Springer build

[Surfdad]

Sunnova surfboards has a unique feature on some of their boards called a "springer". In this picture you can see the shadow of the springer. It's, I believe, a shaped piece of balsa or basswood.

[Surfdad]

I wanted to build a similar board or at least a similar build methodology and set about to reproduce it. In short, I hotwired the rocker. Then hotwired a split creating a top and bottom half of the board. Next I routed a "pocket" for my springer material (I used basswood). The springer is free floating meaning that it's not glued to the top and bottom halves. I then used some 2 oz eglass and vacuum bagged the top and bottom together. Once that was cured, I cut an outline to allow for perimieter stringers. I wanted the stringers to intersect the fin boxes so the curve towards the tail is pretty sharp. I tacked the perimeter stringers to the EPS core so that they didn't move when I was bagging them to the core, plus added rail material to allow shaping.

What I found interesting was that the perimeter stringers are "pre-tensioned" following the curve of the outline as they do. When I attempted to twist the blank, it had a decided "twang" back into place. It got me thinking abou the potential to pre-tension the springer material such that the board had more projection out of turns or pop off the lip.

Pictures of the build process described above:

[Surfdad]

More:

[Surfdad]

Final pictures of the "blank" built up.

The first shows the unadulterated picture, the second what the final shaped blank will eventually look like, I intend to cut the outline similar to the black lines.

[Surfdad]

So I have been thinking. I believe I mentioned above that this blank had a wierd feel to it as I pulled tried to twist it in my hands. It had a decided "twang" and would return to it's original shape QUICKLY. In looking at the perimeter stringers they are under some type of tension as they form the eliptical shape. This got me thinking as to possibly pre-tensioning the springer material and then also, maybe pre-tensioning the stringer material by cutting them in a sort of upside down U shape. The concept being that a slight flex of the board would then return back to it's normal shape aiding projection.

A visual of a pre-tensioned springer - think a long bow.

[KonaKing]

Jeff you da man. i have finally finished my first board but have no been able to ride it.

[Surfdad]

Thanks KonaKing - do you have pictures of your finished board? I'd love to see it.

[KonaKing]

here you go Surfdad not really org but shaped from 2lb foam built it all myself from hot wire to future box jigs

[KonaKing]

heres more

[KonaKing]

more

[KonaKing]

No particular order but you get the idea

[Surfdad]

I love the Macgeyver Futures jig! Sweet! That is a great looking swallowtail! Nice smooth outline. Can you tell us a bit more about it, please? LOA, glassing schedule, etc. It looks like you have some other builds in progess? I see a squash and a round tail too. C'mon post up your builds...I like all the details...PLUS I love your ingenuity with the jig...what ele have you got?

[KonaKing]

hey I will try and catch up with you and Matt smedman tonight

[Surfdad]

I did some mowing of foam, close tolerance blank now.

[eks]

Nice work guys!

Looks like a fun hobby!