Gidday Mal,
Long time no see, actually I think the last time was at Sprecks on Maui around 88'.
Anway, like your thoughts on a possible scenario this summer.
A mate of mine who Im sure you remember, Al Gleeson AG1, has two of your Time Machines in storage in Fiji. He is hoping to bring them back over here to Sydney soon.
I think they were both shaped here in Narrabeen at the old Firestation (now a kiteshop). One is 15" wide and the other, never been wet apparently is 13" wide.
Question is, what sort and size rigs and fins would you recommend for these boards??
Dont hold much hope for useing the smaller one but the 15" should get going when we get some decent wind. I have TR3 sails but am curious what you think.
Cheers
Grant.
P.S Any other Time Machine owners welcome to advise.
G'day Grant,
I have done a lot of miles over the years on small speed boards including Time Machines in the size range you mention. Generally I would say that boards under 15" do best only in 30 knots plus of wind with 5m sails and down. My first excursion over 40 knots was on my 14.5" board with 3.7m wave sail in 35-45 knots of wind in 2004. Wild!!
Subsequently, I managed a couple of other 40 + sessions on a 13.5" Time Machine with one of Mal's special assy. CNC shaped alloy fins and a 5m KA Race sail. I soon discovered that it was easier to go faster on wider boards and managed a 44 peak in 2005 on my 18" custom with the first of the modern Time Machine fins (TM45 V1) and a brand new 4.4m KA Koncept sail.
Now, I would not consider using the older, narrow speed boards in preference to my Starboard ISonic 50 or one of the other modern production speed boards. If I didn't have those boards available though, I would be happy to use the old 14.5" Ocean Motion Speed or the Time Machine 13.5" again with a modern fin. Problem is, it is extremely difficult to find modern speed fins that fit into the older style 'A' box and that is very likely to be your limitation.
Hope this helps, Andrew
Hi Grant, I still get a buzz thinking about using a small speed board, and figure I could still ride a 13.5" in anger if the day was windy enough. It is amazing how big they feel when there is enough wind.
But Andrew is right about using the production boards in preference. It would need to be very windy to want to use something smaller than an XS Missile or iSonic 50.
If you did want to use the 15" I recommend you replace the fin box with a Tuttle box and ensure that you can mount the rig to board a long way back. Take a look at some of the production boards to get a feel for where the mast tracks should be. I think many of my later designs built in 88-90 the mast tracks were already a long way back to around 115-120cm (I was one of the first board builders to do this) so you might not need to do anything with the track.
Best rigs will be 4.2-5m in size if you can find one. The smaller sizes are hard to come by. The 15" would carry a 5.5 no problem but again, you would be better off with a bigger board in those wind strengths. Fin sizes around 21-23cm would be perfect.
Thanks Andrew and Mal. Kind of what I was expecting.
I was very curious to see what you guys would think of the "old" versus the new.
From what I have seen of the 15" the track does seem to be in the "normal" spot.
However I did think it would carry a little bigger sail than what you describe but hey, you guys know your stuff.
I think it would be a case of having the board around and if I did get some strong wind just have a go and see what happens.
The only fins I could use would be US box wave fins so I will have a search around for something a little more speed orientated.
Thankyou both for your advice and suggestions.
Maybe Ill make it down to the Pit again one day, heres hoping.
Cheers
Hi Grant, I,ve done the mods to an old 90s speedboard and its a great little board with a 5.8 and 5.0 on board.Change the fin box to take advantage of all the great new speed fins on the market.You won,t regret it. I had to move the mast track as well, but it sounds like yours is ok.There a good cheep starting point for speed sailing and still pretty competive.Have fun
Hey Larko,
Would love to check them out some time if you every got them in your car. Nothing looks quite as sweet as an old style needle.
Cheers,
Sam.
Thanks Craig
You agree with a fin box change as well I see. Tuttle boxes certainly are the norm these days for slalom and speed so I will see what I can do.
Sam at Wind Surf and Snow could probably heklp there.
Sambo, I will drop in if it actually happens. As Kato said its a cheap option to get on a speed needle.
Must try and find my old MD speed boards, could be around somewhere.
Thanks all.
