kako

kako
kako

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Board #2

I've got board #2 under way. I wanted to try a different building approach than the chambered design I used on the first board. Hopefully I can get the weight down on this one. I drew up a plan for a framed hollow board, but then ran across this link at Swaylocks:
http://www.flamasurf.com/eng/index.html

Here's a pic of the basic Flama approach which I'm going to use for this board.


So, I've already got my wood (Japanese kirizai and western red cedar), and have laid out and glued up the deck. I am now building the rails up, and will gradually add an internal frame. When that's done I'll build the bottom skin and press and glue it all together and shape the rails...at least that's the plan. I'm planning a diamond tail single fin, just under 7'...here some pics of my progress so far.
 The wood: Japanese Kirizai (Paulownia), and western red cedar.

 From the back
 From the nose

Building up the rails (5 cm wide to allow for shaping)

Test run



Here's a couple of pics from the parking lot before my first test run (sorry, no action shots). I had no idea whether or not it would even float...must say I was pretty anxious lugging it down to the water. But, after the paddle out to the line up, I could feel it would probably work, and it did. Stroked into a few nice little ones that first morning, and have since had it out half a dozen times. Overall,  I'm quite happy with how it goes. It rides pretty well considering the weight, although you wouldn't want to get hit by the thing. It picks up speed really well down the line, and rides smaller waves decently even at a smaller length (6'10") than I usually ride. If I can get the weight down 3 or 4 kilos, I think I may never have to buy a board again. Unbelievable feeling making something like this and riding it...

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Board Completed

Finished! My first wood surfboard...actually my first surfboard build of any kind.

Just put the FCS plugs in and am putting a few coats of varnish on the area around where the plugs were sanded down. It finished up at 10 kilos, a bit on the heavy side, but I guess we'll have to see how she rides. Overall, pretty satisfied with it, The MR fins really suit the shape. The finish is pretty hit and miss, next time I'll go with satin varnish instead of the gloss. There are some runs and uneven areas in the finish, but after a bit of wax and few rides I'll probably look past those.

It's been a cool experience, learned a lot, already got the wood for the next one.  

Here she is: 6'10" x 22 x 3 1/4 Green Surfboards Hokkaido (第一号)、chambered fulcata