Contact   Imprint   Advertising   Guidelines

Strenght and flexibility

Here you can exchange your experience and datas about your home build boards
blup
Rare Poster
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:14 pm
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Strenght and flexibility

Postby blup » Thu Oct 11, 2012 10:25 pm

Hi,

I'm reading this forum already for some months because I want to make some boards. I found a lot of information on several topics but there is one thing I don't find information. That's why I registered to be able to launch a question.

So here it is: What is the desirable strenght and flexibility in a kiteboard? And how can I measure it?

Thanks in advance,

Blup

P.S. I'm a very bad kitesurfer, my sons are doing pretty well, but I'm more drinking seawater instead of catching wind. But building something, that's my thing.

plummet
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 6819
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 11:25 pm
Local Beach: EE
Favorite Beaches: NZ
Style: Terrain riding
Gear: Old wornout ozone.
Plummet hydrofoil and mutant
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 11 times
Been thanked: 224 times

Re: Strenght and flexibility

Postby plummet » Thu Oct 11, 2012 10:51 pm

for a strong flexible board you want to choose a thin core and use more reincforcement. eg fibreglas

blup
Rare Poster
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:14 pm
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: Strenght and flexibility

Postby blup » Thu Oct 11, 2012 10:56 pm

That's what I want, but how flexible it should be? Does it need to be stiff in the middle and flexible on both ends, or does it need to be flexible all the way through the board?
And how flexible it should be?

If I put some weight on it, how far should it bend? and where should it bend?

Greetings,

Blup

User avatar
edt
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 7316
Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:27 am
Kiting since: 2010
Local Beach: Michigan
Gear: ride hard, no regrets
Has thanked: 530 times
Been thanked: 664 times

Re: Strenght and flexibility

Postby edt » Fri Oct 12, 2012 2:23 am

if you put your hand on top of the board and step in the middle with all your weight, the board should bow by about 1 or 2 feet, if it bows an inch or two, it's way too stiff and will spank your knees, if it bends all the way in half, it's too flexible and will eat up all your speed.

untreated marine grade 1/2 inch plywood has almost exactly the right flex. The more fiberglass and epoxy you use, the smaller you will have to make the wood core so the flex is right.

disclaimer, this is all my personal opinion, everyone has different opinions on the perfect board.

ideally you want the board to flex the same throughout the entire board so you dont have a weak point on the board that breaks easily. Again just my own opinion, others have different ones.

TheJoe
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 1738
Joined: Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:13 pm
Local Beach: Texas city levee, Galveston, El Jardine and Crystal beach.
Style: Freeride, Foil, Surf, a lil freestyle
Gear: North Reach 7,9,12
Brunotti TT
Moses 633/483
Dwarfcraft Micro
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 118 times

Re: Strenght and flexibility

Postby TheJoe » Fri Oct 12, 2012 12:27 pm

I would suggest measuring some boards that you like. Rocker and shape have a lot of effect on how flexy a board should be. Personal preference all so will dictate what you want in a board. Start by trying to copy something you know you like and then tweak it to suit you better.

scklandl
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 1603
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2005 12:49 am
Style: all
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: scott klandl burlington, VT
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: Strenght and flexibility

Postby scklandl » Fri Feb 15, 2013 4:48 am

Rocker has nothing to do with flex characteristics but means something when talking about overall design.

I like foam, lighter than wood by a lot and easier to build to your desired specs. Ie no spring back.

My suggestions
12-15mm foam in middle taper from inner insert pack to tip 2.5 mm
20 oz triad
Good place to start

plummet
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 6819
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 11:25 pm
Local Beach: EE
Favorite Beaches: NZ
Style: Terrain riding
Gear: Old wornout ozone.
Plummet hydrofoil and mutant
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 11 times
Been thanked: 224 times

Re: Strenght and flexibility

Postby plummet » Fri Feb 15, 2013 10:34 am

rocker will have an affect on flex. concave a greater effect.

wrogu
Frequent Poster
Posts: 368
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:12 am
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 18 times

Re: Strenght and flexibility

Postby wrogu » Fri Feb 15, 2013 10:55 am

And channels even greater effect. BTW in order to control flex in terms of board shape - check liquid force DLX 2011 - it has channels on the top :lol: - just to make it stiffer in the mid section. So shape does matter.

scklandl
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 1603
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2005 12:49 am
Style: all
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: scott klandl burlington, VT
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: Strenght and flexibility

Postby scklandl » Fri Feb 15, 2013 12:24 pm

And how does rocker affect flex?

plummet
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 6819
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 11:25 pm
Local Beach: EE
Favorite Beaches: NZ
Style: Terrain riding
Gear: Old wornout ozone.
Plummet hydrofoil and mutant
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 11 times
Been thanked: 224 times

Re: Strenght and flexibility

Postby plummet » Fri Feb 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Changing the properties of the board by adding rocker will change its flexi characteristic. At the very least rocker allows the board to spill more water and that in turn will affect flex. with a wood core board the pretension between glass layers and the core will adjust flex.

Lastly. grab any peice of paper. hold it at each and flat and flat it about. yourl notice its very flexi. now set a rocker into your paper by holding it in an arc. now flap... notice the increased stiffness.

I believe more rocker = more stiffness.


Return to “Gear Builders”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 141 guests

cron