I've always been designing real different and unconventional board shapes, sketching things on paper. I have a technical drawing background. I feel windsurf boards haven't really progressed enough and taken the sport to another level.

A lot of people may disagree with me but you can find boards shaped in the 70s that dont look that different to modern boards; and sailing and kiteboarding are now faster record holders.

Does anyone know where I can go with my designs? I've emailed some of the big name companies but of course havent heard anything back from them.

Happy to work with local shapers or companies. All of my shapes are speed or slalom related.

Its just talk until you show us your designs.

If you have an eye for drawing you'd probably be very artistic and good at shaping, I think everyone should have a go at shaping their own board, I reckon you should by a block of foam and give shaping a go yourself, then take it to a custom surfboard maker and see if they will glass it for you. Then you'll have the satisfaction of shaping your own board and seeing if they work. Contact the glasser first to see what resin they use and what foam and its density its compatible with.

hoop said..
Its just talk until you show us your designs.

I reckon it's either a rubber flapper behind the fin or speed holes..

This is the fastest sailing vessel. It's similar to a windsurfer.

Design a windsurfer version.

terminal said..
This is the fastest sailing vessel. It's similar to a windsurfer.

Design a windsurfer version.

IanK has actually tried this, by adjusting the fin position...

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Gps/Canting-Fin-research-Paper/

Since the J-foil takes the pull of the sail and the windsurfer has to control the position of the sail, the windsurfer might be positioned inside the sail?

^ Now thats flat water!

Seriously, what a brilliant simple idea. It looks like a lot of fun.

Simon100 said..
Why dont you just make one and see how it goes or pay someone to make one or put drawings up.

At the moment I'm reaching out for board designers to get in touch with me.

I can make it myself but I'm thinking more along the lines of getting an old board and chopping it up. Basically just using the mast base and footstrap inserts. Way cheaper than making it from scratch.

Windsurf sails and boards designs have pretty much gone all they can go in terms of speed records because its inherently an inefficient system where the sail pushes down on mast foot needing lift from board, instead of pure forward drive. I mean its great for having fun and blasting along but I'm talking about wind powered speed records here.

So any maverick board shapers get in touch.

Gfly said..

Simon100 said..
Why dont you just make one and see how it goes or pay someone to make one or put drawings up.

At the moment I'm reaching out for board designers to get in touch with me.

I can make it myself but I'm thinking more along the lines of getting an old board and chopping it up. Basically just using the mast base and footstrap inserts. Way cheaper than making it from scratch.

Windsurf sails and boards designs have pretty much gone all they can go in terms of speed records because its inherently an inefficient system where the sail pushes down on mast foot needing lift from board, instead of pure forward drive. I mean its great for having fun and blasting along but I'm talking about wind powered speed records here.

So any maverick board shapers get in touch.

I think you may have missed the point that a lot of shapers have come up with ideas, tried them, and then canned them, or developed them if they worked. They won't be that interested in talking to someone that has drawn up what they think is going to work, but haven't actually tried or tested the designs. Anyone can draw something up and say 'this will work', but the reality is very different. A shaper is not just someone that shapes a board, they are someone that refines that shape based on feedback.

No one is going to reach out to you and say 'hey, I don't know what I am doing, you say you know what you are doing, let me build it for you'.

Does the sail push down on the board? I always thought that the sail was pushing the board and providing some lift. It certainly feels like lift when the harness lines are holding my weight.

As food for thought, I saw someone come up with what they thought was a great novel idea for new windsurfing boards, take it to a windy location, and the guy that tried it struggled to get it planing. So, what one person thought was a great idea, turned out to have problems that made it unworkable. Without testing the idea, how do you know yours is any better?

I drew a picture of the worlds fastest car once...it was red ;)

As above - have fun shaping and experimenting yourself, or pay a shaper to make it for you. But even the worlds best shaper won't guarantee the performance of an untested idea.

I have occasionally wondered if the sport would be much different if The Windsurfer patent had been upheld. My understanding is that to sell sailboarding products you needed a licence from Hoyle and the he limited those licences. For example, I don't think Windglider had a licence in the lead up to the 1984 Olympics.
Should I feel sympathy for Hoyle because he lost his patent battle, the Darby always seemed like a bit of a dud to me. Obviously it has been great for the sport to have unfettered development but harsh on the designer. In the current era it seems very difficult for any single individual to protect their ideas from being ripped off and to get credit/reward for their innovation.

Gfly said..
I've always been designing real different and unconventional board shapes, sketching things on paper. I have a technical drawing background. I feel windsurf boards haven't really progressed enough and taken the sport to another level.
A lot of people may disagree with me but you can find boards shaped in the 70s that dont look that different to modern boards; and sailing and kiteboarding are now faster record holders.
Does anyone know where I can go with my designs? I've emailed some of the big name companies but of course havent heard anything back from them.
Happy to work with local shapers or companies. All of my shapes are speed or slalom related.

You gotta be kidding, maybe to the untrained eye a 70 s board and modern board might look similar in that they are both a long shape have fins and a place to put the mast. Your statement really says you have no idea, so your ideas are going to reflect this.

Try your luck in the...


10play.com.au/shark-tank

I think you mean mast track? Mast base isn't part of the board.

Your idea sound valid, can't wait!