Wanting to do some sort of project for the winter break looked at building a tt board than though of a lite wind board . I am thinking of building an alaia board for the lite wind has any one built a alaia board that could help me on a plan or show a good site were i can get a plan ,shape down load from . Also what lenght should it be for a 60 kg person . will be sweet if i can get mind set on it and do the build thing .
Mordy Surf down here in Melbourne were running a shape your own Alaia board course, which included the blank. I imagine there are a few places up your way that sell the blanks - there is a place out the back of Mordialloc that manufactures plantation blinds and also sells Alaia blanks. Maybe somewhere up your way would do the same.
I made one at Xmas... It was good fun and a decent way to spend Xmas at the in laws (I.e. away from them down the backyard making noise drinking beers)..
I got a template from the guy i bought the blank from which works with boardcad.org.. it was easy to use and get a template printed out.. I can send it to u if you pm me ur details...
It gets me out comfortably in conditions when smaller guys than me with bigger kites are struggling.. Which is what I wanted it for..
I wouldn't use linseed oil again as it was a pain.. Clear coat of some sort would be heaps easier...
Hey surface2air at cotton tree there was this surfboard shaping shop around the back of the shops that are next to the caravan park, the guy has heaps of old boards for sale, and a few alaia's which were quite cheap when I was there, I'm pretty sure I saw some blanks too.
I built a copy of the naish board out of pine, a while ago it worked really well but I left it at the beach one day. I now have the real naish board, it's alot lighter but the shape is pretty close to what I built the first time.
I shaped myself an Alaia over Christmas, my wife bought me a blank for a present. Loved shaping it. Love riding it even more. Great light wind board, very smooth and fast. I can get going on a 17 mt kite in 8 knots. Have had it out on a 12 meter in 18 knots and was still a blast to ride. You have to learn to jybe all over again, thats part of the fun. It rides waves well, but it gets going quickly on the wave and can get pretty squirrel.
It is a different feeling riding more glassy conditions. Rarely anybody around, just me and the sea. So glad I have this now. Others who have ridden have been surprised by how much fun it is. It is surprising smooth in the chop to despite there being no rocker.
Have fun shaping.
y.
www.seabreeze.com.au/Articles/Kitesurfing/How-to-make-a-Paulownia-Kite-Board_5798724.aspx
There was a thread about this last year and heaps of info on the net just google alaia boards or paulownia blanks
That's a nice looking board dafish