For board #2 I decided to followed a more conventional approach... (some of you might remember me whining here last year about the cracked deck on my more experimental build #1, which involved polyiso insulation foam and bamboo glass...)
This one was intended to replace my main shortboard for beach break in the SF area, a 6'6 x 19 1/2 x 2 5/8 thruster with a heavy glassjob so it would last. I started from a PU blank. First time using power tools, fiberglass, cutlaps, tint, etc... The shape is basically a blend of my two favorite of-the-rack shortboards (a T&C G. Pang semi gun and a Pearson Arrow standard thruster), with the outline taken from one, rails from the other. For improved paddling and wavecatching, I somewhat reduced the entry rocker. For more comfortable paddling I modified the foil so that the volume is more forward. Glassed it 2x6 oz s-glass on top, 1x6 oz s-glass on bottom w/ RR research epoxy. The blue deck is a single layer inlay, with a 2nd clear layer on top that wraps the rails.
[img_assist|nid=1049174|title=board#2: 6.6 thruster|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=0|height=0]
[img_assist|nid=1049173|title=board#2: 6.6 thruster|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=0|height=0]
[img_assist|nid=1049172|title=board#2: 6.6 thruster|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=0|height=0]
[img_assist|nid=1049171|title=board #2: 6.6 thruster|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=0|height=0]
There are lots more pictures and details on the build at http://hornmelon.blogspot.com
I'm real stoked! The board is resonably light but solid, no denting in the deck after a halfdozen session. And it goes great.
Main problems encountered: The tint came out a totally different than planned - the light blue is very uneven, and it was intended to be bright orange and and dark blue. Since the rails came out so much darker than intended, I also wansn't able to see through the glass where I had taped off the laps. Disaster. And, I created a lot of bumps in the bottom when sanding the laps. I must not be holding the sander right. I could use some lessons...
But, I _loved_ shaping with a planer. It just feels good to mow off that foam. I'm real glad I decided to buy tools. I'm already dreaming about building a little shaping room...
Thank you all for the inspiration and help!
Stoked and addicted,