Dale Chapman and I have finally settled on our board design for a 100km ocean paddle we intend to have a crack at in around a month's time.

We settled on 14', rather than going 16/17' like we have on our other long paddles. Not only should this add to the challenge but we want to see how these boards handle the local conditions.

The 3 DC14 boards pictured below are all built with different goals in mind. The Mango coloured one (near Lacey with the red top on) is the one we have settled on. It has a lot more stability without losing out too much on raw speed and run riding ability.



Here is Lacey on the mango board. This one does not have a rudder system but everything else will be the same.



This is Lacey on his "flat water" race board and me on the mango board. I call Lacey's board "the rocket" as it is really quick (but a little more unstable).



We took some short video clips so I will try and post a few of these so you can see what they look like in the creek...

Here is a nice sequence of Dale (on the Rocket) and Lacey (on the Mango). Notice the glide in flat water...

Here is another short clip of me on the mango board. Notice the stability of this one



I took this board for a hit straight out to sea (into the wind and swell) and back again after this. It went really well upwind but when I turned downwind that's when it really did its thing. It was almost effortless on the runs, which is what we have been chasing after for some time now. Minimum effort runs with maximum stability and speed.

I can't wait to get this in some big runs to see how she goes...

Same mike i wanna watch the clips but it wont let me

Belly

Looks really nice Mike.. Almost as nice as my DC16 haha

Im thinking about getting a new paddle when it arrives, any suggestions?
And i know its mainly personal preference but how much longer then your height would you cut the paddle for paddleing the 16? Any different to a 12.6?

Belly

the waxed banana is what i call it, well it got named by theroar morning training crew. it's 25 and 5/8 wide with acute chimes so it tippy. since then i have put the shaper's 'axe' fin in it drives the board better with less corrections.cmc and myself did an up/downwind and the axe went well, but while i'm happy with the axe in the flats, i'm looking for a bit more stability in the ocean

i tried the futures 13' dw fin today, but it didn't offer my any stability- had a number of falls. the fcs 10.5 and the big hatchet fin i'm going to try in the creek mouth today and pick one for a run tomorrow.very interesting riding fw boards in the ocean. the board regularly drops down runners in front. also, you can be on a runner, run into the one in front, the board keeps it speed, so you can catch the same runner you were on again.
the mango board is a beauty- a piece of cake to use
cheers

CMC said...

The Rocket alright...... I had a paddle up and down wind Currumbin to Kirra and back with Lacey yest on that board and it left me feeling silly.

I don't know why but when I see all of these boards that song pops into my head. If I were a rich man da da da da da.

you should have had your pb on

How wide is the Mango board?

supbelly said...

Looks really nice Mike.. Almost as nice as my DC16 haha

Im thinking about getting a new paddle when it arrives, any suggestions?
And i know its mainly personal preference but how much longer then your height would you cut the paddle for paddleing the 16? Any different to a 12.6?

Belly

I think that your DC16 will go very well in your WA waters, especially in those winter SW patterns. That board is very forgiving and it loves big seas. It has a whole lot more rocker than these new boards as we are looking at doing this paddle in shorter wavelength waves in around 15 knots of wind.

Both of us are currently paddling with the Kialoa Methane paddles. I personally think that these are too "stiff" and we need a shaft with a whole lot more flex. My paddle is also cut a little shorter than what most people use. Both the flex and shorter paddle length are needed to try and save our shoulders over this distance.

I'd try the Kialoa Pipes, I really like the slightly smaller blade for long distance.

Something you can try is buying the paddle without the shaft being glued to the blade (I think Sam normally glues them in once they arrive in Oz), cut the shaft from the bottom to achieve the right length leaving as much of the thinner handle end of the shaft intact. It's not easy cutting the bottom of the shaft because its a very acute angle, I used a linisher with a support stand to hold the shaft rigid while I ground it back to the mark. You have to maintain the orientation of the angle cut so that the paddle is aligned correctly with the oval shape of the shaft. Bit of a fiddle and I glued it in with a thick mix of epoxy and micro balloons to make sure it didn't get the crack sound and subsequent leak. Mine feels solid as a rock.

I think it makes quite a difference to the overall shaft stiffness, it was DJ's idea and if you are shortish makes a lot of sense.

Wear a mask too, very nasty fine carbon fibre dust if you do use a linisher or sanding wheel.

Just bought a Pipes in Maui and cut it 16" overhead!! I used it for quite a few down-winders and boy can you get some reach, the stroke finishes way in front of your feet. Still need to get the release properly sorted but it doesn't feel as weird as you might think. Chickened out on using it for the Maui to Molokai race but I'm certain it helps with catching runners. I think for a long long distance a smaller paddle makes a lot of sense.

cRAZY Canuk said...

mikeman said...

cRAZY Canuk said...

How wide is the Mango board?

The "Rocket" is less than 26' wide but the "Mango" is around 28'. We need extra stability for such a long paddle. There are also subtle design changes that you would need to talk to Dale Chapman about.

I started 2 weeks ago - I've been waiting on the results of the test paddle guess I better drop him a line on Monday.

the good thing about 14's generally is no rudder.i saw mike do a few in's and out on the mango. he was standing back a bit from where we were in the creek, yet the board was still scooting along on half runner/waves. the 6'tail with some area at back lets you step back with good stability instead of the thing wobbling around
cheers

Downwinder said...

JonathanC said...

Just bought a Pipes in Maui and cut it 16" overhead!! I used it for quite a few down-winders and boy can you get some reach, the stroke finishes way in front of your feet. Still need to get the release properly sorted but it doesn't feel as weird as you might think. Chickened out on using it for the Maui to Molokai race but I'm certain it helps with catching runners. I think for a long long distance a smaller paddle makes a lot of sense.

I've tried both the stiff & the flex shaft I find the stiff shaft to be 5-10 seconds faster per kilometre! I have two paddles one 16" overhead (flex) Quickblade with 10'' head goes unreal for downwind paddles the other one is 18'' overhead (stiff) & its my favourite for Downwind Paddles (sold me for life) its the Elite Quickblade Racer with the big 10'' head the reach is ALL TIME for catching runners. The more you can stand up straight with a massive reach you've got power! But dont forget you need to use your obliques, which you should be, you'll have no shoulder problems even at the 50km mark.
DW

i'm getting a new shaft for my qb er soon. i had the feeling my paddle was too short and after seeing the vid, i'm hanging out for it to turn up
cheers

mikeman said...

CMC said...

The Rocket alright...... I had a paddle up and down wind Currumbin to Kirra and back with Lacey yest on that board and it left me feeling silly.

I don't know why but when I see all of these boards that song pops into my head. If I were a rich man da da da da da.

Unfortunately I had to sell my beloved Orange DC16 (to Belly in WA) to pay for this new board. We are the ones spending our own money so that everyone can benefit from the R&D. We enjoy the process, however, so its not an issue for us.

Hey Mike, I only wish I was a rich man so that I could buy all of these boards you guys design and test. Plus I like that old song.

I'm a red hot candidate for a board whore. Just can't get the spends past the minister for finance. I for one am stoked you guys put it where it counts to work on this stuff, it only pushes it all forwards.

Get the Quikblade paddle. Flex is unreal

Good luck boys 100km's MASSIVE EFFORT the boards look great all that R&D is definetly paying off. Re the 12-15 " paddles above your head that's way too long for my outrigger beaten shoulders , the longer you go... yes you do get a better reach but it really stress's your shoulder joint.

On a long paddles like this one I would have 3 or 4 different paddles in the support boat with different shaft lengths , shaft flex and head size.

Rob

DavidJohn said...

100klms is HUGE.. You should conceder gloves if you haven't already..

DJ

Yes. Otherwise you may attract embarrassing questions about the blisters on your hands........