1/4" plywood door!

[JoeLemm]

What can I say, SweetDoug's chubby girl inspired me to make a board of my own. Beer was purchased, along with some supplies from Home Hardware (had better ply than Home Depot), and away I am going. Dimensions are 160x48.

I know it's not the ideal way to do it, but I am sandwiching 2 sheets of the 1/4" ply (5 ply birch). Keeping it simple with some minor rocker built in and a bottle cap's worth of concave. Let's see if any of that holds... I used No More Nails to glue the sheets together and am waiting for them to dry as we speak.

My phone doesn't like linking pictures but I will get some up when I can.

-Joe

[JoeLemm]

Heres an update on the door...

Things have turned out well so far, and to my surprise the board has a decent rocker and concave, even considering my ghetto rocker table setup.

I have got 3 coats of spar varnish on it, and will get a few more pictures of it tonight once I have the fins and foot straps mounted.

The wind is calling for just about the only direction that I cant ride around here ( or make it to before dark after work), so hopefully I'll get a chance to take it out later in the week.

Costs are:

1/4 Birch plywood (5 ply, net veneer crap) - $30
Spar varnish - $20 (used less than half)
Hardware - $5

Fins were taken off another board, and I had the footstraps already...


If you're interested or have any questions, feel free to ask.

Joe

[JoeLemm]

The winds are looking like I can try my new 2014 Naish Draft 14m with my newly built board tonight!

Hopefully it works...

[daspi]

And? How is it working out for you? Is it not too stiff with two layers of 1/4"?

[JoeLemm]

I tested the board out yesterday.... and it was awesome!!! I am very happy with it... Actually shocked at how good it actually was.

Its not true 1/4 inch... its smaller than that, and even with the two layers it has decent flex, and if I were to build another, I don't think there is much I would change as of yet.

Winds were very low, lowest I have ever kited in... Forecast was calling for 8-10 knots, and I think it was actually on the lower end of that. I did have it matched up with a Naish Draft 14m (first time ever using it), and I was able to boost a couple of solid jumps considering how little wind there was. I was also going upwind more aggressively than I would with a 9 or 12m on a windy day with my 135 TT even though there was almost no wind.

Heres some pictures... not the greatest quality since I forgot the camera and these are done with a cellphone in crappy light.

Cheers,
Joe

[ciscokitesurfer]

interesting post. Thank you for sharing the experience

[SweetDoug]

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Awesome board!

I haven't been on here in ages, and have just been checking posts and saw yours!

I'm so proud I inspired you! It's like I've given birth!

Not too heavy? That 1/4" ply sheeting, what's she top out at?

Rocker effect is great with the highly precise positioning of the batteries and water jug! Love it! You must have spent many years at MIT in the hydrodynamics & engineering course like I did?

Fairly symmetrical curve to it? I've been thinking of cutting radius curves to lay up a board with a tad bit of rocker, although lately, I'm coming into the idea that rocker doesn't matter a darn.

Pad placement? On the centre line or off-line for a better bite/more weight?

But a great build! Love it!

SweetDoug



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