Sanding an already finished board?

General Discussion
1

I just recently bought a new surfboard and after riding the board found it to be really stiff. My board has a stock glass job 2 4oz on top and 1 on the bottom. I saw a video with Danny Wills wet sanding his boards to his like in and old video. I was wondering if I did the same thing and just lightly wet sanded my board if It would be a bad idea? Thanks Da Cheetah

2

If there’s any finish spray on there you might take it off. Not too sure why wet sanding would make your board less stiff though. Just general sanding might make it lighter (might flex a smidgen more too) but you’ll risk sanding through the hot coat if it’s pretty close already.

3

Giving a light sand may also remove any sharp under rail lines that could be making your board stiff. The rails would be the place to look at their extra thickness, but ’ stiff ’ where and when would help?

SF>

4

Thanks for the replys! Well my shortboard seems to have good take off speed but, seems to take an extra second for the board to move into the maneuver that I’m going for. This may sound funny but, I notice when I get a new board and sit on it in the water and hit my board under water on the rails or in the center I can tell which boards have good flex by the way they vibrate under water. If there’s a big vibration good flex and a little vibration stiff. Just what it seems to me. I was thinking if I sanded it lightly maybe the board would get a little lighter and maybe more responsive. If it’s a bad idea maybe I’ll have to order another one. I like swaylocks because I get to learn new things about my boards all the time and the more you know the more fun you’ll have. Thanks to everyone! Da Cheetah

5

Yeah it’s a bad idea.

Sanding the finish coat is only going to hit the weave and cause water intrusion. Your board is as light as a poly board is going to allow. 44 &4 glass job is light weight. It’s not a glassing issue, it’s a shaping issue

First try a different set of fins and see if that helps? Then next time adjust the tail rocker. or shape thinner, or thicker, or different rail shpe, or etc, etc.

or have you tried EPS/Epoxy in the same shape.

Put the board on Japans Craiglist if it sucks…life is too short to surf bad boards.

6 
Howzit DaCheetah, Try SURFFOILS idea first, the  rails sharp edge may be running to far forward or just to sharp. Just dull the edge with some 32o grit. You can always reshapen the edges if you resand the area on the bottom.Aloha,Kokua