12'6 is (NOT) a surfboard...

General Discussion
1

So, Ive been wanting to build a BIG board for awhile.

My girl has a reconstructed shoulder that blew out again while we were surfing a rampy little beach break. So she doesnt paddle as strong as she used to and will be going in for surgery again in November.

I thought “why not build something I can take her out on AND maybe do a little stand up?”

It definetly wasnt anyhting for me, it was a completly selfless act to be able to take someone I care deeply for out in the water…

Okay, so maybe I got a little something out of it…But how can you not do everything to keep this happy?..

This her in our ghettoRV urban camper ninja assault vehicle… great for anytime you dont want anyone to know your sleeping on their street.

So with the help of CarveNalu (thank you so much brother for helping out with my template, you are a shining light of aloha) Ken at Segway (you cut great foam brother) and a little paddle building thread from Uncle D (although my paddle is wayyyyyyy mo’ low rent, but it has a hula chick on it, so there) Im in business…

I have a opulant edifice of inneptitude and I love it… when its not scaring the living hell out of me (did I mention its friggin’ huge?)

There are many things that go into shaping a surfboard. You must first secure a location in which to scrub out said stick. Most people use their garage (to their spouses dismay, but hey, the garage is man-land, so get used to it!) I have a carport. It just wouldnt do. I had to find a suitable location to house my tinkering, but where to look? How about next door?

I have a set of twin neighbors that are wicked cool and hot to boot (they send their love Soulstice). They have a great little one car that they dont use (except for the parking a car in it stuff, but really, who does that here?) So I bribe them with weed and swordfish dinners (Im slightly kidding about the weed part, it was more like getting them drunk as hell and then holding them to their promises… presto! I have shaping bay! Im probably making them boards shortly as a huge mahalo.

the camera adds ten pounds… ignore the 12 pack just out of frame…

Operation SUPertanker, phase one - complete…

2

So with phase one of operation superlogalamadingdong out of the way, it was onto phase 2… procurring foam.

I dont have it as near as bad as some of you guys out there. I didnt have to glue one up ala “los boyos”, I just called Ken at Segway composites and told him what I wanted. He had em’ cut and glued up and on my doorstep in 2 weeks, but Im lucky enough to live a stones throw from the surf industry in San Clemente.

I also stuck my head completly up my butt and decided to order blanks for some 14’ paddleboards (cant have one without outfitting my vundabah fiancee), so I got 2 of those as well…

the ridiculous amount of foam… on display for all of San Clemente to behold…

At this point, I had never seen a 12’6 chuck of foam for a surfboard. Id seen paddleboards, but never anything I had to lock myself in a mortal struggle of which only one could emerge victorious. My equipped with my wits and a planer and the board with a callous indifference I have yet to encounter of this earth. (okay, I know, I know, I brought a knife to the hiroshima bomb dropping, but what can I say, if youre gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough)

Problem number one, how will I ever get it to the beach?

Hey, at least its a better sunshade so I keep my ride “pimped” (the sand covering my floor is a standard feature on all Socal models)

Next, was to move it into its home. Just to get afeeling for how it would be to lug this thing up the beach, I stuck my head in the toilet and flushed a few times, then had a bunch of neighborhood kids run around me while I tried to carry its 30" girth (that is a desireable feature, no?) next door.

After having arrived the 20’ trip, I put it on the stands, grabbed my templates and thought “what the hell have I gotten myself into?”

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Even though it was 11 o’clock int the afternoon, I made my self I nice big stout beer icecream float and sized things up.

Then I screamed at it a couple of times and told it “Whos your daddy?” The answer of which has really yet to be answered.

The offending piece of foam looking very unthreating, but be afraid, be very afraid…

3

Following with interest!

I’m thisclose to shaping a 12’6" myself – I want a tandem for my wife and I.

Ken at Segway composites for the blank…may have to give the man a call…

4

With phases 1 & 2 coming on swimmingly (Ive always wanted to say that) I jumped right into phase 3 of Operation “what have I done”.

I had been playing around with the aps300 software for awhile, but this was the first time I had used the “print” function. It really made it all alot easier than it should have been, that way I would have had an idea of what I was getting myself into and quit while I was ahead and sober (Damn you Blaine, why did you have to be so encouraging?!) I just played around with what I thought to be a really big surfboard, had alot of help from CarveNalu bouncing around ideas (big mahalo again bro, very solid of you) til’ I had what I thought I wanted lined out.

Hit the print button and BAM! I have 27 little pieces of paper to tape together, cut out and trace onto masonite.

4 hours later, its dark and I have wetrings on my template from the beer sweating, but hey, its a template.

So after tracing out my line and looking at it for awhile (about 2 beers time is suffecent) I grabbed ahold of the saw and got busy…

This is where the documetation gets pretty spotty. I could say I closely guard my trade secrets, but in truth I was to busy keeping foam dust out of my eyes. That crap goes everywhere.

I got it cut out, squared up and turned down the rails. I went with a pretty flat deck keeping the thickness to about 3 inches in from the rails. The left rail is a bit boxier than the right, to maintain speed on the super, lightning fast lefts of San Onofre. They really are to quick for the human eye to gather. Or I just suck and tend make boards “asymmetrical”. I think its a quality that my fiancee finds indearing and “cute” as she says.

But after a certain point, I was okay with my signature “fred flintstone” rails. Its a breakthrough design element about to take the surfboard shaping industry by storm. Asymmetrical is the new pink…

Okay, so theyre a little softer than you see here, but not much.

Its got 1/2 inch of V in the tail coming up to 30" of the tail, and a bit of concave in the nose.

I didnt document the spackling process. I dont believe you need to spackle this foam (2.5 # EPS). It shapes great, but I still managed to butcher it all to hell.

Planer gashes, surform rips, chunks knocked in all contributted to my decision to spackle it to hide my monument to inepptitude, none of which I took pics of, but trust me, theyre allllllllllll there…

5

Oops, I think you mean “my wife and me”.

6

So we are all spackled and looking smooth and very sexy (if youre into big girls), so now onto ze’ glassing schedule!!!

I had ordered epoxy from Greg (I got the 7.5 gallon order, I new I needed alot for paddleboards as well) and picked up some 40" wide from fiberglass supply. This all took about a week to show up, which was fine by me. It gave my liver a chance to soften up, and me a chance to lick my wounds.

Glassing the beast wasnt that bad, but I will definetly have someone help me with the paddleboards. As they say in swinger circles “4 hands are better than 2”.

I went with a 5.6 oz bottom (didnt have much choice in 40" wide, so thats what will work best in my opinion) doubled up on top with a fabric inlay on the deck. Heres a shot of us all taped off for the deck…

Like I said, I put about a half inch of V in the tail, but didnt carry it to far up the board to make sure it was solid to paddle. Note the custome sound system and crumpled blue back drop. Anyone can see variances in a solid wall, it takes skill to see them on something crumpled…

I marked it out for the fin box 19" to the front of the box which should have put the leading edge of the 11" Tudor fin I picked up at about 18" off the tail. I have to admit I have een a bit to lazy to measure to see if I was correct or not. I made the tail wicked wide(18.5") for stablity, down wind paddle ability, and turning impossibilty…

I decided to further attempt to hide my little indescrections by tinting the bottom white. The glassing went okay, I had a bit of trouble tucking the laps, but it helped when it started to thicken abit. I then laid out the deck fabric (an ugly blue tye-dyed print I got from Walmart for 2 bucks for 4 yards), shmooved it all out and set it with a thin coat of RR. As that started to set up, I went ahead with the rest of my deck glassing schedule. Sanded forever and here it is, in all its ugly glory with no pinlines, spotty glass job and marker still showing through under the glass…

7

That’s great man, kudos to you!

8

Looking GOOD! Looking at your size that board will float you 2 nicely. Can’t wait to see the finish product… Having fun reading your humorous blow by blow account on the process… Haha!

9

So we are all glassed up and ready for a very svelt and sexy finbox.

I had decided to forego the 2 1" leash plugs I had purchased, and decided to drill my finbox for a more pleasing to the eye deck look. Had I have removed my head from rectal cavity or put a window in my stomach, I would have just popped in the plugs…

I started by drilling an 1/8" hole all the way through, halfway from the box, halfway from the deck. Those amazingly lined up, so next I drilled it out to 5/8" with a paddlebit. I figured a 1/4 for the leash hole would leave 3/16 around the hole, which sounded thick enough to me. What I got instead was a 7/8 hole because I grabbed the wrong bit and wasnt paying attention. Oh well, if 5/8 is strong, 7/8 must be super ninja strong. I taped off the deck and flipped her over. I poured in the pimented thickened resin and then dropped in my box…

As Im doting on my little(big) baby, I realize that the resin is settling and holes are opening up around the box. No problem, Ive got resin left, so I smear some more on. Again with the settling. More resin, but now I cant keep up. Thats when I step in something sticky and realize that there is resin on the floor. White resin. The resin Ive been puttin in my board. I look underneath to see that the tape has been bubbled up and is holding all my resin (well, the resin that hasnt ran out of the sides). Crap. I break off a chunk of foam and push it back on flat and tape it down, but it continues to ooze out the sides. It hardens, and Im left to sand the aftermath…

That was fun, let me tell ya’. Please do note the raggidy cut lines on the cloth. So I get it all sanded down, do it all again (it holds) clean everything up, take the box lip down with my sander and lots of shouting at it. Gloss coat the board (which gets sanded to little and turns the board into a sanded finish board)

and then pick it up. Now Im not a small guy, but the only time I have ever felt anything this heavy is the time I picked up Whitey Harrisons solid redwood 1940’s plank with lead put in the nose at the Infinity shop here in Dana. I didnt even weigh it because I didnt want to know…

So now its done, I sell blood and semen to be able to afford the wax to cover the deck.

10

The board has been done for little over a month now, but I held off posting to be able to report all at once on buliding, riding and paddling…

le’ rocker shot

I took it out to San O on a sunny 3-4’ day and paddled out. I started out just surfing it without a paddle to be able to learn how it went without an instrument of death in hand or someone I care about on board (It didnt help matters that I cant afford a $300 paddle, so at this moment I didnt have one). For those of you familiar with San Onofre, I went to Oldmans. Its probably the best tandem, big board wave in Socal and the most tolerant. I figured I wouldnt get vibed for having a big board…

Holy hell, the crap I took. I had guys in springsuits wearing booties and webs giving me the stink eye and asking me if I had ever surfed before. Now I ride a bit of everything a little bit of everywhere. I surf Lowers and Churchs quite a bit and can handle myself in the pack, but this was something else. Guys on 11’0 boards looking at me like I was stroking up to Lowers in an outrigger canoe. I just chilled, grabbed waves nobody else could and see how it went.

It goes… really straight. It takes everything I have to make it turn just to set the line. I figured out that a low stance and a hand stuck in the water while leaning over can chirp a turn out of it. It doesnt like whitewater. I kinda have to stand parallel to make rails dig. Walking on ti is wayyy fun though, it feels like a runway. The token “artsy” fin shot for you Brandon…

So I surfed it twice and it really opened my eyes to what the originators of the sport went through. The board is heavy and unforgiving. I had a bead on it, so now was time to throw on da’ chick.

My first thoughts were how much easier it was carrying the board with 2 people. My second thought was how great it was to stick my face in my fiancees butt and pretty much keep it there for the next 3 hours. I threw in some motorboats to keep things fun. We grabbed our first wave (after figuring out how to paddle at the same time, she still goes to fast) and rode it all the way to the beach. Tandem surfing is sooooooooo fun. I highly recommend everyone imbrace their inner dork and go tandem with someone.

We are on our fifth or sixth tandem session and have talked to some other teams down at the beach. The “slap on the hip as you pop” signal for her to pop works the best so far. Way better than screaming “stand up, stand up!!!” We are having a great time and plan a good beach day with a cooler of beer strapped to the deck, just chilling in the lineup and changing peoples minds about bigboards, one lush at a time.

11

So IM having fun, but Jami is at school all week, and I want to try out standup surfing.

I cant drop 3 large on a paddle, thats about what it cost me to build the board. I made the board, why not make a paddle?

I dont have the patience to do up a really nice one like UncleD, but after studying his paddle building thread, I took some ideas (and some 3/8 ply out of my neighbors truck) and went with it. I looked at some measurements from Kialoa, Tom Bradleys and Quickblade and hacked out a paddle template. I made 2 blades at 9.5 wide/16" tall and knocked an inch off the width and pointed the tip a bit for my girls.

The picture of mine (thankfully) hides the 2 bubbles in the glass job, but it has a hula chick to keep with the overall “sexy” theme.

Jami’s came out alot better than mine, due more likely to the fact that I built hers second. She got a cool “halo” of glass and everything. But no hula chick, which kinda made her sad.

Mines 6’8 and hers is 6’0 Im 5’11.5 and shes 5’4. I made them a little long because of the float on my board. We could go a little longer on J’s if that tells you anything…

I basically just took some 1 3/8 douglas fir dowels, planed the sides to 1" cut the end on a 12 degree slant and glued em on with gorilla glue. Then I foiled and wrapped in 6oz glass (which is wayyyyyyy to heavy and doesnt like to bend the sharp corner at all. Sprayed the shafts with an acrylic coat for marginal protection and took em out.

I dont expect them to last, just get me into it to figure out what I want in a paddle. Theyre resonably light, and wicked sturdy. Ive got flex in the blade, but just at the tip where it doesnt go into the shaft. The shaft flexs ever so slightly, and feels good in hand. I just smoothed it out into an oval until it felt good.

I did find a good place to store(display) the paddles…

His name is Rosco, and he is our protector. He feels like he owes me a lifeime of servitude because I saved him from the walls in a tacky bar in Winterpark, CO. Have you ever woken up after a drunken stupor to find a bear head in bed with you? I have.

He just hangs out, watches over the place, protects the paddles, makes children cry and dogs freak out. But hes alot happier since we got him a hat.

The paddles feel pretty good in hand and are sturdy considering I made them. I will add a bit to UncleDs thread because this way tends to require less tools and time, but looks nowhere near as nice. Foiling didnt go as ugly as I thought, so Im probably going to make the fins for my next boards…

12

Ive taken “large marge” out 4 times and its a blast. I just punched through the surf and took off to some bouys a mile or so off shore my first time, came in (caught a wave too) and sent J out. She went out to the same bouy, but got worked coming back in. It looked like a$$holes and elbows and paddles everywhere! Classic!

Ive had a good session or 2, but Im really just getting used to paddling the thing. I took it out yesterday at the Dana Point Harbor for some flat water runs. While I was heading down the back way, the wind REALLY kicked up. Like 15-18 knots up and it was just channeling down the jetty. So down wind was good, but when I turned it around, I couldnt keep the nose pointed into the wind. Everytime I took one swipe on the left, it pushed my nose to the right. Same on the otherside. So I dropped down and tried knee paddling. I probably could have gotten back, but then the idea hit, why not just head back to San Clemente the fun way. 6 miles down wind!!! I could figure out how to get back to my car later.

I can tell you there are not alot of things more fun than down wind standup paddling. I felt like I was flying! I was railroading every little bump from Dana to north beach. It was great, but I am tired today. It doesnt feel that bad for the first mile or 2, but then you fall off once. Then again, and then alot. Its just a really nice view. Youre standing up, so you see alot. Your neck doesnt hurt as bad, you can relax more, and you get to wave at little kids passing by in boats.

I plan to sink some small leash plugs the the nose area for somewhere to strap dive/spearfishing gear to and get on the paddies offshore of the San Mateo point. Its just a mile or 2 offshore and loaded with white seabass. I like to paddle and shoot things in the head, so I get the best of both worlds now.

This form of paddling/surfing is just a really nice way to get away from everyone. I cant wait to do some down shore paddles from Dana to trail6 at SanO, so if anyones down for a fun paddle, let me know!!!

Thanks again to CarveNalu for all the hope and inspiration (I own your sucky glass job title now), and to all swaylockians for the help… BIG MAHALOS

13

I love this thread and you’re cracking me up. Is this a requirement for SUP? That the guys who make these things have to be so funny? You, C-N, Uncle D, and theboys - not to mention that lumberjack guy who did it in jeans & ankle-barrels - have provided the most chuckles by far on this site in the last year.

I don’t think I’m going to be allowed to SUP - I’m too serious. :frowning:

I like your plan, but have you really thought it through? Do you really want to carry that thing back up Trail 6?

I’ll be at San O, camping in San Mateo, Sept. 21-24…any chance you’ll make an appearance? It’d be a hoot to check that thing out…

Ben

14

Allan…

I’m impressed!!! Great job, and wonderful thread!

Ken

15

I do believe it necessary to not take yourself to serious in all aspects of life, but how can you not smile carrying a roof and paddle to the surf?

Shoot me a PM before you head down, but I live here in town and Im always in the water. Take it out, paddle it around, catch some waves with your kids, wife, dogs, cousins, second nieces twice removed, all at the same time… Ill be there…

16

Sounds good, I’ll do that when the time comes. Thanks. :slight_smile:

17

This thread is an absolute CLASSIC!!! Hahahahahahahaha! I’m having so much fun reading this stuff… Way to go ACheateaux!!!

18

Aloha ACheateaux:

I hear you brother. I can relate to all the things you described (I remember my head in butt days of tandem surfing)! This is a great read and I am chuckling inside. The bummer part is that I can not see the images. If you don’t mind can you email (dvarde@hawaiiantel.net) or PM me the images. I hear you, I can feel your pain/joy and now I really want to see the pictures.

Mahalo,

D

19

“I like to paddle and shoot things in the head” …Best. quote. ever.

20

OK, that’s enough with the funny stuff. Rosco is not amused. Can we stick with the techno crap please?

ROFLMAO