Building or Buying

General Discussion
1

Just finished shaping my 4th and 5th boards and am awaiting cloth and fin boxes.  It occured to me while staring at these shapes in the corner of the room that I haven’t owned a board I didn’t shape for roughly two years.  I have only been surfing for four years.  I have much to learn as a surfer, and a shaper.  So I am beginning to wonder if I am gimping my progression as a surfer by shaping my own boards.  I tell myself that developing both skills at the same time are in my best interest; that surfing on my own boards is the best path to get where I want to go on both fronts.  But I also wonder if the resources I put towards shaping, glassing, etc… might be better spent on buying hot boards from hot shapers so as to isolate at least one variable.

Does/did anyone else struggle with this?

Can you become a decent chef if you only cook for yourself? 

 

 

2

My vote is for building.

3

Keep building your own, but along the way try out as many other boards as you can. Swap, borrow, beg, the more boards you try the more you learn by your own experience, to understand design better, and to apply to your own boards. 

4

Building your own will definitely be better for your versatility. I’ve got a friend who learned surfing with me and we are spending nearly the same time in the water.

The big difference is that he perhaps is a “better” surfer, but I can jump on every board and surf it. He allways has problems to figure out what to do on a new one and on every other board I feel much more comfortable.

5

Definitely, keep building your own. Pretty soon, friends will be asking you to shape them boards and then the chef won’t cook only for him.

The only other solution would be to purchase a board from me, of course. lol.

6

I agree with Greg. Surf a lot of boards. Surf better waves on your boards etc. Drive to the best wave you can when you have the time, surf your local spot every day.

7

Story:

Last year I built byself a board based on some pictures I’d seen of a board on quivermag.com.  It was a bit of an odd shape (6’6 diamond tail 23" wide and almost 3"thick) but I wanted to give it a try anyway.   Just wanted something that would paddle easy and carry speed on the soft waves wa have here at my home breaks most of the time.   What the heck…it only costs me about $200 to build one for myself so why not experiment.  This has turned out to be the best board I have ever owned!!!

The moral of the story here is that** I would have never shelled out $500 or $600 for a board like this.  I would have never taken that risk with the money. ** If I was buying boards I would still be struggling on the stock shapes all the rippers ride instead of finding a board that has been magic.

I see boards in the shops all the time and think to myself that it might be a fun board to try but I’d never spend the money to buy it.  

8

Study and ride every board that comes your way.  keep shaping and when you get the opportunity listen to those that surf better then you and shape better then you.  Lots of folks here have volumes of info and are willing to share.

9

Perhaps a more apt metaphor may be, can you become a decent chef if you only eat your own food? I say maybe, but it depends on how much you learn from and pay attention to the other chefs.

I’ll echo the others here. Keep building and keep borrowing. As mako said, taking a chance on some scrap foam, a ‘second’ blank, or a reshaped throwaway allows for much more experimentation towards understanding what works for you rather than plunking down half a grand for what may be a dog. 

10

Sounds like fun. Do you have any pics of the board you made or a link?

Thanks

oliver

11

[quote="$1"]

Just finished shaping my 4th and 5th boards and am awaiting cloth and fin boxes.  It occured to me while staring at these shapes in the corner of the room that I haven't owned a board I didn't shape for roughly two years.  I have only been surfing for four years.  I have much to learn as a surfer, and a shaper.  So I am beginning to wonder if I am gimping my progression as a surfer by shaping my own boards.  I tell myself that developing both skills at the same time are in my best interest; that surfing on my own boards is the best path to get where I want to go on both fronts.  But I also wonder if the resources I put towards shaping, glassing, etc... might be better spent on buying hot boards from hot shapers so as to isolate at least one variable.

Does/did anyone else struggle with this?

Can you become a decent chef if you only cook for yourself? 

[/quote]

Well,

Depends on how much effort you put into it! Hard work will get you farther than some sort of -talent-. Top athletes win because they train, not because they can run, you know?

If you have lots of time, and can shape lots of boards, i would say go shape boards. By lots, i guess at least 1 per month is lots, at least enough.

It is quite a thin line though. I mean, guys here and everywhere have been at it for 10-20-30-40, maybe even 50+ years, so you can't but help marvelling at getting one of the boards those guys do. Or buying a Coil is something you could never do yourselves, or... maybe you could, but you need time to waste.

+

For surfing and surfing better, you had better know the fundamentals, buy a book on surf technique, don't figure everything out on yourselves.

better yet: get yourself a private surf lesson , get your ass filmed, get feedback from a good surf teacher and learn

it is always a balancing act, just like shaping glassing etc

12

Depends how old you are, I’m 41 and recently purchased a custom shortboard from a big name shaper. One of the best boards I’ve surfed, I wish I had this thing 5-10 years ago. I also wondered the same thing as you, I’m a decent shaper but not on par with the pros and have had my share of gems and plenty of dogs. I’ll continue to make my own boards and learn what I can while borrowing or buying a “pro” board here and there.

The older I get the more I realize that life is too short to surf crappy boards.

13

Im in the same boat here I have bought a 5’10 fish and a 8’0 from a big name shaper and love them im on my 3rd board now still trying to get it all down my 1st board thank I did pretty good im sure there has been alot worse just learn from each one and adjust

14

[quote="$1"]

... might be better spent on buying hot boards from hot shapers so as to isolate at least one variable.

Can you become a decent chef if you only cook for yourself?   

[/quote]

 

 You'll never isolate just one variable so Id suggest Buy for a few years so you can build up a knowledge of what the top shapers and their shapes are doing, and then start Building.

 If it turns out that your shithouse at building then theres no crime, either keep at it or go back to Buying.

 By Building you'll become a better surfer because you'll slowly understand  "why what does what when its where" on a blank and so you'll learn how to control the "what" and "where". And you'll save as you can do your own repairs.

 You cant lose if you Build but beware of falling into the Swaylocks Vortex and spending the rest of your life here.

15

I will tell u my story. I started surfing few years ago. From the beginning I want to shape my own board. Last year when I told my friends I wanna shape one they told me that it’s so difficult to make a board bla bla bla. My girlfriend was the only person who helped me with the decision and I made one from 0 (including the blank). Of course the lamination part was bloody difficult (first time using resin, fiber cloth etc) but when I finished the board I was so damn happy. I am not a good surfer but shiiiit I had a big progression with this board. With this board I did my first floater never did it before, even if it was a crappy one I am proud. And I told myself that I WILL NEVER BUY A BOARD. Why buy one I can do it by my own and like I want (dimension, shape, fins, etc)?

So my vote goes to BUILD YOUR OWN BOARD IF U CAN if u can’t build one then just buy it.

Amen

 

Cheers, Colin

16

 

Big waste of money, unless the person giving the lesson has decades of experience.  There are three or four people in  my town who give lessons. One is actually a good surfer, but he doesn’t have what it takes to instruct others. The rest vary from barely able to surf, to downright kook. Still, all you have to do is write up a good resume and the tourists will think that spending $75/hr is a good investment.

Make friends with someone who surfs really well and has at least 20 years experience. Ask them to give you pointers. Save your money toward something worthwhile.

Or, get a friend who surfs to shoot video of you. People who don’t surf rarely know what to shoot, and when.

17

I agree with the video, nothing to do with vanity and ego when seriously applied for self criticism and critique to enhance self improvement.

18

That’s what quivers are for. Work on that and your fin collection/placement and you’ll be fine. If you suck backside then surf backside and so on. I’ve surfed plenty of other shapers’ boards and have hated a ton and liked a few. The few that I’ve liked have had notes taken or templated…rocker, fin placement/toe and cant as well,thickness flow and outline. If something strikes my fancy and I have the cash I’ll buy it. Always good to incorporate something you like into your next design.

19

Great thread...I disagree with everyone! ...ha ha ha ha...great fun....

Stingray says....Learn ding repair first, ,glassing second and shaping later.....

With ding repair you will learn about fiberglass and resin and foam. You will also learn about fin placement and fin installs. You will get exposed to all kinds of surfboards from all kinds of shapers...most ding repair customers will be more than happy to let you ride their boards...bingo!

and when doing ding reapir you will be running your perverted little hands up and down every little curve and wing and butt crack you can find!  AND....you can take the money you make from ding repair and buy a new blank....

...and.....you might just have to make [steal] a few templates along the way........Stingray.....

20

Cool thread,

I have been shaping my own boards for around 5-6 years. I have learned by trial and error (mostly error) and watching videos and of course sifting through this great site. I have learned a lot just by trying out a great variety of boards and styles, this would have been nearly impossible or rather very very expensive if i wanted to try out the latest designs all the time and i was paying $1000 for an off the rack board!

If you want to learn more about boards and in turn your own surfing , make your own. I have had some of the best surfing experiences on my own boards, if I had not started making them id probably still be riding a 6’2" thruster!!! ( im 70kg) For years I was buying boards too long for me because I either hadnt tried something smaller or that was what was recommended to me by the shaper or the shop.

If your honest with yourself and video footage helps with this:) your the only person who really knows what you need to be riding, and if you can make and create it what a bonus!

I say all this as I just decided this week that after 4 years of riding only my own boards it might be time to splash out and buy something from a shop or other shaper, for no other reason than to further my knowledge and experience something that is outside of my sphere of thinking with my own boards. Its all learning and fun!