You can’t make a good board without a good template. You will see very quickly that each step of surfboard making depends on a well-executed step before it. If you take a shortcut or get sloppy in any step, it usually leads to a compromised result. With this in mind, a good outline template is [...]
My latest work is an EPS version of my tried-and-true “Reverse Mullet Round Pin” good-wave design. This one is a 6’4″ x 20 1/4″ x 2 1/2″ for my friend Doug. He was coming off a 6’6″ that he felt was too heavy and sluggish for his liking, so this one is an attempt to [...]
My latest creation is a 5’10″ x 21.25 x 2.5 low-rockered groveller (hopefully). Ready for glassing. Pretty much the same build as #13 in terms of materials: Marko 1.9 Pescado Blank; Opaque Pigment Kwick Kick Resin; UV Clear Resin-X Seal Coat; FCS Fusion fins. These opaque pigments are cool looking, BUT twice as much laminating [...]
Momentous occasion here, as I have begun board #010. It has been about 18 months since I started shaping, so 10 boards in that time is a pretty good clip for a hobbyist. Board #010 is an oversized fish-type board with a diamond tail. I was going to do a swallow, but I fell in [...]
Started shaping #008, the 6’1″ Pig, this morning. Shaped from about 11am-2:30, then from about 4pm-5pm. In that time (4.5 hours) I was able to trace and cut the outline, true up the outline, adjust the rocker, shape the concave, and foil the entire board to thickness. I could probably save at least an hour [...]
I just finished the design and made the template for #008, a 6’1″ Pig shape. This board will be for my friend Greg, designed to replace an 80s 6’4″ WRV thruster. I wanted to bring that design “back to the future” by squashing down the nose 3″ and effectively giving it a wider nose, shorter [...]
After making 4 boards in my garage with just one overhead spotlight, I decided it would be worthwhile to simulate what more experienced shapers have with proper side-lighting. Since I don’t have the luxury of a dedicated shaping room or workshop, I came up with these “shaping room on wheels” walls. Each wall has an [...]
Board #005 is another RMRP designed to address the shortcomings of #004. Basically, I made #004 a touch too thin, and felt like I could use a similar shape with more buoyancy/paddle speed, especially in winter when I’m wearing a 5MM suit, boots, gloves, and hood. I figured an extra inch of length wouldn’t hurt [...]
Here is my first attempt at shaping and glassing a surfboard. I designed the board on my computer using the free design software “akushaper”. My intention was to make a short, wide, flat board that would be good for very small, mushy waves. I wanted this to be a longboard replacement that was skatey, lively, [...]