Project Information
My son graduated from law school so I made hiim a surfboard as a present. He was a long time beach life guard and surfer in Bethany Beach DE. Some information on the board:
o the frame of the board is made from 6mm Okoume plywood rescued from a boat yard dumpster in Annapolis
MD
o The skin of the board is 1/8 inch redwood rescued as 2×4's from a fence in Bowie MD
o The Rails are made from 6mm Okoume plywood and sheets of cork
o The green design is a celtic weave that includes the heads of the mascots of the two schools he graduated from - University of Maryland (BA) & Catholic University in DC (JD)
o The finished board is 6' 8 tall and weighs approximately 19 pounds, which is substantially heavier than a foam board but they say it provides more bouyancy than a foam board and will last a life time.
o There is an air valve inserted in the top front of the board to allow the board to "breath" when it is out of the water. If the board is left in the hot sun without letting the air escape, the hot expanded air would eventually "burst" the board.
o I actually made three boards and used one as a "sacrificial" board - to learn each process as I progressed through each stage.
I found the most difficult part of the build was applying the fiberglass and epoxy finish. I had never used the finish before and it was difficult to get the deep mirror finish that boards are known for. I worried about sanding through the fiberglass.
o the frame of the board is made from 6mm Okoume plywood rescued from a boat yard dumpster in Annapolis
MD
o The skin of the board is 1/8 inch redwood rescued as 2×4's from a fence in Bowie MD
o The Rails are made from 6mm Okoume plywood and sheets of cork
o The green design is a celtic weave that includes the heads of the mascots of the two schools he graduated from - University of Maryland (BA) & Catholic University in DC (JD)
o The finished board is 6' 8 tall and weighs approximately 19 pounds, which is substantially heavier than a foam board but they say it provides more bouyancy than a foam board and will last a life time.
o There is an air valve inserted in the top front of the board to allow the board to "breath" when it is out of the water. If the board is left in the hot sun without letting the air escape, the hot expanded air would eventually "burst" the board.
o I actually made three boards and used one as a "sacrificial" board - to learn each process as I progressed through each stage.
I found the most difficult part of the build was applying the fiberglass and epoxy finish. I had never used the finish before and it was difficult to get the deep mirror finish that boards are known for. I worried about sanding through the fiberglass.