Playing with the Y-Quad

tonyb · Sat Feb 07, 09 6:35 pm **Playing with the Y-Quad**

Well I finally got a chance to get out and get some time on my Y-Quad surf board that Carol got me for Christmas after seeing the post that Scott Norby put up about them a couple of months ago. (Don't you just love a girl who buys kite toys for gifts and goes out riding with you? Yeah - I'm very fortunate! You rock Carol! Thumb's Up

)

Anyway, it's a very nice board, light, floaty, fast turning, easy to ride, easy to jibe, goes upwind like a rocket, and lots of fun in the waves and the flat water. I think it would make the perfect light wind board for Sauvie's and be a ton of fun at Swell City or out at Rufus.

For those that missed it before this board is produced by Catch Surf Co., who make and sell boards designed by Tom Morey of Morey Boogie Board fame. (www.catchsurf.com) The board is a soft core board with a hard plastic like covering top and bottom that is super slick on the bottom but holds wax well on top. The core of the board is just like the original Boogie board and even has the hard cut chine on the back third of the board. They make a few different boards but I chose the 6' Quad to be my light wind and small to medium wave board. Scott Norby also uses it for paddle surfing but I'm not skilled enough to make that work down here in the short fast SPI waves.

It makes a great travel board as it is super light and practically indestructible. I've had it out in 10 mph to 25 mph winds and 1 foot to 6 foot waves. I'm not that good at jibing my small surf board but on this board my percentage goes from about 60% on the 5' 7" thruster to about 90% or better on the Y-Quad.

If anyone makes it to SPI this spring look me up for a demo or wait till we bring it back to the Gorge at the end of May.

Happy kiting everyone!

Tony

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

Cool pics tony -
Curious as to the flex w/ this type of core and 'plastic' skin. It would be interesting to have the foam exposed on the top if it was durable and stiff enough - no wax and cush on the feet Cool

Interesting nose shape for a 6' quad as well - what type of tail zit got ?

tonyb · Sun Feb 08, 09 3:07 pm

edit for double post.

tonyb · Sun Feb 08, 09 3:07 pm

The board has a small fish tail, around 3" or so cutback. I'll get some pics tonight or tomorrow for you. the board is actually pretty stiff, no idea what it would be like without the top on it. Probably pretty cushy and grippy though.

Tony

scottnorby · Mon Feb 09, 09 6:21 pm

On a side note the 6'6 is the board I would take on a trip if I only brought one surfboard and one kite. It surfs insane, is light for travel, and has a huge range so one kite with some range could work in a lot of conditions.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2025 Posts Windward

scottnorby · Fri Feb 13, 09 11:38 am

Yeah...quads rule.
As for the pointy nose they are working on one.
But the width is so good for surfing mushy summer waves without the kite----so I prefer it since it has dual purpose that way.

As for it being Blo Poly----I am not sure if we are talking about the same construction?
It's nothing like a pole board.

Imagine foam that is like bodyboard foam----with memory.
Cut two pieces and laminate an I Beam carbon fiber stringer down the center.

Then shape by hand like a surfboard.
Add a skin to the top and bottom made of a super slippery new concept similar to slick skin bottoms on bodyboards but actually a different material---must stronger.

The whole thing adds up to a super durable board that flexes but it would be very hard to buckle or break ever----it's really stiff and tough.

The tail has 4 fins but it also has the bodyboard style of rail. This means a very hard edge in the tail to produce lift and a very loose feeling. Yet when it lays on it's rail it becomes a tail that is narrower than it appears from the top. The bottom rail is about 4 inches narrower than the top deck because of the step on the rail.

I can surf the board with no fins----it is possible----but for kiting the more edge the better when railing upwind.
But the board goes upwind VERY well because of the increased edge performance.

The longboard version (the Swizzle) has sidecut and looks like a 9 foot snowboard.
The center being narrower allows it to twist so you can ride the nose and the tails twists slightly to where it needs to be.

This is all way beyond most surfers way of thinking when it comes to design.
I respect the traditional surfboard building craft and actually collect old ones.

But the key word is 'old ones'.
This is a step into the future and it will be interesting to see if people accept it?

I think kitesurfers are more likely to accept it than traditional paddle surfers.

PS....the surf here was unnnnnnrrrreeeal at dusk.
No wind and stand up size.
Hope you are getting some there?

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2025 Posts Windward

ah ha, not a blow mold

that's an unique concept
the outline sounds right
that would be sweet to ditch all that fiberglass
and yes lot's of inside stuff
and a few days outside but overall a lot of time in for winter
I want to try some
I was looking at some of those with the sidecut
makes a lot of sense

scottnorby · Tue Mar 03, 09 2:07 pm

I got the 9 foot swizzle and I can't get enough of it. It's so amazing for noseriding....unreal actually.

scottnorby · Tue Mar 31, 15 1:15 pm **Update**

UPDATE

Catch Surf owned the licensing for these boards for a few years.
Their licensing is expired last month.

Catch surf never marketed the boards for kiting.
Silencer Surfboards is now finally taking the initiative.

This has been a 6 year project and it's nice to see it finally happening.

A new board is in development.
Prototypes are between 54 and 60 inches (4'6 to 5 foot)

I personally rode the first proto last week.
It is a completely new experience in mini surfboard technology.
Super light, super fast, super durable.
I had 2 major hip and knee injuries in the last 6 years and I went away from my test ride with zero pain in my knee or hip.
Huge bonus.

Silnecer is starting production soon.

silencersurfboards@gmail.com

These are not soft tops nor beginner boards.
This is a high performance board built with the latest technology in memory foam (used in automobile bumpers) and aerospace plastics (the slick skins on top and bottom)

Here is a proto video of the first day out on the 5 foot Silencer

https://vimeo.com/123526974

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1691 Posts I give out bad advice.

I've been watching this trend develop here in Hawaii. Started noticing Top Hat at Mok's going out on a floaty 7 footer and a 10mtr. or smaller kite in light conditions. At the time I was flying a 12 or a 14 rpm and on a 6-2 tyrant.
What I'm starting to see is bigger guys, 200 plus lbs., going out with 10's/11's on longer boards, 8 to 9 footer eggs! Saw a guy the other day and chased him on my 6-2 tyrant and I was flying a 10mtr. he was on a 8mtr. kite and 9footer tri fin egg. We were both trying to get up wind in super north conditions and not making it, but having fun in the waves anyhow.
Fun to watch this type of kiting grow. The access to the waves makes it really fun in lighter conditions. I used to think to myself why are these guys flying such small kites? I get it. It's much easier to take a larger surfboard out in lighter conditions rather than a bigger kite.

tonyb · Tue Mar 31, 15 7:31 pm

Board looks pretty good Scott, nice video. I still have mine down here in SPI. I put visitors on it all the time and its still holding up well even after 5 years. I'd like to try out the new design this summer when we get back up north. Maybe get a demo at the Bridge of The Gods event?

Hoping the new design has a bit less drag than the old one. That's the only thing that keeps me from riding it more often. Is the new skin slicker than the old one? What is the width and displacement?

Tony

scottnorby · Tue Mar 31, 15 8:10 pm

I took two fins off my y quad 6'4 and its a lot more fun....and less drag....and I find those fins unecessary now.

The 5' I tried is a twin fin. Thin future fins.
Yep way less drag.
It's like noseriding.
Best description I have for now.
Going out on it again Friday.

scottnorby · Fri Apr 03, 15 6:47 pm

Tony,
did you ever put pad/straps on your y-quad?
I did and it was interesting but unnecessary.
I am going to strap this little 5' and I am getting a 4'6 sent out soon.
If I go, I will bring them both, to Bridge of the gods.

scottnorby · Sun Apr 05, 15 8:42 pm

Bulae.....are those guys riding soft core boards?
Or are they fiberglass or epoxy etc.....
And I agree a bigger board and small kite can be a lot of fun.
In this instance these boards are only 5 feet....just more buoyant

scottnorby · Mon Apr 06, 15 7:37 am