For Sierra

Finally finished!  Here is board number 3.  I actually finished it at the end of last year, but with a new little baby in the mix i didn't have time to post.  My wife is very happy and i am sure she will enjoy it even more when she has the chance to get it in the water!


It is a big improvement over the first two boards i made weighing in at 3.8 kgs or 8.4 lbs including glassed on fins.

Here is a new fin for the board i'm working on. i'm still digging the snowboard core wood, it's nice and light and the colors pop when it's glassed.

Here is a shot of the rail. The layers of cork, balsa and ply give a nice pin strip effect.

The angled grain on the top was out of necessity as the birch ply came in a 5 foot square piece, but it ended up looking great.

Just need to find the time to glass this one!

I've been enjoying this board a lot recently. It makes small summer surf fun! I love the white wax on the dark color.

Board No. 2!

Here are some pictures of my second board. I am happy with the result, however the true test will be in the water! Here is a brief description of the construction:

The rails are a laminate of 1/8th of an inch poplar ply, 1/4 inch balsa and 1/4 inch cork.
The top deck is 1/8 inch birch ply and the internal structure is Balsa.
I used a dark stain on the wood before glassing, i am not sure if i would do this again as the dark color tends to show all of the imperfections in the glass. I am using resin research epoxy glass and i am still figuring out how to get the best results, however i was more efficient this time, using a lot less resin.

The fins are cut from an uncompressed snowboard core, i shaped and glassed them before glassing them on to the board.

I also got my hands on some goretex valves which means the valve can stay in and doesn't need to be removed.

The board is considerably lighter than No. 1, and more inline with a standard foam board.

Finished!!!

The weather finally warmed up and i glassed my 1st board! Here are the pictures of the finished product. It is 6' x 21 1/2" x 2 1/2" . Stoked. I have already had it in the water and had some fun rides... and no leaks!! The wood is on order for no. 2!

Latest board shots!!!

Its been a long time between posts, a busy summer has meant little time in the workshop!

Progress... I think!

Here are the latest pictures.  In no particular order.

Here is the bottom boards being glued together.  4 boards at a 1/4 inch thick, it was a little tricky to get them flat and lined up!

The frame.  I am building a little boat!
Here is the frame sitting on the original rail mold.
Another one of the frame.
The rails being glued up into the shape of the board.  Clamps and duct tape!
The tail shape.
I love clamps!