After hanging with Randy some at JIBE this past spring, I had to persue a dirt surfer. Yup. Going to be making a windsurfing ATB board. I was able to
find a good starting place with some of Flyguy's older gear. I also wanted to give a huge shout out to Randy for helping me along the way with all his
knowledge about dirtsurfing. Many emails and pics back and fourth. I'm finally on my way with the project.
bigkid - 9-6-2017 at 03:29 PM
Great project. I do more water front walkways and parking lots than beach on mine.
What size sail will you be using?3shot - 9-6-2017 at 03:52 PM
Thanks Jeff! Im making my own Birch longboard deck.
I got a 5M from Scott with the ATB package. I've since picked up several sails in a package off of Craigslist. A 4m, two 5s, and two 6s. I used to
skateboard waaay back in the day. I used to sail single mast boats as well. Now just have to mix the two. Lol3shot - 9-6-2017 at 04:13 PM
First thing was mock up a rough board shape.
50" laminated Birch.
Adding some old-school Woody lines
I made some custom initialed decals lol.
Adding some fiberglass and resin to the bottom side to help support the board flex.
Only part that was a pain in @$$.... Wet sanding the resin smooth.
I powder coated my trucks too the other day. Added some clear grip tape to the top as well.
Now just need to take it up to the local park and give her a run.
I've got a whole dirtsurfing rig with 6 sails and still cheaper than a new 3m fixed bridal kite rtf.Randy - 9-6-2017 at 06:11 PM
Looks great. You got to tell us how to make those custom decals! Now all you need to do is add some wind! 3shot - 10-6-2017 at 06:49 AM
Thanks Randy! Made the decals with a cricut machine.
I believe it's the Cricut Explore Air 2. You can pull any image off the web, and add your own font. I made a white one to go on the back of my truck
glass too.nate76 - 10-6-2017 at 12:59 PM
Nice work! Would love to see some videos of it in action.
Too good to be true
Brant - 10-6-2017 at 05:25 PM
So this morning I think to myself "my ankle is feeling much better since I rolled it a few weeks ago, I should go play with my kite this weekend." I
then decide to come on here and see if I can get any tips on using my newest toy with the kite for the first time, click on the land boarding section,
and lot and behold: a brand new thread talking about dirt surfing! What wonderful timing! I start reading away while the pictures slowly load on my
crappy internet, and then realize with sudden disappointment your new board has 4 wheels. Oh well, it's a beautiful build anyways. Guess I'll have to
start a new thread and see if anyone has any experience or tips for kiting with a dirtsurfer of the two wheeled variety. 3shot - 10-6-2017 at 05:52 PM
Yeah.. there really isnt an official name for the sport. And she'll be sail powered. adambweird - 11-6-2017 at 05:57 AM
Looks great! Youve gotta make a video with it in action! 3shot - 11-6-2017 at 08:34 AM
Will do. Been doing some downhill runs in the grass without sails just to get a feel for the board again.
A few of the other sails I picked up dirt cheap.
bigkid - 11-6-2017 at 10:35 AM
I have an old school boom to mast setup that requires it to be tied and I have no idea how it's done correctly. It looks like the last pics are that
type of setup. Any idea what the procedure is to tie the two parts together correctly? I use a strip of Velcro to hold them together. Figured I would
ask a guy with the answer 3shot - 11-6-2017 at 10:56 AM
I have two booms. One is the clamp style, but the boom grip padding is all chewed up. The other boom is the tie on style. It took me a few tries to
figure it out sadly, there isn't much info on the web about old school booms. At least not that I found. I'll definitely get a close up the next time
I rig it up. It's not much help, but basically criss cross the rope around the mast then cinch it through he cleat.3shot - 11-6-2017 at 10:59 AM
I'm sure it's not the correct way, but it holds very tight Jeff.
bigkid - 11-6-2017 at 11:16 AM
Thank you young man.Windstruck - 11-6-2017 at 01:13 PM
That is a beauty! Can't wait to see some action footage. Go dog do!Randy - 11-6-2017 at 02:18 PM
Jason,
Is that the boom you got from Scott? If not, it seems to me that the one from Scott would be easier to set up and tie down correctly. Clamp-on
booms were one of the first big improvements in windsurfer rigs. After they came out the old tie-down booms never were used again. (Though, you
don't have to worry much about the rope stretching on land, like it would on water.)
3shot - 11-6-2017 at 04:06 PM
Randy, the gold boom is the one that came with all those sails I picked up a few weeks ago. Yes Scott's boom has the clamp, but the grips need
replacing.Randy - 11-6-2017 at 06:52 PM
By grip do you mean the rubber part that touches the mast? If so, I just use double sided foam tape one mine when rubber fails. It will work fine.
If you are referring to the blue foam rubber on the boom arms - be pretty hard to find that - from the picture you sent, those looked ok though.
BTW - earlier you mentioned trying the board downhill. Next thing is to try it with the sail downhill in light or no wind, using the sail as a brake,
and turning. If it we me I would probably start with whatever sail you have that looks the worst. :D Have fun - can't wait for action video or
photos. markite - 11-6-2017 at 09:44 PM
I remember my first windsurfer had to be tied to the mast - I'll see if I can dig up any info in some old windsurf books but I recall starting with
the boom laying flat on the mast in line with the mast, did a wrap around the mast (larks head) and then into the front of the boom - some had a hole
for the line to pass through or a channel and then lock that end into place - as the boom swung to perpendicular with the mast the line tightened up
and you had to be careful not to crack the mast depending on how you lock off the end of line - the front end of the boom would be pulled in tight to
the mast. I was thinking I had the mast through the boom and clew of boom pointing up then swung downward but doing a quick search I have found a
couple of photos both ways with different wrap techniques one swinging the boom downward and one swinging upward the difference was the tight wrap of
line would either sit above or below the front end of the boom. maybe every connection was a little different as to path? NOTE - slide sail on mast
first
I grabbed a few screen shots for you - the way Jason has it looks pretty good too especially if you have that cleat that you can tighten with it in
position.
I'm sure it's not the correct way, but it holds very tight Jeff.
BTW - check and see if the top batten tip shown needs to be in what looks like the pocket rather than touching the mast list that. Won't hurt the
mast, but should work better if its in the pocket - I've never seen one where the batten tip isn't in a pocket. Now - maybe its a cam - if so, its
just the way it is supposed to be.
Markite - I'm impressed - I've been windsurfing 20 years and only known one guy who still knew how to tie a tie on boom. 3shot - 12-6-2017 at 06:13 AM
Yes Randy. That is the cam. The batton tip is in the black banded pocket. I guess it does kinda look like it's poking through in that pic.. There is
only one cam on that sail. My Mistral world cup has 3 cams. Not gonna lie...I've much to learn lol flyguy0101 - 12-6-2017 at 07:38 AM
looking good! seems the only thing you are using from me was the trucks:D the diy deck is gorgous- looking forward to some go pro footage
sWindstruck - 12-6-2017 at 07:41 AM
I'm a little confused about how you turn about with these super cool wind-rides. Do you swing the sail out in front of the board? I watched a couple
of videos just now, but they skipped the turns.Randy - 12-6-2017 at 07:44 AM
Yes Randy. That is the cam. The batton tip is in the black banded pocket. I guess it does kinda look like it's poking through in that pic.. There is
only one cam on that sail. My Mistral world cup has 3 cams. Not gonna lie...I've much to learn lol
Nothing wrong with cams, but I'd save the 3 cam sail for setting a speed record on the beach.3shot - 12-6-2017 at 07:48 AM
I like your boom much better Scott. The clamp is a lifesaver. I'm tracking down some foam grip replacement as we speak. I'm also using your extension
and mast for the 4m I picked up. That has a 390 luft so your 410 mast is perfect for that sail. The other sails are 450 ish so I have to use the 460
mast. I was just going after the couple sails I found on Craigslist the other day, but the guy had another mast, boom and a whole bag of goodies. They
are very old school, but in good shape. I modified his extension to work with the Chinook base.
Randy, it's looking like the Gaastra sport 5.0 is going to be the most user friendly just from playing around in the yard. Sweet sail!
Yes Steve the board is directional. So you must spin the sail etc and switch back and forth from toe side :evil:
Land surfing is all new to me so I figured I'd share my achievements and wipeouts with my Bros lolWindstruck - 12-6-2017 at 08:20 AM
Yes Steve the board is directional. So you must spin the sail etc and switch back and forth from toe side :evil:
Cool beans. Thanks for the quick response. I'm looking forward to seeing your early footage in all its bloody glory! :evil:
Actually, I hope to see no blood. Please edit liberally. There Will Be Blood, of that I'm sure, but this is a family channel. Honestly, cool
project, and a fantastically super looking board. I particularly liked seeing the photo diary of its construction. 3shot - 12-6-2017 at 10:45 AM
Thanks Steve. Randy has been a huge help in getting me started! From excellent advice to hard to find parts. He has answered every question I had. Now
it's up to me for the baptism of road rash lol. And yes Randy, that 6.1 Mistral sail is no joke. It will move on a breath of air. That's just in grass
:osoliver - 12-6-2017 at 01:07 PM
VERY cool Jason!... the deck looks outstanding! Phenomenal job on the staining and striping!!! What thickness of plywood did you use?3shot - 12-6-2017 at 02:46 PM
Thanks Spencer! It's cabinet grade birch. 7 or 9 ply laminated. Other hardwoods are prone to split and checks. On a whole other level, you can use two
sheets of 3 ply with quality wood glue. With two sheets you can form kicktails and concaves with the aid of clamps and jigs. I chose the long board
for simple cruising. Tradeoff is a wider turning radius. I'll get a shorter wheelbase ATB if I go the freestyle route in the future. Doubtful though. hiaguy - 12-6-2017 at 07:40 PM
3shot - that's beautiful work. Thanks for sharing.
