rich- i was curious about a previous post of yours regarding modifications to the starfin. if what i’m asking here treads on proprietary toes ignore this (if the changes are going to be a commercial venture) but what exactly(or generally) would you do to loosen up the winged keel? i’ve been riding them since '85 and still have 6 of the 10 originals i bought then. (i’ve made a few as well, shorter and stubbier than the original and duplicated the swept-forward version cheyne had in his tow-in board in biggest wednesday) yes, these things are labor intensive, but i’d love to make myself an up to date, looser model for my old 5’9 lazor zap. thanks. jim dunlop
rich- i was curious about a previous post of yours regarding modifications > to the starfin. if what i’m asking here treads on proprietary toes ignore > this (if the changes are going to be a commercial venture) but what > exactly(or generally) would you do to loosen up the winged keel? i’ve been > riding them since ‘85 and still have 6 of the 10 originals i bought then. > (i’ve made a few as well, shorter and stubbier than the original and > duplicated the swept-forward version cheyne had in his tow-in board in > biggest wednesday) yes, these things are labor intensive, but i’d love to > make myself an up to date, looser model for my old 5’9 lazor zap. thanks. > jim dunlop Yo Jim, Who can know how commercially viable an experiment in surfcraft design will be until it’s been in the water for a while? Sure I’d like to think I can make something revolutionary but am realistic enough to know that it make take some work and the right support to get there. I have my own ideas about what the fin should be made of, how it should be foiled, etc. Rather than describe it verbally. I’ll be glad to share the template with you-- Even make you one any size you’d like. Just email me at and we’ll take it from there. The starfin is a great concept that has much potential in my opinion. With right technology and the right combination of board & fin design it might just be possible to cut some unforseen lines through the line up. If you will, tell us about how the lazor zap handles steep faces, quick trim adjustments and top to bottom surf? The board has always looked to me like a try at building two surf boards into one body and noble experiment. I’m familiar with what the board looks like from the top but how is the bottom configured? Mahalo, Rich Mahalo, Rich
Yo Jim,>>> Who can know how commercially viable an experiment in surfcraft design > will be until it’s been in the water for a while? Sure I’d like to think I > can make something revolutionary but am realistic enough to know that it > make take some work and the right support to get there. I have my own > ideas about what the fin should be made of, how it should be foiled, etc. > Rather than describe it verbally. I’ll be glad to share the template with > you-- Even make you one any size you’d like. Just email me at > and we’ll take it from there. The starfin is > a great concept that has much potential in my opinion. With right > technology and the right combination of board & fin design it might > just be possible to cut some unforseen lines through the line up.>>> If you will, tell us about how the lazor zap handles steep faces, quick > trim adjustments and top to bottom surf? The board has always looked to me > like a try at building two surf boards into one body and noble experiment. > I’m familiar with what the board looks like from the top but how is the > bottom configured?>>> Mahalo, Rich>>> Mahalo, Rich rich- compared to the conventional shortboard we’ve been riding for the past 20 years, they’re hard as s#%t to dial in and ride effectively but once you do, well… it’s a lot like i’ve heard the displacement hulls described here. i never have my back foot any closer than 18 inches to the tail and everything is done with your rail, turning from the center of the board, shifting forward to eke out a bit more trim speed in the tube. this is all done with the conventional narrow based,looonnnngg raked fins that mccoy did in the early 80’s. the winged keel changed that, isn’t as free when rail driving and requiring more effort from the tail (not exactly ideal on a 19" tail prone to spin out if not driven properly on the rail). i doubt this answers your question completely but i’ll fill you in more via e-mail. thanks. jim dunlop