Hello,
I'm fairly a beginner, weighting 95kg and would like to find a way to ride in 8knots on the lakes in my area. I'm try to get a second hand 16-17m2 kite.
My current board is a 1m40 * 42cm board which I'm really happy with.
I've seen that the board is really important to manage to ride upwind and would have surely bought a spleene monster door if I had the money for it. I've read in here (http://www.mackite.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=864) about building your own "simple" plywood board. I would like to build the simplest board for lightwind. I don't care about performance or making jumps/tricks, I will ride it only in perfectly flat water. The only thing is since the lake are close to the moutains the wind can be a little gusty or just complety drop (there you are just fucked but at least you will always end up on a shore somehow)
I'm not at all a manual person and have access to pretty limited equipment/space/money. My only goal is to be able to ride and come back to the tiny kite authorized area at the border of the lake when the wind is low (ideally reaching as low as 8 knots). So fiber glass is completely out of the question and I would like to avoid to have to glue or make some rocker by just using a plain piece of plywood.
I have an old kiteboard from where I can salvage fins, pads and handle.
I still would like to have a few feedback before I start my project:
- Is having no rocker at all viable? Does it affect maneuverability? I would like to use plain piece of wood and avoid to glue different layers. It will end up in a super heavy board, does it affect navigation?
- I'm looking for the biggest fat door possible as I will only use it when my main board doesn't get me upwind. I was thinking of using the spleen monster door lay out: 1m66 x 50, even maybe going to 52cm width. Is it a good idea?
- In term of shape, is just cutting the corner round (5 cm radius) is enough (I'm really searching simplicity) ? Should I try to make the outline of the board more complex by adding concave shape on the rails? Is adding concavity on the tips helps in anything?
- For the shape of the rail I was thinking about just use rough sand paper to remove sharp edges? I can have access to a electric sander. Should I try to make the edges finer or shape them what so ever?
- plywood selection? I was aiming for birch plywood should I try 10mm or 12mm?
- finishing, my Idea was to use brillant varnish designed for boat. Is it a good choice? Is something better suitable or could I use something simper cheaper? Does it matter until it waterproofing? I found also some plywood already cover with black phenolic resin, then I only have to varnish the edges?
- Fins and pads positions? I was thinking of matching the fins and pads placement of the monster door. I don't care so much on riding toeside, I'm looking for maneuverability and upwind capability on heelside (I would try to make some carved turns with it but if it does not behave nicely toe side it's not a problem)
Thanks for any feedback on my project.