The Fever

Historical wood

2011-05-31T12:01:00.000-07:00

Home of the wood board. Its a little draughty though.

Woodspotting

2011-02-13T01:27:00.000-08:00

Its Alive! My wood lady, spotted somewhere on the north east coast of New Zealand!!

Happy to know she is getting a working over!
Some action shots would be great.

Shakas and Single Fins

2009-02-11T13:42:00.000-08:00

The super talented Ryan Tatar has a great blog i cant help but check out daily, Shakas and Single Fins.

I was feeling a bit uninspired, so i thought i would make him a few doodles for his header, there have been a few great blog headers floating around and a couple of my favourites are:

Adrian Knott, shakas and single fins:

and Jeff Canham for the swallow tail society:

Wood waxing

2008-12-05T19:03:00.000-08:00

The drying period is over, i have pugged all the leaks (hopefully) and had a test run in the bath tub..

She is all waxed up now, awaiting the next perfect opportunity to get wet.

Maiden voyage

2008-12-05T15:54:00.000-08:00

The maiden voyage of the wood beast was an epic mid winter session, water temp 8 degrees, swell 3-4ft and light offshores.

On the first kiss of the freezing water she floated like a dream, paddled like a long board, and rode like a short board. I was a bit skeptical of the rails, but the held and could easily string a few turns and beat the sections with the speed these boards are famous for.

I only managed to catch one wave before tragedy struck.. i felt it was slowly feeling heavier and heavier as io paddled out and my suspicions were correct it was LEAKING..

I could barely lift it out of the water.. but i managed to drain it pretty fast and get it into a wood drying room for about 2 months.

Heres the shots from the maiden session.

Ready to roll

2008-09-21T16:29:00.000-07:00

Here she is all ready to get wet..

Air vent installation

2008-06-03T18:43:00.000-07:00

This was tricky and after going around every plumbing and hardware store in chch, i went to a boating shop and they had exactly what i was after.

This is a water tight bung that can be undone by hand.

I plan on rounding down the edges so it is not so intrusive and save my feet from being chopped up on it if im unintentionally hanging ten.

I installed the plug by screwing in place and sealing it with resin all over. If you have built your board using the hollow web method be careful were you drill your hole, as it can damage the supporting struts on the inside.

Fish Graphics

2008-06-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

I decided on a tmoeski inspired graphics.. and got a local place to print some vinyls for me.

Fin installation

2008-03-31T12:30:00.000-07:00

A big thanks to team FCS who helped me install the fins.. and allign them straight just in the nick of time!!

not the angle i was after.. I using a 3 plug fcs set up for more freedom in the fin placement. Fins im using will be either, FCS MR twinnies or hand shaped 3 plug keels.

third plug yet to be installed.

the web of support tape.

Base Laminating

2008-03-25T03:13:00.001-07:00

with the hot weather at easter i got a chance to do another laminating spree..

200ml was more than enough resin for one coat.

Top Deck Laminating

2008-03-25T03:09:00.001-07:00

Finally i have got around to getting some resin.
I have used west system, but this stuff has a bit of an amber tint.. this good for a wood board.. but not so good for fiberglass.. which i intend to get into next..

this coat was done with 13oml of west resin this wasnt really enough as didnt give an even coating.

Leash plug

2008-03-25T03:07:00.000-07:00

Installed a leash plug, just a simple model from you local surf store..

I always wonderd why leash plugs are in the middle a or to the left or right on fish shapes.. On personal experience, i tend to find the leash gets caught up around my leg if it is on the wrong side of the tail, but then if it is in the middle can rip the butt crack to shreds if you bail at the last moment.

Iv gone with a center plug, just cos i like it... for strength onyl time will tell if it holds the weight of the woodfish..

more sanding

2008-03-25T02:59:00.000-07:00

phew so finished sanding the deck.. heres some profile shots:

top deck
base ( im going for a 3 plug fcs setup with custom fins or fcs.. depending on my budget)

i spent a good 10 hours of hand sanding till i decide to give in and go down to the local hardware store and purchase a $12 Rail master.. (this will surely come in handy for finishing the laminated decks)

Nose Job..

2007-12-12T12:43:00.001-08:00

Spent a bit of time working on the nose..

The Present

2007-12-03T18:43:00.000-08:00

My personal hero "Thomas Cambell" has a new movie coming out called "The Present".

Why is this relevant, because you can spot the wood fish cameo in this trailer, 2:47.

Nice Butt Crack

2007-12-03T18:27:00.000-08:00

I spent a bit of time on sunday working on the tail, heres a few shots..

This is a big learning process, as each mistake i make, i have go back and fix on the otherside.

I beleive shaping the tail is the most time consuming process.. I think i will leave it at this stage and get onto the nose and polishing up the rails next.

One issue, using sand paper gives and uneven sanding result, as it removes the wood, but were the resin is, creates a slight bulge, and uneven rail.

New "Tool"

2007-12-03T18:23:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure what you call this "thing", but i made it from a 2x4 and plastice electrical tubing and a pencil..

It is essential for consistantly marking out the rails.

For the power wood fish (aka the "kingfish") i have gone with a 60/40 rail as recomended by roy, tapering into a 70/30 in the tail.

Sanding

2007-12-03T17:19:00.000-08:00

So the Shaping shed is finally ready to "cut some shapes" in.

minus one wall, all it needs now is the waist high neon rail shaping lights..

Fairing the Plan Shape

2007-10-23T02:11:00.000-07:00

Started sanding down the paulownia planks of the deck and marking out the rails..

Most of my time these days has gone into preparing the stand and other tools to mark out dimensions.

Laminated blank

2007-09-20T17:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to roy for helping me out with the Paulownia wood Blank.

I have the fever

2007-08-29T23:30:00.000-07:00