Pudding. Rode the board in waist high, walled, mush for the maiden voyage. Walking out with my hands on the deck, kinda jumping waves, I could feel the buoyancy. This board is very buoyant. Paddles great in blue water and can be tough to duckdive. Catches waves easily and planes out before you’re to your feet. Trippy. Got a few lucky open faces, small off the lips, cut backs. I could tell the board didn’t suck, but couldn’t tell if it went great or not. Not a table candidate. Then Saturday came. Real nice swell for our area. Maybe just over headhigh, honkin offshore winds, fairly strong sideshore current. Of course this was the only board I brought, my other board being a 7’-6" fun gun with a 2+1 set up (was my short board). Can be kinda stiff, be gets from A to B in a hurry. So now I’m on a Twinzer, super light weight (guess < 6 lbs.), with a big fat nose. Offshore winds and fat noses never seamed to like each other for me. Well, my twinzer passed with flying colors. I only slid one time when I tried to push it as hard as I could. Nice to know that’s available. Off the whitewater the board feels like it just took flight. I rode some big waves for me. I did eat it on the best wave I’ve seen in 6 months. When I ate it, it seemed I was taking off kinda sideways. The 2+1 can do that, you can rely on that big fin, especially backside. At first blush, not so with the twinzer, it wants a very dedicated bottom turn. When it got steep, it had to be disciplined. Wanted to climb (fat nose?), and squirrelly (wide plane shape? , twinzer?). I’ll figure this thing out, that’s what we do.
Nutshell:
Vacuum Compressor = Free (Dumpster Diver)
1# EPS Block = $36 Each board = $12
Resin Research Epoxy = $52.48
Additive F = $15.17 , Each board = $ 1.00 (?)
Fins = Free (Free Sample, Scrapes)
Fin Rope = $1.99
Vent = $1.77
Cloth = $31.40 (10 yds @ $3.14/yd)
HotWire = $1.50 (Broken guitar string)
$2.50 (Stainless steel fishing leader)
Bow = Free (Made from scrapes)
Vacuum Bag = $15.00 +/- (Tape and 6 mil Plastic)
Vacuum Gauge = $25.00 (Automotive store, could have done better)
Balsa = $44.00 (Free Shipping)
Glue = $8.00, Each board = $4.00 +/-
Consumables = $20.00 +/- (Used way too much tape, More sandpaper than normal for me, Gloves, Mixing cups, Chip brushes)
Time = Way more than I expected (I tend to stare).
Total = $150.00 for Board Materials, Say $125.00 Start-up Costs.
So boards should cost about $150.00 each or less.
Thanks Folks, I enjoy the design and building threads.
I’m ready for abuse now.
Widow_Maker
