What are your experiences with:
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Hula Dek
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Sanding a gloss coat (per http://www.surfersteve.com)
Any other ways of getting good traction without the wax and without wear and tear on the wetsuits / rashgaurds / etc?
Onuela sent me some of the Surfco Hawaii peel and stick traction. That stuff tears up the knees unless your wearing a wetsuit.
I’ve always thought a teak veneer would be interesting. Too cheap to try it.
Met a guy in Australia a few weeks ago who has his boards without wax or any other add ons…The dude was in his 60’s or 70’s, surfed everyday…
The final step to the deck during the gloss coat is to very carefull lay down a decksize piece of fabric, then at the right time, lift it off leaving a non skid, non abrasive surface…Timing is everything he said…
I have Versasurf anti-skid surface on several boards of mine. works pretty well as long as your wetsuit is not too smooth under your chest.
Versatraction website,
Anyone use that Hula Dek stuff?
http://www.snapspeed.com/HULA-DEK-LONGBOARD-TRACTION-KIT-p/dahulr.htm
North Shore Inc. carries several types of peel and stick traction; I really like the translucent version for wood boards.
http://www.northshoreinc.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=66&idproduct=198
hydroturf in orange,ca.
the best stuff out there.
herb
[quote="$1"]
hydroturf in orange,ca.
the best stuff out there.
herb
[/quote]
What is that? Sounds like that fake lawn turf. That could actually be interesting. Lay a big green sheet over the deck of a long board, and paddle out with some golf balls and a driver. Instead of whistling at people to get off of your wave, you just yell "FOUR."
These two boards have a Versasurf traction anti-skid surface. Works when wet. the pictures will reveal that the color of teh board makes a difference with regards to whether the non-skid surface is visible. attaching the sheets takes about half an hour but the board needs to be very clean before that. wouldnt recommend it for boards that have a lot of pressure dents.
it is used primarily on pwc’s or boats.
it’s thicker,and opague.
comings in different colors and patterns,like camo.
i have turned on a few people in the industry, like robert over at harbour,and they use it on the sup’s.
i’ve been using it on my regular boards as small as 5-11 x 19 x 2-1/4.
it adds air wt.,but in the water… it’s postive float.
because of this …my deck contouring has changed dramatically.
also,i only glass in single 4oz deck or single 6oz for longer boards.
hydroturf is tough and adds loads of strength.
it’s like the thickness of a tailpad without the kicks and humps.
hydroturf is also soft and for the most part non-abrasive,but with excellent traction.
herb
I’ve used Hula Deck on an SUP and on a fish - both compsands. The stuff will tear you up if you don’t sand it with 120 grit sand paper before using it. I like the results for the SUP and have used it for about a year now without wax or additional traction. On the fish, I couldn’t get it right. It was either too rough or too slippery. In short, on something you spend more time laying down on, it is probably not the best choice. On a SUP or maybe a long board, it works pretty well - just sand it a bit so its no as abrasive.
Hi,
This would make a great handbook article under “Tips & Tricks” –
http://www2.swaylocks.com/swaylopedia/handbooks/tips-tricks
Just click the "submit an article link.
Mike
Sprinkle raw sugar on the wet finish coat. When the resin goes hard, wash out the sugar with warm water and light detergent.
'Monster Traction Paint' works pretty well.
f99
I accidentally got some serious traction making a board for my ladyfriend. She wanted some blue dragonflies on it, and I felt it needed a beefier deck patch. Turns out we got both and some traction to boot when I had her cut out her pattern in linen. The fibers stand up when saturated with resin and provide excellent traction. Rode this one plenty without any rashes. Only secret is to buff down the edges of the fabric so your knees don’t get torn up duck-diving.
brush on a thick finish coat and sprinkle a mixture of sand and sugar when its still very sticky....it'll rip ya guts apart but great traction for ya feet...or whats left of them....
Owww sand in the gloss coat, what the ?! That reminds me of a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon where Hobbes goes out of control on a bike with no brakes and Calvin yells ‘steer into a gravel driveway and tip over!’ oh, and also this from a John Prine song…‘I got rug burn on my elbows, she got rug burn on her knees, yeah I’m goin’ steady with Iron ore Betty, she’s going steady with me’… ok: does anyone have a board with the sanded traction gloss coat as described by Surfer Steve that they could post a picture of? I am at a point where I could do that on a board right now, but I can only imagine what it looks like, having never seen it first hand…it sounds more maintenance free than applying/reapplying wax, and also nice if I could see more of the bamboo veneer (depends on how scratchy/opaque it becomes after laying into it with 40 grit?)
The try out boards at a surf shop not far from here use a 6mm/ 1/4’’ foam like pad, like the grippy ones for your backfoot, but thinner and smooth. All the way from chest area to back foot. Works really well. I have not seen any other boards in the water with it, but it sure works. I definately think it’d help reduce compressions, if only sightly.
you could always be creatively cheap & try those non-skid sticker things that you put in bathtubs... you know, like at a hospital or nursing home. ha. just throw a big one on where you put your front and back foot.
i am trying to come up with something to rub on my feet so that i have better traction with or without wax
ahhhh creative minds need to go to sleep.
peace.