Hey guys - Im sure we have all been there before. I have a used board (no idea of age - no sig or date) that I got used for cheap that was going to be a beater loaner for visitors/friends but after surfing it I found out that I really like it. So I fixed a middle area deck delam. Surfed it and now there are new horizontal cracks (almost looks like a semi-buckle) in the rear deck and new delam(s) in the rear foot area of the deck.
From my reading here it sounds like that this is fairly normal - once delam starts in one area its only a matter of time before it spreads. I get the feeling that there may be a issue with the original glass job since I am also finding salty emissions from spots along that rail that showed no issues before. Also the lap around the nose area looks like it may have separated a bit and seems really brittle.
When I did the delam repair the deck glass came off really clean and took the underlying color with it - the remaining foam was fairly white. Is this normal or a indication that I have a problem with glass/paint/foam bonding - leading to the delam issues?
I really want to fix the deck delam (since I hate the landfill option) but I am beginnig to wonder with what looks like questionable glass on the board should I just surf the heck out of it since any fix wont be enough to stem the tide?
My gut tells me that it may need to be stripped and re-glassed to be done properly. Stripping and re-glassing sounds like a big job with many pitfalls.
Take a dremmel with a diamond bit and cut the entire deck glass off. Use the rail lap from the bottom glass as a guide. Some of the foam will be squishy underneath and if it is real bad…you can always inlay a piece of high density foam. Stripping and re-glassing is not that difficult and way less time consuming that a million spot repairs. That is what I would do. Considering the cost of a new board is outrageous, you can make yours useable for under $100. Do a nice resin abstract on the replacement deck to hide the ugly foam underneath…IMHO
I’d agree with you, except I would say that the horizontal cracks would indicate that the stringer has been compromised, and it’s only a matter of time until it breaks… then you’ve thrown away 100 bucks.
But if I was ultra souped about the board, I’d do exactly what you said, but when I had the glass off, I’d dent two channels into the foam on either side of the stringer and put a few strands of roving in there to beef it up. It might help prolong the life, but eventually it’s gonna break.
Why don’t you copy it and make a new one, and then you can leave it as a loaner to break. Boards with extensive repairs never really ride the same anyway IMHO, so you might as well make a new one.
Thanks for the feedback guys. Still havent made my mind up yet. I may surf it once more with the right swell – that should let me know if I like the board enough to justify a fix. Im still new to surfing (>2 yrs) but have gone fully into it and used to windsurf alot. The board (to my eyes) seems different than similar boards I have looked at or surfed. Its a 7’8" mini LB shape but the bottom appears to have a bit of hull (curved-convex) that runs back into a vee through the fin area - no flat spots or concaves anywhere. I have rode it a couple of times and it paddles surprisingly easy (does have some volume - from width) but it just felt waaay better on the wave than any other small LB’s I have used. Seems to me that it felt less “skatey” and more engaged with the wave than the others I have tried.
Since I like to tinker and have enjoyed the vac bag stuff I have done in the past and dont like the landfill option - Ill probably try a fix and improve my position on the learning / experience curve.
If I do repair, I like the idea of taking off the deck glass along the laps, vac bag inlay/skin some corecell or balsa and reglass.
I cant tell if the stringer has some damage (it didnt crack on the bottom) but I probably cant tell until the glass is removed.
I want to try shaping sometime in the future - if the shape ends up being a keeper I may just try to copy it for my first shape.
In my vast experience of repairing delams (aka three times) it’s hard to know what’s causing the delam until you’ve taken away the fibreglass that’s delaminated. Sometimes the foam underneath is fine, sometimes it’s turned to mush. If it’s turned to mush then you’re probably in for a lot more work than what you bargained for.
If there’s no mushy foam or any other funny business then you should just be able to patch and fair like a normal ding repair. Only without the filler.
If you sit back and look at the effort to get it back into shape, you’ll find that it’s more work than glassing a new board. You’ll likely use roughly the same amount of resin and cloth in the repairs, so the only cost issue is that of a blank. It’s a lot of work to repair something like this, and the result will always be heavier and with a very questionable future. I only repair/restore personal boards like this if there are of some sentimental value. If you don’t want to toss it, strip off the glass and reuse the blank as another project.
The “less skatey” feeling is most likely due to the belly.
Sometimes you can tell if the stringer is compromised by flexing it: Once it’s stripped, put the tail on the ground and put the nose in your left hand, then with your right hand, push down where your front foot would go. If it feels like it’s hinging (and not necessarily at the point under your hand - it could hinge anywhere along the stringer), or if you notice one half flexing more than the other, there’s a weak point in the stringer. That’s the area you want to beef up with some kind of structural support.
Thanks to everyone for their assistance and suggestions about the craft of building and repairing surfboards.
Since I cant justify the cost of having a new one shaped I most likely will do some sort of repair (deck replace or full strip and reglass). Hopefully as I attack the repair a clear winner will reveal itself.
Yeah - its a bunch of work but should be a learning process and I do enjoy spending my time (therapy) fixing stuff and building things.
In reading posts on “timberflex” and “compsand” construction methods people seem to be working hard at developing construction methods / materials that may last considerably longer and provide the feeling that the rider likes. I like the idea of making something last longer (sounds like my issue will be weight and flex).
When I make my mind up I will try to document the repair process I choose and let you all know how it went…