06 Slingshot 17.5 Machine-Lightwind Boards

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

It might be fun to experiment with plywood and some different shapes, I don't think its necessary to have a board as long as the glide if you keep the width. I think you'd get more speed and freestyle capabilities... though it will get harder and harder not to pearl a short board with little or no rocker.

I rode Hein's flywood board once at sauvies this year:

http://www.impact3d.com/Hein_FlyWood444_composite.jpg

it was sweet, like a mini glide with a lot more speed potential.

Tony · Since 28 Aug 2006 940 Posts Portland Opinionated

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Awesome Tony! Just out of curiousity, what program do you guys use for 3D modeling before you cut? My roomie is an ME down here, so he's pretty familiar with all the programs and we've had stuff CNC'd in the past. Defiantely would be nice to have it cut on water jet or with a laser!!! Even more so because I'm hella anal/meticulous about that kinda shit! Very Happy

And I probably would keep the length down a bit (I'm smaller too). Shit my damn Brunotti does pretty well in lightwind, which I'm sure is at least aided by its planky shape. It's a 128x38.5, but the tips are still like 37...

Tony · Since 28 Aug 2006 940 Posts Portland Opinionated

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Oct 26, 06 2:32 pm

marine grade plywood is what your looking for Tony. You can seal it with a thin coat of epoxy or even get away with poly-urathane.

Why don't you have your cnc boys construct a sandwhiched, hollow core stainless steel board for you? That would be Uber pimp. Then we could call you the sauvie island silver surfer.

I'd still like to make some foam and epoxy boards if people are interested in it. (I'm pretty much home bound all winter and early spring with the baby) --Except I'm going to florida to kite the gulf coast in January Laughing

Anyone interested? Material cost becomes cheaper with volume plus I think it would be pretty damn fun.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

I gotta say I am stoked to see people talking not just about lightwind kites but lightwind boards for a change. Can't wait till I show up at Sauvies and everybody has their own homebrew lightwind weapon. Thumb's Up

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Oct 26, 06 3:39 pm

I will definately have a dedicated lightwind board next year.

I'm hoping to have something slightly more functional, but this is what I have right now.....

Bettyboarder · Thu Oct 26, 06 4:05 pm

Here's a link to the board I made a last summer. The ply boards are super easy, get some marine grade ply, some varnish, t-nuts. It cost like $50 to get everything. It's fun to ride. Keep just all updated on your designs, maybe I will make another one Thumb's Up

http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-621.html&highlight=doolittle+custom

Tony · Since 28 Aug 2006 940 Posts Portland Opinionated

Sounds like everyone has there own ideas for making a light wind board.
We should start some sort of a contest...who can create the best board...Surely it has to be functional with all the similarities of a regular board. Straps, bolts, grab handle, the whole nine...And of course, something with a little more thought than just a piece of plywood...Just a thought...
But like PDXMonkey just said, I also have a lot of free time in the winter and a garge with plunty of space...So shaping a few boards doesn't sound so bad.... Wink

Tony · Since 28 Aug 2006 940 Posts Portland Opinionated

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Oct 26, 06 8:19 pm

easy there Tony, take your time and do something really cool. Just don't cut out some random shape from plyood and call it good.

Has anyone laminated plywood together? I'm thinking of sandwhiching two pieces of 1/4" together (of different lengths) so that I have nice flex in the tips but still not too flexy that I can't cut up wind.

Would it delam?

kiteboard117 · Since 02 Mar 2005 450 Posts PDX McLovin

since middle school really didnt pay i had to make alot of ply boards. laminating two 1/4 pieces together works really well. although i stopped making the top differient than the bottom because they tended to break. if you use 1/2 inch for the botom or put a layer of glass over the board you would probably be good. for the wood i dont think its worth it to go for the marine ply. i have built like 2 boards with solid wood (pine and poplar), 7 boards with regular ply, 1 with marine ply, and one with birch ply. none of the regular ply boards delamed so i dont think the price differience was really justified.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Hein's thing looks like it's layered if I remember correctly...

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Oct 26, 06 9:49 pm

hey kiteboard117, so which would did you like the best?

What about glassed 3/8 ?

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

well, i hate to be pessmistic, but isn't a 17.5m kite rather small for a 190lbs person?

Personally, my ideal light wind setup is my 20.5 machine (i weigh 165lbs) and my SRT 5'11". This is a great combo for 10-15mph wind, but i've also had my 20.5 out when it was gusting up to 21mp. If it is real light wind (8-10mph) i would probably use my glide.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

what spots do you usually hit MM?