My last 8ft HWS weighed 23lbs and I wanted to see if I could make a lighter one. I knew I had to make a domed deck so that there would be less rail to build up. I also knew that I would have to use 1/8" skins. I also wanted to make it with cheap materials. No Balsa.
After seeing chip’s “bushfire fish” I realized I could strip my old $143 homedepot board and use it as a form. For a hollow wood board.
I re-shaped it to a more sporty model.
Then I trimmed 7/8" of the plainshape.
And glued up two pieces of 1/8" ply. and plained it down just like a perimeter stringer on a compsand.
Takiing measurements from my foam blank I make the stringer and the ribs.
Put the pieces together.
The deck is made from 1/8" bending ply.
AWESOME
I used to have that pencil sharpener too!!!
good idea, something to think about for my next project
still want to try a hws but haven’t yet… how much did it cost you?
and what happens to the blank?
I put it in the vacuum bag and realized I was going to have to put ribs running lengthways if it was going to
hold up to my weight.
I forgot to take pictures of the rest of the process but I sprayed the deck white because the bending
ply didn’t look good and built the rails up with doorskin. Only had to build up 5/8".
It weighs in at 14lbs with the fin.
7’ 6" x 20 1/2" x 2 7/8" 14lbs
Probably cost around $100 with glass and resin.
The blank is pretty beat up from the striping but I could build it out with foam and make a veneer covered board.
beautiful stuff mark!
great looking board and nice finish on it too, did you end up putting more ribs (cross-ways?, length-ways?) after the vacuum collapse or did you just go with less pressure?
more pics would be great, close up rail, fin, planshape top/bottom, side rocker shot etc!..
again… lovely looking board mate, hope it rides well, you did good with the weight issue too, what did you glass it with, (poly? epoxy?) what weight glass did you use?
congratulations
I put more ribs in length-ways cutting each bay in half and giving alot more support where I stand. I used RR epoxy resin. 1 x 6oz bottom and 2 x 6oz deck. I could have used 4oz if I had put glass either side of the deck. I was afraid that if I glassed the underside of the deck first it may not make the compound curve for the deck.
Yes I lowered the pressure in the bag the second time.