New board

That seems overly expensive. Albeit i am in a different part of the country, but the last custom board i ordered from a pro shaper was only $460, it was a 5'7 quad tho.

 

Seems like a lot for "some guy at work"

Have you seen his shapes? Is he a big name in your area?

I THINK the materials for a short board cost about 300 to 400(high end).

Google green light surf supply- they sell kits for about 300

I would bail on the idea - tell him it's more then your looking to spend and want to keep it under 450.

I don't even think you could say that your supporting a local shaper since he has a job and is just doing it on the side... (Making boards is not his full time job, it's a hobby)

 

I can shape a board fins and all for around $200. $700 is crazy, don't support that local shaper he's out of his mind. For a local guy who shapes a decent board I wouldn't pay over $450, for some guy from work not over $350. The fact that he wants to charge that much should tell you something. As a shaper gets better at his craft he can bang out a board in no time and afford to charge less. A beginner struggles and thinks his work is worth more than it actually is. I'm betting this guy is a beginner. Time wise the price on one of my boards is about $2000, quality wise about $150.

 

Must have been mentored by Roy

 

supporting is fine, but don't feel guilty about going to a shop or trusted shaper and paying less for a good product

 

+1. $700 custom from some guy...I don't think so.

 

that's a lot of scratch. is his last name takayama?

 

Not sure what "high end" means, but that is about exactly double the cost of the materials to make a short board:

Blank $75
Resin $40 (gallon - enough for TWO boards)
Cloth $20
Fins, Futures fin boxes or FCS plugs, leash cup $60

 

Probably the guy thinks you're an azzhole and doesn't want to make you a board.

 

...and a kook.

He should be doing it for just the cost of materials, just so he can get the practice...but, at this point, you should bail.

 

You can pay $700 for a Christenson, and I can guarantee you'd get a way better board. I paid under $500 for a custom 5'8" quad fish with the most expensive fin setup you could buy at the time, from a "name" shaper.

In other words...look elsewhere.

 

Oh shoreline? Yeah never heard of it. 700$ for a custom is high. Unless its a richard brewer or matt biolos. My guy at essence surf makes amazing customs with paint jobs and lamination prints for 390-550 and they are sick. But if you can afford 7 bills for a 6-4 step up custom, more power to you. Too rich for this marine though

 

$100 per board foot is what you should expect to pay a reputable local board builder who's going to produce a product that is superior to whatever off-the-rack big name label you're considering... especially if you're going to request dims that are three decimal points long and want to "help."