Hey, I am trying to find out the costs of production of a surfboard in the US. I am not talking about boards made in the back yard, but professional outfits. Costs such as blanks, Resin, Glass Fibre, Shaper comission (if Ghost Shaper) Shop profit, and associated taxes. can anyone hep me out here?? J.
i also was wondering the profit of a surfboard. i have a pretty loose idea of the cost of a completed board 120-180/short-long… i know they are sold from 400-700 in shops but always wondered what shapers got for 'em… jg
Generally when its all said and done the board gets marked up about $100 to the shop then the shop will mark it up about another $100. this is for shortboards and this varies somewhat between manufactures.
I’m not sure where you are getting your figures for a professionally produced board . . . a longboard blank is around $80 and most glass shops will charge around $230 - $250 for a clear glass job with a single box . . . that’s without any shaping costs or the price of a fin. The margins for surfboards are extremely slim . . . the industry seems to keep going based more on passion than profit!
“I’m not sure where you are getting your figures for a professionally produced board . . . a longboard blank is around $80 and most glass shops will charge around $230 - $250 for a clear glass job with a single box . . . that’s without any shaping costs or the price of a fin.” ---------------------------------------------------------- This is a shortboard pricing. Im not up to date on all the costs anymore but figure blank 60 glassing 160 shapers price varies.
my costs did not include labor and include everything done in house… i’m sure it’s much more when you have outside costs ( glassing etc ) jg
Shortboards cost about $225 to make. That depends on the shop and the shaper but that pays for materials and labor ONLY. Surf shops usually pay around $300 for a medium priced line. That leaves $75 to pay for overhead, team, advertizing, promotion, insurance, phones, workmans comp, taxes, transportation costs, etc. Yea, surfboard builers are rollin’ in dough!
Howzit Greg, I was talking with one of the owners of Fiberglass Hi. about how they got started. They originally started as a glassing factory,but the only ones making any money were the employees. So being business minded they decided to become a supplier instead, good choice I’d say. Aloha, Kokua
I heard that the original owners are long gone and Ted bought it for a song. I’m kinda surprised no one has really given them a run.
Just out of curiousity, how much profit is there in a $675 surfboard? Not counting shipping. It`s custom made (complete, clear, glossed w/fin), working directly with the customer. By a famous shaper employed for many years by Bing Surfboards. Thanks in advance!
Clarification of my previous post: A custom made, no frills, 9`-2", clear with gloss coat, classic foam blank, one 1/4" stringer, repro style, glassing schedule ala 1968, with fin box and fin, shaper working directly with the customer. By a famous designer-shaper who was employed for many years by Bing Surfboards. Thanks in advance!
OK. Take my original number above $300, add $50 for the additional blank cost, add another $100 for the additional glassing costs, add $70 for the gloss and rubout, add another $50-150 for the longboard shape by a ledgend, $25 for the fin, $100 for the shop and gee,… tell me if anyone’s gettin’ rich here?
Howzit Greg, It was Teds partner Jim who told me the history of F.H. But he made it sound like they started F.H… I’ll be making an order next week and I’ll see if I can more info on the subject. What amazes me is they are cheaper then most of the suppliers on the mainland(even before shipping costs) and prices are about the same as the Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara stores. Aloha, Kokua
Ocean frieght isn’t very expensive if your doing a good amount. And then if your buying that kind of quantity I see how the math can work.
Howzit Greg, might of misunderstood me. What I meant was FH.prices are cheaper than what I’ve seen available over there. It costs me about $22.00 for shipping from Oahu via Young Bros. I don’t bring in 55 gal. drums because disposing of them is a hassle,but no problem with 5 gal. containers. I know I could get a better price but easy disposal of the empty containers are worth the extra cost. Also FH. has always taken very good care of me,they made a mistake on my last order and Ted offered to ups the product to me. Also if I order something before 10:am I receive it the next day via the post office. Theie customer sevice is tops as far as I’m concerned. Aloha, Kokua
Greg: Just read your"surfboard costs" paragraph. So true. I’m rolling in the dough so deep I’m drowning.Naw, if it wasn’t for the free boards I make myself and the freedom to surf when it’s good,I think I’d do better working as an employee at a major volume factory.I’m sure you know what some of these FCS installers and sanders can make in a day if the work is there everyday.Besides the expenses you named,just think of the little stuff that creeps into the overhead;the so called miscellaneous expenses.Fluorescent bulbs,rubber gloves,razorblades,new powerpads,triggers,brushes,tool repair,business licenses,safety/osha stuff,towels,tarpaper,plastic sheeting,tape,disc adhesive,respirators & cartridges,state & Fed unemployment ins.,etc,etc. Shoot, I don’t even really have the freedom to surf anytime anymore:the bigger you get the more responsibilities you have as well as deadlines to meet. I’d love to have a manager or secretary at least,but there’s no $$$ for that luxury.Hell, that weekly salary could be a tiny ad in a surf mag.(Or some profit.)what’s that? Oh yeah,more misc. expenses:trade show booths,displays,racks,fixtures,point-of-purchase signs & banners,stickers to give away,heck,even T-shirts.I never seem to make any money on those! Alright, I’ve vented now. I do love the business though,& always appreciate your input. Thanks for the response about Don Bennett,I know he was in Hawaii making boards, his logo says Sunset Beach.He’s sort of a mysto-legend around here,I learned to glass in an old garage in the woods where his set-up was.The back door was fiberglassed with “SURFBOARDS BY DON” in it.I wish I had taken that thing now. Chow.
great to see someone else paddling the same style canoe up the no good river http://feraldave.com