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d_latimer
Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Posts:
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 11:00 pm Post subject: Alaia Forum |
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I've been riding boogieboards, kneeboards and bodysurfing for 40+ years now and was totally unprepared for what I found in a 48"x 18"x.625" laminated pine tabletop from Home Depot. I rounded off the nose tapered it back to 16" at the tail rounded over the rails and put an ever so slight concave in the bottom (because I don't have much Patience) oiled it with Watco and went surfing. Though it bounces around more than I'd like in big unruly waves I've never had so much fun in clean barrels big or small. WHAT'S WITH THESE THINGS?
Builders, riders, dreamers, artists, let's open this topic up.
When does it get to wide, to narrow, to long, to short?
Oh yeah... their beautiful too (MrMike)
Unfortunately, the pine developed a fatal crack yesterday (in some mighty fine barrels). I shaped a replica out of 3/8" ply but it doesn't have the same weight, we'll see in the morning
I'm Hooked
Dave |
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OG-AZN
Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: Location: Norcal
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks d_latimer for that info on your experience w/ a Home Depot pine board alaia. I recently met a guy at the beach who was riding a nice mini alaia he built from Home Depot pine. I thought about making one for myself, but I think I'll go w/ some stronger wood based on your experience w/ cracking. I haven't had much luck keeping my plywood paipos alive either; even my latest epoxy'd board seems to being showing signs of weakening. Let us know how your ply board alaia rides. |
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kid
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Joined: 11 Jan 2010 Posts: Location: Bells Beach
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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I'm right with you! I've ridden alaia's (prone and stand-up) almost exclusively for nearly 4 years now! These things rock!!!!!!
![](http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af357/bjkid/BigBlue.jpg) _________________ "It's not a beer-belly, it's a displacement hull"
www.deluxepaipo.com |
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kid
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Joined: 11 Jan 2010 Posts: Location: Bells Beach
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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This is about 2/3rds of my alaia quiver! These things are addictive!
![](http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af357/bjkid/June068.jpg) _________________ "It's not a beer-belly, it's a displacement hull"
www.deluxepaipo.com |
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bgreen
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Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: Location: Qld. Oz
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 4:53 am Post subject: |
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After interviewing quite a few paipo makers /riders, all I can say is that there is incredible variety in what can be ridden. For example, 3' ply boards being ridden in some of Australia's premier waves, in very solid conditions.
I have a 19" Wegener alaia that is 5'. I reckon you can go narrower and shorter - however the riding style is radically different in very short boards.
I don't like the super flexy boards. I loaned Bongoman a board I made (based on a John Galera shape) and he found it caught waves much easier than his traditional alaia.
There is a lot of personal preference, wave type & riding style to consider.
Bob |
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kid
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Joined: 11 Jan 2010 Posts: Location: Bells Beach
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 5:44 am Post subject: |
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I've found that 14 to 16 inches wide seems to be the optimum range with stand-up alaia's. If you go wider you lose rail-to-rail control, and you don't gain much if anything in paddle speed. With prone alaia's I ride 'em as narrow as 11 inches and short as 2ft! Play around, I don't think anyone has hit on any magic formula yet! _________________ "It's not a beer-belly, it's a displacement hull"
www.deluxepaipo.com |
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rodndtube Dolphin Glider
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Joined: 06 Jan 2004 Posts: 690 Location: USA, MD, Baltimore
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 9:32 am Post subject: Re: Alaia Forum |
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d_latimer wrote: | I've been riding boogieboards, kneeboards and bodysurfing for 40+ years now and was totally unprepared for what I found in a 48"x 18"x.625" laminated pine tabletop from Home Depot. I rounded off the nose tapered it back to 16" at the tail rounded over the rails and put an ever so slight concave in the bottom (because I don't have much Patience) oiled it with Watco and went surfing. Though it bounces around more than I'd like in big unruly waves I've never had so much fun in clean barrels big or small. <snipped some>
Dave |
For those in a position to experiment with different shapes in larger waves I would suggest adding roundness to the bottom contour to negate some of the bounce and boom with the cross chop. Of course, this concept may not work very well with the less than 1 inch thick wood boards unless you can apply your best shaping skills and preserve the integrity of the board. Spooning a 2 inch plank might work. _________________ rodNDtube
"Prone to ride"
I love my papa li`ili`i |
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d_latimer
Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Posts:
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:28 am Post subject: |
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my current quiver showing my now very sick alaia. Kid, I'm awed by your collection...er....addiction. I see myself going down the same path.[/img] |
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mrmike
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Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: Location: coronado, ca
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:32 am Post subject: |
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d_latimer don't throw that pine away it can be glued, that the nice thing about wood. I can't tell you how many boards I have cracked. just split the board in two pieces then reglue it with titebond 2 clamp it overnight then sand the joint and reapply the oil the joint should be stronger than the wood MRMIKE ![Cool](images/smiles/icon_cool.gif) _________________ PAIPO ON
blog http://mrmikespaipos.blogspot.com |
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d_latimer
Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Posts:
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:48 am Post subject: |
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thanks mrmike, I think I'll try that. Hows the swell down your way? Kid, great action shots! |
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mrmike
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Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: Location: coronado, ca
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:55 am Post subject: |
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big swell all week 8ft+ down to about 5 to 6 today MIKE ![Very Happy](images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif) _________________ PAIPO ON
blog http://mrmikespaipos.blogspot.com |
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bgreen
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Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: Location: Qld. Oz
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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Three photos of the current project
The outline- from the bottom:
The side view - it has quite a bit of nose lift. Next time, I won;t glue an extra piece of wood on top of the deck for thickness- far too much work and wasted timber. The tail lift is an illusion - it has lifted because of the weight in the front. I may need to plane this back further but wanted to see how it floated first. This board may just be ridden further back.
The deck - the ugly line is where the extra thickness was glued on. Hopefully oil wil conceal the line a bit.
If it is like my other board - it goes much better than it looks. Sure have learnt a lot on these. Looking forward to the test ride.
Bob |
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mrmike
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Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: Location: coronado, ca
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bgreen
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Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: Location: Qld. Oz
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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Mike,
Thanks - a question. I started the lift 20" from the nose. I have seen your boards with a block glued on near the nose to get lift. There is the option of steaming, but do you have any other suggestions regarding get a gradual nose lift in a board short of starting with a really thick piece of wood and whittling away.
If this one isn;t successful, I may just go back to the very slight nose lift model.
Bob |
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mrmike
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Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: Location: coronado, ca
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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I have bent a board by clamping it to a flat table and blocking up the nose by 1" and puting lots of hot water on it and let it sit for a few days MIKE _________________ PAIPO ON
blog http://mrmikespaipos.blogspot.com |
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