2nd build, first one solo

Build Threads 2025
1

Hi,

Following Cost to shape yourself VS local shaper costs VS pop up board - #19 by user203. I’ve decided to kick off the project and before getting my hand dirty I want to discuss a few ideas. And I want some radically honest advices, examples and alternatives. Don’t be shy and tell me when my ideas are sh!t

So a brief summary is I have shape a board with a shaper more than five years ago and made some notes
I’ve became quite good at fixing my ding myself over a period of 20 years
I don’t have yet a shape room or the beginning of a setup but might be able to borrow some stuff

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The board: A keel fish around 5 10 - 20 - 35l - PU - Glass strong or potentially longer to fit the blank

My current boards are Holy hypto 5.10 - 31l, Dominator 2 5.10 32l, DHD Sweet spot 4.0 - 6.2 - 33l, Greedy Beaver 6.4 - 40 ish liter - Random Longboard 9.2, Random keel twin fish 5.6 - 20 ish

I’m feeling older and I want a board that get into the wave earlier, generating speed earlier and to be honest I’ve never really ripped on a wave so I’m not going to loose a lot on the High performance side

One of my friends got a sick Twin fish from a local shaper but 5.4 and 27l, I was thinking about doing a template from this one but I have no idea about how complex it will be.

Alternatively I would like to find/build a template of a fish in the style of Album

What is the best way to get a template done for my case?

———–
Stringer

I want to simplify the process and avoid to build the stringer myself.
So I assume a blank with a stringer will be better, or just building without stringer and compensating with some extra fiber/resine. ( Extra layer or Flax as discussed here: EAST inspired EPS -> Flax) I believe Rasta’s shaper is shaping without stringer

PSI from raglan doesn’t looks like in business anymore but I’ve seen a couple of 6.4 blank stringerless here: Search 13: blank

6.2 Blank here whitewood or Plywood so I assume they have a stringer

Any alternatives or experiences about sourcing blank in NZ north islands are welcome

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Fins
____

I’m not sure yet, if I ll do the full process but I like to entertain the idea

Fins box: I have a set of old and tired keel feel on FCS1 which might help me to chose FCS1 plug

However, it is old and tired and I can see purchasing a new set. SO I don’t want that to be the only driver

Should I stick to FCS 1, shift to FCS2, or future. I have a slight preference to future but honestly I want something easy and efficient.

And that’s all for today, I believe other question will come in time

Looking forward to read from your experience guys!

2

Most PU blanks are sold stringered, mostly because stringer is use to give/keep/customise rocker .

Seems you mix PU and EPS in your post. Even if that’s surfboard blank not exactly same build. If you want to go with PU you must buy a stringered blank near your final shape then should laminate with UV setting polyester resin, a lot forgiving than fast set catalized one’s.

3

on my humble opinion for a first shape i would stay away from the fish shape.

i see many first time shaping want to do a fish because is a fun board and shaping your first board must be fun…but there is a lot of work / possible mistakes arround the tail area that you can avoid if you shape a round pin ( witch is also the better for lamination for the first time…less relief cuts).

as for fins you can turn your old fcs1s that you like into glass ons ( its not the most dificult if done properly) otherwise i have changed to futures why?? well boxes are more easy to install and the cheap termoplastic future fins are actualy good enough for every day surf, so i just have 1 or 2 fiber sets and then i use a lot the am1 thermoplastic.

hope this helps, cheers and good waves.