Delam-in the end is it worth it?

General Discussion
1

I read a lot about the fixing delam boards and what a pain it is, but is it worth doing it at all? I have a heavy volan glassed noserider and it is bubbled bad from knee paddeling it. I talked to the repair guy and he said he could do it for about $100 which is cheaper then buying a new lb, maybe I answerd my own question. Just wondering how long any of your guys/gals delam repairs lasted. Thanks!

2

for me that may be the only kind of board that’d be worth my time, since it’s heavy already and meant to be. Fixing delams always adds weight, no matter how you do it… but the repairs can keep the board alive a lot longer.

3

Thanks! I was thinking the same thing. It would be nice for the board not to feel like a trampoline when i walk to the nose.

4

I believe delams should always be fixed. The delam will grow over time. Also, the delam represents a weak spot, most likely resulting in a snap/buckle. One of the main strengths of the standard surfboard is the adhesion of the glass layer to the foam layer. When the board is flexed, there is a component of stress in the perpindicular direction, vertical shear. If this is unchecked, the glass lifts off and the board buckles. Here’s another thought example, at any position in the board where bending occurs, the load is distributed along the entire surface. With the delam, less surface is available to support the vertical shear load. Since, by definition, Stress = Force / Area, you are increasing the stress in the delam area. Note that the bending loads are greatest in the middle of the board, right where the delam is. You can cut and repair with virgin material. Or whip out the vacuum and cut out the tumor and reattach the offending piece right back down in place!

5

Thanks for the advice, I figure I may put some money into it (looks like it is back to drinking Highlife for a bit) and get the delam fixed. Seeems that knee paddeling just isn’t wrth the stress it puts on a board. In your guys/gals experience does a deck and tail patch add any more life to the board? Thanks again.

6

Rich Harbour (legend in longboards) recommends glassing boards normally and fixing knees dents as they come and before they turn into delams. That way you you only put extra material right where it’s needed. A deck patch is only going to slow the denting so you’ll fix the dents or delams anyway.