My Mako - WIP

[Mikey]

So, after serveral builds, including a copy of Tungsten's kipuna style strapless, I'm back to the facinating Mako. I made make a very poor version (too heavy and not enough rocker) that I really liked. So, time for a new one. I wanted to do a new one and try a super ghetto build.

Basic specs
155 x 48 (I like em wide)
Enough rocker & concave to satisfy the mako traverse zero rocker line.
Solid wood core
2 layers of 125 glass

The core was made by laminating 2x 4mm poplar ply boards in a simple mold I made up from some xps pieces. I premolded the sheets by leaving them in the mold, out in the rain for a few days (sand bags are your friend). After I go sick of waiting, I did the lam. Mold had 9cm of rocker and 4 cm of concave. Spring back was to 3.8 cm in rocker and 3 cm in concave.

The zero rocker line can be seen in the photo. I think it is too straight (not transverse enough), so we have to see.

Next step inserts and glassing

[plummet]

interesting man. I like the dimensions too. Standard mako is too skinny in my opinion.

What is the fin configuration that you are using? have you considered a quad?

[Mikey]

Thanks plummet!

On the old one I had single 55mm fins on the Centreline (alla Mako). With the rocker / concave combo it was quite grippy. I could lay down power gybes without sliding out.

For this one I was going to do the same with 80mm fins. And leave holes for a tri fin set up on on end.

BTW, it came out with a little more rocker at one end so it will have a slightly mutant feel. Tri fin on the mut (flatter) end.

[rynhardt]

Looks interesting.. Massive amount of concave - 30mm? I have no reference point for that much concave. How much concave does the OR mako have?

What does that mean in terms of your top deck? Do your footpads bridge over the convex bit? Or do you ride it strapless?

[Mikey]

The big makos have 20mm ish. My understanding is that it's about the rocker / concave relationship that creates the trasvese zero rocker line (see some of tungsten's posts, also on loosethestraps.

As you can see from the photo (ruler on the board), it quite straight down the length of the board. The old board had a deep concave too and I was pretty happy with it.
For the deck, I was going to do a strapless type pad but with some symmetrical straps stolen from a Choptop I have.

[plummet]

Consider drill for 5 fin set up then you can play around with what's best. I did and the quad is with fins moved a tad up the board is the best config I've found.

Center fin can't hold an hard bottom turn on a big lumpy face.
tri fin set up is set too far back, means you can't do tight turns.
Quad holds an insane bottom turn on the biggest lumpy wave while giving the tightest turning radius. (i'm using 55mm fins)

I also ended up with one fin on heel side fin on the front. Again can't hold as much power and lay the board over as much with only a center fin.

Below is a pick by the bws boys of one of my local waves. Its a big mean lumpy heavy monster. I can hold that beast with my quad set up 55mm find easy as!

[Mikey]

Plummet,
4 you say! Hmmmm.......
I like it, but.....here in the northern Adriatic we have shitty mush, at best. Would I not be over finned?
I am planning to stay quite twin tipped, as I have the tungsten/kipuna for surf (albeit un strapped). I like the heal side fin only on the back side.
55mm fins are certainly easier to get and cheeper, too!
How is quad when you are dicking around in the sloppy wind blown stuff?
Thanks Mike

PS. Props for that wave. I tend to run away from big stuff like that, especially unstrapped

[plummet]

Quad is also good it the small stuff. You can always remove 2 fins if you want or use smaller fins.

Note that the tri fin set up with big center felt way more over finned than the quad set up. I can easily slide the 55mm quad if I want or hold it on massive faces.

I think you have nothing to loose by drilling a 5 fin set up the playing around with fin configs until you get to the set up you like.

Note that the closer to the rear foot the fins are the tighter the turning radius you can have. That's another beef I have with the mako set up. Fins too far back. It makes the board less dynamic.

[direnc]

Hi Mikey,

Looks good! I thought is was not possible to bend both rocker and concave at the same time, but it turns out it is possible!
I have a delaminated and repaired foam Mako 150. It's starting to delaminate on the other end too... I was thinking of buying another one, but might as well build one like yours.
Could you please share photos of your previous Mako build, too ?

[downunder]

Plummet,
4 you say! Hmmmm.......
I like it, but.....here in the northern Adriatic we have shitty mush, at best. Would I not be over finned?
.
.

Exactly. Comparing Adriatic and Pacific, which small stuff ffs? People would look at you like from Mars rocking up with quads. I mean, showing monster waves has nothing to do with our mush and chop. Self promotion at his best. What a bloke.
For our conditions, and I kited Adriatic more than Pacific, we need more Paipo's and foils...
Get in touch with Zob, he would know what to ride in there.