Internal frame

Things are moving along on board #2. I put down a layer of 4 oz fiberglass and epoxy on the inside of the top deck and placed the frame cross pieces in. I was going to do a spine up the middle, but it doesn't look necessary. Placed a block inside for the center fin, which will also provide support under my back foot. Just finishing up the bottom skin, and will lay it up over the weekend. Still lighter than the first board, but is getting heavier...hopefully, when I shape the rails I'll be able to take some weight off.

Board update etc.

Really busy at the moment, but am taking some time to throw up some progress pics (and few other seasonal snaps). I built up the rails of the board and planed them down into a rough foil. I have some adjustments to make, but it's looking OK so far. I am now putting together the pieces for the internal frame. 

The waves have been great, nice swell and sunny conditions. Caught some fun ones over the last week, and must say it's been a great stress release from a busy work schedule. The pics below are from Kako, my local spot here in Noboribetsu (3 minutes from my door). Didn't take the wood board on the big days, didn't want kill myself or anyone else with it (rode my Chronic instead). Hopefully this one will be light enough to take out in the bigger surf.  

The flowers are out in the yard...it's starting to feel like summer. 

Board #2

I've got board #2 under way. I wanted to try a different building approach than the chambered design I used on the first board. Hopefully I can get the weight down on this one. I drew up a plan for a framed hollow board, but then ran across this link at Swaylocks:
http://www.flamasurf.com/eng/index.html

Here's a pic of the basic Flama approach which I'm going to use for this board.

So, I've already got my wood (Japanese kirizai and western red cedar), and have laid out and glued up the deck. I am now building the rails up, and will gradually add an internal frame. When that's done I'll build the bottom skin and press and glue it all together and shape the rails...at least that's the plan. I'm planning a diamond tail single fin, just under 7'...here some pics of my progress so far.

 The wood: Japanese Kirizai (Paulownia), and western red cedar.

 From the back

 From the nose

Building up the rails (5 cm wide to allow for shaping)

Test run

Here's a couple of pics from the parking lot before my first test run (sorry, no action shots). I had no idea whether or not it would even float...must say I was pretty anxious lugging it down to the water. But, after the paddle out to the line up, I could feel it would probably work, and it did. Stroked into a few nice little ones that first morning, and have since had it out half a dozen times. Overall,  I'm quite happy with how it goes. It rides pretty well considering the weight, although you wouldn't want to get hit by the thing. It picks up speed really well down the line, and rides smaller waves decently even at a smaller length (6'10") than I usually ride. If I can get the weight down 3 or 4 kilos, I think I may never have to buy a board again. Unbelievable feeling making something like this and riding it...

Board Completed

Finished! My first wood surfboard...actually my first surfboard build of any kind.

Just put the FCS plugs in and am putting a few coats of varnish on the area around where the plugs were sanded down. It finished up at 10 kilos, a bit on the heavy side, but I guess we'll have to see how she rides. Overall, pretty satisfied with it, The MR fins really suit the shape. The finish is pretty hit and miss, next time I'll go with satin varnish instead of the gloss. There are some runs and uneven areas in the finish, but after a bit of wax and few rides I'll probably look past those.

It's been a cool experience, learned a lot, already got the wood for the next one.  

Here she is: 6'10" x 22 x 3 1/4 Green Surfboards Hokkaido (第一号)、chambered fulcata

Board Update

Long overdue for an update on the board. Finished shaping and sanding, and have applied two coats of System Three Epoxy. The colors in the fulcata jumped out more than I expected, looks pretty cool. I have since sanded it down to prepare for the System Three Spar varnish. Unfortunately, I went down to wood in a few spots and have since had to recoat with epoxy. Now just waiting for a full cure on the epoxy, maybe by Wednesday I can start with the varnish.

On a side note, the sun has come out and the waves have been good for the last four days. With all the snow running off the mountains the current at Kako (the rivermouth where I surf) has been incredible...basically full on paddling the whole time you're out just to stay in place...but some really fun waves. 

reshaping and sanding

Got some more work done on the board this week. After chambering the center of the board last weekend, I took another look at the outline, and decided that the round tail wasn't really doing it for me. Since I had left the nose and tail solid, I decided to go with a swallow tail (despite wanting to try something new). I also tapered it down with a single set of wings to keep volume in the middle, but still narrow down the tail. The pics below are from right after reshaping, and a bit of sanding. I sanded after this for a few hours, and at long last it is looking ridable. Weight now is down to 9 kilo. The arial view shows how much sawdust and wood chips are accumlating in my yard, can't wait for the grass to come up...

Surfed a couple times last week, still snow on the ground, but it warmed up to +4...I actually surfed without a hood Thursday and Friday but suffured from some serious slurpee headaches when my head went under. The shape of the waves are pretty funky at this point this year, but it was still pretty fun.