hi there. any ideas anyone on how to install a dagger board to a 144 free ride board. does not have to be pretty but while learning it will hopefully help track a bit better. Like this I can get my son and friends to give it a try too
I have seen a temporary centreboard fitted to a board on the net somewhere, it's quicker to draw it than search for a URL, not pretty but it works for learners in particular. It was made of marine ply, crapiata pine, epoxy glued, screwed and painted, so simple. The only thing I'd add is something grippy sandwiched between the device and board to stop it from slipping or marring your board. EVA or rubber sheet glued to ply?
I'd even use external ply and undercoat and paint it well instead of marine ply....would be cheaper.
The other option is to use a learner fin. Starboard sell them with their learner boards. Its short, deep and fat. It's not quite as good as a center fin but it keeps the board tracking reasonably well.
I like the variety of suggestions here. will probably go down nosinka's way only a bit more refined,i.e. sand wood round and smooth to get a more stream lined shape ect. Have seen the starboard dagger. That needs to screws coming through the deck to hold them in place and while I already considerably altered the board and had a go at glassing I'm not that keen on trying to insert and then waterproof the two grommets needed. anyone . will post finished product. cheers
Glad you liked the idea, the one I saw was real fugly but as you seem not to mind in putting some effort into it it can be made to look sexy. Match your rear fin's shape and it could look good....underwater.
Maybe even a discarded big freeride fin might work too. Use the battens as shown to make a dummy box and screw the fin into it via the normal method from above. Endless ideas.
I'm keen to see your version when you finish it.
Again: wouldn't it be simpler just to find an old board for that purpose?
Or just borrow one for a couple of tinnies?
I've got an 80cm wide board that I've cut into and fitted a powerbox insert just aft of the mast track, glassed it in and repainted around the bottom. I can now fit a largish centrefin with a smaller back fin for the kids to use or I can plug the centrehole with a cut off powerbox fin and use the standard back fin for light wind freeriding for myself.
