Order a blank, fiberglass & resin/hardener from greenlight. All you need is sand paper, a planer (for the stringer) & a rasp to help you take off lots of foam at once. I have codes to watch shaping videos from greenlight, which helped me tremendously. Pm me if you want them. Oh & build a horse to shape the board on. I made the horse from scrap wood around the house & looked up blue prints online. Below is the board I shaped. 5'5" x 19" x 2 3/4"
The first board I shaped was a mini longboard( 7'6") and it rode ok and caught waves easily ( I called it "The Wave Hog") but it is really quirky as far as sweetspot and turning. The second one I made was a big fish -6'4" and 22" wide with a swallow tail and lots of rocker. It surfs great for the waves it was made for and I am very happy. I have just shaped, and am getting ready to glass a 9'3" hplb and am worried as far as how it will work. I am no where near the skill level to make myself a shortboard for good waves, yet. But it is fun learning. A giant PITA, but fun and rewarding. So my point is don't have any great expectations, except to learn from your mistakes.
Not necessarily easier to do glassons, but if you don't have the install kit or jig or whatever, then it's cheaper. And they ride great....
I'll be able to hook u up with a perfect hollow wood blank if u want. No need to glass my blanks. Plus my blank is foiled and outlined so it's limited to what you can do but it's designed to become a nice shape. Just hit me up
