total overkill dent proof deck

So I finally got around to cutting a section of deck off one of the lifeguard rescue boards and trying to do something about the denting and delam problems where the guards kneel. It was a board the town was going to toss out, so I felt like I had some room for experimenting.

After cutting out a big section of the deck, I cut and sanded the foam and stringer down a bit to make room for a layer of 9 ounce 8HS weave cloth (don’t ever use that stuff… it’s such a tight weave that getting the air out from underneath is a real chore), a 2mm thick section of Coremat, and a thin layer of resin with 3M glass bubbles, a bit of Cabosil, and some pigment, sanded flat to smooth off the top of the Coremat and set up a good surface for the top layer of glass cloth. I used vinyl ester resin.

Oh. My. God. I had no idea vinyl ester resin is that hard to sand.

I think I’d need to hit it with a hammer to dent it.

Mission accomplished, I think…

Hi

It will be fine on a paddle board.

Coremat is not the best for anti delam. 2mm is a little thin.

Vinylester resin likes to stay somewhat uncured, is flexible, and sometimes allow the layer underneath to compress, with disasterous effects.

But it’s gotta be TONS better than two soft dents…by the way, which lowered the center of gravity for the paddler and helped located the trim position of the board.