question turning an old windsurfboard into a decent surfboard

General Discussion
1

Hi Everybody!

I’m new to swaylocks and pretty new to surfing.

So i think i’ll start by introducing myself, i’m Richard, i’m a very dedicated skimboarder and i do alot of windsurfing too, but on my last vacation i found out that “normal” surfing is pretty fun too.

Since i also run a small custom skimboard co. i thought i should be possible to make my own surfboard, i think it’s cool cause i can make my own art on it etc etc.

And simple as i am i also thought it would be possible to use an old windsurfboard into a decent length longboard. somewhere near a 8.6 - 9.0

So you might feel my question coming…

Do you guys think it’s possible? And if you think it’s possible, how would you guys recommend to do it.

I’m sorry if something like this has been posted before, but i have somehow searched the other threads and didn’t find something that answered my question…

thanks anyway!

-Richard.

2

It’s possible… repost in “general” discussions, and you’ll get the replies your looking for.

3

Mate, im new to this as well. Search the forums for a topic named “what was i thinking”. I have just finished shaping a 6ft stubbie out of a windsurfer. That was as big as i could go, although i could’ve got a bigger thruster because of the narrow nose. Also, mine was asymetrical, so i didn’t have as much width as i had originally wanted. Here’s a pic

4

I think your main points of concern are going to be rockerline and thickness. Windsurf boards have a totally different rocker and that may be a b&tch to correct. You may actually be quicker just getting some eps and hotwiring your blank. If you really must use a windsurfer blank try to get an old course racer, they tend to have less “scoop” and a more subtle rocker which would make a longboard easier to shape out of it. You’ll be mowing a lot of foam off the thickness though…

5

the factor that will come to nip at your bud

is that to prep this 'blank" to start will take many hours

considering this you must decide

if the love of labor is the driving force in this

endevor,

Over coming ‘stagefright’ by disecting

or perhaps reverse engineering

this surfboard construct is a value

the labor simplification of starting with “THE BLANK”

and following through is like

a clean tiger woodsian pitch to the green

awaits the courage to get a blank

the zen of surfboard construct

is not going to be achieved

by endevoring to plug finboxes

and footstrap plug holes

and shaping out deck gashes

these necessary steps will constrain the ultimate shape

of the greatest surfboard in the history of the galaxy.

as to the spirt board residing within the forlorned and forgotten sailboard discarded

and calling out to all passers by…

the true sensitive cannot

restrain the efflusiant compassion

that drives this board stripping compulsion.

nicked fingertips that draw blood ,

fiber glass itch,

micro scopic shards of residual glass

will remain for months and years

for archeoligical study.

YES THERE WAS A SAILBOARD STRIPPED HERE

your inner drive is will and forever shall be

the deciding factor in the genisis of this endevor.

I wish you well any way you decide to go.

but your life can be a par three hole in one kick ass wow ghee whillikers sandy

if you just get a reject blank.

stripping a sailboard

will be a 17 stroke

rough adventure,

sand trap excavation,

water hazard dredger

on that same tree par hole

jumping on the stripping train

is a fullfilling experience

never to be traded for a lifetime

as well as not to be wished on an enemy

go forth and do good works

we are all watching

and will wince in empathy at your every confounding

and feel exaulted with your evey success

{ however qualified }

aloha from waipouli

…ambrose…

chip wants pictures

6

whoa… well said ambrose.

7

H’m. Take a windsurf hull and make a board of it.

Sure it’s possible. Heck if I can do it, anyone can. It’s the shortest board I have 7’0", (I’m bigger than many), and I don’t use it often.

I was given a wsurf hull years back, and stuffed it under the house for future times. One weekend I was bored, and dragged it out, covered with lint from the nearby dryer vent. I cut all the way around the rails with a skilsaw, then stripped it. I cut off the tail where the fin box was. I shaped the rest.

I justfied my work because, heck, it was a free blank, and if nothing came of it, it cost me all of my boredom. But I shaped it okay; but a acid splash glass job on it, and nowadays I take it out once in a great while. It’s a better board, far more agile, than I am a surfer, though this may not be saying much.

But… do it. The limiting factor is likely your own ability as a surfer, not what you make of the board. I shudder at some of my first few boards, but I had a hootin’ good time and not incidentally did a lot of swimming after them. This was before reliable surf leashes came along, you see. Go for it. The experience will pay for itself.

8

4yrs ago took an 8’2 pintail windsurfer and ended with a 5’ fish.

today glassed on 2 more fins to make it a quad.

rode it most as a single actually and it was great.

as a twinny , rode it twice. different of course but still fast.

looking forward to trying the new setup.

it looks quite ugly and is now fairly dinged but no matter what anyone else thinks it is still one of the best boards i’ve ever ridden.

go for it. no matter how it turns out it will be ridable. performance wise mostly depends on skill level but you’ll have fun and thats the main thing.

good luck