Unidirectional Fin

Here's the fin build and final product...bear with me and the explanations:

Layed up god knows how many strands of 24oz roving lengthwise up the fin, horizontal ones are added in the base for strength and tab protection...

Wetted out both sides and then put together under about 50 lbs of weight to squeeze out the excess resin (did not use the vac bag this time, I didn't know how much resin would flow out of the mold in the process and didn't want to risk it yet).

Two hours later I pulled the fin from the mold and this is what where that leaves us before the finish work; its 90% there though...rad!

The fin with the excess cut off and some bubbles filled with resin and sanded flat.

Then the fin got some bondo to fill the rest of the PITA little holes, and some spray paint to cure boredom...yes, the fin is not perfect cosmetically, but I will claim that the flex feels absolutely amazing in hand.  

I will take a short video tomorrow of this fin vs. a volan fin and they way the they flex; in so many words I would describe it as twisty...around :34 and then some in this little clip shows the type of flex I'm going for...the muscles of a tuna fin run lengthwise up and down the fin vertically, so it only makes sense to copy it with fiberglass for a more similar flex pattern:

I'd say this fin flexes with a much more similar shape as compared to a volan or other flat weave fin in the way the the tip bends under and waves like a paddle...very excite!

This whole project was spurred by a mention of Greenough's fin building process with plywood molds; i decided to use fiberglass ones but it's the same idea, and he's a genius. 

Much more experimenting to do, but I'm really pleased with the first version :)

Best Friend

Good Wednesday Evening to you too, good sir!

Molding Again

I'm working today and tomorrow on a new set of molds so I can mold glasson and box fins out of unidirectional carbon fiber, kevlar, fiberglass, whatever i want really...and with whatever resin I want also (poly, epoxy, resin-x?)...pretty stoked!  

The template I've chosen to make the mold off of will allow me to make anything from spoon fins to hull fins anywhere between 7.5" and 10".

The molds are light; made from two layers of 6oz E glass and then three layers of 3/4oz mat for some girth; I should be pulling the first fin out of it in another day or so!

I've been wanting to do this for a year or so now and found the time to start yesterday between a few customs...As of now the molds are ready to use but I may do a little tweaking to make them a bit cleaner and less prone to damage when in the vacuum bag.

Cosmic or ?

I received two disturbingly similar, and totally random text messages...They were too good not to share...

First from Connor as I was running errands in ventura, he was watching over Ben M's new Gull...

And second, Beamer spotted the spoon that I sent down to Mollusk Venice and sent his approval!

I wonder what tomorrow has in store........

The Big One

Finning from Ryan Lovelace on Vimeo.

Some hobo foiling out a set of keels for Connor's wee (5') fish/hull/snowshoe in the PC dungeon...Dangerous.

Coopering

All-around super nice guy and incredible surfboard worker Gene Cooper just threw this little gem up on his youtube and I thought I would share it in case some of you guys aren't hep to his blog @ cooperfishcalendar.com

Trippin'

Couple shots of Portugal stuff for saturday...here's a 5'8 OG that had me wishing I could make myself a new one to add to the quiver...

and a Portuguese panoramic... 

need to go back soon....

More Balsa

Young grasshopper is learning well these days! 

As I make a shift in my life I've brought Connor into the glass shop nearly every day for the past 2 1/2 months to slowly soak in whatever knowledge oddities I can share, so that in turn he can be glassin' up a storm while I shape all day...There just isn't enough time in the day anymore for me to take on both but I CAN spend the time right now and still have the glassing taken care of in the same shop it's always been in.  

The only consistency is constant change, since day 1, and I like it that way.

Surfing Win!

If there is no name given, and nobody says anything about the location then its all good, but the people who are most upset about it are the ones who named it...shoot yourself in the foot much?

I do understand that it's a sensitive subject, but its not like this same spot isn't named specifically in Surf and Art books that are in circulation by the hundreds of thousands all over the world, as well as in publications like the Surfer's Journal and Surfer Magazine at least a couple times a year with MORE information on access than was given here.  

sorry if I offended anyone, it's MY blog about MY life and i had a blast.  I get the point so I took the photos down and apologize, but next time a less emotional and possibly more mature response or request for the photos' removal would be the way to go.  

Now everyone knows how good Ledbetter can get..........

Automated Message #65299

I am going to a far off and magical place today to do something very cool.

SURF.

...you know i'm not getting out of the shop enough when i have to announce it :)

Been waiting 6 years for this little day...a small victory but one I am sure will seed itself into my memory and create something new and profound.

or silly.