Beyond the Rectangle. Surfmats.

[ULTIMATS]

It takes a lot of preparation to get things perfect...
I beams ready to go in....

[ULTIMATS]

I took The Invisible Mat out for a rip at Freshwater Beach today, nothing special with the waves but a ripper of a sunny, beautiful uncrowded day and a few shoulder high peaks here and there.



Snared a good right, lined up with a sloping shoulder stretching out across the bank, dropped in, slotted low and deep, lip rolled over the top and then it started to freak me out because the mats clear, so I'm not seeing the mat just the cone of water rushing under me, up the face and over the top.
Like I wasn't ON the water but ABOVE it, flying, floating..?
Kinda like that time/ speed trippy sensation when you're in the tube, but another level up of disassociation.
I'll make another Invisible Mat and try to maximise the floating sensation somehow...

[ULTIMATS]

Ive had a few requests for the Invisible Mat so I might make a few of them and post them out.
But back to the other mat...
On the deck I thought Id do a bit of artwork, something funky 70's stuff I remember seeing way back then.





Sunburnt Orange, Sky Blue and Lime Green. we mustve been colour blind back then !!

[MrMik]

How much are the clear mats?

Do you customise mats to surfers weight / height or are they all the same size?

Cheers, Mik

[ULTIMATS]

MrMik, the clear mats are free, but you get what I make. It's all about having the time to make them, ride them a few times to test out design and construction theories and techniques. And then it's all yours.
Where are you? And are you proportionally bigger or smaller than the average ?

[ULTIMATS]

MrMik, you and a few others have asked about clear mats so I'll make one and you can pass it around...



This one is a "single skin" design where the deck and hull are one piece of material that overlaps on the deck. It eliminates the flaps all along both sides which are essential for heat welded mats.
No flaps at the front or back either.
Its a tapered mat that's 1 inch thick at the nose and 3 inches at the tail.
There's a lot of science to mat making, bit of math around diameters and circumference, lots of patience and planning too.

All the parts are ready, just need to assemble....

[steve shearer]

These look freaking incredible Ulimats.

has Greenough seen them?

[ULTIMATS]

While I'm building a 2nd Invisible Mat, there were enough people who wanted to ride the 1st Invisible Mat so Ive given it to this guy to give it a test run and then pass it on...
He's about 6'2", 100 kg.



He showed up, grabbed the mat and left...who's gonna argue..?

Greenough ?

[ULTIMATS]

Here are two new ways to make a surfmat.
Tube technique Vs Inside Out technique.

With a straight sided mat its easy to do a Tube technique construction where the top and bottom are one piece. Instead of two pieces joined with side flaps , it makes an arguably better mat to wrap a single piece and create the form with a single over lapping join on the deck that's stronger than the flap joins.




With any mat that doesn't have straight sides,you can still have a No - Flap shape and have any planshape you like by connecting the deck and hull together and then turning the mat inside out.




The join around the mat ends up inside the mat giving a smoother look and a better interaction with the wave.


For the Inside-Out technique, put the deck and hull together facing each other...



Glue the edges together with a 1 inch strip...



And then turn it inside - out.







All the sides and the nose are sealed, keeping the unique outline exact with the I- beams inside and you've just got to build the tail shape, which for this mat is a bevelled Swallow Tail.

[ULTIMATS]

This is a Tube mat with no side flaps or side joins at all.

With the nose curve finished, turn the mat so the I beams are inside and seal the end.



The I beams aren't parallel with the rails and they converge at the tail with two extra short front beams.



The central area is getting a new style of internal connection.

[ULTIMATS]

Here's the next one....
The Torpedo !!



The outline is lying on a regular mat, you can see the nose is pulled in so all the front control area will be in contact with your chest.
WP in line with your hips.
And the 'fish-style'. Swallow Tail which I'm loving !

[ULTIMATS]

Picked up some new material, new techniques (seam seal ) from a sailmaker and a need to make mats faster.

[ULTIMATS]

I beams in , they're a right pain in the arse to get perfect !



Looking forward to doing an asymmetrical mat.

[ULTIMATS]

Asymmetrical mat done.



There's a ultra light internal system connecting the deck and hull to keep the fast pliability.



And a perimeter wall that allows the surfer to squeeze the rail and really stiffen the rail for turns and steep waves.

Lots more to show....

[SURFFOILS]

More riding than building, but Ive got enough new designs to last for years.

[SURFFOILS]

I work in the operating theatres of a Sydney hospital so any idea that helps people interests me. Where was this other thread? Have you got the thread title ?

I'm a fans of looking at using these new quadracopters to drop a life vest to people in the surf, or you could offer a Coke and a hamburger to the crew out the back....

[SURFFOILS]

Matticus, Thanks for the link, looking at the available buoyancy vests...they look a bit chunky.
My initial thoughts would be that for a purpose built buoyancy vest...
1. The bouyancy should be as high as possible as the only part you need above water is your head. Put the bouyancy in an exact position so there's less chance of error.
2. It might need to have permanent foam inserts rather than be inflatable because at the onset of a seizure, you might not have the presence of mind to activate it.
3. The bouyancy can be used to lift by placing foam across the back of the shoulders or in front of the shoulders but it's probably best to put it in both areas. Sort of 2 flat slabs high across the front and back.
If you put the bouyancy at the front, it might lift your chest but allow your head to flop back under water. If the bouyancy is at the back it might lift your back and allow your face to flop forward into the water.
I'll do some more thinking and a few drawings and get back.
Any ideas from you guys ..?
Way as well go back to the original thread with all this. !

http://forum.realsurf.com/forum/viewtop ... =4&t=27773

[otway1949]

It will be interesting going to North Bali as a no surf trip away from the madding crowd. To show my wife, old Bali much as i knew it when I first went there.
There are rumours of a rare and occasional surf there, so the stealth craft are being taken. A Krypt mat and a fourth gear flyer.
It will be on and I will be ready!