Finally received antenna wire, I now have a meter long antenna. Soldering a joint was not easy.
Tested it under 10cm of water with antenna out, and had good signal.
Test in the river DW tomorow with 1201, but with the Big stabiliser 400/60 instead of the 360/45.
Added carbon tubes to deck, to make sure the box does not move. got high quality résine this time, dont want to mess up with cheap amazon epoxy again.
The carbon fabric from Aliexpress is only 50cm wide, so I will not be able to do a complete carbon layup.
The goal is to have remote on paddle and progressively transition to paddle start, removing the motor at some point in the future. Also have hand paddles to try out in case I struggle to find balance
Nice ! So what’s your opinion, are those products from this company worth it ? I’m still waiting for your review on the company visit to place my order. If you find time to answer my private message I would really appreciate, thanks
GY is a small Factory in a village 1h30 driving from Shenzhen, for finishing and graphics installation, CNC the fuses. Their main carbon plant is in another region of China with cheaper labor.
They do not use the product themself = no clue about what IS ok, nok, need improvement or not.
They produce genuine produits for some brands.
They used to produce for axis the wings, now axis has their own Factory.
Working conditions are OK, but not the best I have Seen for carbon Factory (visited a few).
Environnemental and health inspections are much stricter now in China, and factories could be closed very easily for unsafe air for workers. Not sweat shop, not high end either.
There is a story about them and axis but will not get into details as I dont have axis side.
Some of their products are copies, with most of the times small differences that prevent 100% copy status. I have Seen 2 brands where I think it is genuine, and 2 where I think it is copies.
The 1201, 1300 and 1401 I got were compatible with axis fuse. But axis fuse IS not compatible with GY mast.
There are details that are problematic : varnish quality (peels off on some places on my mast) precision of the fuse matching (1300 needed shims, first 1201 fuse is 0.5 ° twisted wing/stab)
I negociated with them a good deal for 1401 pump set with better quality bags, carbon mast, two rear stabs. I have frequent containers shipping out from china to France for my e-mtb company, that could reduce the Price for Europe, but I have to calculate any Import and warrany costs. It is also very borderline VS axis and a potential risk I’m not sure I am willing to take. So I was looking at options to have a group buy organised.
I will not post pictures out of respect for the brands that have genuine production there.
I know some of you were waiting for this report, but probably you can understand why I needed to think about it first.
It is a lot of work, Hope it will be strong enouth. Cf 200gr gf 125. Cf IS overlapping over foil box.
Deck I will add another gf patch for Feet area.
Short on CF
I am on the fence about either building a board or buying a Gong NOTW 4’8" 30L 3kg for 550 euros.
Usually, large downwind boards are pricey even from Gong, but this is a small board.
It should handle extensive pumping.
And I doubt that I, who have never built a board, could get close to their board’s rigidity.
Right?
I am at around 450 EUR in materials only so far.
My alternative was to buy a intruder 6.8, but delivered Price was around 850/900€ delivered, and volume slightly low.
Also like a challenge
Rigidity is no issue but matching stiffness per weight will be. I think that for 550 it’s a great value. Materials for high end boards in low volume comes at a really high price.
Drop start as in pumping ? 4.8 is too Big imo for dock start, I have 4.2/2.75kg and I feel a difference to my diy 85cm 2.2kg board. Also dock start IS very hard on Gear, my takoon slate was damaged from just a few sessions.