I think you really prefer it because
of the not too subliminal “Mark” and number “1” in the name… L
Maybe I’m drawn to HuKI becase it’s the closest to “KrIs”?
No matter. Methinks I shall go inspect the local deal of the month this weekend, and if it’s OK I’ll soon take advantage of it’s added tippiness and easier seat and become a better swimmer. I can fit it in the budget a heck of a lot easier than a new anything. If I survive - I can save for the next…
Seawave, this is all your fault.
You’ve been talking about these Hukis, so I checked out the website, and then started emailing Jude, and got quite interested. Just when I thought I’d put my surf-ski/Moskito/Thunderbolt “how fast can I really go” itch to rest!
Jude promises that the Huki would be faster downwind than the Mako, and downwind is the only time I seem to do well in the Blackburn. He said it would be equal in flat conditions or to weather.
The price difference is an issue–but the deciding factor for me could be thigh straps–Huki can install wood or “G-10” blocks in the hull to screw thigh strap mounts to. DeAnne told me that the South African Mako factory is too busy to do custom work like that. Thigh straps could overcome my #1 objection to surf-skis, which is the silliness of needing to scramble back on rather than simply rolling.
So now I’m talking lay-ups and other details with Jude. I’m going to talk to his recommended thigh strap people before I decide whether to do this. I’m also going to ask about quality control, environmental safeguards, etc. I suspect that the S. African surf-skis might be cheap because they cut some corners on things like respirators for the workers, but I could be wrong.
I know I’d be the New England Huki guinea pig if I got one. Hey, Jude might not want to sell me one because I’m so slow.
Sanjay
its a job but
somebody’s got to do it. New England Huki Guinea Pig. I like that and would have been a willing worker had I been able to swing the $. Jude is very convincing. It may be like having your cake and eating it too, that is the idea that a paddler can have more speed and more stability at the same time. I am sure you will have a few very interested people who will want to try that boat. With the added thigh straps you will finally have the package you have been seeking I would think. Because the thigh straps are going to be more stuff on deck with webbing and screws projecting, maybe put in the blocks, but refrain from the straps until you have really tested it without it. Swimming is not so bad, can be refreshing at certain times of the year(not now). Once the hardware is there and you do come off the ski then it might be real tricky getting back into the whole thing without hooking on something or taking your hand from the paddle to put the strap on while balancing in rocking water. Getting on for some people is a hard business, but with your balance and agility, I would think you will have no problem. After a while, I doubt you will even be falling out of the ski at all. Less is more.
Toe straps
Install toe straps on your ski or any perfomance boat. I had not competed in few years and tried out some really tippy boats. I felt very unstable. After using a Vadja Suppersonic sprint boat Had thougth Ok your over 50 now so the boats are just passing me by. So i did some thining and tightend up ski and wow much better. So Ok put some in the Vajda and it was a completely different feeling. i was able to Paddle with complete authority again.
Lesson every boat needs to outfitted to each of us correctly. I really fit in the inferno Well so it performed beautifully.
So test carefully and thougthfully. I bet the speedster would be fine with toe straps
Cheers Dan
Sanjay, wait for the next Molokai
You have been looking for a fast boat for a while, so the next Molakai will say if the Mako is still the fastest boat out there.
Oscar & Greg will be racing the Epic Molokai, and if the Huki is as fast as the manufacture says someone should be racing with it.
The question is how to get a Ski with so many winning awards, in 24lbs carbon vacuun Bagged for $ 2100, in order to compete with the Mako.
Regards,
Iceman
Toe straps and how to install a pair.
I have seen the toe straps on the Mako XT and would like to know what material you used and how you installed them on your foot braces.
I would like to try them on my ski to see the performance difference.
Thanks,
Bill
p.s. I have enjoyed all the ideas of getting new toys past the significant others in our lives.
THE, DL, YOU WON’T BELIEVE THE AMOUNT
of character I’ve built, and continue to build, ROTFL, as I -well, SORT of-
Paddle on!
-Frank in Miami
You and me both
If I hadn’t started from such a low level, I’d be Gandhi by now. When I started out with the Cobra Expedition, I figured, in my innocence and naivete, that since there were all these kayaks and canoes around it must not be that hard. So I would take my Expedition and paddle out to the Diamond Head buoy and back, pretty much regardless of the weather. What I didn’t understand was that that can be a pretty difficult stretch of water when the wind is blowing. In any case, I swam all the damn time. Once I got the hang of the Expedition, I bought the ski and swam a bunch more. It wasn’t until pretty recently that I realized that swimming isn’t necessarily a routine part of paddling.
That’s a good thought,
Iceman. I’m not too worried about being a guinea pig, though, because there are plenty of potential buyers for a slightly more stable surf-ski around here–interest is picking up. So if I find it a tad slower than the Mako, or the Molokai proves it to be, I don’t think I’d have any problem finding a buyer.
Also, the price difference is not so large. Huki’s carbon/kevlar lay-up, which is one level stronger and lighter than their carbon/carbon, is $2400. Also, by a quirk of fate, I may be able to have the boat delivered nearly free if I order it sooner rather than later.
Seawave–yes, the potential plan would be to have the blocks installed with their locations marked. I could try the boat without straps, and if I feel I don’t need them, leave them off. The blocks would add a pound to a 23 pound boat–not a big deal.
But I’m still not deciding anything till I talk to the thighstrap people and some local surf-skiers.
Thanks for the advice. I’ll take any more anyone has… ?
Sanjay
Toe Straps
Do you have adjustable or bulk head heal paltes.
if yo can get behind it any velcro type strap would work like on a rowing machine.
If Bulk head type then mount behind your feet. Aseat belt works good. you will have to drill some holes. Le t me know if rhis helps Dan
Thanks Dan those are good
suggestions. I do have adjustable heel plates and I was thinking of using a seat belt like material.
I have an old wave belt with padding on the straps that I can wrap behind the heel plate.
Once I get a good fit I may drill it to the heel plate to prevent slipping.
Thanks again.
Bill
Your Welcome
Bill
take some time with it and make so you can adjust them. they do strech. It usually takes me a couple times to get it right. What kind of ski do you have?
Cheers Dan
Mark 1,
– Last Updated: Feb-28-04 9:09 AM EST –
You might also copy the way the Mark 1 uses it because it is very easy to do:
This is a picture/link
http://www.oceanpaddlesports.com/surfskis.html
Click on Mark 1 images (at the bottom of the page) for more details
(if a ful image does not appear, try again)
Regards,
Iceman
Thanks for the advice…
I will experiment with the size and make sure I will be able to adjust for streching. I have a Futura II.
Thanks for the picture on the Mark 1…
I am looking at the Mako XT setup it is similar to my Futura II rudder pedals. If you click on the Mako XT picture and scroll down you will see the difference from the Mark 1.
I am going to ask Vince at Futura if he has any ideas for adapting toe straps too. I will ask his opinion of the two styles.
Thank for the input Iceman; I have found your posting very helpful and entertaining for a surfski beginner. I miss your banter with the late John C.
My best,
Bill
You’re welcome…
If you are not able to find a good answer from Futura, you might want to buy a pair of pedals/straps (only the pedals/straps not the complete system) for a XT or millennium, and then adapt them to your boat. I think it could be easear. Once, I was thinking in doing it myself to the Isthmus.
Regards,
Iceman