Rise of the $900+ shortboard?

Good point. I like new boards- they make me happy..but I think more people here (and perhaps everywhere) should concern themselves with the wave quality rather than equipment. These amazing swells we had last couple MONTHS, ya know, if I only had the right PSB..Whatever makes people happy. There are kids surfing half boards and finless crap in central america right now better than most regular posters here and in way better waves. JOB on his foamie. I let experts debate fine points, then I sit in the line up here and don't see much amazing done. Up until recently my full time board was a beat up all round SB and I surfed all sorts of crap with it and caught plenty- I was more worried about having water time and a strong back.

 

I make boards. I've often thought about taking it to the next level. I turn most people that ask me to make them something away. The numbers just don't add up for me to take my hobby and turn it into a legit business and feed my family off of it. Not to mention the toxic nature of the process.

A typical HP shortboard costs me about $185 in materials and supplies. By buying better I might be able to get it down to $150. Start to finish I have 8 to 10 hours of labor between shaping glassing and finishing. What's my time worth? I'd like to value my time at $20 an hour. Perhaps invest $40,000 in a shaping machine to speed the process $$$$$$$ Next, consider the health risks......what's that worth? There I'm up to $385 in materials and labor plus an unknown health cost. I work in my backyard shed or a friend's shaping room but to go to the next level you need to rent a place......figure $1,000 a month there. Taxes$ Insurance$ Compliance$ Bring on employees $$$$$$ Now you need some marketing $$$$$. Then when its all said and done you need to sell those boards......lots of boards to make the numbers work. How are you going to sell them???? Guess you need a van a lot of gas and a plan to travel up and down the coast to shops. $$$$$$$$$$ A booth at Surf Expo $$$$$. Ad space in ESM or on-line $$$$$$$$

Then you get the ag factor. Things like the nitwit who doesn't want to admit he slammed into his fins popping a fin box and expects a free board or takes to the web badmouthing your product.

After all that (not to mention the risk that the business fails) I figure if I moved 300 to 400 boards a year I still wouldn't make $50,000 a year to support my family. Better get my logo on some shirts and start selling t-shirts cause the markup is better.

Bottom line, be glad boards are only what you're paying for them cause very few in the business are making a decent living off it and if they ever did the price of boards would be double what it is today. For the most part, people who make boards sure aren't into it for the money.

I'll stay in my little shed and keep it a hobby.

 

minor correction:
insert 'should' between You and get.
grey area.

 

Wise man

 

My dream

 

A man who knows the value of a dollar.