Super psyched about finally starting my first board but I made the most common mistake and over shaped the width. My original width was supposed to be around 18 1/8 and I outlined and sanded down to just below 18". Any suggestions?
The rest of the board is 6’0"x11"x17 7/8"x14"x2 5/8". One of the ideas I had was to cut the outline length down to compensate so it’s not a gun style in a performance board design but, at this point do I even bother. Other than that it’s looking good so far.
Keep going... when screening your railbands to round them off try not to remove any more foam from the outline. Use light pressure when wrapping the screen all the way around the rail to the tuck (bottom rail radius).
You still have enough foam volume in the board at 2 5/8" thick that it will work fine. Looks like those dims are for juicier waves anyway.
At least you won't overshape your next board right? Surfboard building is a life long learning experience...
You could definitely add stuff to the rails, but thats getting pretty advanced for your first shape.
PM me if you want advice on anything like that though.
The other option is to just glass it anyway!
Chances are, if its your first glassing experience it won’t be that hot anyway It really is an art.
If the cost isn’t too important to you (believe me I understand if it is!), then glassing it will be great practice, you’ll learn a lot from the finished board, and have a shape to pass on to the local grommies if it doesn’t ride well enough for you.
In a year or two the same grom will come back asking for another one, but this time mummy (mommy) will be paying
Seriously. Glass will add that much. It’s hard to get used to the idea, but it’s true. Glassing and sanding will have quite an effect on the finished shape.
Its ya first board, just enjoy the whole process and glass it, dont worry bout a tiny bit here and there, might even make it go better, dont stress, go with it and learn for your next one...You can learn in the shaping process and you will also learn lots whan you ride the board, I think you learn more when you surf your own shapes because you are so interested in how it goes coz your hands created it...dont even worry if its not perfectly symmetrical mate, just glass it and enjoy...post some pics please....
Thanks everyone for the encouraging words. I’m so into this that I just kinda freaked cause I wanna do it so right coming out of the gates. I love the idea of the parabolic stringer but my inexperience will probably mess that up in a big way. That’s kind of a touches on a thought I’ve been having though. Does it make sense to jump right into experimenting with parabolics when that’s all the talk in the industry? Will traditional stringer designs be dead in no time?
Brian, this is Chris up in Doylestown. The kids finally gave me a break to get started on this thing.
pridmore, you hit it dead on. I’m totally just going to go with this. I could quit after shaping and not glass it but what does that do for my experience? Nothing. If I don’t glass this one then I have to do my first glassing on a board that might come out much better and then screw up the glassing.
I have a great mentor and teacher, thanks nj_surfer ;), who continues to stress trying everything you wanna try on your first boards. That way your not doing it on your 10th one for the first time.
I would agree. Don’t bother with parabolic stringers. You don’t need them. 1/8th is negligible and glass will add as much as already said.
But, you should jump right into everything. The best way to get good is by doing, so do!
One other caveat. If I’m not happy with the shaped blank after leaving it for a few days and then coming back, I will not glass it. I’ll shape another one. In total I’ve shaped about 10 boards but only glassed 3. My perfectionist side.
you could square off the the rails and glue more foam on there...no parabolic stringers or anything...a bunch of guys are doing this (to the blanks not necessarily the shaped board) with different density foams to get a desired flex pattern...but yeah...as was stated...maybe not ideal to make up 1/8"
Mate, my first board was a single fin that I ripped the glass of and re shaped, it still had some depressions on the deck but it was great fun and I even sold it for $40 bucks before I got to glass it... a local fella saw it and said he would glass it, he did and he loved the board...depressions and all...point being, your early shapes arent meant to be perfect, FFS it isnt easy and its ya first time...remember your first root ??? pretty bad due to lack of knowledge and skill hey ??? but now we know where to go and have a few more skills and knowledge ( well hopefully for ya missus ) so just go with it and enjoy it...stuff the cutting and adding just get in there and shag ( shape ) away.....ENJOY.....
Here are a couple of pics so far. I’ve just kept going with it and it’s become a punchy, medium sized surf board. I added a little vee to the tail as well as thinned down the tail width to go along with the gunesque shape(even though it’s a 6’0)
yeah, I know. I can’t figure out a way to get the pics up. Any suggestions? In case they don’t come up it’s actually turning out pretty decent. I just kept going with it and decided that even though it’s smaller than I wanted it still is practice on all the fundamentals. I’m gonna glass it and everything because I’d rather not scrap it and then do my first glassing on my second shape. I’m learning a ton and it’s been so much fun. I can’t wait to start cranking these things out and making some great shapes.
Pridmore- How’ve you been making out? Any projects you’re working on?
you need to be on facebook to go there....maybe try a photobucket account, its free and easy but it might be too much trouble...but good for future pic posting.....