Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a used board somewhere between 135 and 160cm long. Im going to make it a travel board. Going to Brasil in a couple months and renting a board for ONE full day costs over 100USD so Id rather take one down there. I need a travel board anyways since Im in the middle of the continent. Hearing all the stories about overage charges, I want to make a folding board. I've never made a board so this time around I'm just going to cut an already made board in half and join it back together with the following method:

http://saucisseman.free.fr/dismountable.htm

A friend has a nice shop so it should be a relatively strightforward thing to do.

Also... the production board in the article seems to be plywood. If someone knows a reason why using a foam core wouldn't work, it would be great if you let me know before I chop one up and haul it across the world

Here are some detailed pictures of the production board (in French):

http://saucisseman.free.fr/demontable.htm#style

Thanks for your help guys!

Just get a golf bag from one of the kite shops it cost no extra and you can put all of your gear in the same bag most will hold 2 or 3 boards with hardware removed and a quiver of kites the only thing is it won't hold a big lightwind board

A foam core board would be very susceptible to delaminating down the middle once it was cut. Foam core boards usually have ABS sidewalls or the top is molded in such a way that the 'plys' are not exposed.

Unless you have a way to reinforce the cut line on a foam core board with some sort of fiber reinforcement (fiberglass, epoxy resin etc) it likely will come apart the first time it is flexed.

I am not a board designer or builder, however I do know delamination

(disclaimer: i did not read the articles above and apologize if they address this issue.)

there is a better system with a lock system , may be a snow board. but it has diagonal cut with huge interlock tabs.

most may work for cruising about but slam a few jumps on top it will break.

the tab lock thing look by far more desireable.

brazil 100$ a day thats $$$! , Off Itarema...this is the spot!

http://www.theflatwatersea.com/

Thanks guys!

@ Looking up - I thought about that but some of the places I frequent manually check your bags at the airline counter right before you check in (for security purposes) so they would know it's a board in a bag. That will definitely be my plan if I cant get a board that will split in half.

@Brent - Thanks for the info! does delamination occur only with the foam cores or also with boards that have a wood core and fiberglass on the outside? like the airush switch:

http://2006.airush.com/products/Switch.asp

@Free rider - Do you have any info on that locking mechanism? Im not looking to jump yet... I'm still learning the basics, just want to ride.... I REALLY wanted to go to Itarema but will be on the other side of the country (2,350 miles away), doable, but not in a 1-week trip . Floriannopolis has a good spot though (lagoa de Ibiraquera), and it's "only" a 6 hour drive from where I'll be . Itarema will be the next Brasil trip for sure!

Wood core would be less susceptible to delam, however not completely prone.

Whatever you choose to use make sure the cut line is WELL sealed to prevent water from getting between the plies and to prevent the various plies from sheering apart.

Someone in an instructable mentioned they used corian (the countertop material) to make a board. He said you dont even need to cover it with epoxy or anything. Corian is a homogeneous material that is water proof and pretty dense and hard. Probably a bit heavy but I might give it a try. People replace countertops all the time and throw away or nearly give away the old one so it shouldnt be too hard to find a former countertop and give it a new life. Would definitely solve the delamination issue, might bring some other issue though.

easy adhesion s well and completely sandable /rout. most i have are old sinl cut outs, the brittle factor concerns me , a spine channel/s would help with a slotted project for disassemble. maybe carbon center bottom plate

with ultra fine joints and over lap , , heavy but interesting project.

carbon puzzle setup may be the way to go .

a decent maple lam. probably would be the best bang for the $

Phreerider - I think you are on to something... but Im having trouble understanding what you are saying...So Im getting that corian might be too brittle and should be reinforced with cabon fiber? What is a spine channel? slotted? what about carbon fiber and a bottom plate?:puzzled:

yes corian brittle and heavy, you could make a board with it no doubt.

for a broken 2 pc. board you could use routed slots design where a center channel would contain a stiff center spine down the middle , like carbon rods .

a carbon sheet/plate, screw insert retained, could cover the seam. maybe even top and bottom. with generous over lap to spread out the load.

for a good broken board, that you would actually ride, maple/carbon i think would yield a doable set up. tough and light(with in reason)

a multiple pc. board with any combination of polymers laminates would work. a good start would be with the foot pad plates, possibly an Al bar(maybe carbon) connecting them and everything slides and screw pins together. this creates a central spine where stress is focused not relying on the planing surface material for strength.

model from maple all fitted pcs., the entire board, and then replace parts that need more strength with carbon or AL.

the materials possibilities are everywhere. selecting by weight v. strength is the best bet!

something like this?

http://www.kitesurf-ventdefolie.fr/PBCPPlayer.asp?ID=160623

I can picture making that center piece adaptable to any board just by cutting a board in half, reinforcing the cut with epoxy and attaching the plate to the foot and handle screws.

The plate in the center could be carbon fiber (not sure of the thickness) , here is the one I think they use for the no mad (vent de folie board):

http://www.dragonplate.com/ecart/categories.asp?cID=35

The description on the vent-defolie site says airex carbone so Im guessing its the airex carbon fiber. Im not sure what thickness though, maybe the .25 would be enough?

let me know what you think!

NO MAD ! perfect. foot pad center load very nice.

simple as it gets for sure. the 5mm economy non finished would be great for a foot pad plate. as long the board it self is of durable thickness.
probably any laminate board could be modded like the NO MAD set up.

i would guess a piano hing type stainless steel hinge/ could be multiple smaller one as well.

a nice foot plate could go on a few different boards , NICE project!

you're quick! I edited my post a few minutes later because I figured out what material NO MAD uses... Airex foam core carbon fiber, not sure what thickness though, seems to be the .25:

http://www.kitesurf-ventdefolie.fr/PBSCProduct.asp?ItmID=154...

http://dragonplate.com/ecart/categories.asp?cID=99

The .25" airex core carbon fiber is also cheaper than the 5mm economy carbon fiber.

that would be wrapped , not solid . its a weight saving step.and yes cheaper the solid plate could be $200!

the whole board(no mad) appears to be made from a foam core product

Wow, that NoMad idea is fantastic!!!

Looks as if he has bolts going right through the board to hold the foot pads and handle down. If you use a counter-sink drill bit you could easily place a countersunk screwbolt through the bottom of the board and place a stainless wingnut on the top with a lock washer.

This way you wouldn't even require tools to assemble!!!

I love it!!! Keep us posted!

solid 5mm carbon fiber plate (just for the joining footpad plate) costs around $260, airex core .25" costs around $240. Add the board and it gets quite pricey. The nomad trix board in the link is the nicest board they have and costs nearly 800 euros. Another no mad board costs less than 300 euros so Im pretty sure they didnt use much carbon in that one (and it doesnt say so in the description either):

http://www.kitesurf-ventdefolie.fr/PBSCProduct.asp?ItmID=252...

I think carbon fiber might not be necessary with that much overlap unless Im an insanely good kiteboarder doing wicked tricks and kiting in +30 knots.... I wish ... so maybe using a 13 inch wide sheet of cedar with 4 coats of epoxy will work as the joining plate.

Google Voile Splitboard... snowboard that splits like ski's split down the middle instead of in half like you want, may give you some more ideas.

As well check out this link
http://www.voile-usa.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&...

Its a DIY kit for cutting a snowboard down the middle.