Kiteboarding - I guess we have to add a new "passion" to our list of activities.
A friend of ours - he has his own kiteboarding school - got a new convertible board (surf/hydrofoil) but it was missing the tracks to fit a hydrofoil. Instead of sending it back - a new "dust it yourself" project was born.
After some research we got a set of "tracks" to be fitted into the board. The idea was to "de-core" the area with the help of a jig to guarantee alignment, backfill it with structural epoxy resin - then put additional carbon layers over the top of the track to "strengthen" the board to spread the loads from the foil inserts. The new "carbon" skins where cut to overlay one by one in a degressive way to have a smooth board surface and not to create turbulences.
Lots of sanding and layers of epoxy primer later, the board was smooth and the rails were perfectly aligned. The gray color of the epoxy primer actually fits the original color scheme and design of the board.
So far the board has been used a lot for foiling in light winds in St. Martin and no "complaint" - it's probably stronger than the original boards as the layer of fiberglass that was removed was quiet thin and has been replaced by carbon fiber and epoxy resin.
A great "dust it yourself project" in the sun, dusty but fun !!!
Here are some pictures - not in chronological order...
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