Hello, Thought i’d reach out to the community to see if these snapped boards were worth putting back together before i waste my time/money/supplies. I’ve fixed sucessfully plenty of nasty buckles and other snaps where one side of the glass was still in tact, but never a board that was in 2 pieces where the glass peeled back a good deal. I’ve read on here already a lot about how others do it but a lot of the pics people post arnt there anymore. This is my plan of attack:
Cut off the glass thats flapping around.
Sand the edges down of the good glass and lightly sand the exposed foam for a flush surface. Sand that ridge between the old glass and the foam so its flush.
Cut the splintered broken stringer back
Since the glass on these peeled back a good deal on the deck, before combining the 2 seperate pieces of each board, i was thinking i would fix up each half individually, by laying the glass down on each seperate half and getting it super flush and nice looking. At this point i envision it would look like someone took a good board and ran it through a ban saw, but with a jagged edge.
Build a splint, line up the rocker, and pour a mixture of resin and fiberglass to join the two halfs. Was thinking about chopping up a sheet of 4oz into tiny pieces to mix with the resin, like a milled fiberglass. I’ve found it changes the properties of the resin, so its more like a gel instead of a runny mess.
With the two clean halves combined, i’d basically be building up the glass very heavy around the break itself, at least 3 layers of 4 oz should do it, maybe more? Laying the glass down in a layered sandwhich fashion. Id cut the glass in a diamond shape, so its widest on top of the busted stringer and narrows as it approaches the rail.
Last question… Both these boards are PU, but i was thinking about using epoxy for this repair since its stronger and more flexible than the poly resin. I imagine that would be ideal since were dealing with a snap. Thank you! Will post pics as i go if i decide to go through with it.
I used to fix snapped boards like that. The key is if you can get them back together flush. If so, if just cut out the foam next to the stringer and glue a piece of stringer (or dowl, etc.) next to the the cracked stringer then glass over. You want the reinforcement to extend a couple inches either side the break. The board will be plenty strong at the point of the buckle. Now days, I find it easier just to make a new one.
Do it the way you have outlined. Post some pics and let us know how it goes. I hope you are not doing this for $$$. Also; you’re kind of rough on boards. Aren’t you???
Not worth it to repair. These are performance boards and weight and flex is critical. If you fix them they will be heavy in the nose and you’ll probably not want to surf it after the first time out when you realize they’re now dogs.
If you do fix them, use expanding polyurethane glue “gorilla glue” to bond the broken pieces back together after you’e removed damaged glass. Do not add glass before this step. the glue will be light and flex like the original foam. Use a system of clamps and boards so the rocker doesn’t get messed up while gluing. after glue is dry, sand and feather the bond and remaining glass. Sand into the good glass about a foot or two from the bond. You need the old glass to have some texture to attach the new glass. Layup the new glass in large pieces. You need to spread the stress out. If you use little pieces near the break you are only adding a new hard break point.
No. They appear to be cheap mass produced pop outs, ie hpsb’s. Unless your haven fun in the sun with a buddy, your dog, and some beers… Cool photos dcasey. Mike
The boards are not worth repairing…So, if you’re in SD north county let me known And I will swing by and pick up the boards… For free…just to keep them out of the land fill…Bro…
