Hi guys,
Im doing design and technology for my HSC and part of it is solving a genuine need. As I love and enjoy sailing and windsurfing I was planning on doing my project on boats.
I need an idea on something to develop as part of the project.
So if anyone has a problem they encounter or something they would like to have improved whether it be with rigging, operation or performance any ideas would be much appreciated.
Thanks heaps Oscar
Down haul winch.
Geared DH winch.
investigate cutouts on boards
rigging tool with screw driver incorporated (swiss pocket knife inspired)
Fin storage
Select to expand quote12footers said..
Hi guys,
Im doing design and technology for my HSC and part of it is solving a genuine need. As I love and enjoy sailing and windsurfing I was planning on doing my project on boats.
I need an idea on something to develop as part of the project.
So if anyone has a problem they encounter or something they would like to have improved whether it be with rigging, operation or performance any ideas would be much appreciated.
Thanks heaps Oscar
Try this.
A fin head mold that you can swap out the patterns, Tuttle to power box and an elegant system of setting the rake and centering in the mold of the fin.
As I'm currently working on a redesign of mine and I'd like something that would do both.
If its simple just maybe it would end the issue of what board fits what fin and you could just grind off the head and cast a new one.
Select to expand quoteStuthepirate said...
Kiters:
How to remove them without the criminal conviction
+1
And fins that can be moved on the fly
Some kind of impact absorbing sacrificial material, that can be easily replaced on the nose of a board. Hard enough outer shell to reflect a minor impact, but will collapse to protect the board if impact is hard enough.l
Recessed and colour coded so it still looks like part of the board.
Needs to be reasonably cheap and able to be replaced by anyone.
does constantly "breaking wind" count ?? 
a functional adjustable downhaul on the fly - on the market
board shape pieces like Mistral once had - change short n wide to long n narrow
sails that can be "reefed" to let wind through - no need to rig down
don't get me started on fins - just make one that does everything - like Lessacher weed fin
Select to expand quoteballast said...
Some kind of impact absorbing sacrificial material, that can be easily replaced on the nose of a board. Hard enough outer shell to reflect a minor impact, but will collapse to protect the board if impact is hard enough.l
Recessed and colour coded so it still looks like part of the board.
Needs to be reasonably cheap and able to be replaced by anyone.
And look like it belongs
A folding fin system for long fins that will fail gracefully when you hit the bottom at speed.
It should fold or fall out without damage to the fin box or board and if it falls out it should have a tether so it doesn't get lost.
The fin should be easily reinstalled on the water.
Ideally it should be compatible with tuttle and deep tuttle boxes.
A Pivoting footstrap system where you leave your feet in the straps while gybing, but the pair of foot straps pivot 180 deg on the board
A reliable water proof accurate (read purfect) customisable GPS for windsurfers. Easy to mount.
Select to expand quoteNotWal said...
A folding fin system for long fins that will fail gracefully when you hit the bottom at speed.
It should fold or fall out without damage to the fin box or board and if it falls out it should have a tether so it doesn't get lost.
The fin should be easily reinstalled on the water.
Ideally it should be compatible with tuttle and deep tuttle boxes.
Got two of theses, ones on a Mistral OD and works great. The other is a power box and its crap, hit anything and it breaks off, falls to the bottom leaving you to sail home with no fin. Worse is now you have to shell out another $250 for a fin
Answer one questions:
"Why does marine grade stainless steal rust after a few hours in the ocean?"
Might be a bit more something for a second year engineering student with access to a metallurgical lab but there you go.
Select to expand quoteStretchy said..
A Pivoting footstrap system where you leave your feet in the straps while gybing, but the pair of foot straps pivot 180 deg on the board
JP Austria just patented such a system ,if this is as good as it looks maybe they will once again become a popular board brand in 2018.
Something iv thought about is adjustable footstraps on the fly mainly the front...So you can push forward for early planning /working through lulls and going wild over chop...then knock back for powered sailing/down wind/ flat/ speed sailing
I would like to see some kind of rear foot strap kit that allows you to connect 2 rear footstraps snugged together side by side. This would make for a nice wide rear footstrap. That way you could have a combination setup for wave and and slalom sailing. I have seen this on 1 board so far, but I beleive it was custom made for that, or maybe it came that way. This board was Dale Cook's board at Hood River Or.
A reefable sail by opening a panel that has a venetian blind to let some power out,,,,, while you're sailing of course.
And then you could close it back up when needed,,,,, while you're sailing of course.
"L" Shaped retractable foils for formula boards so you can get the weight on the rails of a board when foiling and not have to stand so vertically
Select to expand quoteKA360 said..
JP Austria just patented such a system ,if this is as good as it looks maybe they will once again become a popular board brand in 2018.
I doubt this will ever make it into production. If it does I can see it working for about 5 minutes before you either rip out the foot straps or the straps start sliding around uncontrollably.
My recommendation is next time Guy Cribb or Jem Hall are in Australia do a clinic with them. They'll get you jibing in no time.
Sails that have greater range, I proposed an idea a long time ago that was shot down, sail material with tiny holes that open slowly with more wind. Or maybe larger holes that pop open at a certain wind strength.
Select to expand quotekato said..
Sail are aerodynamic not wind socks 
Would you drill holes into a wing ?
Perhaps if I wanted to slow down an aircraft I might.
Not a relevant comparison.
Thanks mate I think this is a fabulous idea as it will give people more time on the water, hopefully not take away from the boards performance and be able to be replaces without major carbon jobs. Thanks heaps
Select to expand quoteBeaglebuddy said...kato said..
Sail are aerodynamic not wind socks
Would you drill holes into a wing ?
Perhaps if I wanted to slow down an aircraft I might.
Not a relevant comparison.
I guess I'm wrong then about how sails work 
Select to expand quote
kato said..Beaglebuddy said...kato said..
Sail are aerodynamic not wind socks
Would you drill holes into a wing ?
Perhaps if I wanted to slow down an aircraft I might.
Not a relevant comparison.
I guess I'm wrong then about how sails work
It's been done, the WWII Douglas Dauntless dive bomber has holes thru the wing flaps. They helped with slowing down the plane coming out of a dive bombing and also reduced the turbulence on the tail during that maneuver.
Select to expand quotelongwinded said..
Inflatable bladder that goes in a luff tube to replace cams.
Good idea , would also stop water filling the luff when dropped in water , also easier water starting. 
Waterproof box for GPS like gw52 that is actually waterproof with a see through window and maybe clip to clip onto boom so you can see it when sailing. Maybe two round things that screw together with an o ring to seal. Prototype on 3D printer
How about a tapered side deep Tuttle box to get the good aspects of powa box and Tuttle box together. Make it big enough to take an adapter so people can use any fin in their new board with the new Oscar box. Then we can have strength of deep Tuttle or Tuttle and ease of fit of power box and no more sanding or bogging fins.
