Bunnings Twin Tip - "The Marine" $20.99

Rider: 87kg
Level Advanced, but also crap some times
Style: Strapless, finless, padless, waxless, rockerless light wind flat water cruising
Weather: 10 to 15 knots
Build Quality: 10/10
Satisfaction: 8/10
Disclosure: I pay full price for my gear at Bunnings ( $20.99 )

My Comments: I wanted to test something that came about when a mate was looking up on forums what makes a good light wind twin tip, he said low rocker, non curved edges, no concave, fins create drag ( So a flat rectangle... ) He did about 3 prototype boards and made a awesome light wind twin tip. He is in the background of the below video.

So I went to Bunnings and grabbed myself a brand new twin tip from the Marine Plywood section called the: "AA Grade 1220 x 610 x 9mm Hardwood Marine Plywood" for $20.99 and took it down to the beach as is without any changes or wax.

The first thing you notice about the "Marine" is that it has no fins, The second thing is no concave hull, The third thing will probably be the flex, not hard, not soft. The forth thing is that its a plank of Marine plywood from a hardware shop... Compared to your regular modern TT its got decent flex, but nothing else at all. Weird right? Yep certainly is on the face of it but - hell - it works great in flat shallow water with light winds.

The no concave and no channels creates a huge flow of water to the centre of the hull where it passes over nothing for the highest water flow area across the board. This jetstream of water to the centre and right out the other side also provides lift and speed which is why it feels like a carpet ride ONLY in the flattest of conditions ( it sucks if there are any waves or chop ). I found the board a bit funky to begin with. Tended to swoop & sway instead of following my line through the flat water, later when I found the edge it was a smooth ride and went upwind great.

A bit disconcerting at first but I soon found the answer to this was to apply more backfoot pressure. By using the front foot to balance the planing angle more and dig in sends the board in a very straight line with ease. Using this same foot balance tactic to turn off the line makes for very random and in-direct steering & still difficult to control after a few clumsy trials. More pressure down & out on the back > less pressure up front bringing your foot into the turn and you might make it if your lucky.

This board really impressed. Its a super smooth ride on a very stable flat surface but hugely un-responsive unridable board in any chop or deep water. The faster it goes the scarier things get and the more chance to throw you off with any input from your feet. Up wind angle was amazing and very easy to maintain with much less work required than Id need to put in on any other twinny Ive ever ridden.

Its more a matter of pointing and digging in. And again the faster you send it the greater the angle it will allow you to point. Havent tried boosting it yet because it would relay suck in 5cm deep water with no fins or straps . My guess is the pop will be more like poop. But its huge enough & a plank of wood enough to go in a line and little else.

Overall Id never select it as my board of choice in anything other than light winds and flat shallow water or if my other boards all got stolen or I was stuck on a remote island with a bunnings near by and wanted a light wind board to ride in dead flat water ... Choppy deep open ocean conditions is almost unridable, but in flat water the board is alot of fun on the right feet if you know what your doing.

Overall it was amazing to see how well a $20.99 plank of wood performed out of a hardware shop without anything done to it.

Go pro vid:

Right, you sell your product well..... I'm getting one.

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gcdave said..

Can you confirm the return policy of bunnings on the marine? Like the sound of the board but dont wanna commit to outlaying some hard earnt if the supports no good

You might want to dry it and pull out the sea urchins first. The support is awesome, I asked the checkout chick at Bunnings what the pop is like, how it boosts and if its a good all rounder or wave specific "AA Grade 1220 x 610 x 9mm Hardwood Marine Plywood"

She looked confused..... then said only tossers ride straped in, with fins, or waxed, or boards with rocker or concave or with handles.

She said New technologies in the fast developing "AA Grade 1220 x 610 x 9mm Hardwood Marine Plywood" industry enabled us to build extremely thin Ply with amazing flex and strength. These 90 degree tips make the board comfortable, dynamic and super smooth in flat shallow water.

No Double concave shape provides amazing lack of control for cutting powered turns and anyone can feel like a beginner again. This shape and 0 curve of the rails offers much more grip for upwind, and makes for very difficult landings and generates more power when loading a jump, but when you do jump, the board stays on the water.

Based on our thirteen + years of experience in building high quality "AA Grade 1220 x 610 x 9mm Hardwood Marine Plywood" with top performance, we simply believe that "AA Grade 1220 x 610 x 9mm Hardwood Marine Plywood" is replaceable. "AA Grade 1220 x 610 x 9mm Hardwood Marine Plywood" is not light and at the same time just the right flex and strength. This material is very dynamic and it returns instantly to its original shape after being stressed.

man you got ripped. I can buy a whole 2.4x1.2 sheet for $20. That would make at least 6 slabs!....

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Plummet said...
man you got ripped. I can buy a whole 2.4x1.2 sheet for $20. That would make at least 6 slabs!....

Obviously the popless hardwood version

Very cool. I know that spot too! Margarine Flats near Fisherman's Beach! At high tide its only ever about 10-30cm deep and over a really flat rock shelf so fins are a health hazard there:) Looks like the market price for admission to Margarine Flats is now around $20.99 inc GST.

Don't forget buntings will cut to size, so if you have a template you can head in there, buy one sheet and you and 4 mates can then head out and race your own boards!! Why I doesn't binning a sponsor there own comp, rules would be pretty basic, cut your own board and ride withing 20 mins!!!

I funking nearly love buntings as much as I love life!!!

The best bit was when he rode a piece of plywood as a kiteboard!

Hi, the spor

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yendor said..

I would like to know where you were kiting? Please tell.

Its an amazing place, it only works on high tide, but i cant say where it is on the forum because its about 5cm deep with oysters and random rocks near a cliff, so not safe for guys n girls who turn up without much experience :)

Anyhow it was good to see what you can ride, I want to find a door next, see how that goes...



Top Hat and his strap less fin less rocker less board, ( but with wax and shaped)

Much better paint job than the 'SugarQube' boards...

Prob also rides waaaaaaay better than that aidsbucket "Shinn Speedball" for real..

Made one of these about three years ago and still use it. The ability to go upwind is stunning in the most scabby wind. I do ride mine in chop and even a little surf in Jervis Bay. I bolted on the smallest TT fins I could find and only on the heal side, also tapered the nose/tail a little. With some serious thigh pressure you can actually carve these things around. Light wind only, but heaps of fun. Strapless is essential, as you need to move your foot back far enough rearward to turn them.

However Mr Kite Designer, in the spirit of the poverty build, I feel that you missed a mandatory item in your design. To combat a distinct lack of grip on the deck, one must add (using contact) a "Datsun car mat", none of this fancy new Nissan caper. Go the tried and true.

Seriously, it worked a treat.

Inspirational, I'm off to find a good esky lid on the next collection. Great review, put everything into perspective- be grateful for the simple things!