My last 2 boards have been made using surfblanks red foam. Its a standard weight foam, and for shortboards where a dent free deck is wanted. Anyway, my boards have a 6 x 66oz glass job, and the other has a 6x64 glass job ( One is a fish, the other a 6’5’’ 2+1 ). My question is probably a stupid noob question, though i’ll ask anyway. Would dropping down to 4 x 44 increase flotation??. Im more than happy with both boards float, however, if by reducing the weight of glass , and increasing flotation, i might be tempted to make a shortboard.
BTW, the 6x66oz board is 12 months old, and has basically no dents on the deck at all. It is not a light board, but its not exactly a board i can throw around.
Im asking because i have a board on the shaping racks that may end up a shortboard ( though wider and thicker than most ), and im wondering if by dropping the glass schedule, and making it lighter, can i still have some decent paddle power?.
Ken, i’d be happy to compromise. Do you mean a double 4oz deck, but with a 3rd layer where my feet go??. I did a test piece on a scrap of foam ( for a resin tint ) with just a single 6oz layer, and i was surprised at how much it took to dent. I had to press quite hard with my thumb to dent the foam. I hand shape, and i dont mind thicker boards, so i only sand the deck until the crust is gone, so the deck foam is quite hard. I dont do airs ( as if i even could haha ) so i’d be willing to go light, just to see if it would ride/paddle/manouvere different. If it works,sweet, if not, i’ll do an experiment to see how much it takes to kill it.
lighter glass will make a lighter board, that will change buoyancy accordingly- overall pretty negligible. when we do short boards we usually use two layers of 4 oz with a butterfly deck patch for the back foot (and knee if its big enough/requested), or “pro-toes”- little half circles over the fins- to reinforce the rails from pressure from your heel, and ball of foot.
The board im shaping is 15n x 20.5 - 1" x 16’’ tail. Its kind of a cross between a fish, and nugget. I want it to be as manouverable as it can be but i dont want to lose any width, as ( at 6’3’’ ) its much shorter than i wanted due to me changing my mind and changing the template haha. I also want it be as bouyant as it can be without being too weak. I think i will try the 4oz bottom ,and 4x4oz deck, or a 4oz deck, but with a 1/2 length 6oz patch, from tail to where my front foot goes. If it dents, it dents.
4 oz bottom, 2 x 4oz deck with extra 4oz patch on red foam will be plenty strong, if you can get it (and can afford it) leave out the patch and use s glass. seeing as how you are only skinning the deck it will be really strong anyway. ( except where you thin the tail.)
Nothing beats the lively feel of a board with a 4oz glass schedule. Just a bummer when it disintergrates.
Cheers for the reply daren. As long it doesnt fall apart in a few weeks i’ll be happy. Im not hard on my boards so i think i’l be ok. I can live with a few dents if it means i can try a board with a more lively feel than my other boards. I can’t throw my other boards around, not that i mind, i like having a strong board, and in the junk i like the extra glide,momentum they have, but i would like to try a lightweight board just to see if
A.) I like it
B.) Im able to ride a lightweight/ more responsive board
C.) i’ve been “overglassing” the boards i have.
D.) a lighter boards means i can ride a smaller board