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johnxyz · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: Location: New Jersey

I was going to ask on the forum what other posters experience with the
Hawaii Paipo Designs board. I spoke by telephone to Paul L. and he
appeared to be a good guy. Can anyone further clarify how the HPD's are actually constructed?

Is Paul the only manufacturer of paipos in the US? If not what are the
other brands?

Also what is your opinion of the PU foam and glass, finned belly boards from John Mel/Freeline and Ron Romanosky?

Type of fins (and fin sox) recommended - Voit Duck Feet UDT, Churchills
( brands I grew up with)? What about all the new brands featured on
ebodyboarding.com? I don't want a boogie board. (My brother and I
bought the originals back in the 70's from Tom Morey when you had to
assemble them youself w/ 3M adhesive!)

I'm located in here on the East Coast in NJ and would like to purpase a
paipo or finned bellyboard.

Thanks in advance for your recommendations/advice on purchasing a new paipo or bellyboard.

Poobah · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 1:59 pm Post subject:

All three of the board builders you mentioned are very good and enthusiastic about what they do, but just the cost of shipping one could exceed the cost of a skimboard option.

I recently purchased a fiberglass & divinycell Wave Zone skimmer on Ebay for $45.00 plus $20.00 shipping. It was a diamond tail similar to this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=22710&item=7143841636&rd=1

I can't vouch for the longevity of the Wave Zone skimmer, but the workmanship looks and feels good. You might want to blunt the lower side of the rails with wet-dry sandpaper. You could be riding one in a week, and then you could take your time looking for something else to ride, like a custom bellyboard from a local shaper or???

Poobah · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 2:54 pm Post subject:

johnxyz · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: Location: New Jersey

Poobah

Thank you for your reply. I didn't realize that a modern skimboard could be used as a paipo. Is this the way to start out rather than ordering a HPD right off the bat? It certainly makes sense monetarily. What is the shipping on a HPD from their Hawaii or Seattle company to the East Coast (NJ)?

I agree about getting a BB built locally as shipping boards is really expensive. What dimensions, rocker, rails for a BB?

Maybe the skim as a paipo is the way to go. Anyone else?

Poobah what is your sugesstion for swim fins for the skimboard? Source?

Thanks again, John

kage · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 3:39 pm Post subject:

I am exactly there! As many may know, because I have been whining and moaning on various discussion boards, my Hawiian Paipo Designs board just fell apart. Not that I am complaining I have had it for about 5 years and rode and rode it and roded it. Probably about 100 days per year, more than any of my other boards. That seems like pretty good wear. Though he does sort of imply that they are guaranteed forever and others have sort of confirmed so we will see. Anyway it was an awesome board. I rode it in little winky tink 2 footers up to yikes 10 foot hold on for dear life. It is the only commercially made paipo I have ever ridden.
Which brings me to the next question Romo or HPD or Freeline. I just got back an email from Ron - $375 for a clear board, I beleve John at Freeline will charge the same, that's what he told me for a new kneeboard last month. So the HPD is cheaper. I don't know if you can tell -- the HPD is waaaay thinner, it's not strictly a foam style board. Now that I can see inside of it , it's about a quarter inch of foam and a whole lot of glass, just barely floats you a little bit. When you take off (strictly fins) you are pushing totally and then jumping on. The Romo boards I've seen pictures of -- like Lollipop ((wow!)in the other thread) look more traditional thick foam construction. I am used to the thin spoon type board and would probably not ride anything else if I could knee on it. But the thought of a custom board from either of those two masters - Mel and Romanosky is awfully tempting. After getting innumerable emails bumped back from HPD (the address is bogus) I left a message on the phone so we will see. Anyway Mr. Xyz keep me posted, because I think we may be arguing about who should get their board made first. he he he
by the way -- Vipers! V7's 100%!! Very Happy

kage · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 3:46 pm Post subject:

I just can't shut up once I get started. Poobah, is there any kick in the nose on that skimboard? I've been on flat boards before and couldn't handle the pearling.

johnxyz · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: Location: New Jersey

Kage

Thanks for the reply - $375 for a handshape from Mel or Romo seems tempting, especially in light of the HPD appearing a la Surftech/pop-ou-tish.

But ordering a Wave Zone off of e-Bay is tempting at that price point. The construction appears similar to an HPD although the dimensions are quite different.

By the way where do you buy your Viper V7's?

Poobah - enough nose rocker on the skim to work in waves like Kage referenced?

Thanks guys

kage · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:30 pm Post subject:

ebodyboarding.com for fins. There is always a debate going on about fins at his discussion board too.

PaipoJim · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 10:33 pm Post subject:

PaipoJim · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 11:03 pm Post subject:

rodndtube · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 2:58 am Post subject:

John, I like a more flexible blade so I go with the Vipers 5" Flex Orange Dot. The Yellow Dot is the stiff blade and comes in both the 5" and 7" models. You won't see the Viper V5 Flex Orange Dot listed on http://eBodyboarding.com, but just make the XL order for the V5 Yellow Dot and make a special notation in the check-out comment box and follow-up with a phone call and they will take care of you with a special order.

Flippers/fins are like keyboards and monitors and wetsuits -- lot's of personal preferences.
_________________
rodNDtube
"Prone to ride"
I love my papa li`ili`i

kage · Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 1:49 am Post subject:

Well I finally got in contact with Paul (HPD) and considering my difficulties with the previous board, he's letting me have a new one at a deeply discounted rate. Quite nice I thought and I'm also upgrading to the flex model so I can't wait.
The email address on his website worked after all, apparently aol filters out some mail from business addresses becuase it appears to be spam? So if you have trouble with his email that might be it?
Anyway with the money I save and if I sell a couple of boards I might be able to afford a foam style board, Romo or Freeline. Decadent me. Very Happy

Thanks for the advice from all.
As has been said on this forum many times and others too in regards to flippers --try them on!