Bottom of the EXPW2010

Here are a couple of images of the bottom of the Expedition Windsurfer®. It looks rough from use and I am replacing the fin well gasket. I'm trying to use a different gasket material and different glue. We will see if it works. I hope the photos aren’t too clear so you see all my flaws.

Although it is impossible to build a boat that will do everything and does it well, I think we have come pretty close.

Our goal was to design a board that we could use for long multi-day camping trips, similar to what you would find on a real expedition. To do this we wanted the board to paddle well in all conditions. We accomplished this by designing the bow with a V, similar to a kayak. We also gave it enough rocker to make it easier to turn. We also recognized that length would be important to paddling efficiency so we kept it in the 15'-16'range. An added feature that improves this boats performance over other sit-on-top kayaks is the dagger board. In a cross wind or when paddling the dagger board helps in tracking. To make it a good windsurfer we designed the tail section to be flat and giving the outline a proper shape was also important for shedding water. From the first prototype we discovered we needed more freeboard to keep the rider dryer and also enable the board to be packed with gear easier. We also found from using the first prototype that we needed a retractable fin to get the loaded board through the shallows and up onto the beach without getting into the water to remove the fin. So far I have been very pleased with the results.



I will be out on Tierra-Verde Saturday to hopefully get some video and some action in the waves.



Here is the National Weather Service forecast:



SATURDAY

NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. BAY AND INLAND WATERS

CHOPPY.



SATURDAY NIGHT

NORTH WINDS AROUND 15 KNOTS. BAY AND INLAND

WATERS CHOPPY.



SUNDAY

NORTH WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. BAY AND INLAND WATERS A

MODERATE CHOP.



Great Adventures-Trey