I recently purchased a used 9’6’’ Pig that has no attachment for a leash. I’ve ridden it without a leash a bunch, but I’d like the option to leash up when crowded or near exposed rocks. My other longboard has a glass bump with a hole drilled in it for the leash and I’d like to make one. I’ve read in the archives a bit about using pieces of fin cut to size and glassed on like a fin, but I don’t have an old fin and was wondering how/if it’s possible to make this type of leash option with fin rope or cloth built up in some way. I could go the standard loop route, but I prefer the aesthetic of the bump. Thanks for any input/help or advice from those in the know.
I got some fin stock
where are you?
you could just stack up resin and cloth in a dixy cup then cut it out
its not rocket science
Ken,
I’m outside of Philly. Thanks for the dixie cup idea, sounds easy enough.
Another way. Sand the spot where you want the loop. Wax up a bit of cord so the resin wont’ stick. Lay the core where you want the loop. Take a bundle of fiberglass roving or rope. Dunk it in some resin. Lay it on top of the cord and shape it a bit. I like to spread the ends out a bit and place a couple fiberglass patches on the ends. Let it cure. Pull out the cord and give the whole mess a good sanding until it’s nice and smooth. Mike
they sell an aftermarket leash attachment…it’s like 4 bucks and works sweet…doesn’t require any glassing or sanding…can be hacked off later if you so choose.
I have used these to great effect…but, of course, it’s also a nice touch to have that glass loop on there.
I’m doing this right now, made a traditional leash loop to bear the load and then built a “resin dam” around it and filled it with sanding resing, then sanded it down to shape - Worked great except for one fatal flaw: I kicked off the resin the same way I would a hotcoat, and because of how much resin I had pooled up in the “dam” area, it exothermed a TON and cracked while curing - this method will work great as long as you remember to kick the resin slow (facepalm)
Borrowed a friends fish that had a leash loop. Planted my foot smack dab on the center of that loop on the first wave. Ouch! Leash plugs are really easy to install. Strong too.....and cheap.
If the board has a 10" center fin box I can help you do a "through the Box" leash rope hole...........
Stingray
thats why I like the “bump” way better than the loop - if you do it right and build up a thick enough resin block over it, you can sand it down smooth so that all edges are smooth and go flush with the rest of the board - that way instead of having a small, sharp protrusion, you have a nice smooth “lump” in the deck that you really dont notice
hey surflax - what kind of boards do you have?
i like to put the ‘leash buddies’ on my logs with glass on fins. i make them out of fin panel offcuts. you just glass it on like a tiny fin. i have a bunch of offcuts laying around - what color is your fin?
A leash bridge done correctly. Note the gradual slope. I believe this is the work of Michel Junod. File name indicates this.
There's no right or wrong answer....did you ever step on this?
Lovely tail block and pin lines on that last board.
To do an attachment like that drill a pilot hole through the stringer and fin box, followed by a larger bit, tape up from the deck flip and fill with resin. Once set drill the resin and feed a cord through. Really very easy to do.
That is the tailblock on a big wave gun that I made for Bird Huffman, for Tavarua/Cloudbreak, or anything else he’d care to tackle. The wood is old growth wine soaked Redwood, salvaged from a 100 year old wine vat. Super rich color when the resin hits it! The pin lines are by Sam Cody. Thanks for the pat on the head.
Jimminy Christmas!! Sounds to me like that tailblock belongs in a museum!! Did you raid the wine cellar at Hearst Castle for that wood??
No. I got it from a fellow that has scoured Central, and Northern California, for old growth Redwood, and salvage wood. When sawing or planing the wood, there is an intense sweet wine smell. Quite pleasant actually.
awesome work, Bill!