as its my day job If I can be of help in creating a cad file on shape 3d and the g code for people to cut it on there cnc for personal use I have a full licence for shape3d which is a board shaping software I’m happy to do draw up a basic design and file that people can down load.
What are the consequences of using a larger board? I have an old windsurfer I am considering using. I assume greater stability but also greater drag until airborne. Or perhaps there is less drag because of increased buoyancy? Increased weight. Anything else?
probably the biggest thing is swing weigh, having a smaller lighter board means it is easier and faster to react, the odious benefits of less to have to lift. Having a bit of width will also hep a lot when you make a unscheduled landing and offer a bit of stability when taking off or going at sub foiling speeds.
This is such a great place for the DIY. My project started from scratch in August with building my board.My idea was to create a hollow medium sized wooden surfboard. First goal was to float👍.
I was pretty happy with outcome of the board- sealed it with teak oil and then marine spar urethane. I tried the board/ foil in early September as a tow behind the boat before the boat was put away for the summer. I believe the mast was my downfall - I could stand up on the board but no matter how how far back I was on the board, it would nose dive with slight increase in speed. I believe I had too much drag on the mast. I’m also improving the foil now that I’m finding more information out there to go on. I have a video on the water- just can’t upload.
So the guy in the video confirms my theory in the „lets make the optimum wing first” thread. In the first 2min he explains how the kite creates a large moment. We don’t have that moment with the motor pushing close to the wing. So we probably all should modify our back wing for less downforce.
Hi just thought i would start to post after following this site for a while. Below is a pic of a board and foil , the board is am old SUP with high density foam layed in for the mount and it’s my second wing the first failed in the fuselage, we live and learn.
today i‘ve planned an cut out a prototyp in the size of 30% from the original. the final one has a size of 160cm65cm13cm, so i think i have enough volume.
I completed the first of at least 4 lamination cycles. The bottom is far from smooth, but should be very strong. My vacuum bag ripped, so I couldn’t apply enough pressure to keep it flat. It will probably remain uneven. Hopefully the top will be smoother!
Progress on the board so far. Now ready for glassing. Going to use 2 layers 6oz glass top and bottom with an extra 6oz patch where the foil goes. Didn’t have a hot wire cutter so I had to block sand the entire bank.
Thanks Max. Yea it was really messy, not the best way to do it. Great, thanks for the tips, I will use the plastic bag filled with water for the electronics cavity, was thinking about what to do to press the sides in. Cheers
Not the best way to mix epoxy with a drill (high speed) unless you use a degass chamber on the epoxy, it creates load of bubbles. Slow with a “paddle” will give lot less bubbles.
Vacuumnagging is not that hard, and will give really good results compared to hand layup, especially in corners and other complex geometries. Your fiberglass/epoxy will be lighter and “stronger”(higher tensile strength) as well, due to a better ratio of resin and cloth, the fact that almost all air is removed and the cloth sticking well to the foam below.