First board started

[simonmcc]

Last night we started to make my first kiteboard, I am using 1/2" birch plywood, and intend to keep the board flat.

Let me know what you think, I thought it looked fine last night, but looking at the pictures it seems a bit fat in the middle.

It is 146cmx46cm, and the ends taper in to about 29cm.

Should I trim a bit off the sides to make it less of a curve, or might it be ok? If it's not going to work, I can start again, there's still lots of my 8x4 left!

Thx

S.

PS excuse the slightly non-symetrical ends, they are still in progress!!

[crabman]

What and how are you getting the outline shape of your rails ?

[simonmcc]

What and how are you getting the outline shape of your rails ?

The outline shape of the rails was created from a piece of MDF that had been bent into a shallow curve shape.

We used that to draw the four quadrants, and then cut round it.

THe curve started from exactly 1/2 way along the board, and finished about 10cm in from the edge of the end

S.

[XSwind]

To me the outline looks a little too rounded.

[simonmcc]

To me the outline looks a little too rounded.

See, thats what Im worried about. What effect will that have on the boards performance?

S.

[XSwind]

Hi

If you look at the current batch of production boards none of them are that rounded.

A good place to start is have a look at the Litewave outlines as they have a great reputation for light wind, early planing and upwind abilities.

Some people say mine are too straight but only those that have not ridden them.

If you like you could have a look at a posting below from me, which shows my current outline, although I do plan on the next board to round this slightly more but not much.

Outline also depends on what your style and chosen type of kitesurfing.

However I have always said this, any shape will work to a greater or less extent.

[crabman]

Simon ,unles you are using CNC get a piece of battening slightly longer than the board length .Two screws one each end with string . Pull to the desired curve and tye off . Mark the batten half way down . Mark the length of the board on your template ,then mark half way . At your half way mark ,mark the width . Where you have marked the batten half way place on template and mark the rail .This will set up the correct width of the ends and rails .You want a board that will flow .This method will achieve that accuratley.