Inflatable Boards for Winging

[Horst Sergio]

The technology exists, I will add some photos later on. I'm afraid the demand for such SUPs is not sufficient.. yet.

Thanks, would be cool to see your photos. Even if I also have quite some doupts that it would be affortable or even improve a lot the shapes. Even if it would be able to customize not just in 2D but 3D an inflatable will always stay limited in its shape, I think much easier to glue some sharp rupper edges on the tails as they already do, and as I heared with great success, for planing wind surf boards.

[fluidity]

The technology exists, I will add some photos later on. I'm afraid the demand for such SUPs is not sufficient.. yet.

Thanks, would be cool to see your photos. Even if I also have quite some doupts that it would be affortable or even improve a lot the shapes. Even if it would be able to customize not just in 2D but 3D an inflatable will always stay limited in its shape, I think much easier to glue some sharp rupper edges on the tails as they already do, and as I heared with great success, for planing wind surf boards.

Have you got a link to any of the hard edge mods you are writing of? I'd be interested to see, factory done or user mods?

[Horst Sergio]

Gluing edges to faster gliding inflatables is nothing special and something nearly every iWindsurf has since years.

I am sure it is not a question if we will also see this on iWingboards but how much you will profit from them during takeoff and how much weight they will cause.

Here are some examples:
https://equipment.robertoriccidesigns.c ... eride-y25/


Starboard has even a double edge:
https://windsurf.star-board.com/products-2019/airplane/


@fluidity:
If you like my info, maybe you can use just the "post reply" buttom instead of spaming this topic with touble and triple quotes, thank you.

[dirk8037]

I started searching for some videos on how they are put together, but only found this.
So I cant judge if that is representative, but I would not wonder if.

If anyone finds something else please post.

Also somehow expected, it still struck me how much handwork it is.
At 00:17 you can see that the core is basically 2 Layers stitched together from the role.
Dont kow if double Layer are also provided this way.
On 00:35 you can see how the rocker is put in.

So as wondered earlier, if it will be possible to "weave" in scoop - I would not say that it will happen in the next year for a price you would want to pay. Machine invest and time for individually stitched would be way to high.

Maybe there will be premium materials for the layer that are lighter and or better bendable, but thats it.

I remember that Core anouced years ago in their typical mode an iSUP with convex bow.
In regards of that process I can understand why they pulled back.

PS: I do not want to know the extent of glue fumes the workers are exposed to.
I think it would be nice to have some Fairtrade label for those things too.

Dirk

[Horst Sergio]

PS: I do not want to know the extent of glue fumes the workers are exposed to.
I think it would be nice to have some Fairtrade label for those things too.

Agree, let's hope the best for the workers
And thanks for the video, also didn't expected so much handword.

And here is the next product / info I recieved, told that it will come 2021 around March/April/May

[nixmatters]

Took me a while to find these. about 3 years old

[Horst Sergio]

Thanks nixmatters,
even if I am not sure if this technology will ever find an application.

And here is the next manufacturer no less then Fanatic:



Fanatic Sky Air Premium 5'4
• Volumen 103 Liter
• Länge 5'4" / 163 cm
• Breite 26" / 66 cm

Fanatic Sky Air Premium 5'8:
• Volumen 120 Liter
• Länge 5'8" / 173 cm
• Breite 28,25" / 71,8cm

Fanatic Sky Air Premium 5'10:
• Volumen 150 Liter
• Länge 5'10" / 178 cm
• Breite 28,5" / 72,4 cm

Source: https://oaseforum.de/showthread.php?t=179679

As far as seen it is the first with two carring handles, secound model with back strap and maybe most important the first to have a tail edge for the short planing phase during take off.

One year ago another designer told me: "Edges haven't been installed at our boards as they don't help. Boards are just for foiling, to make them heavier with edges doesn't make sense."

Well, we will see if this stays industry's credo, as I also know another brand that I expect to come with edges on their I-Wingboards in the next month.

So in total Fanatic should be around brand nr. 8 and in just 6 month starting from just 2 brands market has increased by 400 %, not bad IMHO.

[fluidity]

Thanks nixmatters,

Have you seen any small quantities of that dropstitch material on sale? I don't see why DIY should be limited to resin and fibreglass, dropstitch is a great resource for DIYers as well! There was a great resource i had links to years ago, for DIY kayak construction with a ribs and frame skeleton and thick nylon or polyester stitched tightly around it and then painted with a flexible resin, I can't remember the resin source but 2-part polyurethane resin would likely work for this too.

I made one using that construction and it was great. I don't see why all the R&D and building of inflatable foil boards should be left only to big manufacturers...

[nixmatters]

Those samples were part of a research project done by a Technical university and a dropstirch manufacturer (name was not disclosed). What dropstirch shape are you after... just shaped and stiffer rails? There are other ways to get it done at DIY level, but it's a hassle!

[fluidity]

Those samples were part of a research project done by a Technical university and a dropstirch manufacturer (name was not disclosed). What dropstirch shape are you after... just shaped and stiffer rails? There are other ways to get it done at DIY level, but it's a hassle!

I can add my own rails, no problem, I just 3D print them. Or I can CNC a mould and drop in 2-part polyurethane resin to get solid ones with my choice of dye/pigment added. The price per meter for the basic material seems to range from around $10 to $35 USD per meter in the big minimum order quantities which makes DIY construction also attractive, it's obvious that manufacturers and distributors are making good money on it and still selling them cheaper than hard boards. there's obviously things to figure out, valve placement, foil box shape, size, fitting, foot strap inserts, grab handles, correct glues, UV stable outside layers, seam materials between top and bottom, glues and any areas needing special reinforcements. But none of those seem like big challenges and eventually you'd likely end up with a board costing around $250 USD max, customised personally.