Sub 3 pound board

[Surfdad]

I still need to install the fin boxes, but it's 2 pounds 11 and supports 200'ish pounds.

[jbort]

WOW!

[Surfdad]

Thanks jbort. It's weight is like one of those large bags of potato chips, yet it will support me. I did this weird calculation, where I estimated the surface area at something like 8 square feet, that's probably over though. Divided that into the total weight and it's something like 5.3 oz per square foot.

It's got all sorts of fiber orientation stuff going on and at least in theory it seems to have worked.

[Timmy!]

Congrats! Mission accomplished! James is going to the moon soon!

[Surfdad]

Thanks Timmy! I hope it doesn't snap on James first ride. I think also, that if it survives that repeated abuse, it will require some shape changes. Not sure what those will be, but my guess is that to get something that light to ride well will require rethinking the design.

Next test is if it will survive

[jbort]

Going to the moon?!?!? He'll be passing the moon on the way to Mars.

[Surfdad]

This board was crazy fun!

[jbort]

looks like it passed the "air" test - another 300 to go. Add a jet boost and he can fly too its so light.

[Surfdad]

300 more! This board was super fun to ride, due to how light it was, but I think the shape needs to change. You could fling it here and there, but I dunno, I think optimizing for that needs a different shape. Definately worth persuing!

[Wakeman22]

Nice work. Its great to have someone like you posting boards, designs and reviews. Thanks.

[NICKYPOO]

So it didn't snap? Sub 3lbs. That's insanely light. I always thought that at 5lbs, my board was ridiculously light. I've had the wind rip it right out of my hand before.

I see its got the CF rails. Was there any denting in the rest of it, particularly heel dents?

Oriented fibers eh? Were you looking at OSB at Lowe's and you had light bulb go off in your head?

What are you going to change about the shape?

[Surfdad]

Thanks guys. Yeah it held together, but it's got a TON of CF on it. Under the Kevlar layers there are, I think 2 layers of CF on the bottom and 3 on the deck, I can't remember now!!!!! Then 1 layer of Kevlar on the bottom and 2 on the top, plus fiberglass! I think the laminate stack needs to be more balanced, so that is one thing I'd change.

There were no visible signs of heel denting, but I think that is just a matter of time. The board was crazy stiff, but the core isn't.

The fiber orientation struck me in a conversation with a composites guy. He told me how we are all doing it wrong They drive themselves crazy layering on a bias to manage strength and stiffness in various directions. So I tried to follow his advice, it seems to make sense.

I really don't know what I'd change on the design, all I can sense is that as I change the materials and construction, the shape has to change with it. I don't think that thickness, which we use to develop stiffness, has the same role. Like it can be spread more uniformly, as it's plenty stiff and what's needed, maybe?, is a way to distribute the various loads more effeciently. It feels like maybe thickness might be better placed between the feet, rather than under the front foot, because the greatest force the board has to manage is landing from an aerial and that tends to be behind the front foot somewhat.

Lots to explore!