I'll be honest...I wasn't sure if this would be the best venue to start a build thread or not. Typically, I would just go over to Swaylocks and post, but in light of the general tone in some of the posts over there, I thought why not give it a go on Swellinfo. I know that there has been plenty of completed boards posted, but few build threads. Consequently, I wanted to document my process to contribute, encourage, and have fun within this community. I know that a few of you build on here (Earl, Tom, Rick, Brian, Andrew, etc.), and look forward to your input...as well as anyone elses constructive criticisms/perspectives. I have been building boards for a while...most of the boards have been fishes, HPs, hybrids, no LBs, simmons, etc. To be honest, I love surfing modern fishes...mostly quads, but I have had a few twins that have been incredible. Last year around this time I made a HP twin pin that felt great, but the nose foil too thin...a year or two before that...I made a MR twin that was perfect...rode it until it became a mess of q-cell and delam. In light of the fun that I've had on those boards, I thought why not give it another go with the twin...however, rather than a typical "fish/retro" I am going to go for another HP twin. Pretty much this board will be based upon an Akila Aipa Twin...love the looks of his boards and even had Brian Wynn make a similar shape that went really well! Anyway, here is my template that I made a while ago...I'll have more pics to come over the next few weeks walking through the entire process...
Got my materials this past weekend from Greenlight and now good to go. Heres my break down... Blank: Picked the US 62p...pretty versatile blank and will be close to the rocker I'm looking for (would've preferred the 60p, but board would have been a bit too thin). I'm a big fan of EPS, but the US super fused looks so unrefined, pretty much just like a machine blank...way too much to work with for what I want to get too...so the pu won the day. Resin: I'm a huge epoxy/epoxy hybrid fan regardless of the foam. I like the added strength, the ease of use, and the lack of smell when glassing. I've used a few different epoxies and like the ease of resin research. However, I'm not so much a Kwick kick fan. Tried it on a number of boards and had good success, but I'm not in a "production rush" and have been satisfied with the results of ce. As for the 30% strength increase...meh....what's 30% look like anyway... Glass: 4oz warp...always been a fan of warp glass and enjoy its liveliness/ spring...especially with epoxy. My glass schedule is going to be a 4+4/4. Fins system: I have had futures since my first custom years ago--had a few boards with the FCS (originals and x-2s) and had a few failures. Further, at this point, I have a heathy futures fin quiver and a number of twins...so not really a hard decision. Lastly, I was hoping to be able to get the new future boxes and thankfully Greenlight was able to hook it up! Got the colored ones for some flash.... Leash plug: fcs's plug...love the ease of use of this thing...shape, route, glass..no sand thrus or second steps...win win! More to come....
Stop playing on your computer and start shaping! Always love to see your boards. ~Brian www.greenlightsurfsupply.com Shape Your Surfing Experience
Cant wait to see the finished..........Had an Aipa twin in my youth and it was a great riding board. Not really sure why I dont have one now. Good luck on the build!
Sorry boys but this is going to be a slow build...family and work, been slowing me down. However, template is cut as well as a few other goodies. As you will note in the pic below, I really like spin templates...full templates take up a ton of space and I don't have the room for them...spins are great but better make sure both of the curves are true...the only real draw back IMHO. I also shaped up a new tail template (modified from a previous template) for my next build to use with the twin hp board template...but we'll see how this one goes first. I also tried something new...made a few rail templates. this will give me a closer rail/foil to what I'm looking for overall. To be honest, I've never used this type of tool before, but why not give it a whirl right. More to come soon...
Well slow and steady (sorry for he delay)...board outline drawn and ready to go 5'11"x19 1/4" (n@12=12 1/4"; t@12=15"?). Probably cut it today or later this week. Really liking this blank...fits the outline great and the rocker profile is almost perfect. More to come...
Bumping this thread.... Never started shaping this board and sold the blank to a buddy. Been too busy to really do any shaping nd just riding boards I pick up from the shop. However, I hurt my back a few weeks ago and decided to take a break for a few weeks and heal up before I head to Nica toward the end of May. Pretty much going to finally finish what I started. Doing to make another twin with the same dims, etc. More pics later tonight...
Post pics from Nica mang. I strangely feel like this conversation has already happened some time ago... Hmm
Board shaping sounds like a perfect thing to take up during an injury. Good call ... better to go to Nica with a fresh back and finished board. The outline reminds me of a Rusty Piranha. Mine's an old fixer-upper, shaped by Rusty himself. Rails are foiled nicely. Love surfing it as a twin. Good luck on the build, keep us updated!
What does AKU stand for?? Ass kissing Unit??? hahahahaha!! Thats my contribution today. You are welcome.
