So I finally found the time to put up some pics of my first comp board. It’s 6’1", 19.5" wide and max 2" thick. I weighed the board just before its first surf a few weeks ago, and with fins and wax the board weighed exactly 5.0 lbs.
5.0 lbs seemed too light considering this is only the second board I have ever shaped and my first glass job ever. That’s right, having never done a glass job in my life, I choose to build my own vacuum pump and create an eps, balsa composite. (Screw learning to crawl before you can walk.) But knowing that most the vac guys aren’t building boards under 5 lbs for one reason or another I felt certain I had screwed something up and the board was going to snap on my first wave. It didn’t.
The board although not magic and not the best board I’ve ever owned, certainly held its own in Florida surf. I’d consider the board better than 3/4 of the boards I have ridden and I am pleased with the results. And I am certainly pleased with what I have learned in the process. (I have new respect for glassers everywhere.)
But last Tuesday, the inevitable happened. About an hour into a good session, I made a hard cutback and heard a “CRACK”. I immediately straightened out and headed in.
As you can see from the pics below, the rail line right where I put my back foot cracked. It is hard to see but the crack goes all the way through the balsa rail. It is pretty severe, and I am hoping to get some advice on what is the best way to fix it.
Do I need to cut the entire section out and rebuild it. Or can I just inject a bunch or resin in the cracks and cover with several layers of glass. Not sure how much of a repair this needs and I am curious what the balsa crew thinks.
Thanks in advance.