Hollow Wood Strip Kiteboard

Kitesail · Since 23 Jun 2006 108 Posts The Gorge Stoked

Huh -
Turned out to be lighter than I expected. My scale at home is a spring type (4.5lbs); so I wanted to see what the difference with the digital scale at work would be....
4lbs Shocked

nice..........

1rst Coat; Prep before glassing.

jsj · Since 11 Sep 2006 83 Posts Hood River

*sweet* workmanship. I admire your dedication too. I'm astounded how fast you've progressed on it.

Best Regards

-John

bwd · Since 04 Aug 2007 385 Posts Obsessed

Looking better every day.
The board I popped was a lightwind ply twin tip. The design was thin ply skins, and a 1/4 inch thick core, with big cavities each side of a center stringer to lighten it.
I used hardware store $%#@! foam, and only had a few vent holes, which weren't enough, so it popped. So it was small amount of space, rigid board, and poor planning. Eventually finished it, the ply was crap too, it all checked, now its under a couch. Rode once, for like a minute -lame, lessons learned. I think it weighs 100# or so.

A better way might be to determine the expansion of a mix-it-yourself marine foam under your conditions, and calculate the volume you have to fill, before very carefully trying to inject it. I'd practice on a mock-up.
I'd also want a vent hole every inch or 2 probably, which might be ugly, although you could cut contrasting plugs for the holes to make a cool pattern, it would be a lot of work. In my humble opinion, you might still be playing craps with your nice board though.

If I tried a hollow surfboard, with foam inside, I'd put the foam in before the top skin of the board was glued on. I've made a couple of more successful twin tips that way.
But I'd rather just strip the top deck without gluing it to the backbone, then pop it off, and add 8oz glass underneath the standing area, so the part you stand on could be a sandwich, but no foam.

Or you could just try an extra couple layers of glass on the outside in the standing area. Wink

Kitesail · Since 23 Jun 2006 108 Posts The Gorge Stoked

bwd -
Thanks for the info. Wink

I did find some poly foam with minimal expansion. I injected some into the area where the vent plug will go; (top side near the tip) you may see the hole in the pic's below. The foam has plenty of air space to expand, it all went fine no worries.
I never intended to foam the whole board, I feel it's plenty strong as is.

I'm only going to inject foam for setting foot plugs and fin boxes. It will provide a secure bond between the upper and lower decks and provide a well for the plugs.

Mt. Hood Meadows has been awesome this week, so I'm not done yet. It's all glassed now top and bottom. I'll set the boxes next.

John

Sella · Fri Feb 27, 09 5:30 am

Looking fantastic John. Keep those pics coming...my brother and I are watching this and are very curious about setting the boxes. Shocked

Yardsale · Since 29 Mar 2005 387 Posts Portlanastan Obsessed

But will she float????? Hah ha, nice work John....can't wait to ride it.....but you can try it first! Very Happy

jbruxer · Since 24 Jul 2005 398 Posts Beaverton, OR Obsessed

Hey John, just curious...and sorry if you mentioned this earlier, but what made you decide on the swallow tail design? Looking great! And to ecco what the others are saying, keep the pics coming. Very Happy

jbruxer · Since 24 Jul 2005 398 Posts Beaverton, OR Obsessed

Hey John, just curious...and sorry if you mentioned this earlier, but what made you decide on the swallow tail design? Looking great! And to ecco what the others are saying, keep the pics coming. Very Happy

Kitesail · Since 23 Jun 2006 108 Posts The Gorge Stoked

jbruxer -
I chose the Swallow Tail for a couple of reasons.
1. It allows for a wider tail, which helps with the Quad Fin Layout.
It also helps to release the flow and keep it centered.
2. Using the Quads/Swallow Tail; the two rear fins do not cause any turbulance allowing the center to flow free.

At least that's my theroy Cool

Some pic's of the fin box installation. I'll probally do it different next time since I now know some alternatives, that might work to an advantage. Wink

enjoy.......

blancoh2o · Since 15 Mar 2005 1153 Posts Oregon Phishy

John,

That board is going to be the best riding board in the world for you.

You know why?

Because you can say you built it on your own.

That is one beautiful piece of art.

I wish I had the patients and skills/guts to try and build something like that. All I would be thinking is don't F this thing up. Then I would say to myself "if I don't finish it, I can't screw it up" so it would sit there halfway done and collect dust. And my wife would say "what are you going to do with that thing in the garage"?

Awesome Johnny B, Awesome!

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Awesome! Just out of curiousity, do you use some sort of jig on a router to cut the fin boxes out?

rePete · Since 18 Dec 2007 215 Posts Mosier, Oregon Stoked

John, are you going to have your beautiful work of art at the shop tomorrow? I'll stop by. The fin lay out looks very nice! You're getting close!!
Pete

kitebot · Since 20 Feb 2007 251 Posts Obsessed

What a beauty, nice work John. Thanks for sharing the pictures with us.

Cheers,

Adam (the guy who bought a used Waroo from you a couple years ago and who now secretly hopes there'll be a used woodstrip kitesurfboard posted one of these days Wink

)

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2025 Posts Windward

Bolt · Since 02 Nov 2008 111 Posts Floras Lake Stoked

beautiful, looks like some serious craftsmanship!

pdxmonkeyboy · Sun Mar 01, 09 12:01 pm

Seriously nice craftsmanship. Makes me want to post pictures of my latest wood project but my mortise and tennon skills would be somewhat embarrassing. Working with wood is a subtractive art and is not easy at all.

Kitesail · Since 23 Jun 2006 108 Posts The Gorge Stoked

Thanks so much, you all have been great!!!
7.2lbs and solid; as solid or maybe even more than any epoxy board I've owned.

Next pic's will have to be some action shots Wink

Hopefully some wind this week Very Happy

BYT: I did make a template for the Quads.

John