Took a new weed fin and introduced it to Mr hacksaw. I won't bother with the brand because the rest of them are fine but this one..well it didn't suit. It had three very sharp points on it both forward and rearward of the box and I could only see something bad happening, so I reprofiled and reshaped it. It worked really well across the wind or down, but could not go upwind for love or money. It had an almost flat profile on both sides and with each pass on the belt sander it only got worse, then I remembered seeing some carbon built in on the true ames fins. All I wanted to do was build up the chord so I could steal a bit upwind. Hopefully this will work...this time. We'll call this mkIV.


All I need to do now is box it and bob's yer uncle..I hope

Hey Paul,
I've been working on your old Paulownia/carbon fin. and sanded tip down to kevlar!!!!!!!!
You didn't remind me you'd put that $#@&^%* stuff in there!
What am I supposed to do now????

Might make a good boomerang.
Pretty sure I pointed to it and said almost the same thing with the same language. I recall saying "would you like some kevlar? I hate that ###t." I think I binned the kevlar in the end!
Someone said that it starts to break down within hours of exposure to the sun, kind of makes you wonder how if it's so damn hard to work with, even when it's been left outside for hours at a time.

How much is there? I've exposed it at the leading edge at the tip, is it possible to sand it off and replace with fibreglass?
The foil is starting to look quite good, it'd be a pity to abandon it now.

Kevlar does have it's uses, it's impact resistance is fantastic on the nose of a board (underneath glass).

ohhh weed fin talk !! excellent
pepe looks real nice bro

in regards to getting up wind my latest fin totally rocks!! "i may be bias" its 21 cm i tested it yesterday for the second time SP44 7.5mKA I clocked up around 80km on it

it was choppy and i did have a few spin outs but it did come back real quick

I've gone for wider base bit of carbon and a cut out I cant wait to test it in flat water see what it will do with a bit of stability, i did let a good friend take it for a spin his comment was "don't change a thing" this is thanks to Decrepit and the boys and our last conversations

I also have my next project in the works combining two of my fave fins into a new SPWweedy (c)

keep me posted

Hey lelos, been watching your posts with great interest. You've certainly got the eye and your speeds are testament to that.
What I'm trying to create is a weed fin for a large board (largish sail), for those marginal days where lift is everything and tracking upwind is necessary for getting back. Hate those walks of shame

If any one has a used weed fin for sale please let me know. I got inspired to give weedie Canton beach a sail after seeing Lelos video.

It must be an ok spot, even almost got a smile from Craig.

sam has the weedsters in at the shop at a really nice price and there real nice to sail on give him a call ..

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Waiting4wind said...

If any one has a used weed fin for sale please let me know. I got inspired to give weedie Canton beach a sail after seeing Lelos video.

It must be an ok spot, even almost got a smile from Craig.

hey Pepe
I'm a small board sailer and never made anything big well over 22cm
the only thing i can say from the 22 i made thicker was i got plenty of lift
i put 4 layer of carbon and 2 of glass not a hard job .. from what i can see theres no magic numbers I have a 22cm that only just holds the 6.7 and a 21cm that cranks with a 7.5m ? just have a go pepe its fun and u get to itch for a week or so
Its very rewarding if you have the time .. plenty of time in sydney
let me know how u get on

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pepe47 said...

Hey lelos, been watching your posts with great interest. You've certainly got the eye and your speeds are testament to that.
What I'm trying to create is a weed fin for a large board (largish sail), for those marginal days where lift is everything and tracking upwind is necessary for getting back. Hate those walks of shame