Garage Works - 6/29/2025

Got No.41 done!!!

Started off this morning by sanding the top deck - 40-80-120-180-220-320-400

Then I sprayed the top deck with regular gloss.  I let that dry while I got my hair cut.

This came out really nice!

I'm going to let the deck pads settle in for a day (so the bond is good and there is no slippage)

No.41 all pau!!!

Garage Works - 1/29/2025

I got the final sanding in today.  I also got the clear coat on - 

So this board is ready to go back to its owner (Scotty)!

Garage Works - 6/2/2024

I helped Marlon get the clear coat on his new longboard.  We opted to go with a 2K Clear Coat (2-part) and it saved us from having to deal with more fill coats and sanding.

It came out really nice!  We are going to need to fill in one area where there was an air bubble in the epoxy, but after that he can FINALLY surf this board (I think over two years in the making).

And after I got back from winging and helping Marlon spray the top deck, I got to work on getting the rough shaping done on No.36

I had to tweak the outline a bit - and it looks a whole lot better.  I got the rough shape dialed in to a high degree (probably close to 90%)

I'm thinking about putting footstraps on this one - I'm going to have to transpose where I believe I keep my feet when I'm Foil Drive-ing No.33

This is the top deck.

Or maybe I won't bother with the footstraps - I've got a few days to think about it.

I also got the box position decided on and marked the cut line.

If I have time, I'll sand the blank tomorrow and get the reinforcement block hole routed out.

I'm going to use carbon patches underneath basalt cloth on this one.  Will do a pigment fill coat top and bottom.

Garage Works - 5/20/2024

I passed on an evening session today to get No.36 over the finish line.

I sanded the last fill coat down and got the leash plug and vent leveled out.

Then I went through the whole sanding regime 40-60-120-180-220-and 320 wet sanding.

I opened up the mast track slots and faired them in.

Then I sprayed clear coat - a can and a half.

This thing is sick!!!

I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out.

I lined up the deck pads - going to use the Creatures of Leisure pads.  And I cut some filler strips also so I can spread out the factory pieces.

The wind is forecasted to come back to trade flow sometime this week - I'll get the deck pad on, drill a hole and install the vent, and get the leash loop on - anointment coming soon! 

It feels good to get this one done!

Garage Works - 4/14/2024

Yesterday had some stormy weather forecasted so I skipped the dawn patrol and focused fully on finishing Matt's light wind wing foiling board (No.35).

I did some light adjusting on the edges of the tracks, sprayed the entire board with a couple of layers of clear coat, and got the vent plug installed.

Here's the signature block for future reference - 6'6" x 20.5" x 3.75"

And just in time - Matt swung by to pick the board up.

I think he was more stoked than I was!

I told him to bring the board back once he figured out how he wanted the deck pad laid out.

On to the next one!!!

Garage Works - 1/30/2024

I got the clear coat on the bottom deck -

And the top deck today.

Tomorrow I'll outfit the board with deck pads and other accoutrements.

No.34 is almost done! 

No.31 Done

When I got home from work, I sanded the last two pinhole fills and then sprayed "satin" clear coat over the whole board.

No.31 is a 4'8" x 18.75" x 4" - so a narrower/thinner version of No.21 (which has been my go-to for quite some time).

You may be asking yourself - "self, why are his boards so rough looking?" - well, for my own boards I like an element of "combat survivor".

The finish smooth - but the laps and layers of different fabric show through.  Most of the cosmetic blemishes (authentic battle damage look) will get covered by the rear foot pad or the wax - so I never sweat this (on my boards - if I'm making one for someone, I'll make the effort to make it look nicer).

I'm guessing this is in the higher 30's for volume.  We'll see when I take it out (or when I fill the dunk tank again).  For reference, No.21 is around 50 liters.  Visually No.31 has a lot less volume.  I'm ok with this as I'm experimenting to see the effect of length in ease of catching waves (longer equals catching waves earlier) compared to the shorter boards I made last year, and even against No.30.  

No.29 All Pau

After unpacking from this morning's dawn patrol, I hit the garage to get No.29 across the finish line.

I sanded the vent and leash plugs flush, and also the small resin patches I applied a couple of days ago.  Then I ran through the 80-120-220 sandings, followed by the 320-600 wetsanding.

Then I hung the board up and sprayed the clear coat all over the board.

Marlon and I ran some errands while the clear coat was drying.  Once we were back I measured out the deckpad.  This is a three piece - straight middle spacer with sides to match the asymmetry.

This one came out really nice.

I got the leash tie on, the marine deck sticky patches installed, and waxed the board up already.  I forgot to drill out the vent and install the vent plug - I'll do this before heading out tomorrow morning (to anoint this board!!!)