I got a cheap SUP, and have tried it a few times in the river. Honestly, I don't really enjoy using it as a SUP as I find the whole paddling thing as too much effort compared with holding a sail! Unfortunately this Anaconda model does not have a sail nut insert so I thought I'd add a mast track.

Here's a perfectly good SUP about to go through surgery






A 10" Chinook Mast track was purchased from Stuart Bell Sails ($30) - I decided on non-vented version as the SUP already had a vent in it. This looks like as good as any location for it - no science involved






Take a deep breath, and start the router. I read a lot of information about setting the track into divinylcel or some other hard materials before setting it into the board. I chose to ignore this advice because I couldn't be bothered, couldn't find the stuff, and decided that this won't be used in any more than 8 knots of wind on flat water. Time will tell I guess





Resin and 6 layers of fibreglass were laid down, then sanded.











New grip added, and it all seems to come together






I had a quick try of this with a 5.3m Severne and it appears to work quite well. The wind was a very variable 1-5 knots and changing direction. I did find it hard to go upwind. I tried railing the board a fair bit but still struggled to get back in the offshore wind. Maybe next is a fin box underneath for a centrefin . Or maybe it just needs more suitable tail fin.

If anything, at least now the board is dual use and my daughter will be able to uphaul on it far easier than on my Kode 122 ltr.

1-5 knots and you sound happy, wait till you get some wind, you will be stoked.
My 2cents, don't do the centre fin on the sup, look at a suction cup type for the Kode for your daughter (depending on weight)
What size is rear fin, have you researched options?

Hi Pirrad,

Do you where to get this suction type fin for your Windsup to use a board to teach the kids on???

Thanks

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Dean 424 said..

Hi Pirrad,

Do you where to get this suction type fin for your Windsup to use a board to teach the kids on???

Thanks

You can make one from a chopping board and a glass carrier.

A few pictures of one I made 10 years ago for my wife, and now use it for my 6yo son. Sticks onto the bottom of my old formula board and makes it a lot easier for them to stay upwind..
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Gear-for-Kids/

The idea came from Windsurfing magazine but I think the website is offline now.

Thanks Pirrad. I recently used a chopping board to make a lever to help me put the centre board down in the exocet raceboard. I have a fanatic 9'6" Sup and wanted to use this to teach my 5 year old son when he wants to go which is rarely at this stage.

After using this board 5 times last week - I can now confidently say it works a treat! YES, it can plane and go upwind. I am very happy with the conversion. Yesterday I was planing it most of the way with a 7.5 Cammed sail on its standard tri-fin. The wind started off at 11 knots and built to 16 knots.

The board also gybes really well for such a long board. I had quite a few successful planing carve gybes.

Nice work Grumps! I just got off the phone with Basil and he was pretty impressed with your efforts around the race course.

Well have to get some pics of you in action too at the next one!

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Dean 424 said..

Hi Pirrad,

Do you where to get this suction type fin for your Windsup to use a board to teach the kids on???

Thanks

Bunnings sell them, i bolted an old fin to one and used it while teaching my daughter. Make sure
you tie some down haul rope to it so you don't lose it

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robbo1111 said..

Dean 424 said..

Hi Pirrad,

Do you where to get this suction type fin for your Windsup to use a board to teach the kids on???

Thanks

Bunnings sell them, i bolted an old fin to one and used it while teaching my daughter. Make sure
you tie some down haul rope to it so you don't lose it

Thanks Robbo.

Nice job Grumpy and congrats on winning the inaugural race with it.

If those layers of cloth go all the way round the box, then on to the deck, there's no need for high density foam around the box. I've been doing mast tracks like that for my the last 6 boards with no problems, and I've had them out in up to 30knots and hit 39kts a couple of times, had several crashes, catapults, broken several booms, torn harnesses and broken hooks.
And I only use 2 or 3 layers, there's not a lot of force on a mast track. I use a base that spreads the load over the board, similar to the one in your pic.

On the other hand if the glass is only on top of the track, you may have problems. Epoxy doesn't stick real well to the track, (even if it's well sanded first), the glass can delamn from the track without you noticing, the next thing the board will be taking on water.

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GrumpySmurf said..
After using this board 5 times last week - I can now confidently say it works a treat! YES, it can plane and go upwind. I am very happy with the conversion. Yesterday I was planing it most of the way with a 7.5 Cammed sail on its standard tri-fin. The wind started off at 11 knots and built to 16 knots.

The board also gybes really well for such a long board. I had quite a few successful planing carve gybes.

Looks like you only just missed that boat!

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pirrad said..

1-5 knots and you sound happy, wait till you get some wind, you will be stoked.
My 2cents, don't do the centre fin on the sup, look at a suction cup type for the Kode for your daughter (depending on weight)
What size is rear fin, have you researched options?

Does the suction cup center fin work well enough for beginners in light wind? It holds on ok to the board? Any chance the suction could pull the glass away from the foam core?

Select to expand quote

GrumpySmurf said..

After using this board 5 times last week - I can now confidently say it works a treat! YES, it can plane and go upwind. I am very happy with the conversion. Yesterday I was planing it most of the way with a 7.5 Cammed sail on its standard tri-fin. The wind started off at 11 knots and built to 16 knots.

The board also gybes really well for such a long board. I had quite a few successful planing carve gybes.

So did you end up getting a different fin to help with going up wind? I'm currently learning to windsurf on a jp widepoint sup but find I drift downwind a fair bit as I tack back and forth, then have to walk back along the beach to get back to my starting point.

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MickMc said..


So did you end up getting a different fin to help with going up wind? I'm currently learning to windsurf on a jp widepoint sup but find I drift downwind a fair bit as I tack back and forth, then have to walk back along the beach to get back to my starting point.

Hi Mick, no I didn't add any other fin aside from the standard thruster setup. However, if you are at a beginner stage, I would say that it would be easier to stay upwind with a centrefin (like the chopping board described above).

On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with being blown downwind a bit as that walk back upwind forces you to learn harder. As long as it is not offshore wind of course.

Select to expand quote

GrumpySmurf said..

MickMc said..


So did you end up getting a different fin to help with going up wind? I'm currently learning to windsurf on a jp widepoint sup but find I drift downwind a fair bit as I tack back and forth, then have to walk back along the beach to get back to my starting point.

Hi Mick, no I didn't add any other fin aside from the standard thruster setup. However, if you are at a beginner stage, I would say that it would be easier to stay upwind with a centrefin (like the chopping board described above).

On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with being blown downwind a bit as that walk back upwind forces you to learn harder. As long as it is not offshore wind of course.

I don't mind doing the walk so long as I know that one day I'll be able to do it. Just didn't want to attempt the impossible. Would it be easier if I went for a quad set up,single fin or big centre plus side bites