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85ltre Windtech Magic Bullit

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Created by sboardcrazy > 9 months ago, 17 Oct 2019
sboardcrazy
NSW, 7916 posts
17 Oct 2019 12:35PM
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Disclaimer - I'm an intermediate average sailor .My last waveboard experience was 35years ago and I can't remember much .. I bought the board for 20kts plus B & J in Lake Macquarie chop .
I usually sail slalom boards and cammed sails so this board is a steep relearning curve.
The conditions I bought it for are 2-4ft + steep chop and windswells. I wanted something more comfortable and suitable than the slalomboards I'd been using.
Hopefully I can eventually get back into chop hops and maybe try a few turns but atm I just want to get used to the board and start to look forward to stronger winds.
I bought the Windtech because I wanted to support an Australian design and I'm hoping that the extra length and adjustable tail will have greater comfort and allow some customisation.
Specs - 243 x 58cms - adjustable flex tail
It came with a 20cm Usbox centre fin and 2 small bowser fins.
I love the gortex vent!
I was a bit worried the board might be a bit advanced and wasted on me..
I've had one session which was way outside the range that I got it for but I want to get used to it in lighter winds first.
The board is 20ltres over my weight. It will probably be a bit big for me in 25kts plus but the wind can be patchy and occasionally drop out so I want something that I can hopefully uphaul and get back in.
I got to Coal pt and it was only 5-12kts - not enough for my big kit but I had to try the new toy!
I rigged my 5.8m KA Kult and launched to see if I could uphaul.
I can in the flattish water at the start so long as there was enough wind to be able to turn the board off the wind once the sail was up. No wind and I fell off backwards but maybe that's just me and will improve with practise. I'm new to uphauling small boards.

I decided to risk it and sauntered out in the light winds to where it was 10 -15kts by now.
The sail was horrible and felt like it was trying to pull me over the front in any gusts. I'd rigged to specs on a KA mast but the 2 bottom battens wouldn't even change sides..
Luckily the board was well behaved. I got one puff and got going but not really enough to get in the straps. It felt a bit glued to the water but for that combo I really need c 18kts. Once planing it felt very light and floaty.
It seemed to want to point high so that was great!
It pivoted around well for a 'flare gybe ' type turn , turning back up into the wind but easily corrected..That's probably me..
Once in, I added an extra 4cms of downhaul and some extra outhaul to the sail.It then rotated although the top was floppier than it should be.
When I first got the sail the cutout was too high. Not having much knowledge I got the sail maker to extend the cutout by another foot. I think that's the issue as it doesn't have the right luff tube to pull the battens into the correct position.
It's a pity the sail was a pain as it meant I couldn't concentrate on enjoying the board as much. Luckily the board was very well behaved so I didn't really have any control issues there.
The wind had kicked in and I put the sail on my Rs4 slalom board. It certainly got up and going quicker ( as expected with the big 43cm fin ) but I was surprised to feel overpowered and have a full on run in.
Back out with the Windtech and finally enough wind to get going. The sail was a pain pre planing but felt better going. The board felt pretty quick. I felt a bit out of my depth as although the board didn't feel like it would spinout I knew it had small fins so I didn't put any weight on the fin.
Being used to sailing slalom boards and laying back and pushing on the fin I'm going to have to rethink my sailing style. I did put the boom more at chest height and stood a bit more upright.
The chop didn't feel anywhere near as big . I usually can't get enthused when it gets 20kts plus at Coal as slalom boards require too much attention. I think I'm going to really love bigger winds once I get my act together on this.
So pretty crappy conditions but an interesting introduction.
Summary - board felt light, fast ,floaty and comfortable once planing. I'll use a bigger 23cm fin next time. I usually use a 23CM on my 68ltre waveboard so a 20cm slippery fin felt little on this.
Neil said to leave the bowser fins in while I get used to it to aid directional stabilty.
I had allowed a bit of tailflex so that may have been slowing the board in those light conditions. I haven't worked out the tail yet. I'll probably wait until I get used to it a bit before I fiddle too much but I might screw it in so the tail is hard and has flatter rocker for lightwinds and see how that affects early planing.
I was also in safety mode.I braced my front foot behind the mast to counteract the sails pull and also leaned back a bit so with better technique ( and a more user friendly sail) I think the board will plane earlier.
I can see once I get my confidence this thing is going to be a ball!
I'll post updates as I get it together. Sorry I can't help with any technical wave sailing stuff..




















LeeD
3939 posts
17 Oct 2019 10:39AM
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Great review!
I rotate thru 8 sub 86 liter boards, me at 74kgs...but add 4/3 wetsuit that sometimes gets wet...70 years of age, and still jump anything worth jumping..tip of fin at least 4' off the water.
Half my sailing days are sub 5.2 and those boards.
You'll like your board more and more as you use it.
Lots of sailors your size would use an 85 and 6.0 down to steady 16 mph breezes, with fin, sail, and mast base position tuning.

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7916 posts
17 Oct 2019 2:41PM
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LeeD said..
Great review!
I rotate thru 8 sub 86 liter boards, me at 74kgs...but add 4/3 wetsuit that sometimes gets wet...70 years of age, and still jump anything worth jumping..tip of fin at least 4' off the water.
Half my sailing days are sub 5.2 and those boards.
You'll like your board more and more as you use it.
Lots of sailors your size would use an 85 and 6.0 down to steady 16 mph breezes, with fin, sail, and mast base position tuning.


Yes once I trust the kit I'll be wanting strong winds..

Searoamer
NSW, 284 posts
17 Oct 2019 4:05PM
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Hey Sue, reducing tailplate flex definitely adds speed and early planing - experiment, but seems to work best if you don't lock it out 100%, leave a few mm travel

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7916 posts
17 Oct 2019 4:23PM
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Thanks!

Madge
NSW, 469 posts
17 Oct 2019 6:52PM
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Good on ya for progressing, its a first for me to see someone not up to their waist up hauling a wave board.

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7916 posts
17 Oct 2019 6:54PM
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Madge said..
Good on ya for progressing, its a first for me to see someone not up to their waist up hauling a wave board.


I doubt I'll ever get that good.

Tardy
4919 posts
17 Oct 2019 4:16PM
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I Think it will be perfect for the job Sue ,,,and you also may have some fun tuning the tail to different conditions ,what a interesting board .

i like the comfy foot pads on it ,had some like that on a mistral syncro i had ..very nice .

515
772 posts
17 Oct 2019 5:02PM
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I have always looked forward to trying a board like this, enjoy and be more confident riding it

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7916 posts
18 Oct 2019 6:44AM
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I'll post updates as I get to use it more.
I think I've created a wind drought by buying a small board.

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7916 posts
24 Oct 2019 8:10AM
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10-20kts ENE - NE Coal Point, NSW, AU
85ltre Windtech Magic bullit - 5.8m KA Kult - 23cm Makani Mano

2nd session on the 85ltre Windtech magic bullit

Distance and 2 sec board PB
Looked 15kts plus so I rigged Windtech with the 5.8m KA Kult with more outhaul this time. This made it pretty flat so I may have lost some low end grunt but the battens rotated and it behaved better in the patchy conditions.
I've put a larger 23cm fin in. I don't think it's as good as the stock 20cm but it did the job.
I put the boom just a little bit lower , closer to my usual height at about neck high..
Still not sure what I'm doing with the tail but I decided to give it a bit less rocker than last session for earlier planing. Actually looking at it now I had about 10mm tail rocker locked in. Probably lucky as it was pretty choppy.
Love it , Love it, love it!!
Still on a buzz this morning and that was after a session where I was only powered up occasionally in the gusts..

Although I would have been faster I would have hated it on my slalom gear.
It was quite messed up at times with some yacht race boatwake thrown in. I would have been bashing and hanging on for grim death.I love being able to power off and take my time if I want rather than having to be on the ball when a gust hits me on the slalom board.

The bigger fin allowed me to sail a bit more like my usual style although I think I'll finetune as I get better to unleash the early planing and speed. I'm getting used to leaning forward a bit as a gust hits and I bear off to get going.
The board has a 'magic' ride. It just floats across the chop. Underpowered upwind I felt a few but I expect that to be better once powered up.
Rather than hating the chop I hardly noticed it , even washing machine cross boat wake.
I've been stalling it and flare gybing and even if I over rotate it's so well balanced it's easy to push the nose back off the wind. Tried one planing entry but stuffed it. I'll have to be careful to not get any more bad habits gybing..
Because the wind was patchy and I was on and off the plane I lost a bit of ground bearing off to get going ( and just getting carried away..) but I still made it back to the launch ok. I think the stock fin is better for upwind.
I got more uphauling practise at the launch as it turned more NE (side offshore). Bashed my shin on something ( ow! ) big mark even through the wettie but I'm getting the hang of it.

I was a bit worried about buying the board as it's a bit out there and being designed for WA conditions I wasn't sure how it would go over here. I'm so glad I got it!
Best buy ever. It's going to unleash a whole new world of fun..
Really looking forward to getting better with the board and having a good 20kts plus wind..
I could feel some of the old skills thinking about making a reappearance.
I feel like a beginner again - all the stoke and enthusiasm are back.
The next step is to get over my aversion to stacking it so I can use more of the boards potential.

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7916 posts
24 Oct 2019 8:45AM
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I was having some issues with the straps twisting but some plastic antitwist twist do hickies fixed that.

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7916 posts
6 Nov 2019 1:03PM
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I had another session on the board.
I've only had a few quick squirts of planing so I was hoping for about 20kts to get used to things..
I got 25 - 30kts with everything from sloppy chop , waist high rolling sets and a few flatter spots.
Not really the ease into it session I was after.
I rigged the 4.2m 2008 Sailworks revo with the windtech and original 20cm centre fin.
I don't really know what I'm doing but figured I wanted to slow the board down a bit so I unlocked the tail and screwed the screw up 50% of it's travel and left it to flex.
I should have rigged the 3.8m..
I was the only one out so I was in safety protection mode.
I was very overpowered so I feathered the sail in the gusts and went upwind only powering on a bit in some lulls. I was hopeless with the gybes but I was so overpowered I just wanted to get around and then water start to get back in.
I'm not used to the older Raf sails and had the harness lines in the wrong spot. That plus holding up next to the mast ready to push the gear away or unhook had my fore arms like spaghetti after one run..
The board was well behaved and handled my more slalom style stance well with the small centre fin and 4.2m. It was pretty comfy and the few times I did bear off a bit felt pretty fast. I got 25 .2 kts on it . No trouble keeping upwind.
It died a little and I tried a few gybes. I muffed them all but it felt pretty forgiving.
I was a bit worried about going out in wind that strong with an 85ltre board. Years ago I was out on a 78ltre in similar conditions and got lifted and thrown. I ended up with on crutches with a corked thigh..I haven't noticed any issues with the Windtech's larger size so far.
Once I get my confidence with the gear I think I'll be game to go for it more. At the moment it's all unknown.
It's a pity as there were some nice 4- 5' ramps at times..
No catapults or hary moments so the next session should be a lot easier!

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7916 posts
13 Nov 2019 12:50PM
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Finally a session where I got to use the board in it's designed windrange!
Summary - I want to get a better larger fin for the 5.7m. This sail is probably a bit big for the board but I love using the board. We 14-18kts a lot at Coal so I'll be able to use it more with that sail.
No worries with spinout on the 23cm makani but I don't think it's as good as the standard fin so I'll try and get a larger centre fin for big sail days.
The board is very comfortable and user friendly and the adjustable the tail really extends the range.
Comparing the Windtech to my slalom boards is like comparing a mountain bike without suspension to one with ..
Hell of a lot of fun going off the wind down over the back of the waves. Forgiving in the gybes although I need to get used to the narrower feel and probably go in more powered up if I want to try and learn to plane out.
I think the upwind etc will improve as I get used to the raf sails and when I get the 5.7m Gator to replace the Kult.
I've just copied and pasted my GPSTC post-

15-18kts ENE then 20kts plus NE Coal Point, NSW, AU
5.8m KA Kult - Windtech 85ltre Magic bullit - 23cm makani centre fin
then 4.8m Sailworks Hucker
2 sec 24.40kts - distance 34.27kms
Finally a decent go on the Windtech!
I didn't really enjoy the first bit as I hate the modified Kult and there wasn't quite enough wind.
Usually as the wind and chop fills in at Coal I get into survival mode on the slalom gear. The cammed sails are usually ok but the boards get too hyperactive for the chop .
This time the sails were giving me grief ( mainly the 5.8m ) and the board was great!
I couldn't get comfortable with the sail . I think the harness lines were in the wrong place and too long and I don't really know how to sail those types of sails upwind. I know my OD's..Pity I can't use the cammed sails with the windtech then I'd only have to get used to the board..Started out with the unlocked half tail flex I'd use in the 25 -30kts session.
After one underpowered run I decided to lock the rocker flatter to help with early planing.
I think it had picked up a little but the tail change definitely helped with the planing!
I was coming in and fiddling with the sail and also gave the board more rocker as the wind came in by screwing up the tail screw and locking it in.
I was getting a bit maxed out with the 5.8m so I changed to the 4.8m Hucker .
It was heaps better! It's probably more within the boards specs too.
I probably could have changed back to the stock windtech 20cm centre fin but I didn't. I think I will next time as I think it goes upwind better with the stock fin. I was working each run and managed to get back to the launch and as the wind kicked in I got better even though the wind had turned more NE and offshore.
It's a pity Coal is sheltered at the launch as I would have liked to fiddle more on the shore with the harness line setup.
I tried more gybes today. I did one I was really pleased with (planed in , not a planing exit but nice and tidy ) plus a few where I rounded up after but the board is so well behaved I just put my foot in front of the mast and bore off again. I'm not thinking of it as much different now although it does feel pretty narrow when I place my feet to turn into the gybe..
At the end it kicked in 20kts plus. Usually I'm getting brown pants with the slalomboard but I was just wanting more wind and swell! I had a bit of a go playing on the 'wave' faces..Last run I'd got upwind nicely and bore off over the backs of the waves into shore. What a buzz!
About an 8 yodell run..
Pity I was tired . That's still quite a good distance for me at Coal especially in windier conditions. That board is really comfy and eats chop for breakfast. I would have hated it on my slalom gear! The slalom guys were starting to complain about the chop.
I can hardly wait for 20-25kts plus now.. I used to pack up my toys and retreat to more sheltered Marmong before..
I might have been able to get 27kts on my slalomboard ( 3 kts more) but it would have been hanging on for grim death.
I bought the board for comfort and fun rather than speed and it's delivering. I could feel the old me starting to reappear..


climber
NSW, 1125 posts
15 Nov 2019 9:41AM
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Nice report Sue.
Quick comment to help on the KA Kult. If you have front arm fatigue on the non cammed sail from having to push away... yep harness line position issue...(perhaps a tad more outhaul too has been my experience ... caveat not see the/your rigged sail)
Been using Kults for about 15yrs (and other non cammed for longer before that) and front arm issues always overpowered (sic ..to big a sail) and harness lines to far forward. Kults rigged properly are very forgiving
As for upwind on a "wave board", LOTS of weight in the harness, roll your hips forward, very even weight distribution through your feet .... its a bit differing to slalom as you need to drive the rig and board to windward, not drive off the fin (we get spoilt with big fins and sharp edge rails). The rig will go to windward definitely.
Bump and jump is awesome ...stick with it, is very addictive
cheers
g

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7916 posts
16 Nov 2019 11:38AM
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climber said..
Nice report Sue.
Quick comment to help on the KA Kult. If you have front arm fatigue on the non cammed sail from having to push away... yep harness line position issue...(perhaps a tad more outhaul too has been my experience ... caveat not see the/your rigged sail)
Been using Kults for about 15yrs (and other non cammed for longer before that) and front arm issues always overpowered (sic ..to big a sail) and harness lines to far forward. Kults rigged properly are very forgiving
As for upwind on a "wave board", LOTS of weight in the harness, roll your hips forward, very even weight distribution through your feet .... its a bit differing to slalom as you need to drive the rig and board to windward, not drive off the fin (we get spoilt with big fins and sharp edge rails). The rig will go to windward definitely.
Bump and jump is awesome ...stick with it, is very addictive
cheers
g


Thanks. Yes at times I was feeling more like I was powered up for speed sailing than B & J..
Makes sense re the front arm. Hopefully next session is a little more onshore so I can fiddle with line placement before I get out on the water.
I'll try the upwind technique next time although I'm still a bit nervous at getting forward and going with the pull of the Raf sails in case I go over the front..

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7916 posts
19 Dec 2019 11:33AM
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I've had time to get used to everything now and I think the board is one of the best purchases I've made.
Probably a bit like someone taking up foiling and finding it's opening up a whole new field of enjoyment.
I'm hanging out for big winds rather than being scared of them.
I've now got a Severne gator 5.7m and a larger fin . I can have planing use the board from about 18- 30kts . No issues with the size being too big so far..I've used it in 12-18kts ( I like it so much) but it's more fun with a consistent 15kts plus.
I still can't do planing gybes but my gybes are improving. I'm going into them faster , staying more forward and flipping earlier and they're dry ..I'm not real keen on flying into my gybes on my slalomboards in choppy peaky conditions but feel this board looks after me.
I've tried a few jumps..a long way to go there but the one long horizontal one I got felt nice and floaty.
The tail flex really helps. I carry around a 5mm alum key in the pouch of my vest so I can stop and adjust it depending on the conditions.
I screw it in and flatten the rocker for early planing and lock it in. As the wind gets up I screw it out . If the chop is regular / rolling I can leave some flex in which gives a comfy controllable bouncy ride.
If it's peaky confused moguls I prefer to increase the rocker ( more like a waveboard) by screwing it out more and then locking it in. Without locking it in moguls in overpowering conditions I found it a bit bouncy.
I've played on some chop faces and the board is really easy to turn and forgiving..I can hardly wait to get my act together and do some decent jumps!
Here's a video . Pardon my lack of ability..
The go pro got my first jump attempt in 10 years..I usually try and keep the board on the water but I decided to just let it go , small steps..I didn't crash so I had a better go at a bigger ramp and got a nice long floaty jump but fell off the back on landing. Unfortunately the camera had flopped and I missed that one..grr
I know I have to pull the tail to windward but back in the old days my last jumps ended up catapulting as I landed too far off the wind. I don't want to do that again so I'm building up slowly..
The video shows the boards more longboard type of action..
Using the go Pro has been good. I can see what I'm actually doing rather than what I think I am and I've been able to improve...
Let me know what quality you can get.
It should be HQ but on my desktop the options only go to 720.. I have very slow internet so maybe that's why?
I had half tail flex unlocked in the video. I was really overpowered on the 4.2m in the first run and came in to change down but it died down so I was ok after that.
Mainly 20-25kts with 3-4ft chop and some windswells.

FNQBilly
QLD, 110 posts
19 Dec 2019 1:07PM
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Super stoked for you Sue. I have to admit, Im also very happy with my WT72 Silver Bullet. Cant wait to crack 35kts on it. Very do-able if given the right conditions. Im hoping my next addition with be a WT57 SB (90L) which will then see my needs completed!!!

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7916 posts
19 Dec 2019 3:28PM
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FNQBilly said..
Super stoked for you Sue. I have to admit, Im also very happy with my WT72 Silver Bullet. Cant wait to crack 35kts on it. Very do-able if given the right conditions. Im hoping my next addition with be a WT57 SB (90L) which will then see my needs completed!!!


I'm almost tempted to replace my 111ltre slalom board with a WT..

NotWal
QLD, 7426 posts
1 Feb 2020 7:52PM
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^ When you say "locked" what do you mean Sue?

I've had a good look at one of those and all I see is a big screw that limits the amount the plate can flex but nothing that fixes the plate to a particular bend.

NotWal
QLD, 7426 posts
2 Feb 2020 9:18PM
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I notice on the Windtech site the pics of the tops of the boards no longer show a big hand screw for the tail.
What's the current detail?

CrimsonFlash
WA, 71 posts
3 Feb 2020 8:44PM
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Hi NotWal, the Magic Bullets and Silver Bullets all come with the ATT (Active Trim Technology) with the adjustable screw. What is meant by "locked" is the screw is set to touch the plate so "zero" flex. Normally used in very flat or small chop conditions. There has never been a concept of "locking" the plate to a particular bend as the idea is for the tail plate to dynamically adjust and flex (or not) as you've set it for the conditions. I generally have mine set to a few mm's off full flex for big chop and ocean blasting and between 1 to 3 mm's for flat water/speed situations.

We'll be updating the website to show clearer pics of the tail plate on the boards. So to answer your question, yes, the current design for both Magic Bullets and Silver Bullets have the ATT as standard. No plans to change that in the future.

In the meantime, I can point you to a couple of vids on the ATT concept if you're keen to find out more.

(Silver Bullets)
(Magic Bullets)

CrimsonFlash
WA, 71 posts
3 Feb 2020 9:08PM
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Another quick clarification, the secondary screw on Sue's board was a mod done by Neil Scheltema. It allows fine adjustment and locks the rocker - great for lighter sailors. This will be on all the Magic Bullet 85's from hereon in (just checked with Neil).

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7916 posts
14 Apr 2020 4:24PM
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NotWal said..
^ When you say "locked" what do you mean Sue?

I've had a good look at one of those and all I see is a big screw that limits the amount the plate can flex but nothing that fixes the plate to a particular bend.





I think my board is a one off.. as well as a big screw to change the amount of tail flex I have a alum key adjustment to lock it in. I adjust the big screw to allow the amount of flex I want then i screw the alum key to bring the plate up to the screw and lock in that amount of rocker..Works a treat!
See the rear plate and alum key socket.


I just saw Crimson Flashes post.
Yes I think the fine tune is a great step!
Ps - I love these boards so much I've just ordered a 112 ltre WT64Silver Bullitt.

remery
WA, 1885 posts
14 Apr 2020 10:27PM
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What's not to love :)



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"85ltre Windtech Magic Bullit" started by sboardcrazy