You just need to change your attitude from “I hope I don’t get a ding” to “If this thing snaps then I get to shape a new board.”
We have one of those 8’ foamies in our garage and it doesn’t get much use in my family. I have been teaching my kindergartener to surf at Cowells and he much prefers the glide of the 9’ longboard that I build. I glassed it with RR epoxy and double 6 oz cloth on the top and bottom. I don’t usually trim the under cloth layer when I laminate so the rails actually have four layers of 6 oz glass for maximum protection. My son has ridden that thing into the rocks on more than one occasion and it has yet to get a serious ding. I tell him that if he gets close to the rocks then just jump off the board beforehand. I can always make a new board but I can’t get a new son.
How are you planning on anchoring a properly solid fin into it? A finbox? If so, I’m thinking there might need to be some re-inforcement (e.g. some d-cell) around where the finbox goes into the EPS core.
While we wait for Bill to get back with some more detailed measurements, I had a quick look at the Costco website’s description/spec’s of the 8’ Wavestorm to get a bit of an idea as to what he could potentially be working with:
22.5" at the wide point
3.25" max thickness
86 litres in volume
11.5 lbs in weight with the ability to carry a rider up to 200 lbs.
I’m not planning on modding a Costco foamie; I’ve already got 2 different “legit” boards I’m planning to build before I’d be in a position to play around with a foamie. Mind you, after reading this thread, if I stumbled across a super-cheap 2nd hand one in good nick after those boards were built, I’d probably take a crack at it just for the sheer fun and intrigue of it. You never know what might come out of it.
I was just imagining what I’d do if I was in thrailkill’s shoes and then posted my thoughts on the subject.
I’m considering using the existing mounting holes to attach a wood core, thick foiled , glass covered fin. Even to the point of using the plastic deck screw/plugs, supplied with the board. The fin would have stainless steel posts, with matching threads, mounted into the wood core. At least that’s the plan, if I go through with this.
At one of the local keiki tide pools, a ~6 year old was paddling a Wavestorm as SUP while towing her dad on body board. It was awesome cuteness to me. Talked story with her dad and he mentioned he just returns the board to Costco before it gets too beat up. Then gets another one.
They look fun at a lot of the big boy spots. When I was traveling and desperate, I surfed a rental similar to a Wavestorm. Waaaay too much flex but still tons of fun in overhead Japan-Taifun generated swell conditions. Guess it ended also being a lesson in flex - forget doing hard bottom turns and cut-backs. But can’t beat the opportunity to change the surfing perspective and continue the stoke…
While we’re on the subject, I’ll throw in a plug for US Blanks classic density foam, glassed with epoxy. Not quite bulletproof, but pretty doggone ding resistant.
Gotta say they are pretty fun. Bought one used off of craigslist for my kids to learn on. It is nice because they can fall and slip and not take out a tooth. The 8’ has just enough float for me to paddle out with one kid on my back.
I paid too much though. I was talking to a guy at Sandys and he was saying he picked one broken in half out of the garbage can, and returned it to costco. They gave him a new one.
There are plenty of guys that use them out here for fun on small days to mess around.
Stop this ruse. This BS, this does not add up…these things do not add up to a foamie surfer, loard hear our prayers
The man who makes surfboards does not have a surfboard …too just surf…Those that shape do not buy foamies?..these things do not add up to a foamie surfer, lourde hear our prayers
the man that brought you 10,000 Hansen, and “shaping since 1959”…these things do not add up to a foamie surfer, loodured hear our prayers
The man who single handed pioneered Sunset beach back in the say…one of the founding fathers of the Widnsea Surf Club, Birds Sheds best friend, invented the tri fin, owned La Jolla Surf Systems, and makes fat fins…these things do not all up to a foamie surfer…lueorde hear our prarz
Costco 8 ft = 200 lb max weight, these things do not add upat all to a foamie surfer, loouerd hear our prayerz
I’d prefer to surf on a board that performs to my expectations and face the reality of dings, then I would to surf ding free on a sub performing board.
I ride mine all the time, except I keep it buried in the sand at Newbreak so no one can see me walk in with it under my arm. Floaty and light. Needs steeper or walled up waves because it’s so light there isn’t any drive. You need a really bad fin in it so the drag will keep the tail locked in. I wear a leash 'cause I only surf it at night; again so no one can see me. Don’t tell Keith or he’ll cut off my feet.
The ghosts of** Tom Blake**, Simmons, Lorrin, Velzy,** Hobie**,** DT, Gordie, Chuck Dent, Dewey, Terry Martin** andD****uke will** all haunt you relentlessly in your dreams if you do it Bill**.
'Onya Bill! I for one won’t tell on you.
