I am preparing for my next build and am planning on using a stringerless blank, and cutting the blank in three lengthwise and epoxying back together with 5.7 oz carbon tape as stringers . In addition I am planning on doing balsa rails also. The goal is for 6’ round tail short board with a wide nose, that is thin but feels like a fast action fly rod, if that makes sense, i.e. , stiff but still responsive.
I looked in the archives, after thinking I had an original idea…, and saw similar methods have been tried. My questions are, for those that built boards using similar methods, how did it ride? Also any recommendations on what you guys would do different?
Thanks, always great info here.
I like fast action fly rods too. Also did some carbon stringer stuff in the past (long past). Messy, because carbon dust is no fun. The edgewise carbon was also very efficient at sawing thru the glass after a little use.
Might be applicable with a cored skin, but I never went down that road. Carbon stringers plus cored skin would be too stiff, IMO.
Any vertical carbon is always way too stiff…and epoxy glue joins are a bitch to keep level when fine sanding…try polyuethane glue , and when you get to the fine sanding , cut a groove along the glue-line about 1/16th " deep…the big bonus is , the longitudinal glue-ups with EPS drastically reduce the “expansion factor” when the boards gets hot and negates any need for a vent…all done without adding much weight.
Used unidirectional CF for perimeter stringers on a board several years back. Loved the board, but I will never do it again. As Mike Daniels stated, the dust is no fun! Had grey EPS dust all over the shaping room and myself. Not particularly good for your planer blades either.
Sweet guys. Once again glad, I posted the question. I greatly appreciate the advice. I can see now that it would be a superb PITA, to try and shape the blank with carbon fiber sticking out.
Especially, I did not think about the carbon sawing through the glass, but it makes sense now.
Jrandy, Keith’s golf club board thread was pretty neat. I immediately thought of a use for all my fly rods sitting under my bed that I haven used in years:)
Kayu, thanks for the glue advice. I also like not worrying about a vent.
Surfthis, not a fan of dealing with the dust either.
Barry those boards look awesome, I like when function combines with aesthetics. I also like the idea that the glue does enough on its own, and no need to make an excessively stiff board.
I have got to digest the advice, and come up with a plan.
I want to get a couple of surfs in with a board I just finished that is a 6’1ish with triple wood stringers. Tried to surf the first time today after being out of the water for two weeks from surgery, and the conditions were rough. 25mph gusts, and I choose to surf the one place on the south shore that gets the most wind… Need some clean conditions then will try a build thread using your guys advice.
Once again I appreciate you guys giving advice to a beginner. It makes it pretty fun.
Yeah I don’t know why we don’t see more glue lines. Every Egg I owned in the 70’s was a Clark with a blue or black glue line. Never broke one. Essentially a stringerless blank with a referance point. Stiffer than just foam and lighter than basswood.
