. JOIN US AT THE BOARD FACTORY FOR FREE FOOD, A $5 CHANCE TO WIN A FREE SURFBOARD (DRAWING AT 4) & A Q&A WITH LOCAL SHAPER, JIMMY KEITH. L earn how we utilize carbon fiber, parabolic stringers, marko eps blanks, and the aerialite glassing system to improve maneuverability, drive, and durability . BOARDSPORTS 910.799.2772 / FACTORY 910.791.8136
This is so Cool
Look at this photo of EJ racing on his Star-Board prototype. The nose is throwing a huge bow wave like a “motor boat”. It is just amazing to see these displacement designs advancing to the point they throw a bow wave that huge. I can only imagine how fast he must be going.
Why I'm Not Shaping a Surfing SUP
I just realized I forgot to answer NCBA on this one. The short answer, I’m not qualified. Sure I could shape up something that looked like a surfboard, but that doesn’t mean it would satisfy me. More than likely it would do one thing well, and three things not so great. This would send me on a quest to shape more. It would never end. Look at me now with downwind boards! At least with downwind boards I have a knowledge base that is applicable. Downwind planing hulls are not surfboards. They are more like windsurfers you power with a paddle. I’ve been measuring windsurf rockers for 30 years. Being an engineer, I always had to know what the bottom details of every board I owned were. Just so I understood why they performed like they did. At the top levels of the sport, the shapers with the windsurf backgrounds are leading the way for “downwind planing shapes”. Foote a windsurf guy, Richard Greene, a legendary windsurf raceboard guy (SIC), and Harold Iggy (Naish). And now Peter Thommen (shaper to 8 or 9x world champion Dunkerbeck) has joined the SUP chase. We’ve got all the best of the best windsurf guys doing it now. It’s this windsurf connection that provides the roots of my love for planing and down-winding.
New Board Gets Tested
We made two down wind runs today. The video was shot on the first run. On the second run, the wind hit 20 knots, but I didn't take the camera.
Jacky and I concluded the older board generates higher bust speeds, while the new board gets up to speed and holds the speed easier. The original (older) board is capable of a higher top speed than anything on the water we have tried. It's a rocketship, that constantly slams into the back of the next wave. That is the biggest challenge with the older board. How to manage the acceleration and keep the plane going. With the new board, it gets going easier, and keeps going easier, but doesn't get the turbo boost. In a distance race, the new board would win due to its ability to maintain speed.
Knowing exactly how these two boards differ in shape, I can make some assumptions about why this is. Although, I'm no expert, so I could be wrong.
The two boards tested today are the same width, same tail rocker and same nose rocker. But, how these rockers get from the tail to the mid point, and mid point to nose, is very different. On the new board, the rocker is more gradual through the middle, making it very efficient standing in the middle. To make a rocker more gradual through the middle, the curve must accelerate more to reach the total tail rocker value. The older board has a rocker more gradual in the area you stand at, when you take a step or two back. When you flatten the rocker "curve" back there, it makes the transition through the middle of the board more curved. Compromising performance in the middle, but increasing it a step or two back.
On the next board, I will tweak the rocker one more time and try to get a compromise between both boards.
Brian Autry, regarding the 12'6 racing class. All 12'6 racing shapes will be displacement within 2 years. I'd also guess the proliferation of displacement hulls 2 years from now, will cause a "surfboard" racing class to emerge. Just so the casual racer can show up with their surfboard, and not feel like they have to buy a race board to have fun. It takes about a year for the production boards to catch up and get displacement hulls in shops.
I think planing racing hulls will become a niche board, used in windy places. We'll probably see down wind races only become a reality in the traditional hots spots for windsurfers and kitesurfers, like Corpus Christi, Hood River, and Maui.
Not anti-flat water
It appears I upset some because I don't like flat water SUPing. I live on the ocean, so the ocean is what I like to do. If I had a home on the waterway, I'd probably build a flat water board.
I’m not into competition racing, so that style board would not be worthwhile for me. I was never an athlete. I've always been the tall skinny dork. I'll leave competition to the athletes.
Now its time to get back to building my board.
Another SUP give away
I’m giving my 14ft Race board away for $599 too. My new race board is almost done. There is no room for it on my racks in the garage.
SUP give away
Get this thing out of my garage. $599 takes it.
Jacky’s 9'0 bat tail
Primer Today
White paint goes on Friday. Yellow paint and pinstripe Saturday. Water test Sunday. Color scheme will match Zs sub vector.
Finbox Installation for Mark
The yellow foam block sitting on the deck is what I embedded in the EPS blank at the finbox location. This particular piece is for the second board I'll be building. This yellow foam is rock hard PVC foam, a.k.a Divinycell.
Tonight I routed the hole in the deck for the finbox. You can see the hole in this photo.
Next I level the board and set the finbox in the hole using epoxy and cab-o-sil.
A junk fin and tape holds the box true. It's really just that simple. This is how windsurf boxes are set, not surfboards. This box installation is much stronger than a surfboard installation. For one, it's a windsurf box, not a surfboard box. Windsurf boxes by Chinook use fiberglass filled Dupont Zytel. It's so dam tough, it's near impossible to sand flush after setting. A surfboard box is cheap plastic, usually a 2 piece box and doesn't have the high glass fill.
I don't have to glass over the box because the PVC foam is so hard, and the box so tough.
Autry, no flat water race boards are in the cards. Why build a board for use on 4 days a year. The 4 Coastal Urge races. I'd never paddle flat water, if it wasn't for those 4 races.
This board is built for one thing, planing, and planing only happens with wind or waves at your back in the ocean. Super fun.
Weight 20 lbs
Sanding tonight, yuk. The only part that is not fun.
Weight after hot coat is 20 lbs. That means the weight with finbox and paint should be around 23 lbs. Not to shabby for a 14'6 garage special. If my memory is correct, Randy's 14'0 Foote carbon board was 22 lbs.
Removed from Bag
Here is the board just after removal from the bag. Shown bottom side up. You can see the peal ply and breather fabric.
Here I'm ripping off the layers of peal ply and breather fabric. The final laminate is smooth and pretty.
I'm following the Nelson Factory build procedure. They squeegee cab-o-sil and epoxy, tinted yellow, to fill the weave. Here you can see how brilliant this technique is. The yellow tint provides excellent visual help in determining where the epoxy is filling as needed and where it needs to be squeegeed more. This yellow ring is where my Divinycell insert is located for the leash plug.
After the yellow cab-o-sil epoxy step, I applied plain epoxy tinted blue. The blue epoxy is the true hot coat. All applied by squeegee. Tomorrow the spot putty coats will be applied. All this extra work to apply a hot coat is just to save weight. With standard surfboard construction, the hot coat is applied with a brush to allow it to flow level and finish out pretty. The problem with that method is epoxy is very thick, so the hot coat ends up being thick and heavy. Using the Nelson Factory (windsurfer) technique allowed me to use about 1/8 the resin I used on my previous board, done the standard surfboard way.
The board weighs 17.5 lbs straight out of the bag. Tomorrow I'll know the weight with hot coat and then I'll have a good guess at the final weight with fin box and paint. 
Deck Bagged
Board pulled from the bag and rocker being checked. It matches the rocker stick perfectly.A few bubbles in the lam, but better than my previous attempt.
Thanks go to Dennis for the help today. Today we worked from 7 am to 2 pm. 
2-3 feet per Swell Info – WRONG!
Jacky visible through the spray
Jacky
I didn't have the good camera because it was only 2-3 feet!!!!! 
Bottom Bagged
Prep for bagging done. You are looking at everything cut and laying on the board. Carbon, E glass, peal ply, breather fabric, and bag.
Bagging complete and sitting on the rocker jig
The rocker jig/table supporting the rocker
A big thanks to Dennis and Bryan for the help today. These guys are future baggers. 
Surfhouse
Just tried the new meat loaf sandwich. It's to die for. You must try it, you'll be blown away. Tell them you heard it here. 
Download this iPhone App
http://www.uquery.com/apps/327041514 A wonderful app from Swell Info. I loaded Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach, and Holden Beach. 
Vacuum Bagging Magic
Here is a video that shows how amazingly tough a board is when vacuum bagged.
Some conclusions drawn from two practice runs with vacuum bagging:
1) Thin vacuum bags work better than thick.2) Be neat with the masking tape. It becomes your enemy when sliding the bag over the board.3) I love pre-wetting the cloth on a table. Much neater and less wasteful of resin.4) A vacuum regulator is much nicer to use than just venting with a needle valve. Safer too, for the board. 
SE SUP Championship
Here are the finish times of the top racers.
Jeremy Riggs of Maui won.
Local boy Chris Hill came very close to winning. He lead most of the race on his newly acquired Holoholo, against some very tricked out custom displacement hulls. The top 3 stayed lined up drafting each other for much of the race. Jeremy spotted a boat wake and used his mastery of down winding to catch a runner and pull ahead by 100 feet, and that was the difference.
Coastal Urge put on another first class event. If you missed it, you missed another fun event.
The winner of each class.
Jeremy Riggs with his huge trophy. I wonder how that will travel on the plane home to Maui!
Lets Make a Deal
We'll be racing both these boards at Saturdays race. Let's make a deal. If you're curious, just ask and you can try either one. We're there for fun only. I've got no problem jumping off mid race and swapping boards. Or just ask after the race for a demo paddle. You won't find a cheaper way to get into down-wind racing. In case you're wondering why 14 feet, 14 feet is generally considered the minimum length for fun ocean down wind runs. At 12'6 you just don't get the glides or speed. Anything over 14 feet requires a rudder. 14 is the magic length for coastal off shore cruising.
Generally this is how to pick your race board:
1) Displacement (round bottom) hulls beat planing (flat bottom) hulls in flat water circuit races.2) Longer boards are faster than shorter boards3) Planing (flat bottom) hulls beat displacement (round bottom) hulls where planing is possible. Planing is only possible with wind or swell at your back. You cannot put a board on a plane with human power alone
So choose your style of fun. These boards are planing hulls designed for ocean down-winding.
Jacky's Board Gets a Workout – Again
Jacky on Jacky's board
Dwight on Jacky's board
The Race is this Weekend
Vacuum Bagging Practice
Trial run of my vacuum bagging setup. Some scrap foam and glass with a fake rocker jig inside the bag. When it happens for real, the rocker jig will be inside the bag. This locks down the rocker. My rocker jig has a 2" wide aluminum ruler screwed to the edge, creating a stable platform and smooth, precise rocker.
Busy Day Board Building
Rocker hot wired
Laying out template. Designed using AKU shaper software
Hot wire cutting template
Template cut done
Hanging tarp so I can make a huge mess
Shaping done, mess made
Finished shape
Why Quads Rule
I have been a quad fan since getting my first Stretch quad 2 years ago. I read the shapers forum daily and recently found some fascinating info from one of the grandfathers of quad. There are 2 or 3 shapers who are considered the grandfathers of quad by the industry. These guys are often used as the benchmark when another shaper jumps on the quad revival bandwagon. No joke, I know two stories about shapers who tried to copy Stretch boards and improve on them. The following quote from the shapers forum is not from Stretch, but another of the grandfathers sharing his knowledge of quads. POST BELOW Mr Champ KS (Kelly Slater) though, has been dabbling enthusiastically, open to info, is ripping and loves them. Funny how it will take a competition win to make the skeptics murmur their amazement and willingness to try one.. but which fin set up? Maybe the same as KSs (Kelly Slater) and where is that found…? If you have a Thruster with an average sized set of fins… and you add an extra back fin of the same size to make a four fin..where does the sketchiness come from?
It can only come from incorrect fin placement.
Due to many shapers making quads with fin positioning as in 'the good old days' where the rear fins were close to the rail, certain problems arise. To counteract rail-grabbing when using larger fins, they reduce fin size which means the board feels OK when on a rail but when flattened off it has a skatey insecure feel. Toeing the fins in more also helps to counteract the rail grabbing but accentuates the twin-fin 'throw the board from one side to the other' feel as opposed to a smooth rail to rail transition.
Positioning the fins away from the rail at the correct proportion to the tail width at 12" up means that larger rear fins can be used, the board will recenter itself between turns in a more 'Thrusterish' manner but will have all the added benefits of increased drive and holding power. Have the back fins closer also allows for a greater pivotal feel as when the board in forced in a flatter pivotal turn, the back fins help each other to move laterally. Too close together and you lose drive. Too far apart in relation to tail width, too much hold and twin-fin effect. Due to the long standing negativity towards quads of the past, there has been a tendency to try to fit them into the fishy retro market.
Quads are though, logically a better choice for wider shapes, (Sub Vector) the true set-up for full on power surfing. No need to nurse bottom turns and always ready for slamming a full railed gouge.
With correct fin positioning all the same maneuvers you do on your Thruster can be performed on your quad and more. Unfortunately for the established shaping elite's hierarchal order it's all a bit of a shake up and in some cases with the inquisitional members, a bit of an unwanted embarrassment. Generally through the 'Thruster' era, having a large quiver of 'Thrusters' was a way to ensure that you had the adequate board for the size of the waves you were riding. To handle the high speeds of big wave riding, a narrower tail is needed to bring the center fin closer to the surface level of the water. You will no doubt remember, thundering through the bowl section light on a rail and feel your tail fin dropping out of the wave, your board drift and roll over and you eat shite.. Maybe it happened in a bottom turn when you didn't weigh the tail down enough to submerge the tail fin. Commonly occurs with standard short-boards of normal width and wider and even with guns. Are you double setting and nursing your bottom turns on large waves or 'two- wooding'?!. Tail fins too close too each other in relation to tail width are no good because they cancel each other out on a heavily back-footed turn and lack drive. Just as is the tail fin of a 'Thruster' no good too far back or forward or of the wrong type, creating a too loose or a too stiff or whatever board. * Quads are faster due to having all fins driving through turns, or even just running across a wave face. All fins are propelling the board forward much like sails or propeller blades. This is because a board in these situations, is in a constant lateral drift and the water passing under the board, divides between the fins to pass out both sides of the tail while redirecting off the fins, rearward, to form thrust.
* The back fin of a thruster generally sits in the dividing line of this displaced water so provides no added speed but gives direction and control with a dragging effect…. With a Quad you can have looser but more secure guns as you can move the cluster further up the board in relation to the sweet spot. This is not possible with Thrusters as much because the tail fin will move further away from the rail line and will give the insecurity when it leaves the water. Often longer tail fins are used to compensate.
We compensate for the flaws of 'Thrusters' and only after riding a correctly made and correctly finned quad do we realize how limited we were with our three finned equipment. The limits with a quad will be your ability, and leg strength. You will drop into the wave late and with confidence and you will slam the bottom turn, either forward on the board or off the tail with security and added drive. Like anything made, take your shiny BMW for example, if that wheel alignment is out and the tyres are wrong, it may as well be a shopping trolley. It has taken many years to suss out the nitty gritty, and there are so many variables with quads. 
14 ft Race Board FOR SALE
Our all carbon race boards are up for sale. To be sold at my actual cost of materials. I'm allowing one to be taken now, and the other in about 4-6 weeks. Once one is sold, the other is off the market until I finish building the board I'm currently shaping. I don't care which board sells first, Jacky's or mine. If interested call or email. Contact info in my profile.
Cost of this board:$175 foam$200 epoxy resin$250 carbon fiber$50 E glass$10 fin box$16 Gore-tex vent$110 pad$49 fin$16 cabosil$20 Divinycell inserts for box and plugs$896 total cost of materials
Race Board Progress Update
I used AKU shaper software to plot a new rocker template. I printed the template full size yesterday on an engineering drawing printer. I liked this rocker better than the one I created using the old school technique of plotting the curve with nails and a stick, so I remade all my templates today. Hotwire and rocker jig for vacuum bagging.
EPS block arrived today
Enough foam for 3 boards. Advertised density 1 lb, actual 7/8 lb. Typical of general construction grade EPS to come in with actual density at the low tolerance limit. High dollar surfboard grade EPS, from top US makers comes in at true densities. The cheap light stuff is perfect for light race boards made from all carbon.
Supplies shown below-Carbon FiberE glassBreather FabricPeel PlyVacuum BagVacuum PumpEpoxy
Plan View Template Changes
Here is the new race board template laying on my current race board. I trimmed some fat from the hips, and fattened up the forward area.
Everybody Surfs Jacky's Board
Z surfs Jacky's board
Dwight surfs Jacky's board
Brian Autry surfs Jacky's board
Dwight surfs Jacky's board
Nice!
Face plant
Join Me
Lets put together an order for custom sub vectors at Surf House. So we can avoid shipping cost. Shipping multiple boards is the same cost as shipping one board. Multi board shipments allow shops to spread cost out and not have to pass it on to their customers.
Jacky’s board is so sweet, I need one, otherwise she'll never get to surf hers.
I’m going for the 9'6 Sub Vector using the stock width and thickness of 28 3/4 wide x 3 11/16 thick. The slight increase in length over my 9'3 will help when surfing the huge mushy inlet waves and the crazy light weight will allow it to still out perform my heavy 9'3 in smaller steep beach break surf.
If you'd like to see, feel, and hold Jacky's amazing board, just let me know and I'll drop it at the Surf House for afternoon viewing.
New Photos
Desperate man sneaking a ride on Jacky's board at the Cove
Oops, not looking to good
Paybacks a bitch
Boy these light boards snap quick.
z surfing the inlet last weekend
Z man
Z and CB1 lost in the inlet
CB1 swallowed whole
Inflatable Sub Vector- Sick!
I hope they are affordable! 
The Updates Keep Coming
The owner of the broken Naish just sent me these photos. It was not the AST model. It was last years high end model. Lets hope Naish changed things up for 2010. I’d love for Naish to respond. 
More Construction Details
More construction details for those with inquiring minds. I’ve add personal notes to all the images. The Starboard range is too complicated in my opinion. The consumer would be better served with fewer choices. 
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Update on Board Construction
My faith in Naish is restored. The board shown below is their AST construction. My mistake was seeing the wood graphic and thinking it was their high end construction. Most brands have added price point models to their lineup this season due to the high cost of SUPs. The AST construction is Naish’s price point model, so all is right in my world and my faith in Robbie is restored. I will leave this post below up, because so many people ask me about board construction and seem confused by it all. Now you can see exactly what you are paying big bucks for and what the deal is when you chose the cheaper option. Therefore, don’t come crying if you have issues with the cheaper options. If you’re a cruiser and not an abuser, the cheaper option is just fine. 
Board Construction – Things You Should Know
A recent post on the forum revealed a shocking interior view of a major, premium SUP brand, Naish. Not well known with surfers, but revered as god-like with the windsurfing crowd. My best wave board, back in the day, was a custom Naish that Robbies mom shipped to me.
You are looking at 1 lb EPS covered on the rail with just a few layers of fiberglass. This construction detail is well known to be Kmart type construction in the windsurfing community. Here is why. 1 lb EPS takes in water like crazy and doesn't let go. The large beads of foam allow water between the beads. Some foam companies claim to have reduced this issue with improved manufacturing tricks. But 1 lb foam is so soft, it will actually dent if you grip the bare foam too tight with your fingers. I know, my race boards are 1 lb EPS foam. That's why I use all carbon fiber to laminate them.
Below is what has always been considered the industry "standard" for quality construction. The tan colored layer of foam is near rock hard PVC foam. Sometimes called Divinycell. This tan PVC foam provides impact strength, breaking strength, and a penetration barrier against water absorption should you ding it. This PVC barrier foam is what makes it possible to build durable boards with light, soft, 1 lb EPS core foam, the white styrofoam.
Another example. On this board the PVC hard foam is green.
Here is a typical cheap board, built in the rails just like the yellow board above. This is probably a BIC or similar cheap-o board.
Now for some other constructions and ways around these issues.
1) Custom hand shaped boards build in the US, like Jacky's new custom sub vector built in CA. These boards use 1.5-2.0 lb foam. Increasing the density reduces water absorption and special processing on the foam, heat and pressure, increase its resistance to water should it be dinged. The wood center stringer provides the additional breaking strength needed with a moderate weight foam. No hard PVC foam required. Although it should be noted, this construction is not bomb proof and is generally best for experienced surfers who require the best and are willing to accept the compromises on board life.
2) Chinese hand glassed customs made from high density 2.5 lb EPS foam. This construction is currently used by C4 in the Pohaku range. With 2.5 lb foam you have no risk of water penetration and you avoid the costly addition of the PVC hard foam layer. The result is an economical alternative to producing a durable board for general consumer use.
Recently I've been slightly disenchanted with the heavy weight on my sub vector. You would expect as much, after surfing Jacky's feather light custom. But after seeing this Naish, my heavy sub vector doesn't look so dumb. I know for a fact the molded C4 Boardworks models are built with 100% wrapping on the EPS core with hard PVC foam, because I've seen one with a chunk of glass dug out exposing the PVC foam. I told the owner to keep surfing, the PVC foam was protecting the core.
I’m still shocked as I write this. 
Sub Vector Design Talk from the Man (Parmenter)
So, here's the ingredients for what I call a SUB-Vector:
*The planshape is more or less the same template as my original conventional Stubb-Vector line (dating from 1991) of high-performance 'hybrid' surfboards. This is comprised of a very balanced outline curve and a modernised version of a Michael Petersen-type Queensland point break stubby a'la "Morning of the Earth".
*The decks are concaved from rail to rail, and blend into twin tail footwells. Lower CG, more ergonomic and comfortable when standing, and gives the below rail profile; also, the footwells lessen tail volume and give enhance traction and comfort in high-G turns.
*To complement the scooped deck, the rails are all angular boxy rails along the lines of the old Brewer guns of the `70s. This provides a very crisp and sexy deckline from nose to tail, and the rail shape gives volume (and thus stability) when lying horizontal but grants a lesser profile and more penetration, more of a cutting rail, when laid over in a turn. The thickest part of this SUB-Vector design are the two rail extremities, thus making this design a sort of twin hull when it comes to stability——and combined with the planshape help keep the board from yawing when paddled hard on one side.
*Hard, tucked-under edges with a comparatively smaller radius that typical tanker or SUP knock-offs. This gives crisp handling and enhanced planing at lower speeds encountered in smaller or slower waves. Also helps pull the useable hull width to a maximum. There is some disagreement about hard edges versus soft in the surfing world, but all the fastest surfers and my personal favorites (MR, Fitzy, Reno, Lynchy, etc), all favor hard, crisp edges on their boards. All surfers who claim hard rails spin out are making the mistake of being too weak or unskilled to properly set the rails into the water and gain the ensuing holding power.
*Flat bottom rail to rail, and through to the entry and nose portion. Again, all about quick planing and fusing control harmony into the design. Flat bottoms feeding into harder rail edges and crisp vee panels are the least tempermental of all designs, and react the quickest from rail to rail. This is from the Brewer school and will never be outmoded. The 'exhaust' of water entering and then exiting the hull cannot be exceeded by any other planing hull shape.
*Scooped out inverted vee. This offers both the benefits of traditional flat vee panels with the added leverage of light concaves; the concaves also cut through the tail rocker curve and offer the water flow a straighter, more drag-free passage off the tail.
*The only thing the two newer models have that the 9'3" does not is the increased bottom rocker. This had to be curtailed in the 9'3" as it would have cut off a good amount of entry level suers who found it accessible.
So, what we have now is a range of boards bearing the same collection of components. The only difference is the lengths and volumes of each. Confusion has arisen only because the volume original 9'3" was tailored to bigger surfers, as sort of a gateway short SUP; thus, people think ithe SUB-Vector is just an oversized board. But my rationale is this: As a design, the 9'3" SUB-Vector was so short that it had to be bulked up. It has baby fat. As the line climbs up into the 9'6" and 10'0" range they lean out and rocker up and become more versatile.
The new models are emphatically NOT just for me and Brian and Todd——they are meant for the widest possible intermediate/advanced demographic that is looking for Level II of their SUP journey.Think Bruce raymond and guys like that. 160-lb guys will rip on them becasue they are so refined, but the volume and width and rail profiles will accomodate surfers up to 220+ lbs of intermediate ability. Because they are around 29" wide and 4" thick they will work for a much wider range of abilities than our other boards in the size range to date. However, because the boards are composed of so many potent features, they will be rippable for even us guys. These are the best boards I have shaped, bar none.
So, the Sub Vector line is not a fat boy's board just beccause the 9'3" was over-volumed: It is a series of highly-tuned SUP surfboards each bearing the same collection of unique-to-the-field components. 
For Sale – Jacky's old Board
Jacky's 9'0 bat tail C4 is For Sale. $700
Jacky surfed it a lot and it still looks beautiful.
For 2 years this was the only production board on the market low enough in volume, width, and thickness, for children and women to surf safely. Everything else is too corky for their body weight to have proper control in surf.
If you want the wife or child to have a good time out there, this board is their ticket to happiness. Trust me. Most paddle around on battleships that will kill them someday.
Jacky’s new board had to be custom made to get it small enough. $1700 if you want to go that route.
The Rocker Stick – Template
With the hotwire template now finished, it was time to transfer the rocker to this 1 x 10 and make my rocker stick. The rocker stick is laid on the bottom of the board during vacuum bagging to verify the rocker is still true.
This must be done because the board will be shaped from 1 lb foam with no stringer. Therefore the blank will literally be a limp noodle. At times you feel like a dog chasing your tail trying to hold the rocker. You spend endless hours laying the rocker out to perfection on a piece of masonite. Then you cut the masonite to create the hotwire guide. You hotwire the blank as clean and perfect as possible, then the blank flops around like a noodle.
When it comes time to laminate (glass it) the weight of the epoxy alone bends the blank. Due to the length, it takes 3 adjustable height shaping stands to bend the blank back into the correct rocker during lamination. This is when that rocker stick get used.
3rd Gen Race Board Project Begins
Here is the bottom curve being laid out.
Here is the deck curve being laid out
Template done and ready for cutting
These boards will be all carbon and vacuum bagged. I'm in no rush, so I'll be working only when the weather is ideal for working under the house and not much good for surfing. Estimated completion date is some time in October.
Since my last race board project, I've been in touch with a few blog followers looking forward to this next one. I'll be more detailed and frequent with the posts as this project continues.
I will also make an effort to track my cost better. I think you'll discover it's a lot more expensive, and a lot more work, than you think. That Naish Glide 14 footer may look like a steal after you follow this project. 
14 lb Sub Vector versus 24 lb
What does this 14 pound Sub Vector surf like compared to my 24 pounder?
Different would be an understatement.
At first I was confused by my senses and couldn't figure out why it felt odd. Then this morning we surfed masonboro in clean conditions and I figured out what was going on. This near zero weight board has no momentum. That is the downside. The upside, is when in the pocket, where momentum is a non issue, it surfs like a shortboard. You can snap any which way, as fast as you ever dreamed. You feel empowered like superman in the pocket.
It accelerates fast and catches waves easy, but looses glide just as fast.
If you want to surf a standup like a shortboard, custom EPS is the way to go. If you like to cruise longboard style, heavy pop-outs are the ticket.
I’m going to have at least one feather weight custom in my quiver. It's very cool. 
Jacky's Board Gets Wet
Jacky says it's everything she dreamed it would be. Fast, easy to catch waves and super stable in messy seas.
I got the wave of the day Z..
No where to go!
Payback time!
Jacky's Sub Vector is Here!
Downwinding Feels Like This
The New Sub Vectors Sound Sweet
Sunday Morning
Back to our standard small surf 
Our Little Diamond Head
http://carolinabeachsup.blogspot.com/ more photos from Saturday here 
Z man surfing our Diamond Head
For those that don't know, CB inlet has a lot in common with Diamond Head. It's famous in the windsurfing community for waves and high wind. So much so, windsurfers from all over NC and SC come here. From Charleston SC, to Charlotte NC, and in between, they come.
For SUP, it's also a lot like Diamond Head. Wonderful waves breaking a long distance. 
A Must Watch Video Series
Study these videos and your paddle skills will improve tremendously. I especially love the 3rd video, because it shows Evan getting it wrong, then getting it right.
Head High Sets
Awesome night of surfing at the house. Head high sets are here. It should be insane kitesurfing tomorrow and killer surfing Saturday morning.
More Weekend Photos
Autry and Z at the channel marker
Z wondering when the next one is coming
Z
Brad
CB1
Guess who?
Brad
Brian
Finish Photos – Jacky's Custom Sub Vector
Weight with pad 14 lbs. Ready for shipping from CA to NC.
9′0 x 27.5 x 3.87
Hurricane Bill HUGE at CB Inlet
Brian Autry
Brian Autry-look close and you'll see his scalp in the center of the photo
Gearing up for massive waves 3/4 mile off shore.
Brad so excited he ran all the way to the water!
These images were tiny specs cropped from huge photos taken with a long lens on a DSLR camera. It was impossible to get good images so far out to sea. Surfing near the channel markers.
Brian Autry
Brad
Brian Autry
We all had the session of the year today at CB inlet. Somehow Brad and Brian have a knack for being the best photos. Sorry about the rest of the crew not making the cut.
There may not be any surfing tomorrow. The town is closing the beach we use to access this surfing spot, for fear of everyones safety. Bummer! It is supposed to be twice as big tomorrow. Although I'm not sure anyones heart can stand much more. Our chests were pounding out there today.
One cool thing that happened tonight, was about a dozen prone surfers drove down to the inlet to watch us. They saw us surfing way out to sea, from their spot, the CB pier, about a mile down the beach. 
Morning Surf at CB Pier
Tomorrows surf spot. CB inlet. The break way off shore in this photo.
The ocean between sets. Flat!
Ouch!
Hurricane Bill
We caught an evening session at CB inlet in the first signs of Hurricane Bill swell. The sets are well defined now. It should be amazing the next 3 days. 
My HD Video Camera
Here is my HD video camera. It's a tiny little pocket still camera, that also shoots HD video using the .mov format.
My crystal ball says these still cameras that shoot video too, will make video cameras obsolete.
I also switched from PC to Mac. Once you go Mac, you'll never go back to a PC.
I took advantage of Apple's free iPod Touch with a MacBook Pro deal running right now. The iPod Touch just sold for close to retail on Ebay. With the tax free weekend in NC, and the back to school Apple discounts, this MacBook Pro was cheaper than a PC and loaded with way more useful software.
Windows Movie Maker can't handle HD video unless you upgrade to Vista Ultimate and then it can't use over 3GB of Ram without upgrading to x64. What a mess.
Mac goes x64 next month and the upgrade is less than $10 and iMovie handles HD video like a dream. 
Jacky's Custom Sub Vector
Here is a progress update on Jacky's custom 9'0 Sub Vector. This bad ass board has 5 "futures" boxes, no longboard box.
It is almost finished. Here it is prior to sanding off the leash plug and sanding the whole board. It currently weighs 12.5 lbs. That's about half the weight of mine. It will have a sanded finish, no gloss.
I see whole bunch of these sick light weight sub vectors in our future! Brad, the Brians, Z man, who wouldn't want one of these sick boards.
My plan is to demo the 9'6 production sub vector, then decide on my custom shape.
What a Difference a Day Makes
We arrived at dawn to glassy fun surf, then later headed down to CB inlet to check the waves. To our total shock, the surf sets were chest high and breaking 1/4 mile offshore. It turned into the best session in 9 months, not counting big Friday. Unfortunately the camera batteries were dead by the time we relocated to CB inlet.
It was so sick at the inlet, one lone prone surfer had paddled about 1 mile out to the channel marker to catch some magic rides.
We drove back to the inlet for a PM session and found nothing. I checked the tide app on my iPhone. The water depth this afternoon is 4.9ft. The water depth when the inlet was going off was 0.3-1.2 ft. Note to self, always check the inlet first when the water depth is under 1.2 ft. The tide app is priceless. 
Saturdays Epic Session – Not
Please excuse the metal rattling noise in the audio. I had a metal keychain type wrist strap on the camera housing. It made for some bad noises in the housing. I'll have that problem cured next time.
The new C4 sponge SUP is ideal for the beach house guest board. Or the wife and kid who prefer a board that's impossible to get hurt on and super stable. It's a pretty cool board. $750 retail and made in the US, not China.
Camera details at the end of the video.
HD Video Tonight
A quick video test at near dark. I'm stunned the video is so bright, because the light was very poor. 
New Toys
Today is my first day playing with my new MacBook Pro and iMovie. I made this test video using clips of our Oahu vacation last Jan. We haven't seen glassy conditions like this in 6 months.
This weekend look for my new HD video efforts. This one is standard def with my old camera. Tomorrow is my birthday, so Jacky's giving me a HD camera.
Awesome Morning for Bloopers
Z man ballet. Love it!
CB1
Oh Shit!
CB1 paid the price!
BA
Doesn’t look good…
Oh yeah!
A nice one for Z man
Gotcha!
Surf House Opens
Brad on the retail side
Jacky and Dot shopping clothing
Jacky tasting Dot's lunch
Yum, the food is excellent! Very much like Sweet & Savory in WB.
14 ft Naish Glide is Here
I stopped by Coastal Urge today to check out the 14 ft Glide. It is the hottest production race board on the market. He's why…….
I measured the rocker, so I can tell you how it stacks up against some others.
Naish 14': tail rocker ~ 2.5", nose rocker 8.75", 27.25" wide
Single concave only 1mm deep, going into slight vee of only 1mm.
Razor hard rails for 2/3 the length.
Surftech Bark 14': tail rocker 4", nose rocker 9.5", 29" wide
Rounded bottom full length, about 6mm high at center, giving a slight displacement bottom.
Soft rounded rails.
My Current Garage Built 14': tail rocker 2.87", nose rocker 8.75", 28" wide. Flat bottom, no concave.
Hard rails for 1/3 length, with a lot of tuck, and very soft beyond that.
My First Garage Built 14': tail rocker 1.75", nose rocker 8.75", 27.25" wide. Flat bottom, no concave.
Hard rails for 1/2 length, little tuck.
What does all this mean?
1) The Bark is the more user friendly ocean racer.
2) The Naish is the highest performance and the fastest shape. It will be more directionally stubborn too.
If you're hardcore, the Naish is a must have ocean racer!
If it wasn't for all the hard work and hours I've invested in learning to shape my own, I'd buy one for myself. Instead, I'll continue with my plan to build a new board this Fall using full carbon and vacuum bagging.
Naish Lowers Prices!
Check this news item! Just in from Coastal Urge. No excuse for not joining us on downwinders now.
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2010 Naish Glides Have Arrived:
You will never look at flat water the same way again. You will also look at windy days with a whole new perspective . . . squeezing in a “downwinder” every chance you get. From recreational and social paddling to fitness training and competitive racing, the Glide range from Naish sets a whole new standard in SUP. They’re stable, light, fast, strong, and beautiful. So the next time you’re heading to a surfless beach, lake, bay, sound, or Intracoastal Waterway. . . grab a Glide and get out there!
14′ Glide (inc. bag) $1,999.00
14′ Glide AST $1,599.00
12′ Glide (inc. bag) $1,699.00
12′ Glide AST $1,399.00
**Come to Coastal Urge to check these new Naish models out and make an appointment to try one for yourself with Coastal Urge's "try before you buy" program. New models from Naish arriving weekly**
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Correct Paddle Technique
I posted this video last Winter and wrote up what Todd Bradley taught us at the race clinic in Oahu. I took some crap from the non believers out there.
Today Evan posted another video of Todd's technique over on his site, Standuppaddlesurf.net
Follow the link and watch his awesome video.
Local Downwind Boards are Coming
Jacky stopped by Coastal Urge today and learned the local scene is about to explode with race boards. Jeoffrey at Coastal Urge just returned from the Outdoor Retailers show. Jeoffrey demoed all the hot new race boards.
In a very short time we'll have lots of 14 foot race boards on the water. All available for demo too!
The Naish 14 footer is the one I want to try. He has lots of hot new race fins too.
FINALLY, we'll have more locals into ocean downwinding. Prior to now, you pretty much had to build your own (like I did) if you wanted a board designed for ocean downwinding.
Kudos to Coastal Urge for being the leader in NC for SUP racing.
The September race sounds sick. He's keeping the entry fee low and providing another first class event that will up the standards again for running a race. 
Wild Run in 30 mph Wind
2 Downwinders today. It was blowing 20-25 at 9am for our first run and 30 mph for the afternoon second run.
If you watch closely, you can see how the board sometimes yaws suddenly left of right. It gets a bit out of control sometimes. I've been running 12 inch deep windsurf race fins lately. I think small 9 inch low drag fins are good for flat water racing, but when it gets wild the 12 inch feels way better. When it gets wild, the 9 incher gives the board a mind of its own at times. The 12 inch fin tracks way better.
Windy Today
Morning Video
Z the rock star 
Morning Stills
Brad catching a few, then heading back to the shop. They are working until midnight at the shop some nights. It should be open next weekend.
Just for you Z. hehe
Jacky about to get mowed down.
She just made it.
Weekend Downwinding Forecast
The wind won't be as good as today, but it should be good enough. We'll meet at the Gazebo on Saturday at 12:30. 
Jacky's Custom Sub Vector
It’s off to paint now. 
Monday's Downwinder
Monday night I hit the highest speed I've ever run in the strong wind we had. On one runner, I was on the tail and angled just perfect in the pocket zooming.
Not much on video though. I need to find some better camera angles.
I think these videos help me with ideas for my next board build.
Sunday's Downwinder
Sunday turned out better than Saturday. More runners and longer, faster glides. The video turned out boring, so no video upload today.
The beach at the gazebo was again closed due to sharks. We launched from the house instead. 
Today's Downwinder
The meet time for Sunday's downwinder is 12:30 at the gazebo. Although we'll not actually start from that spot tomorrow. That beach was closed today due to sharks. We can't launch there tomorrow because I'm a wanted man and don't want to be seen there tomorrow. Anyone who comes tomorrow will get to hear the inside story of todays adventure.
Very Cool
Saturday Morning Session
Swell is almost gone, but it is still fun out there. Sunrise session.
Jacky
Craig, Brad's partner at Surf House.
Brad
Weekend Downwinding Forecast
The forecast is good for Saturday and Sunday, with Sunday having the slight edge in wind direction and strength. Plus Sunday gives my knee an extra day of heeling. So we'll plan on being at the gazebo on Sunday at 12:30 to make a run. 
BIG Friday
I surfed from 6-7am this morning, then snapped a few photos and rushed off to work.
The lighting was poor, so forgive the quality.
hehe
The Forecast Swell is Showing!
I tested the knee by taking a few waves tonight. I can't watch with swell here. I played through the pain. Knee feels stable surfing. But getting rag dolled doesn't feel very good. That hurts the knee. We'll see how it feels tomorrow.
Jacky in front of the house today.
Afternoon Session
Hanging at the House
Jacky surfing at home. Me crippled on the beach.
Neighborhood kid Jack, trying Jacky's board. He's 10 years old.
The Hobie Crew were out surfing. They're from the neighborhood next to ours.
Best Looking Board Ever?
This beautiful paint job just arrived this week at the Surf House.
The Surf House is not open yet, but I'll bet you could track down the boys and buy this Sub Vector before somebody else snags it. I heard C4 is out of many models until late August. I guess the economic slump hasn't hit the SUP market. 
Saturday Morning
BA, no where to go
CB1
Z man
CB1 decided not to take Z out
BA
No surfing for me. My knee is hurting real bad. 
Saturday Downwinder CANCELLED
My knee is hurting so bad, I can barely walk this morning. Jacky has family in town, so she can't go either. 
25-30 mph wind at my back tonight
I used Jacky's board. It's narrow, with a pointy tail. It didn't feel fast to me today. I think being more wobbly on the her board might actually hurt my planing. How can you plane consistently when you have moments of wild side to side wobble?
Anyone else think it might be better to go wider and more stable, so you plane more consistently?
It wasn't as good as other days I've run. I kept running into the wave in front of me and killing my plane. I just could not avoid the next wave. They were steep, so I couldn't climb it and I could not steer to the side tonight.
Here is the video. My knee is very sore tonight.
My speed average was 6 mph.
Weekend Downwinding Forecast
The downwinder is ON for Saturday.
Meet time is 12:30 at the gazebo. 
A Bad-Ass Sub Vector
8'0 Custom
Wouldn’t we all like to demo this baby!
Jacky’s board was machine cut yesterday. It might get scrubbed today. 
Cabrinha Joins the Bandwagon
Message to Kitesurfers: Stopping fighting it, come to the dark side.
Cabrinha has! hehe
SUP Cup Video
The video finally surfaces!
The race start….
Fin Analysis
It's time to take a closer look into why the Controller Quads feel so different from the Vector II 450s.
There were some surprising hidden differences.
Vector II 450s with heavy cant and asymmetric fronts. Nothing hidden here.
The matching 375 rear fins that come with Vector II 450 sets. Heavy cant matching the fronts and symmetric foils. Nothing unusaul here.
Controller Quad Fronts. Asymmetric foils, but reduced cant
Controller rears. NO cant AND Asymmetric foils
198 Racers in the Maui Downwinder Sunday
Downwinding is getting HUGE.
Photos here.
http://tracydudley.com/Surf/Maliko_Race/index.html
Results here.
http://www.pacificsportevents.com/Races/Nash%20Maui%20Paddleboard/2009/Overall_09.htm 
Sub Vector Fins
Yesterday I swapped Sub Vectors with CB1 while surfing the inlet. CB1 had these Vector IIs installed. My Sub Vector had the Controllers installed.
I caught a juicy chest high wave on CB1s board. I laid hard into the bottom turn and Vector IIs twitched several times. It reminded me of the feel when a windsurf fin twitches as it wants to spin out, but doesn't quite fully let go.
Hands down, the Controllers blow away the Vector IIs. I have no idea why they don't cut it on our SUPs, but they work great on my Stretch 6'3". Maybe SUPs place way more load on the fins and we need the stiffer fiberglass construction. Maybe its the more aggressive tow-in foil the Controllers run at the rear that allow it to handle higher loads.
Controller Quads below
Sunday Downwinder
The wind was blowing 20 mph by 12:30 this afternoon, so we rushed to drop the truck and made a downwind run before any storms messed with the wind. We probably should have waited until 3 pm because it blew a lot harder later and no storms developed today.
We had fun, even if only blowing 20. Jacky was fast today. I could not catch her. The best I could do was just keeping up.
We swapped boards so I could test the speed difference. Jacky's board is fastest.
Inlet Session this Morning
Weekend Downwinding Forecast
Saturday looks bad. Sunday there is a slight chance. The forecast is not solid enough to say the downwinder is on for Sunday. I suggest anyone wanting to make a run Sunday, call me Sunday morning to discuss the prospects of making a run. I'll be reachable after our morning surf session. The cell number is shown in my profile. 
Big Night
These are the small ones. I was too busy surfing when it was bigger.
All surfing in front of the house tonight. 3rd fun night this week!
Oops
Where is she?
Thanks Curtis and Chris
Tonight I surfed my Sub Vector with Futures Controller Quads.
We had a chest high northeaster.
My board rocked!
Thanks for the tip Curtis (in Oahu). These fins are so expensive, I dragged my feet on the purchase when Chris (in Topsail) said they were good. But two people saying they were good, was enough to get me off the fence. 
July 5th Downwinder
A fun downwinder with some new camera angles
4th of July Quiz
View from our house
4th of July Madness
What happened to our beach?
Daily access fees were raised to $20 and it's still madness out there. 
Weekend Downwinding Forecast
The downwinder is canceled for this weekend. Saturday the wind will be light. Sunday's forecast looks possible, but NOAA is counting on some complicated things to happen for the wind to go strong SW. A low pressure to vanish and a warm front to pop up. Complicated weather events usually don't make for reliable wind predictions. Beach traffic will be a nightmare too. 
Surf House – Update
A few teaser photos of the progress inside. The shop has made a lot of progress since these were taken. It won't be much longer.
The kitchen and cafe area under construction
SUP World Cup
Dejavu for windsurfers.
Robbie worshiped.
Blowing up huge in Europe.
http://www.originalwindsurfer.com/site/main_1976.html 
Old Times
Me, windsurfing during hurricane Edward a longgggg time ago. North End of CB.
Z in Kure Beach.
CB1 at the North End of CB
Note: no prone surfers anywhere nearby, by choice. 
Windsurfers and Kitesurfers Don't Know Shit
This is not about what you might think…
In the post below this, you'll notice I'm stoked about a head high floater I made yesterday. Some might say whoop-dee-do.
Jacky and I have been water rats since 1979. We live for the water. Yet we never learned to prone surf. We've always surfed under the power of the wind, either windsurfing or kitesurfing. From mast high (15ft) surf, to knee high, we loved it all.
Then SUP comes along and changes everything we thought we knew about surf. We didn't know shit. Surfing is a completely different animal when you have only gravity to make it work.
Most of our fellow water lovers are also life long surfers, who only know how to surf under wind power. We were among the first to make the switch. Now I've watched many others follow our same path to relearning everything we thought we knew about surfing.
I see the same joys and troubles as each of us make the switch. Just this weekend, I watched another fellow windsurfer/kitesurfing almost kill his poor daughter as he gave bad coaching on when to paddle as the wave approached. I said noooooo as I watched the disaster unfold.
Surfing by gravity is so much fun. I'm so thrilled surfing upright was invented. Without it, we never would have discovered surfing by gravity. Because frankly, we hated crawling. I guess that hatred for crawling came from 30 years of having a superior upright view.
Surfing by gravity is starting to ruin surfing by wind power. All I think about when kitesurfing, is where can I throw this kite. 
Incredible Waves all Day
Here is the morning session. It was bigger during our afternoon session at the house. Sick day. I had my highest floater ever this afternoon. A head high drop.
Jacky
Dwight
Dwight
Still shots by CB1 
Morning Photos by CB1
Dwight
Dwight
Hunter
Brad
Morning Session at CB Pier
Weekend Downwinding Forecast
The downwinder is canceled for this weekend. The forecast does not meet the wind minimums. 
Birth of a New Surf Shop
One day not too long ago, the Cove Surf Shop vanished. This turned into a golden opportunity for Brad and Craig to open the Surf House Cafe and Shop.
The Cove Surf shop as it looked just after it vanished in Carolina Beach
The mess inside, the day the new owners began work creating the Surf House
Brad and Craig at work inside.
To see the almost finished Surf House, check out their web site and blog.
http://www.surfhousenc.com/Home_Page.html
http://surfhousenc.blogspot.com/
The Surf House will be THE place for everything C4, plus good food before and after your surf session. 
Trick Sub Vectors
Stringerless ultra light suspension blanks. Available only when you order a custom Sub Vector.
Drool
Sexy!
Custom Sub Vector. Got mine ordered, now go get yours………
Look What I Found
All the new C4 color combos. These are so sweet, I hope they drop the old classic colors. Who'd want the old graphics when you can have one of these, right?
The Polynesian and Metallic are my new favorites!
Also note the Pantone Guide color numbers are provided. That means anyone can walk into a paint store and just give them the Pantone number and walk out with a perfect matching touch up paint.
A Whole Lot of Paddling Today
1st a 7am surf session
2nd a womens only paddle clinic
3rd a 7 mile downwinder. The first run of our Downwind Swell Chasing Series.
We met at 1 pm at the gazebo. The ocean was lit up with ragging whitecaps. At least 20 knots. By the time we made the car drop and waited on one late arrival, high level cloudiness had killed the wind. We had about 10 knots max at the beginning of the run, dropping to 5 knots at the end. We had fun. Maybe next weekend we'll get some real wind. We're moving the meet time up to 12:30 to account for the extra time it takes to make the car drops in heavy beach traffic. That should get us in the water about 1:30
Oops, whitecapping hard now.
We're downwinding today!
Call 297-4567 if you are coming.
Dwight 
Weekend Downwinding Forecast
The gazebo we meet at…….
Saturday looks like the best day for downwinding in a long time. SW winds at 15-20 knots are expected. The tide level will be very low, making the beach break small and friendly.
Jacky and I will be at the Fort Fisher gazebo on Saturday at 1 pm. If you want to join us, please come.
Race Photos and Results
http://www.onslowbaychallenge.blogspot.com/ 
Summer SUP Downwind Swell Chasing Series
Summer SUP Downwind Swell Chasing Series
The Concept: Create a system for lovers of SUP downwinding to meet and run together on windy weekends.
When: Any Saturday or Sunday afternoon when the wind is blowing 15 knots minimum from the S or SW.
Where: For now, we'll meet at 1 pm on the Gazebo, at the second cove in Fort Fisher. This is the Gazebo staring you in the face as you drive 1/4 mile past the civil war fort. You can't miss it. Free parking is available all around the rock lined beach overlook.
How: Those showing up to run, will decide the distance based on the comfort level of those involved, and the wind strength for that day. Car pooling arrangements will be decided on the spot. Car drops will be made following the 1 pm meeting. You can expect the actual run to start about 1:45 and finish around 3 pm.
Check this blog each Friday for the weekend downwinding forecast. I'll give my prediction on the likelihood of a downwinder going off. Living here allows me to compare the forecast wind with the real wind, then I use my crystal ball.
Cost: FREE
Prizes: NONE. This is for people just looking to chase some swells with a few friends.
Downwind Runs we often do:
7 miles- Fort Fisher to the Carolina Beach North End pier
5 miles- Fort Fisher to the Marriott Hotel
4 miles- Our house to the North End pier
3 miles- Fort Fisher to our house (We often stop here when the wind dies on us)
What to expect: We typically run about about 2 pier lengths off shore following the coast. Sometimes much farther out to catch more of the SW wind. Jacky and I carry Camelbaks with Co2 inflatable life belts hidden inside. PFDs are required when running way off shore, outside what can reasonably be called the surf zone. Only when within the surf zone, is it legal to be without a PFD. It's completely up to you whether you comply. We don't care one way or the other. But we do recommend nobody show up without a leash. Nobody should count on others to save them should you loose your board. In 30 knots, it's near impossible to paddle upwind to save anyone.
I hope to see a few friends join us downwind swell chasing this summer. Feel free to call me or Jacky during the weekend to confirm the run is happening. My cell is 297-4567. Jacky is 264-1552.
Dwight 
Awesome Sunday
We had a blast today. I was lazy with the camera though. I even twisted the arm of Quinn and Al and got them on my Sub Vector. They did great for prone surfers trying to SUP. Meanwhile, I longboarded on Quinn's board. It reminded me how superior concave decks are. Those domed decks feel like greased pigs, whether SUPs or prone surfboards, they all suck. Concave decks are the future.
Unoffical Race Results
I just talked with Brad Jones. Check back soon for Brad's first hand account here.
1st place Mike Owens (on Owens own design)
2nd place Brad Jones (on C4 Holoholo) a close 2nd…..
Those two lead the whole race.
Winning time ~2 hr 18 minutes over 12 miles in wind less than 10. 
Saturday Morning Fun
We skipped the race today and went surfing instead. The decision was made after doing yesterdays downwind run and feeling a little ill from it. Near heat stroke for me. Face was red when I finished. When I rested during the run, I felt woozy. Mid 90's and marginal wind is hard on the body. Today's forecast was more extreme heat and even less wind!
Jacky
Z man
Brian
Oops
http//carolinabeachsup.blogspot.com/
More photos from today can be found here. 
A Little 4 Mile Run Today
Wind started out good on the run, but then got light, then picked up about when we finished. Z reports the same fluky wind kiting at WB too. 14 meter kites.
We blew off work early today to enjoy the beautiful weather. We launched at the house and finished at the CB pier.
Race Forecast Changed Again-Morning Update
Update: There are signs of hope this morning at sunrise. The SW wind is already blowing at our house. That is a classic sign of a strong sea breeze coming this afternoon. That is what we want to see. A return to normal. If we see the same signs of wind tomorrow morning, it's going to be good!
Here is this areas best wind speed indicator for a SW wind. Ignore the direction indicator, it's wrong. But the speed is very accurate for my beach. It's blowing 19 mph at sunrise! 100% stronger than forecast. This is the magic of SW wind in our area.
http://www.baldheadweather.com/
Here is the wind forecast from the 2 big dogs, NOAA and Intellicast. Other sites just regurgitate what NOAA says.
We’re leaning toward skipping the race. We'll save $100 and avoid hours of torture. If we're wrong and the wind does blow, we can always downwind at home. We were really looking forward to this, but you can't control the wind.
Race Forecast
The forecast just improved. SW is what we want. It always blows harder than forecast when it blows SW.
Thursday Downwinder
If this forecast holds, Thursday looks good for our first downwinder in a long time.
5pm start, our house to the North End Pier. We hope to have a few people join us.
The big race is Saturday, and the forecast wind direction is perfect for giving us the magic wind. By magic wind, I'm talking about our standard summer sea breeze that blows 50-100% stronger than forecast.
Downwinding Safety
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090607/BREAKING01/90607037/Missing+paddleboarder+found+safe This was the standard 9 mile Oahu downwind ocean run, done for fun each weekend.
The article inspired to me to write about downwinding safety. I have done about 15 ocean runs in winds up to 35 mph.
1) Don't even think about trying it without a leash. We run up to one mile offshore doing ocean runs and can become separated by over a mile. You should plan for the worst, and expect to be on your own out there. It's not possible for someone to reverse direction and paddle upwind to save you in 30 knots. If you're worried about leash drag, get a short coil leash. Jacky and I use Bully's paddleboard coil leash.
2) Take your cell phone. Water proof bags are available at Great Outdoor Provision for less than $20.
3) Carry water. We've done runs with and without Camelbaks. We always finish feeling good when we take the Camelbaks. We usually finish beat without them. A little sip every 20 minutes really does make a difference.
4) We carry Co2 inflatable life belts in our Camelbaks. PFDs are required by law when doing off shore ocean downwinders. Enforcement of the law is inconsistent. Most get away without using one. We feel better knowing it's with us.
Next week I'll announce a weekly Downwind Swell Chasing Series to take place each Saturday throughout the summer, wind permitting.
Be safe out there. 
FOR SALE 82" XPR Racing Paddle
The reason for the sale is my "surf" paddle is a Quickblade. I found it unnatural to adjust to a different blade style, so I changed my "race" paddle to match my surf paddle, a Quickblade. That may sound silly, but not really when you've been doing it as long as I have. I am very particular about changes in feel with my paddle. If you're wondering what's so different about the C4 and Quickblade "blade" shape, it's the tallness of the C4. The Quickblade is a short blade.
$200
If anyone wants to demo this paddle at the race next weekend, let me know. 
Onslow Bay Challenge Rescheduled
Yeah! Rescheduled for next Saturday.
Maybe this freak weather will be gone by then and we'll return to our normal SW wind pattern. 
Updated Race Forecast
A headwind of 11 mph for the 11AM start. 12 miles upwind is crazy. I hope they schedule a rain date.
I’d like to see races run like the big time contests run at Pipe and Makaha. With holding periods to allow for fun conditions to materialize. But it's not up to me. I'm to old to get involved.
I used to run races back in windsurfing's heyday. I organized and ran the High Wind Slalom Series at the Fortfisher Basin. We raced every weekend during the month of June, but only when the forecast allowed shortboards, and sails below 6.0 to race. We averaged racing conditions 3 out of 4 weekends each summer. 
Race Board Design
Jacky and I did a 4 mile ocean downwinder today with the Surftech Bark 14 footer. The board is very nice. It gets on a plane easy, connecting runners with ease. Stability is nice. I'd rate it nicer than the Boardworks Vortice. Not to be confused with the hollow, very fast, XP Vortice. But it should be nicer, the design is a full year newer.
I have been studying board designs and where they are going. Just in case I decide to shape new race boards this Winter. I'm willing to buy a production board, should I find one that blows my mind. This Bark was nice, and had one feature I found superior to my board, but the other performance features were about the same, just different.
The feature that impressed me was the template. The width/volume is biased toward the front. I think this promotes early planing and reduces pearling. I could feel that extra meat up front really help when the nose drops and the tail lifts, and you know it's time to paddle and catch that runner. The more pointy nose, balanced templates (F-14, Naish 14 footer, and my home built board) can't ride the nose as hard, making powering onto a plane more tricky skill wise.
What does it all mean? IF I ever build one myself again, it will have this style template. If any of my buds want to join us downwinding, I'd tell them to buy the Bark. For now, it's the best of the production 14s available on the east coast.
One final thought. If you haven't tried the Elite Racer from Quickblade, you must! Jacky was using this paddle. When we swapped paddles, the difference was amazing. The weightless Elite Racer allows you to maintain an insanely fast paddle cadence. Weight matters big time for racing strokes.
Foote with width/volume up front. I like it!
F-14 without width/volume up front. A balanced template.
Naish 14 without width/volume up front. But I like the tail design!
Bark with width/volume up front. I like it!
The Big Race
Forecast went to crap again. E wind at 2pm Saturday.
The big race is this Saturday.
Fun and Small
Jacky's New Ride
A turbo diesel wagon with roof racks for SUP transport. Current diesel price $2.17/gal 
SUP RACE CLUB
SUP RACE CLUB
Who: All standup paddleboarders are welcome to join, it's free.
What: Coastal Urge is organizing a year-round SUP Race Club to train for all our up-coming races and build a local SUP racing community. Just show up after work on Wednesdays and the Coastal Urge staff will clock your time around the 3.5mile Harbor Island SUP race route. Hang around after wards for a cold drink at the Fish House with food and drink specials for all SUP Race Club members. Stay in shape this summer, make new friends, and train for our upcoming race the first annual Southeast SUP Championship in September.
Where: Meeting every-other Wednesday at the Fish House, get on the water between 5pm-6pm to have your time clocked.
When: Starts next Wednesday June 3rd at 5pm. Following dates; June 17th, July 1st, July, 15th, July 29th, August 12, August, 26th…. 
More SUP CUP photos
These photos courtesy of Coastal Urge. Jacky and I at the finish line.
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http://www.luminanews.com/article.asp?aid=4306&iid=167&sud=43
Newspaper article here 
Sub Vector Fins
I did a lot of fin testing this weekend on my sub vector.
For front fins I tested
Vector II 450
Vector II 460
Vector II 550
For rear fins I tested
375
400
437
The results are:
Vector II 550s created way too much drag. Board was slower and I could feel it dragging.
Vector II 450 and 460 too close to call.
375s in the rear for tiny waves. Makes the board pivot/snap/slide and spin the best, but looses drive.
400s best all around blend of drive and looseness.
437s best for head high high waves and big driving bottom turns.
I’m going to keep 460s in the front and swap between 400 and 437 in the rear depending on wave size and power. It takes some effort to get 437 rears. You have to buy replacement rears from a thruster setup.
If you're wondering about 2+1, forget about it. I tested 2+1 versus quads in identical 9'0 C4 bat tails. 2+1 was too draggy. So much so, you could feel it just paddling. Long live quads! Want more drive, use a larger rear fin and stay quad all the way baby! 
Fun Morning
For Sale: C4 XPR Race Paddle
Jacky's XPR Racing Paddle is For Sale. Only used a few times. Price is $199 Firm
Ideal cruising paddle for your better half. Super light.
74″ Long
The one-piece XPR racing paddle is strong and light. The FLEX TIP carbon/Kevlar blade whips a bit of extra kick into every stroke. The 8.5" blade width provides plenty of power surface and the extra thin diamond tip blade provides super clean entry on every stroke. 
Race Results
Intracoastal SUP CUP 2009 Men’s 12’6 and under1 Mike Owens 44:202 Chris Hill 44:363 Jason Colclough 46:144 David Lisle 46:295 John Beausang 46:506 Tim Smith 46:547 Sean Hardesty 47:218 Stan Clinard 47:589 Ian Balding 49:3610 Mark Anders 50:0011 Matt Catino 50:0512 Brad Howard 50:3013 Jeremy Owens 52:0714 James Bain 52:1715 Todd Bostian 52:2116 Clark Shay 52:3417 David Wilson 52:4418 Bryan Batten 53:0419 Galen Westman 53:1720 Kevin Vangritis 55:0321 Mac Barnhart 55:2522 Rob Cornwell 56:2023 William Pope 56:2524 Mark Pace 56:5225 Mike Abernathy 57:1726 Chris Oneal 59:4527 Mike Travis 60:0028 Zo Tipton 60.1729 Chip Howell 60:40 Women’s 12’6 and under1 Tara Miller 55:492 Lori Herring 62:123 Kimberly James 64:29 14’ and over1 Brannon Smith 54:442 Dwight Fisher 55:11
3 Jackie Fisher 56:17
6'6 SUP
This is real high performance surfing. This guy stokes the fire for going way shorter.
Ku Hoe Waterman Video from Soul Surf Media on Vimeo. 
Downwinding Clinic
Awesome video showcasing the downwind clinics put on by Wet Feet Hawaii. If you're ever in Oahu, you must visit this shop. We attended the 1st of the 4 clinics they ran. Watch closely and you can learn how to catch swell.
Jeffrey, we need downwind races too! Not just Harbor Island loops.
Click FULL SCREEN and HI-DEF buttons
SUPAH Downwind Clinic, Hawaii Kai to Kahala – Feb 2009 from Soul Surf Media on Vimeo. 
Kitesurfing News
Sky Solbach spent the weekend at our house, so I thought I'd give you some kitesurfing news.
Kite raceboards will all change to ride like windsurf boards, flat, edging on the fin. Not tilting the board and edging like we do now. At the US Nationals, Sean Farley had a new board designed to ride like a windsurfer, flat, or slightly edged over to toe side, like a windsurfer points. This new concept in board design destroyed the competition, winning something like 18 races. It also beat the windsurfers to the upwind mark, comparing times run on the same course. It beat the windsurfers downwind too, for total domination around the course.
As for kites, look for the 2010 Rebel to arrive a little early this year. The kites were finished slightly early in Australia. 
SUP Life in Hawaii
This is the best GoPro Video I've seen
Disaster from Beau Toichi on Vimeo. 
Coastal Urge SUP CUP Race Results
http://www.coastalurge.com/
Race Results 12'6 Class
1st) Mike Owens using a hollow board he built himself. He was also the winner of the Fall race. Prize was a 10' Laird Surftech.
2nd) Chris Hill on a Munoz. Chris is the man behind the June 6th 12 mile Onslow Bay ocean race. His prize was a Kialoa paddle.
3rd) Jason, owner of Side Arm Surf Shop, also on a Munoz
Race Results 14' & up Class
1st) Brannon Smith on my home built 14 footer. The board I was going to race if it didn't sell before the event. Brannon bought it last Wednesday. Brannon won a Quickblade paddle.
2nd) Me. I won Kaenon sunglasses. Really nice ones too! I got passed on the final leg and lost by 100 feet to Brannon. I turn 55 in August, that's my excuse.
3rd) Jacky. She won a Patagonia bag
In the 12'6 class, prizes were given down to 23rd or 24th place. There was $5000 in prizes given away.
Total number of racers was maybe 50? Double the Fall race.
Coastal Urge has done a wonderful job of promoting the sport and running these races. For the $25 entry fee, you're missing out big time if you don't join us next time.
Blue Water Grill, the starting spot for the race at 7:30 AM. Nobody here yet!
Not much video today. Sorry.
Race Reminder
Skippers meeting is 8:15 Saturday morning at Blue Water Cafe.
This restaurant is on the other side of the waterway from where we started the last race.
See you there.
Wind is forecast to be SSE at 10 mph. Yuk! 
Killer Morning
Holy Cow! Someone caught me on camera. Sub Vector
Brian Autry, Sub Vector
Brad Jones, 9'0 C4
Brad nose walking the 9'0 C4
Z on the Sub Vector
Jacky
Brad, Brian, and z
34,000 hits in the past year. Thanks for stopping by. I never dreamed this would get so big. 
6 Mile Downwinder
READ THIS FIRST
The downwinder goes like this. We race about one mile, I sit and wait for Jacky to catch up, then repeat, until we finish. This is why the video keeps showing me passing Jacky.
Jacky is loving it. She's planing and going fast, unfortunately I keep getting faster too. In a few more weeks her skill will improve and I'll stop getting faster. Then we'll be able to catch runners together.
In non planing conditions she beats me. I'll be slow at next weekends flat water race. I need wind and swell to be fast.
Jacky said she saw either an alligator, or the Loch Ness monster during her run.
Downwinding Rules!
In this video, my camera is mounted under the cargo net, pointed to my left side. Watch how I catch Jacky and pass her. Jacky's board is technically capable of more speed than mine, but she's only done 4 downwinders, while I've probably done 15.
Downwinding requires anyone who does it, to learn the technique of catching swells and staying on a plane. Knowing how to surf is of no help. It is nothing like catching a wave in the surf. Anyone treating it like surfing, will loose the race.
Listen to the sound of my board planing.
We did 8 miles today. Two runs of 4 miles. It was cake. I could do 12 miles no problem if the wind blows! Jacky is dead tired and taking Advil. I'm fresh and ready for more. For those that don't know Jacky, she normally has more endurance than me and most of the guys on the water. The difference is nothing more than practice doing downwinders in the ocean. For rookies showing up and trying to run 12 miles in the ocean on June 6th, you'll be spent long before the finish.
Insane Downwinder Today
Jacky's Board
Jacky and I just finished doing a 4 mile downwinder in 30 mph wind. It was our best downwinder ever! I caught one runner that allowed me to surf from the tail pad, on a large swell, going like a rocket. Another memorable runner came with no visible swell under me, yet I was planing and kept my board on a plane for what seemed like a full minute. It was classic Todd Bradley spinning the ball technique.
The more downwinders we do, the more our skills improve. Downwinders are all about skill. Without skill, you don't catch many runners and your rides are short. I can now understand how pros are on near continuous planing runs in this amount of wind.
We both think the 12 mile race on June 6th is too long a distance. 4 miles of racing is comfortable. 8 miles will kill most of us. 12 miles is not a race, it's a survival game. I want to have enough energy to catch runners and not be forced to limp along the last 4 miles, half dead. We may not enter the race. 
SUPcup in 2 weeks!
Only 2 weeks until the first race of the season. If my 14' flat water racer doesn't sell in the next 2 weeks, I'll race it myself and kick some butt. It might be just a few butts, but I can assure you I won't be last.
FOR SALE 14' Race SUP
My first build, a 14 footer, is For Sale at my cost of materials.
This board has a full perimeter carbon rail.
It is super fast in flat water. The rocker matches a typical racing prone paddleboard, with extra nose scoop for chop.
Write me at fishersfortblog@bellsouth.net if interested.
Buyer must pick it up at my home.
Feature on C4s Shaper
Jacky Ripping the Pier
Jacky, Bat Tail
Jacky
Jacky and Keith
Brian, Sub Vector
Brad, Slingblade
Fun Morning at the Pier
Here is the BIG RACE coming this Summer
I’ve had several people ask me where Onslow Bay is. People who live here!
Check the photo below.
WINDY downwinder tonight
It was so windy tonight, I almost turned chicken and walked back to the truck. I could not hold onto the board in the strong wind. It almost knocked me flat on the beach.
But, I did go for it. Catching runners was easy.
I’m beginning to figure out the best way to catch runners is to wait until you get that "feeling" you're about to catch one, without doing anything, then add some paddle power and you're in. Trying to force yourself into a runner is a waste of time. You can't force it. The "feel" is something you only develop with time doing downwinders. 
Video from this Morning
Surf was excellent this morning, but I was lazy with the camera.
Masonboro Surfing
We surfed Masonboro Island today.
Here we are loading the boat for the trip
Here we are arriving at Masonboro
A little video of our surfing
Downwinding
This is what downwinding is all about. The perfect thrill when it's too windy to kite. Bring it on, 40 knots, 50 knots, who cares, we can handle it!
Videos are Back!
After the fun morning session the wind came up, so the new race board got tested. Here it is. 27 3/4 wide x 4 3/4 thick. More stable than board number 1. More rocker than board number 1. It felt perfect in the 18-20 mph wind today. I caught many runners and two really long rides. Both of my best runners came when spinning the ball, as taught by Todd Bradley.
No title
Board #2
The finbox and inserts are going in tonight.
Board weighs 26.5 lbs before sanding.
You only have to suffer one more week with my board building posts. After #3 is completed, I'm retiring from shaping and going back to SURFING.
I’ve missed a lot of surfing time trying to get these boards done. 
Board #3 Started and #2 Almost Done
Board #2 (my board) with deck lamination done. Carbon deck is reinforced with scraps from doing bottom. Board was going to be yellow, but that was scrapped. Now it will be painted white like a pop out. Thanks go out to Blane for helping me avoid some mistakes. Blane's a regular on the shapers forum.
Board #3 (Jacky's Board) with carbon bottom laminated
All CARBON
All carbon bottom and rails on this one.
I did my first downwinder in HIGH wind this afternoon. The wind was SW 35-40 mph.
Now I get it. I was catching runners and surfing swell 1 mile offshore. I was falling constantly. It was super challenging, and definitely the next big thrill in stand up.
My board worked fine. I'm glad I didn't get that XP Vortice. I don't think I could handle the narrow width of that board in today's conditions. My next board, with 1/2" extra width in the middle, and a wider tail, should be ideal for today's conditions.
It took 20 minutes to go 2 miles. Normally that run takes one hour on my sub vector. 
C4 Microsoft Video with Jacky
Jacky made the final cut. Look for her at the 3:07 mark, behind Brian. This is the video Todd invited us to join during our vacation in Oahu. It's amazing how slick the final product is.
C4 Waterman Rides the Wave to Success, Use Technology to Double Business 
Race Boards 2 and 3 Shaped
Shaping is done for boards 2 and 3. Shown here just after applying spackle. Fine sanding tomorrow.
Race Boards Number 2 and 3
Jacky and my race boards are hot wired and ready for shaping tomorrow. These two boards are the REAL ones.
The first one I built was just for practice and testing. It will likely be sold for the cost of materials.
These FINAL boards will be clear lamination's, with all carbon bottom and rails, with color in the deck. Carbon will be inlaid under the paddle stance spot too.
Jacky’s has a narrow tail, with overall width at 27 1/4". Mine is 27 3/4 wide with wider tail for extra stability. Thickness was reduced to 4 3/4 from 5" on the first one.
I'm Glad the Finbox is Strong
I took the raceboard for a downwinder today. The wind was blowing hard, then died 5 minutes into my run. Crap! I need wind to catch runners!
Anyway, when I finally came ashore, I caught a tiny piece of swell (not a breaking wave) and it took off like a missile. I was going so fast, I figured I had no chance to stop gracefully. I ripped my leash off while screaming toward the beach and bailed. The board flew up the beach without me. My need to spaz out was prompted by the urgency to get in while I could. The sets were huge today. I came ashore during a brief break in the sets. 
No title
Brad and I paddled out CB inlet this morning for a downwinder. BAD IDEA!
The wind in our faces combined with the relentless swell coming in the inlet made it an endless nightmare of waves. It would have been way smarter to paddle out straight off the beach and be free of the waves quickly.
I turned around once we made it to the buoys and downwinded back down the inlet. I was able to catch swell and get rides pretty easy. The board is FAST and GLIDES. But it also pearls big time. It's definitely a better flat water racer. I need to make some design changes for the next one.
Kiting was great though! 
Race Board Photos
It's almost done. After these photos were taken, I sanded it one more time. It will get repainted tomorrow evening for the final time, I hope!
The deck pads are NOT stuck down yet
New Blogs to Me
Here are some blogs worth checking out.
http://carolinabeachsup.blogspot.com/ A new blog from one of the CB surf crew.
http://lifeamphibious.blogspot.com/ A fellow kitesurfer and SUP surfer. Some interesting stuff on this one. 
My Board Design Details
Below is the Bill Foote designed 14 ft race board. This is a board everyone who tries it, loves it. Including Stoneaxe, who participated in the Kenalu Raceboard Showcase. This is Rand's board from the standupzone. He had this one built after one demo on a similar board. Rand's prior boards were the XP Vortice, and several custom SIC race boards. So it was high praise coming from a guy with that extensive quiver history, to say he had to have this Foote board. That was my first clue to go with a windsurf rocker. Foote is an old windsurf board builder, so I assumed the rocker had some windsurf knowledge in it.
Another photo of the Foote, in process of being built.
My template was copied from this photo. This is the new F-14 production board. Considered one of the hot new fast boards for the coming racing season. It was very easy to print this photo, determine the scale, then take dimensions right off the photo. I wanted to use the F-14 template instead of Foote's wide tail template, but still wanted the clean release square tail, so my tail is square, but only a few inches wide at the back. It was my belief the narrow tail would make my board faster in non planing conditions, than Foote's wide tail.
My rocker was created by measuring a windsurfer. The windsurfer I measured was shorter than 14ft, so I had to project that rocker out farther to see where it ended up. Once I had that info, I compared it to this standard blank available from American Blanks. The rockers matched from mid point back. The nose rocker on the windsurfer was way more. Therefore I added 2" of nose rocker to this blank. Width was reduced to match what the top production race boards are doing. Between 26 1/2 and 27 wide.
Next I looked into prone paddleboard rockers to see how flat they were. These are the boards made for California racing. They use 1 1/2" of tail rocker. I didn't want to go that flat, because my board was designed for swell chasing. This just confirmed I was where I wanted to be with 2" of total tail rocker from the mid point (7 ft up).
This is how I created it. I'm stoked it turned out fast as hell. 
Water Test of the 14 ft Race Board
It's FAST
The board has exceeded my wildest expectations.
This was definitely worth the effort.
It felt fast upwind too. Amazing, because until today, upwind always felt like torture.
Sorry about the iphone photos. I was in a rush to get on the water.
Here is Brad coming down the waterway.
Here is Brad passing by.
Here is Brad trying to stop. You actually have to throw on the brakes with this board. It glides fast.
Next step is to actually finish the board.
It still has round soft rails in the back, and the bottom still hasn't been sanded perfectly flat. So it's going to get FASTER.
FYI, the sharp rails in the back of a board are built up using tape and resin. That will be done later this week. Then it needs some paint and a deck pad.
This was the quick and dirty test, just to see if this was a waste of time. I'm thrilled to know it's not. Now I'll order fiberglass for board number 2 and start shaping that one next week.
Stability and volume feel perfect in the flat water. I'll do an ocean downwinder tomorrow evening to confirm everything is OK for rough water.
The board is 26 3/4 wide.
I saw a huge school of sharks tonight circling in the eddy currents where Snows Cut meets the Intercoastal. Needless to say, I didn't paddle at that spot. 
Done Sanding
Daylight Savings could not have come at a better time.
After sanding, I fixed the few places I sanded through. If I don't find any places I missed tomorrow, I just may water test it.
I’d like to make a test run while we've got the SW winds blowing.
Later in the week I'll paint and deck it. For tomorrows test, I'll rely on booties for deck traction.
The neighbors were staring at the redneck sanding in his driveway.
Finished weight is 29 lbs. 
Garage Built 14' SUP Update
Sand coat curing now. Sand tomorrow. Water test next weekend.
My New Board Brand
This logo will be on my new board 
Why I'm Building a Downwind Board
http://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=48247&whichpage=3
40 knots at your six and no land in sight. Just you and a few buds swell chasing the perfect storm.
Follow the link and read the story of these Aussie swell chasers. Be sure to read page 2 and page 3 of the post.
New Rocker Jig Design
This rocker jig is built from gas spring parts. A gas spring is what holds the hatch open on your car.
The white channel is from the shelving found in your bedroom closet. The bungee adds stability prior to tightening the wing nuts.
Click this photo for details on the exact parts to buy and the cost. I used www.mcmaster.com to get my gas spring parts.
http://ncpaddlesurfer.blogspot.com/2007/12/rocker-jig.html Here is my old rocker jig based on a popular design found on the web. It's OK for goofing around, but is useless for serious work.
My new rocker jig locks down secure and precise. I can map the exact profile of a rocker. 
Our Future
Get on board or get out of the way because SUP is taking over.
Day 3 – Garage Built 14' Race SUP
Shaping is done. A big thanks go to my surfing bud Igor for lending me his F2 windsurfer. The shape is windsurf inspired, not surfboard.
What a mess it made of the garage!
The final shape, ready for spackle
Day 2 – Garage Built 14' Race SUP
Head High Surfing got in the way of my shaping today, so limited progress in the shaping room (a.k.a the garage). But, boy the surfing was insane. Dawn patrol netted us pure glass in thick fog and no crowds. In fact, we had the waves at the pier all to ourselves.
Template laid out
Ready for cutting
All cut and ready for final shaping tomorrow
The mini hotwire used for the rail cut
My Race Board
My race board is FINALLY done. Paint, decals, pad, cargo retainers, 100% done.
Here is the windsurf fin I'm using. A race blade with swept tip, to prevent catching on a sand bar and ripping the box out.
