I should clarify. I just finished my first board in 25 years. I shaped and glassed it in the bedroom of our condo! No power tools and epoxy resin (no smell) and, no, my wife did not leave me.
It all began with dissatisfaction with my boards. Maybe my knees are especially bony but my boards’ deck’s would get thrashed really quick, covered in pressure dings and eventually delams, My last one was toast after a couple sessions, just totally caved in.
I looked at Surftechs ( I liked the Byrne models) but didn’t like the price. I couldn’t find anybody locally (South Bay of LA) that would glass with epoxy… so I decided to do it myself.
I started with a question on Swaylocks- what board for a tall, skinny, older surfer. The feedback I got confirmed the direction I was going- shorter, wider, thicker. Thanks.
The board is 6’-4" x 19 3/8" x 2 1/2". 11 1/2" nose, 14" tail. It has 5 1/2’" nose rocker and 2 1/2" tail rocker. It has a slight bevel on the bottom rails under the flip tip (extra pearl protection) going to a 3/16" concave thru the “speedbox,” followed by a real slight vee at the fins going to heavy vee at the last fin. I was afraid to try double concaves between the fins.
Glassed Resin Research Epoxy 6/4 oz s-glass on the deck, 4oz on the bottom. The epoxy was great! Thanks to Greg! In spite of warnings I did tints. I wanted a light blue deck but couldn’t find any local suppliers of tints and wanted to start now. ET SURF was the only shop that had any and they had green, orange, black and white. So my board is green. Real green. I call it my “green piece.” There is a swirl on the bottom that came out OK.
I freaked out when the hot coat started percolating but when it went off there were no pin holes. I also freaked out when my two year old daughter came in while I was laminating and wanted to play with the resin puddle on the tarp. I screamed and she cried. Itall turned out well. Sanded real easy despite warnings. Polished nice (future floor and turtle wax).
I’ve had it out a couple times. I can’t really say how it works as the waves were marginal but it goes. And after three sessions no sign of pressure dings!!! I’m stoked.
What will I make next summer!!