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1st one in the world

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Created by Gestalt > 9 months ago, 26 Nov 2009
Gestalt
QLD, 14376 posts
27 Nov 2009 1:30AM
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finally it's finished!

120lt tri fin freestyle/wave/freeride board. bit of an allrounder.




mabbott
NSW, 53 posts
27 Nov 2009 8:22AM
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looks nice what are the dimensions

Ellobuddha
NSW, 625 posts
27 Nov 2009 8:31AM
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Looks sweet. Well done.

Squid Lips
WA, 708 posts
27 Nov 2009 9:35AM
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That's a great looking board. The exposed carbon looks trick. Nice dome in the deck, should still be comfy on the back foot with the wide tail and single strap.

What's the go with bevelled tails? (duck tail?) Are they supposed to be for going backwards? In videos of freestylers sliding backwards it always looks to me like the tail is well clear of the water.

keef
NSW, 2016 posts
27 Nov 2009 12:52PM
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Squid Lips said...

That's a great looking board. The exposed carbon looks trick.


squid lips gesty is full of tricks gesty great job, it's hard to tell but are the rails boxy, have you got another sideon shot of the rails and the deck, and what are the dimentions

Haircut
QLD, 6481 posts
27 Nov 2009 12:30PM
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JP would be proud of that tail

Gestalt
QLD, 14376 posts
27 Nov 2009 2:31PM
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cheers guys, i should make it very clear that i am not the board builder.

it's been at the shapers for a while so i couldn't remember the dims but just checked my cad drawings.

it's 2400mm long x 700mm wide with 450mm at ofo
construction is ply vac bagged with kevlar reinforcing. has heel bumpers also. it's a little heavier than production boards for strength.

this board is version 3.

i designed the plan form and gave that to the shaper as a 1:1 template. only change the shaper made was to round the pin tail a little more than what i had.

the rails are 70/30 (approx) tuck all the way through with chamfer at the back. rocker line (i leave that to the shaper as he has the experience) is fairly flat with double concave into flat V (from memory) i asked him to add some scoop to the nose rocker also.

changes from previous version were max width was reduced, ofo dim was increased from 42cm to 45cm, some thickness was taken out of the tail, scoop nose introduced, footstraps were moved further apart. not sure what holes have been used in the photo. plus tri fin configuration was added. rocker has stayed constant through all versions.

fin setup is single fin powerbox with future fins boxes for the front 2 tri fin positions. i have ordered a set of x-rated 80/20 foils for the front fins. the idea with the front fins is purely about bottom turn grip as most big freewave boards suffer during bottom turns as the tails are so wide. i am also going to try some tri fin setups for bump and jump. will also get a set of G10 fcs ab-tow fins.

graphics i design in photoshop then trace in cad and laser cut on A3 clear contact sheets as templates. the pattern are repeating to simplify things. all up the graphics took me 5-6 hours to design, trace and cut and took the shaper 7 hours to apply and spray. ie. it's a lot of work.

i haven't sailed it yet. should be taking delivery this weekend. *i hope it works*

p.s. i'll get more photos once i take ownership

Gestalt
QLD, 14376 posts
27 Nov 2009 2:35PM
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Squid Lips said...

That's a great looking board. The exposed carbon looks trick. Nice dome in the deck, should still be comfy on the back foot with the wide tail and single strap.

What's the go with bevelled tails? (duck tail?) Are they supposed to be for going backwards? In videos of freestylers sliding backwards it always looks to me like the tail is well clear of the water.


yep bevels are for sliding backwards. something i am yet to do effectively.

edit* i also wanted the ability for double and single strap setup at the back as i found on previous models that in freeride mode with bigger fins it felt better to be able to have double straps. not sure how the plugs have been orientated at this stage.

sausage
QLD, 4873 posts
27 Nov 2009 3:30PM
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Gestalt said...

yep bevels are for sliding backwards. something i am yet to do effectively.



Justin,
I have no problems effectively going backwards everytime I sail

Nice work - Artwork less schizophrenic than V1.0 you had in Burrum. Also clean your gutters out.

Gestalt
QLD, 14376 posts
27 Nov 2009 4:13PM
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that v1.0 was a piss take. that was the meant to offend and reference the fluoro graphics of the 80's. i did it as all of the manufacturers were producing boards that were either white or grey. i was having a dig by doing the complete opposite.



i was even berated on the beach once over the graphics on that board when a graphic designer told me how **** it was.

i tried to explain that although i wasn't going for **** that was infact the point. he didn't get it,

keef
NSW, 2016 posts
27 Nov 2009 6:54PM
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keef said...

Squid Lips said...

That's a great looking board. The exposed carbon looks trick.


squid lips gesty is full of tricks gesty great job, it's hard to tell but are the rails boxy, have you got another sideon shot of the rails and the deck, and what are the dimentions


sorry about the stupid comment about the boxy rails i didnt realise its the sliders or "bevels" im allso wondering if the kevlar is painted graphics

Gestalt
QLD, 14376 posts
27 Nov 2009 6:21PM
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no worries Keef, i haven't taken anyhting as stupid comments.

the kevlar is real.

the rails have a fairly hard tuck. one of the previous version of the board had a lot softer rail towards the back and it tended to affect the tracking of the board in a bad way.

pete (the shaper) changed the rail shape on that board making it harder and it made a massive difference to the tracking.

i guess a seasoned freestyler might like the softer tuck but for me it just didn't feel right. i see that as the conudrum with freestyle boards. they need to slide but they also need to track. i guess that's why some do one better than the other.

this version also has a straighter outline. i'm keen to see what impact that has.

ka72
QLD, 580 posts
27 Nov 2009 8:36PM
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Nice one Gesty and Pete.
Are you going to try it out this weekend at the WW meet?

Gestalt
QLD, 14376 posts
28 Nov 2009 12:39AM
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yep kellie,

very keen to try it out. forecast is for 20-25 knots so might have to use the fish. if it ends up being too windy i'll try again monday.

vando
QLD, 3416 posts
28 Nov 2009 11:37AM
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looks nice Gesty

sailpilot
QLD, 783 posts
28 Nov 2009 12:55PM
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Good one Mate, can you give up any trade secrets on the vac ply / kevlar constrruction? what thickness and type did Pete use, I assume its a good way of getting stiffness without over-carbonising the pricetag?

NotWal
QLD, 7428 posts
28 Nov 2009 2:17PM
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Gorgeous! but I had a lot of respect for the first one. It was unique and did wonders for your image. People used to say "I bet that bloke can do triple forwards. He obviously has the cajones for it if he's brave enough to be seen with a board like that"

Speaking of graphics there's a very nice example of a hand done graphic on the WA forum by adsmusac. Done with posca pens ! I've never heard of them but the graphic is really colourful. I wonder if the paint is durable.


Gestalt
QLD, 14376 posts
28 Nov 2009 2:36PM
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hi sailpilot,

yeah carbon is very expensive, i don't want to talk for pete as far as construction goes as i might not get it right. i do remember a long time back he went to timber as it was cheaper than carbon, he also does carbon bottoms with ply decks etc. it really just depends on the type of board and it's use as to the construction method.

from memory the construction of my board is the core wrapped in hardcore foam with a layer of timber over that. there is extra carbon kevlar under the impact pads and around the critical bits.

for me personally i prefer timber over carbon. it can take a real whack without breaking. but it is a little heavier.

the carbon kevlar is pretty good too. you get the strength of the carbon with the impact resistance of kevlar.

last timje i spoke to pete he was strating to use crow feet carbon weave. i think that's what it is called. it is a diagonal weave carbon.

Hi Dave,

yeah i thought adszmucks graphics were awesome! it would of taken so much time and effort for him to do that. i tack my hat off to him.

Gestalt
QLD, 14376 posts
28 Nov 2009 10:23PM
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Hi again guys, i asked pete to take a look at the thread and add some input. he's not a computer type of guy though. spends his life either building sups, windsurfers and surfboards or doing it.

here is a photo from last week at mooloolaba.......



i did pick his brain though. i've known him for a very long time and have had many in depth conversation about board design, hung out in his shapping room and also tested different things with him but at the end of the day nothng beats the experience he has from actually building them. he has also been doing it since 78 so i listen to what he has to say.

so consturction wise this is what he uses.

the board is a double vaccum bag layup.

first layer is foam core, 6oz glass and divinycell bagged.
second layer is 4oz glass, .6mm veneer bagged.
edit* from memory i think he might have a layer of glass over the veneer? not sure

he uses 18oz glass on the rails and carbon/kevlar reinforcing to the required areas.

if he is going to paint a board he uses Q-cell and if he is going to leave the timber look no q-cell is used.

there are a few trade secrets in here that i won't explain like how to get the layup around the rail etc and the extents of certain layups to allow a good finish so the amount of Q-cell is reduced.

the rocker is a slalom rocker.

basically it's a single concave into double concave into flat V. effectively a spiral V shape with 1.5mm of V at the deep point.

rails are hard 5mm tuck at the rear running through to a 10mm tuck at the front.

side fins are angled at points approx 3-4in out from the centre line at the nose.

all of his boards are cut from templates and then hand finshed and concaves/V added.

pete said since changing to timber veneer he has had no issues with construction as it is strong

he is currently testing some new construction methods including a slalom board and twin fin fish both using crows feet carbon cloth in the layup

Rubby
65 posts
28 Nov 2009 9:32PM
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It's surprising to see one rear strap in the middle. How can you sail a 70 cm wide board like that?

elmo
WA, 8718 posts
28 Nov 2009 9:47PM
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Scratchynuts said...

It's surprising to see one rear strap in the middle. How can you sail a 70 cm wide board like that?


You rig a sail to a mast and boom, you attach said rig to board, you put the board on the water, you stand on board, then sail and freestyle til your heart is content

Gestalt
QLD, 14376 posts
29 Nov 2009 12:26AM
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cracked me up elmo.

elmo
WA, 8718 posts
28 Nov 2009 11:45PM
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Looks a nice toy Gesty

keef
NSW, 2016 posts
29 Nov 2009 10:00AM
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Rubby said...

It's surprising to see one rear strap in the middle. How can you sail a 70 cm wide board like that?

here's bonaire with no straps
i think most of us have seen this one

Gestalt
QLD, 14376 posts
29 Nov 2009 9:51PM
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hey i got the board today and took it for a spin. even though it was pumping i decided to try it out anyways. the board was designed as a lightwind allround board for fat blokes like me (100kg+).

i won't go into a full review as this thread was more about my new board and not a review.

here is the graph from today.



so it was very windy, i rigged a 5.3 KA kult and used a 25cm MFC freestyle pro fin.

the wind was probably more like 20-25 when i was on the water. swell 3 foot or so.

i really thought i was in for a flogging but the board was awesome!!!! i held back on the jumps but during the air that i couldn't avoid getting the board felt really balanced. gybes were also sweet, when i really pushed the carve the board did feel on the edge so i really would have like to have had the front side fins in it in these conditions.

board rode the swell really well, turned on the face and slid really well and snapped into line when needed.

i'm stoked! had a blast.

can't wait to try the board in the light stuff. maybe tomorrow. i am very keen to see what the early planing is like as that is the big ticket item for me now.

edit, the board is actually 71cm wide and 46cm at the tail. when i sent the template to pete i forgot to allow for the layup.

Gestalt
QLD, 14376 posts
30 Nov 2009 10:01PM
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sassion 2 today,

32cm MFC freewave, 6.4m kult in 15-20 knots small chop at wello.

still need to tweak the strap tension and positions a little but on the whole fantastic session!

it's interesting that although the tail is wider than the first version reducing the thickness has really improved the gybing of the board. it was carving incredibly well in the small chop. also the plan shape tweaks in this version have worked really well improving tracking and early planing. even in 15 knots with a 105 kg sailor the board just takes off.

may put double rear strap/single rear strap option for production version for people more into freeride sailing.

tried a few pops and the board seems to release well.

next test, the surf as a tri fin setup! then off to the 3d laser scanner for copying.

Hi Keef,

i will get some more photos once the thruster fins arrive in the post to show you.



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"1st one in the world" started by Gestalt