I used to shape surfboards while in college at my apartment in southern California with my brother, who is also an avid surfer. So when I started getting into woodworking, I figured I would try my hand at making a hollow wooden longboard as a gift for him. I bought the frame from a company specializing in wooden surfboards, and is made from 1/4″ Mahogany ply, but for my next board I will cut these out myself. It was just a bit easier to do it this way for a first attempt at a board.
The ribs and spar of the frame were first assembled in the correct order, adjusted to make sure they were straight and at 90 degree angels to each other, then hot glued to a sacrificial table. The deck and base of the board are composed of ~3/8″ x 1 1/2″ strips of Redwood and Paulownia, with each strip glued to ribs and the adjacent strip. The board was then rough cut into the general final shape, and the rails of the surfboard were attached by bending and gluing long thin strips of Redwood and Paulownia to the outside of the rough cut shape. This gives a large, thick piece of solid wood surrounding the whole board, which was later shaped by hand using chisels and a belt sander, into the proper shape for surfboard rails. Nose and tail blocks of layered balsa and redwood were then attached and shaped by hand to blend into the rest of the board. It was finished with 2 layers of 6 oz fiberglass on the top and 1 layer of 6 oz on the base, and several coats of glassing and polishing resin.
Took it out in San Diego and it rides great!
I can’t imagine making one of those (good thing I don’t surf). I don’t think it would even fit in my shop!
just wondering how tall that board is and it’s thickness. L really like the rail foil, very much like what we do with an Evo board, very pinched rails. You used 1/4″ for spar, have you found that the board flexs? We use double 1/4″ and stager the pieces to get the lenght we need. what is the weight and what kind of rocker front and rear did you use?
NICE board design.
dan
no airvent? Or am I just overlooking something?
Very nice book match on the center of the board. I like the way you assembled and glued it.
Love the weights, can of paint and bottle jack. Use what you got nearby.
That’s a nice board you made, the grain and color compliment each other beautifully! I’d like to know how it compares to foam core boards. Does it tend to have more flex than epoxy? I live in San Jose too, so please let me know if you attempt another one of these, as and aspiring woodworker, I’d love to see the process.
That is so cool. How much did it end up weighing?
I was in Panama City, Florida last week. As I layed on the beach enjoying the warm weather, hand carving my Christmas gifts and watching people surf, I noticed in someones truck as I was leaving a surf board that looked very similar to yours. The beautiful colors looked much the same as yours. That sparked an interst of how I could do the same thing someday. Now that I see your project. It makes me want to think about a winters project. Thanks for sharing. I may ask other questions later?
What company did you purchase the plans from? Nice looking board.
That’s gorgeous. I’d hang it on my wall and I don’t surf.
DD and Riley – A canoe and a kayak are on my bucket list of things to build.
its a beauty
That’s awesome, I hope to build a wooden kayak soon in a similar fashion
Interesting. I never knew they could be built that way. Much like building a strip-planked canoe or kayak. Light weight and strong. Nice job!
DD
Wow, beautiful work. I’ve been wanting to make one of these for a while now. Truly nice work! How does it ride?