I decided to spend my month waiting for my work permit in Taiwan building a hollow wood board, oh and surfing a bit too. I am staying in a hotel and made the thing in my room, on top of the hotel, and beside the hotel. Here are a few pictures of the still continuing process.
The Deck
The fin room, I mean stairs
Thanks to everyone here and there who helped, especially my wife who not only tolerated me building this in our room, but encouraged it.
Thanks everyone.
Hopefully I get to surf it soon. I only used what I could find, and the brown resin has a 20 day cure time, so it will be a while. Interesting and rewarding project to say the least. I hope it rides.
That is simply awesome. Way to make due. The placement of the knot on the deck is sweet.
Beautiful Thomas.
I’m in awe at some of the boards people here on Sways make.
I agree the placement of the knot is perfect.
In a hotel room!!! Unreal.
Being in Taiwan must be fun.
Checked out the surf yet?
Pics would be great if an acceptable use of bandwith.
Man…THats too cool!!! Sweet board!! In a hotel room…unreal
greatttt 
got to love it!!
U actually made it in a hotel room… hahahahaha
and it’s a real beauty.
go surf it man! its amazing.
this has to be the craziest thing i have ever seen!
“im staying in a hotel and i thought id just whip up a board in my downtime!”
brother, you crack me up…
i have a full workshop at my disposal and i still struggle.
how the hell!!!
love to see you surf it there. please send in pics…
killer. shaping at its stealthiest. you’re awesome mate, & so is your wife!
Guerilla surfboard building
thomas you are doin it…
wrap it in black plastic and maybe the cure can be accelerated allow the venting inside pressure could blow the board up…
you did leave air exchange between chamber didn’t you?
did you seal the inside? in case of event of water invasion?
if not start # 2 while it is curing…
how’s the 4 th gear flyer?..
Thanks for all the nice comments everybody.
Ambrose, Yes I put little holes big enough for air to go through the chambers, and a nice brass bent plug. No I didnt seal the inside, because I was concerned about the bonding of the skins to the ribs and the skin if it was sealed. Number 2 is inevitable, but it might happen after we get a house. And the 4th gear flyer, I like it a lot. I like it more than my “other” mat. It is faster and more responsive, at least in 3 foot surf and smaller, and I can ride it without a shirt.
post assembly sealer?
mebe no sealer will allow the wood to dry from inside?
old time wood
… glass boats some said paint inside
resin outside allows wood oppertunity to breathe
… ambrose…
Looks great, cracked me up that you made it in a hotel, way to go> I think I’ll be telling people about that for a long while, a few years back I had a friend that tried to make a board in a hotel, got as far as glassing but they didn’t appriciate the smell of poly and asked him to stop. How were the staff about it?
Just thought Id post the finished for now (at least till I get a power sander) pictures. I guess Ill surf it soon. The staff of the hotel are really cool, I cant talk to them much, sometimes that is best.
photo op?
photos taken with the hotel staff
the mayor
the governor…
apply for consultant job at surfboard factory
taiwan what an oyster!
oh yeah an overseer job reping
overseas contractors inspecting work
quality control and board testing
your credentials are impressive…
take the board for your application
the production of luan plywoob surfboards
for decor alone would be an interesting market.
…the testing would be great.
the private jet to balian
,…ambrose…,
Hi Thomas -
If THAT’S not truly Swaylockian, what is? Absolutely amazing!
My vote for Board of the Year.
Not only did it turn out great… making it in a hotel with your wife’s encouragement(!) deserves lots of bonus credit.
WOW! Great work on that board. It looks like it goes really, really well.
This board illustrates a point that we sometimes forget that it is the designer/builder rather than the tools that matters most.
THE PRECIOUSSSSS…
sick pictures, Thomas!