So I semi-broke an epoxy LB the last decent swell we had and am now wondering what I can do about the remaining pieces. I'll post some pics. As you will be able to see the crack is towards the end of the board (a 9'2" board I had just acquired on CL and was trying out) so there is an option to repair and return it to longboard status but I was thinking it might be easier (and potentially cooler) if I cut off the end and reshaped it to semi-mini simmonsish/short loggish shape. It's a degree 33 board which has these cool channels running up the bottom which could provide the smaller shape with an interesting ride. bla bla bla what you guys think? the chop off and make shorter route I can most likely do but to repair the entire board will prob entail more work, time, and know-how than I have at the moment so it would have to be sent to a repair guy. thoughts?
I was hesitant at first, but now seeing the buckle, I would say it would take a full professional overhaul to return the integrity of that front end. CHOP IT!
the city of Wilmington has some pretty strict codes against any sort of sacrificial rites in the city limits. believe me I've thought of that
Im leaning that way... it'd come out to be about a 6'4" board. real wide... I'd prob drop some fin boxes in it... whatdya think,,, make it a twin fin? tri? four?
scratch that...the chopped board would be 6 ft long and at the widest point 23 inches wide..tapering down only to 22 inches at the repaired end. I'm 6 ft tall, and have never weighed over 170. Im prob 165 now. in other words, a matchbox can float me
How badly is the board buckled. I mean is it completely snapped through the entire board with no structural integrity left at all, or did it just overflex to the point of damaging the skin? If it still has strength, and rode good as a 9'2" I would just cut out all off the bad glass around the snap, and reglass with several layers of 6 ounce cloth and epoxy resin. Chopping the front three feet of that board off will leave you with a 6 foot board that is three inches thick at the nose, and has almost no rocker whatsover. I cant even imagine trying to produce something ridable from that starting point, and from something with epoxy sandwich construction.
yea I have reservations too... to answer you, no it is not buckled all the way thru. but the problem is I bought it knowing that there was a prior buckle at the same spot. these pop-out boards obviously just don't repair well. the prior repair looked and felt great on an earlier session in smaller surf, so i figured I was golden taking it out on a chest high day. I took off on a bomb and the wave broke directly on top of where my feet were planted mid-bottom turn. I really had bought it to add to my quiver of boards i loan out to friends when they come to visit so even a crappy repair job will suffice for them. I was just trying to think outside the box. thanks for the advice!
I rode a flat fish for 2 years, 3 inches thick and 22 wide, GIANT swallow tail, it was sic, no rocker, perfect for east coast junk, LOTS of float....I sold it at eastern lines in....BELMAR NJ
yo MISter! sounds wild. how long was that fish? Let's hope that someones catching 23 fters with that thing in Belmar to this day .
6'2" and it had 0 rocker, really just step on the swallow tail and the giant twin fins took care of the rest. no bottom turns, just drop in with your line set already, it would struggle with head high and hollow, but that's what other boards are for
cool. I'd like to give it a try. I've always fantasized about this kinda conversion. and if nothing else I could always just use it as a kneeboard!
I didn't read all of these, however, my "go to" board when we have small, weak surd is a former Hickman longboard and was chopped and made into a 6'4" fish. Personally, that is something to have in an East Coast quiver. It can get into tiny waves and into waves early. Sure a skilled longboarder can beat you in the paddle battle or get into the wave just before you, but you can surf A LOT and NOT LONGBOARD. Not dissing longboards and I have one myself, but I highly recommend that if you like surfing a shorter board, getting a different feel and not surfing next to me (no offense). Why do I love this? Hmm, I can surf on a lot of days that people call flat and not use a longboard at that, can turn (although not as good as a traditional shortboard). I see a lot of people call it "flat", "not worth it", yadda, yadda. Just saying...
