hey guys,

I'm studying engineering at uni and trying to come up with a final year project to do.
I'm kind of keen to make a hydrofoil board (like in the link) for surfing or maybe kiting but I can't really just make it - I need a purpose or aim for it.
Anyone have any ideas??
Basically Im trying to find a way I can go surfing or kiting for uni



Cheers

First idea is to ask this in a relevant forum. Clearly not much researching is going on here.

If you really want to do something interesting and worthwhile for your project you could no better than looking at the engineering of the Vestas Sailrocket that has just smashed the world speed sailing record. Google it and if not amazed maybe engineering isn't really your thing. By extension you maybe able to come upo with a comparative craft that uses a kite in lieu of a fixed wing.......just a thought.

There you go....a windsurfer being friendly and constructive.

For ideas try this :

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/SB-Community-OEM-board/


edit : ^^^ beat me to it !!!

cmrls23 said...
thought windsurfers were meant to be the friendly bunch...

Never assume - I always thought SB surfers were cruisy & laid-back...until I paddled my SUP into the line-up!

Sailhack said...

cmrls23 said...
thought windsurfers were meant to be the friendly bunch...

Never assume - I always thought SB surfers were cruisy & laid-back...until I paddled my SUP into the line-up!

SUP BASTARDS!! haha

Cheers for the ideas guys

sick_em_rex said...
hmmmm final year at uni, probably makes you around 21-22ish...Gen Y......

Geny Y the hell do I have to do it when someone else can do it for me [}:)]

Ease up Rex. Social Engineering is a really hard course.

sick_em_rex said...
hmmmm final year at uni, probably makes you around 21-22ish...Gen Y......

Geny Y the hell do I have to do it when someone else can do it for me [}:)]

well from your profile it says you're gen X, (even though from your pictures and lack of hair I wouldn't be surprised if you'd lied about your age and are actually a baby boomer) so every sentence starts with 'back in my day' or 'the youth today..'

why is it so unconceivable that a forum full of windsurfers might have more ideas as to how to improve the sport and equipment than someone who doesn't windsurf. I bet you'd be more than happy to buy or use something I designed if by some miracle it gave you a smoother or faster ride - irrelevant on whose idea it was

shear tip said...

cmrls23 said...
...why is it so unconceivable that a forum...

inconceivable

...but anyway, boardboy is on the money.

in my defence they are right next to each other

cmrls23 said...

sick_em_rex said...
hmmmm final year at uni, probably makes you around 21-22ish...Gen Y......

Geny Y the hell do I have to do it when someone else can do it for me [}:)]

well from your profile it says you're gen X, (even though from your pictures and lack of hair I wouldn't be surprised if you'd lied about your age and are actually a baby boomer) so every sentence starts with 'back in my day' or 'the youth today..'

why is it so unconceivable that a forum full of windsurfers might have more ideas as to how to improve the sport and equipment than someone who doesn't windsurf. I bet you'd be more than happy to buy or use something I designed if by some miracle it gave you a smoother or faster ride - irrelevant on whose idea it was

I agree - Gen"Y the hell do I have to do it myself"

Seriously you are a 3rd year uni student and you have to come here for ideas.???
OK you want to do a project about foils and combine your love of kiting with an engineering concept.

Step 1: Google "problems with hydrofoils" or "hydrofoil windsurfing" or "hydrofoil stability at low speeds" or whatfknever.

Step2: half an hour of reading the above ^^^ results will identify soem kind of issue or limitation.

Step 3: Choose one issue/limitation, then think of a way to solve or mitigate said issue.

Step 4: invention, testing, scientific method, blah blah.

There u go, project.

The point of those who are critical of your post is that Steps 1-4 are pretty fkn obvious, but young crew seem to default to "post on forum" to start with.
Then young fellas get defensive about criticism here. Research is NOT the same as "ask others for ideas"

NotWal said...
What a bunch of curmudgeons. It's always a good idea to canvas ideas.

ok... so going back to the original question: "Basically Im trying to find a way I can go surfing or kiting for uni"

here is an idea: change your field and studied sports.

cmrls23 said...

sick_em_rex said...
hmmmm final year at uni, probably makes you around 21-22ish...Gen Y......

Geny Y the hell do I have to do it when someone else can do it for me [}:)]

well from your profile it says you're gen X, (even though from your pictures and lack of hair I wouldn't be surprised if you'd lied about your age and are actually a baby boomer) so every sentence starts with 'back in my day' or 'the youth today..'

why is it so unconceivable that a forum full of windsurfers might have more ideas as to how to improve the sport and equipment than someone who doesn't windsurf. I bet you'd be more than happy to buy or use something I designed if by some miracle it gave you a smoother or faster ride - irrelevant on whose idea it was

ah what a funny guy you are. I have no need to lie about my age and for the record, I have hair...I just clipper it short But then again, 'the youth of today' don't like short hair.....they all wanna be just like the Bieber
How about coming up with a process that will allow you to manufacture a board that will be cheap enough (but still have a performance edge) to revolutionise windsurfing and make it a more affordable sport like it was back in the 80's? Get young people OFF Facebook, OFF PS3's etc and outside doing things that don't involve staring at a small screen for hours on end. 'Back in my day' we didn't have such fancy technology, we just had to entertain ourselves with a can and a stick!

You are at University and you

cmrls23 said...

...... also thought this place could be of some use.

I think you just failed life, as well as university.

Carantoc said...
You are at University and you

cmrls23 said...

...... also thought this place could be of some use.

I think you just failed life, as well as university.

lesson learnt

Lighten up people! I am studying engineering as well and most people just get given the project. The main aim is NOT to think of one.

And a way bigger crime than using a forum for ideas (if it is one) is using a forum to b*&ch and moan.

A short while ago I was at at Windsurfing WA dinner where there were a lot of young male freestylers. Most were single so they had invited members of the "Kitechicks" to come and join them at the dinner. The Kitechicks replied that windsurfers were so rude to them at the beach they did not want to come.
Is that the reputation you want as windsurfers?

Now this young fella has asked an innocent question on this forum and as far as I can see has had only one helpful response. Now he may be guilty of being part of the younger generation (which is always perceived as being lazy and the downfall of the world as we know it) but he at least deserves some respect and politeness. All he has learnt is that windsurfers are an embittered bunch of unhelpful B's. No wonder most of the youngsters are taking up kiting!

How about helping to improve the image of windsurfing by being polite to newcomers on the forum. Treat him as you would your own son if he was asking for ideas. Then he might be happy to spend hours designing something which may revolutionise the sport we love.