I will assume you are referring to the Bottom Flow Video I recently posted.
The (transverse) “cross flow” you mention is only at the air-water interface when the board is turning. Beyond the air-water interface during turns, flow is parallel to the longitudinal axis.
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Thanks. Well, maybe the ribs don’t actually drag that way then.
It could be the fin sockets dragging. I could grind off that back fin socket and see what that does.
If I glue some plastic underneath, what should I use? It only needs to be thin.
After all this, I still prefer the pope bisect style splitboard design. Those don’t feel much different. This inflatable approach is too ambitious unless the tech progresses.
It would be great to be able to make those splitboards in an easier way using a kit that doesn’t increase the weight as much.
To be the split hardboards are no compromise other than minimal weight, whereas this inflatable sacrifices the drag in its present state.
A good result for shapers though as splitboards are more attainable.
Yeah I heard they are going to allow hot air only and you had to be full of it.
The ribbed/ridged bottom increases surface area and likely causes tracking too.
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Easy to get this reversed. Have a bunch of friends show up with blowup dolls and paddle out on them. See how fast the law gets reversed! Hopefully none of your other friends take any photos….LOL
Yeah and also; Hopefully none of those blow up dolls resemble Nancy Pelosi or Maxine Waters. They’d have to wear a surf leash on their wigs.
So what’s the latest on this ban? Is it being enforced? What hours? Are they allowing softop surfboards? Where is this anyway? What is the reason for the ban?
Just curious bcuz the only way this makes real sense to me is if you could get decent waves with no one else out cuz you are the only one on an inflatable. If that were the scenario I would be willing to get one and give it a go.
Otherwise it doesn’t add up, as has been pointed out the worst sponge board is gonna beat the best inflatable. But they are actually rideable, so better than nothing. The other option is a boogie board or a surf mat.
I would like to see some photos of the surf spot under discussion.
I can see you’re curious. I understand. I find it a bit hard to talk about the ban because it gets me worked up too much.
I want to talk about inflatables first if I may. I prefer to just avoid the whole politics if I can. I just get too emotional about it. It’s just one thing that really makes me sad and winds me up. I feel embarrassed about it with wars and everything going on. Maybe I’ll write out the whole situation later when I’m ready.
Anyway, worth gluing some material of some kind, in sections on the base and grinding off that back fin?
If so, what to use to glue and what to glue on?
Don’t see a way to cover enough of the ridged surface without adding a lot of weight. Partial cover will create a leading edge with drag and open pockets underneath that still create drag.
Glue depends on the material types to be bonded.
Are we sure it’s the bumps causing drag and not the rear fin?
Ai says “These cavities channel water flow, breaking the surface tension and reducing the “sticking” effect common in flat-bottom inflatables.”
If so, then I need to figure out how to carefully remove the rear fin
I have seen plenty of incorrect AI. Ask Google AI to explain Zappa’s quote, “Nobody looks good with brown lipstick on” — doesn’t have a clue.
Channeling water in long, linear tracks increases tracking and resistance to turns. Increased surface area increase drag. Rough surface texture increases drag.
Flat bottom surfaces with smooth texture (400-600 grit) are fastest.
If large, long ridges/bumps improved speed and performance, one would expect to see many boards with that feature. (Long unbroken, micro-ribs can reduce linear drag — doesn’t necessarily apply to high speeds).
I don’t recall seeing seeing any FG/foam boards with multiple, full-length, parallel, linear channels.
Edit: just looked at the tripstix surfboard models again. They are full length, curved, parallels ridges — even more drag.