I’ve never surfed before and I’m building my first board in an attempt to surf the great lakes. I’m planning on a longboard, seems like a simple shape and easy to surf on.
I’m using 3 layers of 1" thick XPS home insulation sheet with the rocker laminated in (the sheets will be propped up at either end for the appropriate rocker when the sheets are glued together). I suspect the lamination will give the blank a good deal of extra stiffness vs a traditional solid blank, I’m wondering how critical a stringer (or stringers) will be for my board. Are the any tests I can to to the blank to determine it’s bendy-ness and whether or not I need a stringer?
I shaped a small fish for my daughter stacking and weighting insulation EPS for the rocker. I didnt use a stringer and while shaping the deck the rocker got way out of wack. After glassing its plenty strong enough for her 60#s and I’ve heard of a lot of stringerless boards for bigger guys. I don’t think strength is the issue.
After ordering and gluing up a 2 peice EPS blank from greenlight surf supply I’m done with making my own blanks. Check them out.
Normally XPS can go without a stringer if you do a solid glassing, but I’ve no experience with boards longer than 6’. You’re a beginner and at the lakes so you won’t surf fast and heavy waves that snap your board easily. If it feels strong enough after glassing it should be strong enough I only use 2x6oz cause XPS gets heel dents faster, but durability would be enough with 4 bottom and 2x4 top and stringerless.
Leaving aside issues with strength/flex of the finished board, shaping stringerless EPS has its own difficulties. It’s difficult to shape the ends when they bend away every time you put any pressure on them.
I’m still not decided on whether or not to put in a stringer. I think I may throw one in for looks, or if I get halfway through the shaping and the board is too wobbly to easily shape.
I only use 2x6oz cause XPS gets heel dents faster, but durability would be enough with 4 bottom and 2x4 top and stringerless.