With all the recent discussion regarding Dale S’s neumatic surf mats I got interested in the whole concept. Especially about how they conform and change their shape to what is required in a fluid dynamic sense as you ride them. It got me to thinking about a stand-up version (Uliboard looks like fun but a bit too soft, thick and limited). The other advantage is the possibilties for much easier travel with such a board. I threw together a quick sketch of my thoughts on the matter (hopefully it’s not to difficult to read and makes some sort of sense). I think that probably only someone like Dale S. would have the knowledge and skill to make the “inflatables” for this design. I left it as a single fin as doing it as a thruster would require at least 4 separate “inflatables” rather than just two. Anyone else ever had thoughts along these lines ?
I’ve looked at Zodiac inflatable boats and I think you could make the same sort of inflatable board that would give you the bottom flexibility of a surf mat.
At the end of the story on Dale in All About Surf there are a bunch of photos and one appears to be of an inflatable boards. It’s certainly larger than a mat but I don’t know if he intends it to be surfed standing up or not.
Along the same train of thought, when a HWS is made it has chambers in it. Up to about 8 seperate areas through the board. If a thin bottom skin was used with valves to each chamber it would be possible to apply positive or negative air pressure to to each area to change the bottom planing surface.
Suck air out of the nose area to create a concave for noseriding, pump air into the tail to create a convex shape. You could also adjust the shape on each side of the board for predictable waves, left or right. The pump would be like one you use to pressurise motorcycle suspensions.
The only uncontrolled variable would be ambiant temperature.
Jeez the stuff I have floating around in my head really scares me.
cheers
Hicksy
The board in the AllAboutSurf interview was a high pressure inflatable made for standing use, designed to operate as a “solid”. It was a prototype developed for Bob Simms of Hawaii, a bit over 6 feet long and weighing less than
2 1/2 lbs. The photos on my shop wall show it being tested on the big island… finless.
My surf mats are the exact opposite, used with very low air pressure/volume, generally less than 75% of capacity. The running surfaces/contact areas are very supple. To function properly, mats must be ridden prone… it`s not possible to make an equivalent kneeling or standing version.
Modern surf mats are ultra light and sensitive, active air interface between the rider`s body and wave, having characteristics similar to a muscle flexing and relaxing. In some ways comparable to a high speed version of bodysurfing, but the feel and performance is unlike other form of wave riding.
Mats instantly adapt/meld to a waves changing curves and surface textures. Internal pressure, buoyancy distribution and malleablity are influenced by the wave, riders body, as well as alternately compressing and releasing the front edges and corners. No other surfcraft has these characteristics.
Greg Deets
Sometimes less is more…
You could tune the “support board” to give it a good balance between flex and support and hopefully retain some of the feelings of a mat. I would like to have a go at making something along these lines but the technical aspects of making the “inflatables” are a little beyond me (not to mention my inherent procrastinational abilities).
The quickest way to indulge such a project is to first experience and develop an understanding of inflatables and mat surfing, the formation of a proper knowledge base.
When “support boards” (whether flexible or rigid) for standing use are attached to a surf mat`s deck, bottom or both… distinctive (surf mat) characteristics are inhibited or eliminated. The result will be a hybrid craft with an entirely new range of variables, pro and con.
One of the challenges when experimenting with hybrids is to accentuate the best elements of two contrasting designs, rather than creating the more common, “best of the worst”.