Building a Wakesurf

[BJM]

I decided to bit the bullet and try to build my own wakesurf board. I ordered a kit from Green light surf supply. It comes with a blank, fiberglass, resins, and some basic tools to shape and glass.

I know I want to make a surf style board. I have my shape in mind. Currently, I ride a Phase5 AKU. I'm going to copy some things I like and try to change some things I don't like.

Anything anyone likes about a perticular shape, rails, fin setup, rocker, or tail shape?

Does anyone have any advice on building a board, shaping foam, or fiberglass work?

Thanks,

Billy

[Bryan]

I can't help with anything your wondering about... But it sounds like a pretty fun project... I'm just subscribing so I can watch your progress.. Post pics along the way if you don't mind please

[NICKYPOO]

Lots of interesting stuff here if dig for it. I'm more of a skimmer but I really like the feel of his boards.

http://jameswalkerwakesurfing.com

If you're lucky, Chaos will chime in. He's probably forgotten more than most of us will ever know.

[retox1]

Which kit did you buy? I've considered doing this myself, but i always stop myself from buying the kit. Every time i start to consider it, i decide i'm better off just putting the cash for a kit towards a board someone else made.

[BJM]

I bought the beginner shapers kit and one extra blank just in case things go south. My brother bought the kit that comes with the blank, resins, and fiberglass but without the tools. Shipping for 1-7 boards is the same so we figured get them together.

I seriously contemplated just buying a board too. I figured this would be fun and something different. Hopefully I end up with something that is atleast rideable. I'm keeping my expectations very low!

Anyone feel free to tell me what board you ride and what you like and don't like about it. Any info is appreciated from my end. Even if it is not exactly construction related.

[UNSTUCK]

This is my goal for next winter. I think I could keep myself busy building boards. I look forward to your feedback on these kits.

[dakota4ce]

I have some blanks from the Doomswell boys if anyone wants to buy them? I think I have 4 blanks, and was planning on making a blunt nose honu type of board.

They would be cheap!

[Chaos]

Getting a kit from Green Light or Foam Ez (bit pricer) and many others. I even offered kits for awhile, you could choose a raw blank or one of my CNC'd shapes. A cnc'd shape is a good introduction to board build, you aren't really shaping, all you are doing is smoothing, but will give you a board worth glassing with very little effort.

1st: Figure out the type of board, the size of your board and the rocker. Since Green Light sends the blank center cut, but without the stringer glued in to save shipping volume costs, you have the opportunity to bend more or less rocker into the natural rocker of the blank.

2nd: You likely bought a fish or shortboard blank, so it is going to have a lot more volume and rocker than you need, not to mention quite a few more inches of length.

3rd. Envision your board sitting somewhere in the middle of the blank and get rid of everything that isn't your board.

4th. If you do not own a power planer, get a cheap one at discount tool store. If willing to put a few bucks in for a better planer, a Hitachi P20s, Dewalt or Mikita 3-1/4th inch planer are good choices, good power, adjustability and not too heavy.

EPS requires a bit more pressure and a firmer hand than PU. To prevent tearing or gouging you will find the right pressure and whether it is better to push or pull.

Nick

[dakota4ce]

Oh yeah, don't also underestimate how messy foam bits are! They go literally everywhere.

[BJM]

Thanks Nick for the advice. I thought about calling you to see if you had some type of kit you offered. I'm just a few hours up 35 from you I think (I think you are in Austin correct?). My in-laws live in Lockhart so we are down that way a bunch.

I ordered a 5'9" shortboard blank. I plan to take a little off the front to have less nose rocker than a traditional surfboard. Then I plan to cut the majority off the back to get rid of the majority if the tail rocker.

My plan is to have a blunt nose and just a broad rounded tail.

Can anyone explain the effects of different tail shapes?

[Chaos]

Tails are all about surface area and affecting the amount or how water/energy is pushing against the tail.

Two basic tail types: Cut Tails (swallow, v-tails, fishtails, battails etc) and Solid Tails (squashes, pins, rounded pins, etc). Everything else is just a combination of the two.

Pin tail: Because of the acute point, less energy can be focused on the tail or any point on the tail, good for control in fast steep waves, where speed or 'capturing' energy is not an issue.

Squash or square tail: broader surface area for energy 'capture'.

Cut tails/swallowtails: even more surface area, therefore more energy can push against the tail.

Stealth tails, fang tails, toad tails, etc., these are all just a swallow tail with a squash, rounded pin, etc., slammed into the middle. Only works on wide tailed boards.

Beyond certain basics, the tail shape is often just a gimmick to separate models from other similar boards, and often a personal preference or what is hot at any given time. Bat tail quads were all the rage for awhile, now they look dated. Wide square and angular/diamond cut tails are much more popular now.

For wakesurfing: wider tails tend to launch or lift out of the wake easier for airs (more pop) and recover easier from stalls,etc., when landing, but a wider tail can be much more slippery (when wet) especially as each year goes by and more and more boats start to produce bigger steep wakes.

Nick

[UNSTUCK]

Great information. Do you have any pictures to show the different tail sections you were talking about?

[Bryan]

Wow! I had no idea tail shape had such an affect.. I have a question about a board choice for my wife and kids.. I don't want to disrupt th thread so I'll start a new one.

[NICKYPOO]

Great information. Do you have any pictures to show the different tail sections you were talking about?

Extremely plentiful info on the web about that.

[BJM]

Made some progress on the board

image.jpg

image.jpg

image.jpg