Hello.
I'm looking for some tips on building a simple ply skimboard (nothing as fancy as tungsten's). I've built a couple of door shaped finless TT boards which i use in light winds, but would like to give a strapless skim a go instead, they look like a more exciting option. Also hoping the skim might extend the useable low end range on the kite by a knot or 2.
I plan to base it on the size and shape of the phase5 prop, using either 12mm or 16mm ply. I hope to soak the wood and bend in enough rocker that it keeps a bit in the nose and tail, as i've done with the other ply boards i've built. I'll probably seal the board with polyurethane for a start at least, though a coat of epoxy might help keep the rocker a little better i guees.
The main questions i have are:
- Will 12mm ply flex too much without an epoxy coat?
- I see square rails talked about a lot, can someone explain these to me. I was thinking of somethine like a 60 degree downturned rail with fairly sharp edges.
- On my finless door style ply boards i used to find it very easy to get pulled off the edge in gusty conditions. I cut a couple of parallel channels 2-3mm deep using an electric planer and this has made the boards a lot more grippy and stopped them sliding out when switching from rail to rail. Do you think this would help on a skim, or is it less likely to be a problem?
Any tips much appreciated, thanks!