plywood?

[dave12341234]

im making a plywood board and i was wondering if fins are even needed, i still want to go upwind too so take that account. its currently 155cm by 47cm, but i can still change it . let me know thanks! oh yah post any size reccomendations that would be good for a beginner/ light wind

[BWD]

Beginner?
Fins will help you keep it going the right direction
Google for cheap wakeboard fins, probably 1.5" would be good.
Smaller = less drag, but also less tracking.
Unless you are really big, you can take it down to 145 or so and 45, but it's not critical.
Maybe if you are 90kg+, keep it @47 or so... either way it's going to be big enough.

[jakemoore]

No fins are needed and going finless will help you get going in lighter winds and help you learn to edge the board which is what you need to go upwind. You track the board and ride upwind on the edge, not the fin. Its easy enough to put a fin on later if you feel compelled to do so.

[abel]

I built this one about 6 years ago in it's still ripping at 9-12 knots with a 11m2 kite! (me 80kg naked)

Definitely NO FINS for light wind.
Rocker < 1cm
Beneath and between the foot pads there is one layer of expoxyed fiberglass.
Another layer on the entire bottom.
16mm ply. Tips sanded to 8mm on the bottom for having some rocker.
The flor tiles are 20x20 cm (for reference).

Go for it!
You'll be going upwind at a fly's fart and you'll never know why.

light wind board 1 top.jpg (67.13 KiB) Viewed 2452 times

[kitepilot]

Abel,
I really like your version of the plywood light wind board. Thanks for posting that. I am planning on upgrading my plywood board. My plywood board is about 5 years old and works fine, but it weighs a lot. I'm planning on building your version.
Your plan does not mention the fiberglass installation. At what part did you add the fiberglass? and what kind of weight did you end up with?
With my plywood version of the glide, I can get out there on 10 mph and mow the lawn and pop fwd/back rolls when most guys are just mowing. I did add very small fins on the heel side to help ride the small wave/whitewater rebuild that comes over the reef here.
Aloha KP

PS Dave1234, didn't mean to steal your thread, I like very small fins on my light wind board but try it without them first, you might not even want them. I am going to build Abel's version and not put fins on it first, and see how I like it before I install them. And also if you don't do much toe side riding you don't need them on that side of the board!

[OzBungy]

Fins make the board more forgiving of poor technique. They are not necessary and arguably create drag to make the board slower.

[WildDuke]

Love the faux wood graphics, how do you get it to look so real? ha ha ha!!

[frankm1960]

im making a plywood board and i was wondering if fins are even needed, i still want to go upwind too so take that account. its currently 155cm by 47cm, but i can still change it . let me know thanks! oh yah post any size reccomendations that would be good for a beginner/ light wind

I've got a flat ply board, just a bit bigger, pretty much a rectangle no fins, windsurfing straps, and it goes up wind like nothing else. I get up wind better in light winds on that board better than all my other boards fully powered up. It's crazy sounding but true. It's logical to look at a flat piece of plywood and say this has no chance in hell of working, but it works like crazy.

[dave12341234]

im making a plywood board and i was wondering if fins are even needed, i still want to go upwind too so take that account. its currently 155cm by 47cm, but i can still change it . let me know thanks! oh yah post any size reccomendations that would be good for a beginner/ light wind

I've got a flat ply board, just a bit bigger, pretty much a rectangle no fins, windsurfing straps, and it goes up wind like nothing else. I get up wind better in light winds on that board better than all my other boards fully powered up. It's crazy sounding but true. It's logical to look at a flat piece of plywood and say this has no chance in hell of working, but it works like crazy.

That's awesome! Im so pumped, tuesday is going to produce so ill be out there cant wait to try it! did you sand down your edges (bevel them)?

[frankm1960]

im making a plywood board and i was wondering if fins are even needed, i still want to go upwind too so take that account. its currently 155cm by 47cm, but i can still change it . let me know thanks! oh yah post any size reccomendations that would be good for a beginner/ light wind

I've got a flat ply board, just a bit bigger, pretty much a rectangle no fins, windsurfing straps, and it goes up wind like nothing else. I get up wind better in light winds on that board better than all my other boards fully powered up. It's crazy sounding but true. It's logical to look at a flat piece of plywood and say this has no chance in hell of working, but it works like crazy.

That's awesome! Im so pumped, tuesday is going to produce so ill be out there cant wait to try it! did you sand down your edges (bevel them)?

I beveled both upper and lower edges with a router. A friend of mine only beveled the upper edge. I don't know if it matters but bevel them a little bit at least for your hands.
I don't have any side cut on mine but I did round the corners, used the bottom of a paint can to trace out a nice ark of a circle. I had it out today and I still can't believe it can work, it should just dig into the water and throw me off but it doesn't. Here's a pic. After you stop laughing check out the corners, its more than just a circle, there's some arbitrary taper as well.