Yeah. Have a bit of a Google for some of these:
http://www.outdoorvalue.co.uk/products/211-gelert-pack-of-2-airbed-replacement-plugsbungs.html
Cheers
G
Thanks. I think those are too big. The hole is just a bit bigger than the basketball needle pump thing.
Edit… I think I found my solutionin nylon bolts and some string. Thanks for the direction G.
Surfoplanes come with wooden bungs which are even thicker. I have a Surfo and use those plastic bungs with it and they’re perfect. You’ll be surprised how much the hole stretches.
Cheers
G
Good story TonyLion, thats what Im thinking too about the seperation between deck and flexible hull.
Observations about inflation....
At higher pressures it paddles more like a glass board..
but at a lower pressure, when you lay on it it increases the pressure inside the mat anyway...
and where you lie is compressed but the area around your body bulges, both on the deck and underneath.
With the static pressure inside the mat lowered another notch again, when you lie on it the bulging of the material is less pronounced ( maybe because your body is now supported more by the water ) and the shape of the mat feels flatter on both deck and hull.
There appears to be a low pressure level that creates a flatter surface underneath and thats when it feels to be riding fastest.
I havent tried it at almost zero inflation but I guess that it would be just like bodysurfing on an empty bin liner.
damnilocano, thanks for the idea of Nylon Bolts as plugs.
We’ve talked about this elswhere Surfoils but when riding you roll onto the inside rail.
Anyway, here’s G-Mat 5, AKA “The Displexperiment”. Inspired by the Neumatic Advanced although has ended up nought like one. Quite wide and an error in the outer I-beam placement has led to an eggy rail and narrow concave. It needs to be ridden further back than my other mats as can slip but is a real slidie-glider so good for little waves,
200d deck. 70d bottom. Vulkem Stippleback grip.
Cheers
G
Hi G, Great looking mat, they just have that look...
I notice youre using different inflation valves ?
Better performance or better value or just trying something different ?
Same valves mate.
G
I was looking at one of your earlier pics and I just now realised that they were from different makers and not all made by you.
D'oh !
Hi G I had a look at you’re build thread on uk matt and was wondering how you weld the fabric? Did you make the welder? Is it electric mains powered? Is it battery powered? How do you regulate the heat? Were you concerned about electrocution when you finished making the welder and used it for the first time?
Very cool surf craft mate !
Basically, the fabric is polyurethane backed nylon. Heat is applied from below and above and the PU melts to form a bond. Good welds take place in a narrow margain between weak bonding and complete melting so it takes some practice. I'm getting there! Tempuratures are controlled with rheostats with power from the mains. You'd never do this with batteries!
On electrocution... The thought crosses my mind every time I plug in!
:-0
Cheers
G
I have had a look around at surf mats for a while on the net and intend on purchasing one, building one might be to dangerous.
I would suggest buying one and learning to ride it before trying to make one. Harder than it looks. Contrary to popular belief, there’s a lot to mats and many of the hydrodynamics seem counter-intuitive. They’re more than the lilo they resemble! Trying to build a mat without knowing how to ride one is a bit like trying to shape a surfboard having never ridden one. There is a statistical possibility of making a gem but the odds are long! 
Cheers
G
Hi G! Mat looks good! Any photos of you riding it? If you need a test pilot down here in the Caribbean you can count on me man. Until now my favorite ride is the 4GF Fatty and I love going tandem with my 6 yr old on the 4GF UDT. A few months ago I got barelled a couple of times with her on my back on a shoulder high day at Inches (SE coast). Nice work, good to know there are more people making and enjoying mats. I beleive right now you are one of the 4 persons in this planet making them jejeje!
Perhaps fewer than that.
Anyway, no photos but I do have an extremely poor video clip of my first wave on her:
Camera focused on a clump of grass! Cheers for the positive words.
G
Here’s my new mat.
G-Mat 7 (AKA “Kenneth”). 70/70d, very light Vulkem deck grip. Very light mat!
Concave up the middle with deep channels. This mat has been ridden once and went really well. Lots of drive and hold so a dream in hollow and bigger surf.
G
WHAT A HOT LOOKING MAT !
red and black look great together.
How many orders have you fielded so far ?
Thanks Brett.
In answer to your question; Mother Theresa.
G
I hear she prefers to SUP.....
If you have a spare mat for sale you know Im keen....
By Mother Theresa I meant “nun”.
I know you’re keen. Unfortunately I seem to have developed the art of dragging my mat through brambles, hence building this one!
G
Great work G…
As far as I know “Nuematic” is on an indertment hiatus. You could become the next custom mat maker to the world. Have you stayed in touch with Dale? I know the end of the Nuematic shop was a mind blower for more than a few…
Keep it up.