I saw some of your posting on building surfboards from windsurfer blanks from about a year ago. Do you have any more pictures of the finish boards? How do they ride?
I was inspired by this. We got a bunch of 20+ year old blanks from Naish Hawaii to play with. The blanks are the old Clark Foam 8’8" and 9’8" windsurfer blanks. We built a 9’6" big guy high performance board with a “step rail” design to handle the extra thickness. The measurements are 9’6" x 16" x 24" x 14.75" x 4.75". Nose rocker is 5.75" and the tail rocker is 1.75". This should float a 275 lb. big guy.
Charlie Wong shaped it and used a plastic drinking cup and sandpaper to shape the step rails. I am going to ride it after work today and will post pictures and report on the performance.
The other blank is maturing in the rafters . It’s 7’11 , so considerably shorter [about a foot ] than the moonrocket .
I still haven’t decided what to shape out of it yet . It is already narrower and shorter than a mal [“longboard”], and more heavily rockered , too, so …
I rode the south shore with the board yesterday. The waves were overhead. It floated really well, in fact it was a bit corky. I had to get use to that. When it came to catching waves, it did not have the running glide like a longboard but caught waves more like a wave ski. Once the wave got under the board, the nose went down the the board took off. I caught my share or waves and the board could turn well once I found the sweet spot. If fact, I was blown away with how well it could turn. It is a very fast board and I was connecting a whole bunch of sections as the board easily drove over a bunch of flat spots.
I glassed the board with two 4 oz direct size s-glass on the bottom and the same on the top with a 6 oz. volan deck patch. I foam stained a yellow stripe between the two stringer both on the top and bottom. I dress the bottom with a shark camo pattern laminate. (If I get attacked by shark I’ll let you know… so far it worked! haha!). I installed FCS plugs for side bites and a 10.5" center fin box. I am using the Surfco Proteck 4" sides and 7" center fins.
This is a great solution for a big surfer that is looking for a little more performance and keeping the board under 10’. I think this board can easily work for a 300 lb + surfer that has some skills. I want to try it out this winter at the north shore.
Jez guys … time to bite the bullet and make your own blanks. You guys are wasting an incredible amount of time and energy fighting with a behemoth to get what you hopefully would want. Start with a simple rocker template that’s spot on, hot wire and your finished shape is exactly what you want … perfect. Easier and wayyyy more accurate.
Howzit Greg?!? I hear you about the blanks. I’ve been doing some sheet foam EPS, and the hot wire is right around the corner, for me. It’s like a whole new world, I’m stoked! Aloha…RH
Jez guys … time to bite the bullet and make your own blanks. You guys are wasting an incredible amount of time and energy fighting with a behemoth to get what you hopefully would want. Start with a simple rocker template that’s spot on, hot wire and your finished shape is exactly what you want … perfect. Easier and wayyyy more accurate.
yep , time consuming .
I’m having fun , you’re having fun …it’s all good !!
And when I want speed , I buy a blank , shape and glass it all in one day at Hicksy’s , if need be .
I would be seriously worried about us IF we shaped 6’5 thrusters out of 10’ long 5" thick windsurfers every board we did, though …
Balsa: That tail block is something we are starting to do with all of our round pintails. I am glad you like it.
Greg: The blank was free and it was challenging to build something that sat for over 20 years. The neat part about is that the board works well. We were expecting something that was stiff and unresponsive. I had a 250 lb guy ride it and a 200 lb. guy ride it also. The 200 lb guy started catching everything and once he found that sweet spot, he just ripped on the board. He said that he never rode anything like it. It turned well, he could take off early and still handle a late drop and out paddle the longboarders. The down side is that there is no way that board can duck dive. We were all surprised. If we did not shape behemoth, we would never discover this wonderful board. Sometimes we just get lucky and our experiments work.
Maona and I had our share of custom making blanks look at our threads on fishing surfboards /fishboards. We cut out 14’ blanks for our projects. See some of the pics attached. We just starting to work with EPS so more blanks are in the works. We are thinking about the combination paddle board / surfboard thread. That may be our next big challenge. But for now, we need to finish the two fishing boards.
yeah , the surf supplies guy had them [windsurfers] sitting high up above the office for years , and decided it was time for a cleanout , I guess.
Even better value [less shaping required] are the “packing blanks” [usually stringerless] , which some blank deliveries come with . They are usually "wedged into the corners , to stop the ‘real’ blanks’ getting damaged ", is what I was told . If there is a fairly tightly loaded truck, the chances are pretty good that the packing blanks don’t get to wrecked .
Just trying to point out a better way of achieving a better result that’s all. Versitility … Been around the block (or blank?) a time or two and just want to share a better path.
No, I agree it’s better to build an epoxy styro sandwich surfboard from parts, making it actually work well for boyz up to the 275 lbs range…
Just the material cost, and shipping, to Oahu can get beyond the financial availibility of many of the less than well advantaged surfers there.
There are literally HUNDREDS of unused, haven’t been used in 10 years, windsurfing boards already made, strong, and kinda heavy sitting around waiting for the little peek at the sunshine they used to revel in.
Huge difference between material cost of $250 for a handmade custom and maybe $30 or a case of beer for an old windsurf, surfsailing board.
Plus, it’s always nice to surf good on sumpdin a little off the beaten path.
I still sometimes surf on a early 90’s Seatrend 8’2" Slovak flat decked, mucho tail rockered hi wind windsurf board…just for fun, not great for bottom turn OTLip combos…
