VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

Watching you last week doc, I noticed your more forward stance, and I was particulary amazed at how sharply you could switch direction on your top turns! On a dime 180s!

DWD, I just noticed your sealion messages. Does that work?

Kus, thanks for the heads up. I didn't know OES had twin fins. The rest of the boards look good too. I like the idea of supporting smallish (non-cobra) manufacturers. http://www.oesaustralia.com/

A few videos on the WitchCraft design and construction process. I find that these show the interesting shape better than still photos.
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA8Oyhlx9ns
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvnl-R5Pkjg
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgMGTEhspZ4

Okay, I've been pondering this for a while. My RRD WaveOne 76L has almost no rocker, and is therefore not very turny, but is pretty fast. For 5.0 and 4.5 conditions the board is well behaved, but at 4.0 it starts to become uncontrollable and bouncy.

I like the board on freshwater lakes, but for salty surfy CB conditions it is not ideal.

I'd like a smaller and/or different board for CB conditions. Ideally I'd buy or make a whole new board, but that is way too expensive or time consuming. Then I got to thinking...how about this?



I'm thinking Tri-fin setup, similar to WitchCraft. Considering a twin too. Either a square or swallow tail. I'll probably get a nose job too.

I like what this guy did to his Acid 77:

The idea behind the swallow tail is to allow a wider tail and longer rails than a traditional pin.. if you chop the pin into a swallow you are not getting added rail or tail width. If the rails, rocker and V are unchanged I don't think you are going to make your board more turny just by taking chunks off the nose and tail. With the nose mod you might end up with a sea lion seeking missile. That said, i don't think you have anything to lose messing around with the fins so you should maybe start there! worst case you wreck the board youre not loving much anyway. you can measure up my 78L RRD swallow tail if you like.

Thanks Dave. My impression was that by chopping the tail, the effective width of the tail would increase (e.g. the width at 30 cm).

Yah, the rocker would be the same, but there would be slightly less of the flat tail section. I was hoping that the extra fins (toed in) would provide a bit more turniness, and also help with the control in high winds (slowing the board).

I was also thinking that adding fins forward of the single fin would force the center of lateral resistance forward, making one stand more forward, and over the more curved rocker section of the board, helping with turns.

My straps are all the way back now, so hopefully I'll have room to adjust them forward to compensate, with out installing new footstrap inserts. I think the mast track position should be fine.

If I do the nose, I'll try to somehow replace the scoop I've lost with the length. I won't take too much off anyway. Tis just a bit pointy now.

4j--- paul's bro has Paul's old JP 78 for sail. that would be a hot board for u at CB. It's on the forum. GW

I think the RRD is to flat to convert

Thanks Gene, I saw Wade's post...tempting but not ideal for me at this time. Yah, the Ricci is flat, but for the little effort of installing boxes I think it would be a fun experiment.

I have been trading a few emails with Bouke from Witchcraft. Nice guy and very helpful and open to discussion. I haven't crunched the numbers yet, but it seems that we could get WC boards here for the same or maybe even less than buying a Twin Fin from say Mistral or JP...or even a new EVO. Also see this post on iwindsurf.

The recent drop in price in WC boards is because they are being produced at a factory in Bulgaria, not custom made in Fuerteventura, so production and shipping costs are reduced.

For most of us the lighter (and cheaper) SDT construction would be fine (apparently they are similar in strength to good Cobra factory boards). The HDD boards would be incredibly strong!

Oh, it isn't on their website yet for some reason, but they just started offering a freestyle-wave series (called Chakra) in addition to their wave series. See this page on the Boards discussion on the WC Tri-Fin

Chakra Sizes:
76: 224 x 56
82: 228 x 57.7
88: 232 x 59.5
94: 236 x 61.5
100: 240 x 63.5
108: 244 x 66



Incidentally, this article explains the interesting rail design: The Evolution of the Rail

We'd save if we could combine several boards into one shipment (and more if we ship to Alberta). I know it is difficult to buy before you try. Nevertheless, PM me if you are interested. I wouldn't mind organizing this as a distraction from work. I'd like to get at least one board here for us to share. Personally, I'd get a lot of enjoyment out of seeing what others think of new designs like this after actually trying one...it would be worth the extra cost and effort.

Edit: It looks like duty on Sporting Goods from countries other than the US is 8%.

Wery interesting 4j, perhaps u could become the rep for canada. heh. those shapes look nice and those people sho do have the conditions to make boards that would suit our style here. GW

I just noticed a big delam on my RRD. Too many flat landings? Tri-fin conversion is delayed...or...

I'm just about convinced to redirect some of my reno money to a 71L WC. A lot more fun than new siding.

So, if anyone else wants to add to my shipment let me know. I'm gonna think about it for a week or two or three.

"Wishcraft"

This may get expensive though, because if I get this board I may be committed to an Oregon coast trip.

Wow! What a new idea!! I have been riding Open Ocean tri fins for 10 years and just loving them. Bump and jump and when the fins are installed at the right angles you get extra lift with no drag. They are hard to spin out and turn quickly.

Good one Dave. What's old is new again.

Yep, what's old is new again, except you can't really compare the Witchcraft with a more traditional trifin shape or a new twinfin with the 80's twinfins. The only thing they have in common is the number of fins. The rocker lines, outlines, lengths and bottom shapes are different by a long shot. It's the revisiting of multi-fin systems in tandem with the knowledge gained from modern, shorter, more compact designs that makes a them a huge progression and evolution from their longer, day-glo 80's cousins. Many concepts in surfing/windsurfing seem to come around in cycles, but to only count the number of fins and say it's the same shit different day is not really accurate. I'm stoked to see different ideas tried out again, as long as they aren't purely marketing BS. I'm sure some companies are cashing in on the current twinfin popularity by putting out a "me too" twin edition that feels similar to a single fin but only looks like a twin. Having sailed my twin in a bunch of conditions, I'm convinced that they are good not only for waves, but goofing around at Kook st. or Island View in big chop. Should you scrap your single fin and buy a tri or twin? Not at all. Single fins are great all round shapes. The tri and twinfin boards just add a new feeling to sailing around. The extra slashiness is amazing fun, especially when you can ride a much larger board with the looseness of a hull 20 L less in some cases. I say keep the "old" ideas comin'!

hmmm....new siding or new board and Oregon road trip......tough decision 4j.

I like the look of the Open Ocean boards too. They are totally different tri-fin design, but I thought they'd be great for the most extreme conditions.

Here is a rare review of the WC. It is good to hear some different opinions. It sounds like it shares similar qualities as some twin-fins (needs effort to pop on plane, lively-turny).
http://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topi ... C_ID=31223

I also just found this discussion
http://www.hotsailsmaui.com/forum/viewt ... action=new

I forgot to say ONLY BETTER, Doc.

Brian Hinde has been shaping boards in Maui and then the Gorge for 25+ years. His tri fin, recessed tail,tri teared bottom for early planeing, closed cell foam and carbon baked boards are years ahead of the curve. They bump & jump and are bomb proof. A 8'2" board planes up like a 8'6". They are lively and bomb proof. The twin small fins are at just the right angle to give the board early lift to plane but no added drag for speed and fun, they also help keep the board planeing in the jibs and turns on waves etc...
Mine is 10 years old and I still love every day on it!!