My 2011 - how bout yours.

pirate_agenda · December 22, 2011, 10:42pm

So this time last year, I decided I wanted to make a few boards for myself. I had previously shaped 2 about 10 years ago, that were both pretty rough and had them glassed professionally. So anyway armed with little knowledge I got some tools last xmas, picked up a couple of blanks and off I went.

1st board was a 5'1 x 21 x 2 3/4 - it turned out pretty crappy looking but was actually pretty good to ride. It's been put to rest now due to my very dodgy first glass job falling to bits.

2nd board was a 5'7 x 19 diamond tails (no pics of these). In hindsight it looks really crappy and is pretty warped / lopsided , but it surfs really well. got 2 of my best barrels of the year riding this one before my mate (ex sponsored shredder) claimed it and was really into it despite it's ghetto looks.

3rd - Next up I decided to make myself a "stub up" that is a 5'7 nose template on the front of 7'0 tail template, netting a 6'3 x 20 with the wide point about 5 inches forward of centre. This board I glassed pretty heavy. Came out pretty nice, but still room for improvement. Have ridden the board in some solid waves, and have to say, it handles the juice pretty well.

After that I did 2 boards for friends - both were in the 5'11 - 6'0 modfish kinda style boards - i didn't take any photos of these, but was pretty happy with them both.

6th up was a 5'10 x 19 rounded pin for my bro. He loves this board. it's super flat with a single to double concave.

7th was a 5'8 x 22 mini simmons for a friend. he raves about this board. I was pretty happy with how it turned out.

8th was a 5'7 x 19 board for myself based on a Tomo MPH Nano. I love this board, and is my daily driver for 3-6ft waves. Also busted out the poscas for an experiment.

9th was another tomo inspired Nano for my bro. This one with a back to the future inspired printed inlay.

10th was a 5'3 x 21 x 2 3/4 winged diamond tail quad for myself. I absolutely love this board. has a little more rocker than my original 5'1 and a double concave from midpoint through the fins. ride it in anything up to 3ft.

pirate_agenda · December 22, 2011, 10:53pm

12 was a 5'5 x 22 x 3 round nose, round tail quad for a friend. He loves this board so far.

13 was a 6'0 x 22 x 2 3/4 quad fish for another friend. He is pretty stoked on it after his first surf.

here's 12 & 13 together:

14 and last for the year a 6'2 mod fish for a friend's boyfriend for xmas - just finished it last night. very happy with how this one came out.

so overall 2011 for me i went from shaping a really ugly first board that surfed ok, to my 14th board, which wouldn't look out of place in the racks of a surf shop. Still have a lot to learn and room for improvement, but i feel like i am at the stage now where I feel I am getting comfortable with blending all of the design elements and making boards that actually work for people. I don't know if people are just being nice, but i haven't had bad feedback on the performance of any of the boards yet. so thats a bonus.

Just like to say a huge thanks to everyone on sways for all of the advice and resources available. Without all of the genorousity, i'm sure i'd still be floundering around producing crap like my #1 for the year.

Merry xmas and best for 2012.

PS. Feel free to share what you've acheived for 2011.

pirate_agenda · December 22, 2011, 10:54pm

ahhh don't know why the pictures in the first post aren't working!!!

mako224 · December 22, 2011, 10:59pm

Click the edit button and mimick what you did in the second post to get those pics to show.

OhHerrooo · December 22, 2011, 11:06pm

they look great! what a good year!

what did you paint the 5’8" simmons with? i really like the look of the “sketchy” grey and blue you did.

here are your pics:

pirate_agenda · December 22, 2011, 11:06pm

mako2244 - i did the exact same process!! wierd

OhHerroooo - the 5'8 mini was craft acrylic rolled on with foam roller. it looked solid before glass, then once it was glassed it came out a bit patchier. it still looks kinda cool and vitange though.

mako224 · December 22, 2011, 11:11pm

In 2011 I feel I turned the corner from making boards that looked like they were built by a backyarder to building boards that look like they were shaped and glassed by a pro. The best thing in 2011 was watching my young son and daughter begin to excell riding boards that I built for them.

Examples from 2010

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v456/mako224/100_2203.jpg[/IMG]

Compared with some of 2011's boards.

pirate_agenda · December 22, 2011, 11:15pm

Nice, Mako,

I'm hoping thats the step i'm hoping I can take in early 2012. to just get a more professional glass and overall finish.

pictures fixed!

OhHerrooo · December 22, 2011, 11:19pm

wow mako, your shaping has come a long way in a year. i could only aspire to make that significant progress in a year.

2011 for me was only 3 boards… i just started a month and a half ago. here are the boards i have shaped so far:

5’8"x21"x2.5" diamond tail, flat bottomed single fin; the Dinghy (please excuse the crappy picture quality)

5’0"x22"x2.5" twin keel, flat bottomed mini-simmons (yet to be glassed), the Soap on a Rope

5’6"x21"x2 5/8" round nose, single to double concave, chop tail 5-fin; the Flapjack

in 2012 i get to finish my 6’3" egg, work on a 8’0" longboard with my girlfriend, and shape boards for some friends and hopeful prospective new customers!

kokua · December 23, 2011, 7:19am

Howzit pirate, The minute somebody paid you for a board you shaped you became a pro since a pro is some one paid to do what they do. Now what you mean is you feel that your shaping is good so that would make you a good pro shaper. Lately I have been thinking just how much this one website has changed the sport. Think about how many surfers Sways has taught to build surfboards so they didn't have to buy them from the big names. Just keep up the good work and it only gets better. Aloha,Kokua

thedoad · December 23, 2011, 8:48am

Started my first board (HWS) around thanksgiving last year. Finished that then did a Mid simmons and a 9’4" tank this year. Woodie had insane leakage problems and Is destined for the trash but the other two are so fun it hurts. Going to sell the longboard and shape a similar model thats fra thinner and hass a lot less rail volume at the start of next year. After i throw don for a stoker V.