Hollow Surfboard Workshop - Washington State

There will be a How To Build A Hollowsurfboard workshop in Port Townsend, Washington, November 17 - 21, 2008

The workshop is being hosted by the Port Townsend School Of Woodworking

5 Day course - Monday, November 17, 2008 to Friday, November 21, 2008

Paul Jensen has built foam/fiberglass boards since 1977.

Starting in 1990 Paul pioneered the resurgence of building Hollow Wood Surfboards. Paul has taught workshops in Ireland and Portugal. This will be the first course to be taught in the mainland US.

The finished boards are gorgeous. Wood boards typically feel heavier on land, but surf like a much lighter board. The slightly heavier weight of a hollow wood board results in a board with more drive and momentum that catches waves easily and carries well down the line, through flat spots. The design of the hollow core and tensioned skins allow for an efficient energy transfer between the wave and the rider. These boards are not intended to be wall hangers unless the wall is six feet of moving water.

Building a hollow board is significantly more complex than building a foam board – it is akin to building the wing of a wooden plane. The fiberglass/epoxy reinforced inner frame and deck skins make a hollow board stiffer than a foam board.

During this week you will build a hollow wood board from building the core to attaching and tensioning the wood skin. You will be provided with a template kit (you will need to choose one from Paul’s website and let us know which one.). Using these templates under Paul’s guidance you will create the curving form from thin plywood. You will then cover the form with tightly fitted wood strips.

Paul will teach you how to apply the epoxy and fiberglass coating so that you can complete the board when you get home (you need to apply multiple coats of epoxy).

Note:This course will need a minimum of 6 students to run and we’ll close out enrollment on the 1st of November.

If the course does not run we’ll fully refund your money.

Cost: $700 includes a “How To” CD and your choice of surfboard template kits (a $150 value)

Material charge: $40 per linear foot of the board. For example: an eight foot board will cost $320.

Starts at: 9:00 AM

Class size: 10

What to bring:

You should bring a notebook and a pen or pencil. Feel free to bring a digital camera.

Please bring the following tools / equipment:

  • Utility Knife with a few spare blades

  • Twelve 3” Spring Clamps

  • Tape Measure

  • Hot melt glue gun (if you have one)

Port Townsend School of Woodworking LLC | c/o 200 Battery Way | Fort Worden

Port Townsend, WA 98368 | (360) 344-4455 |

Online registration ----->http://www.ptwoodschool.com/catalog/item/5905875/6184062.htm