Surfboard, What to do with it?

[Paul Steiner]

I inherited this large balsa surfboard. It was sitting in the back of a storage closet at my school's shop and I was told I can do what I like with it. Its 12' long 23" wide about 1.5" on the edge and almost 3" thick in the middle. The bad news is that the surface is in bad shape, niks, dents, scratches, nail holes, etc. I think that I can salvage it and maybe make a 9' or 10' long board, but I know very little about surfboard construction.
So I need some help and advice maybe some plans or templates. Any creekers out there with any surfboard experience? Right now I am wondering about the shape of the new board and how to fill dents if I have to.

Or should I cut this up and make gliders?

[Vic Damone]

I'd take it off you hands but a fifth balsa board on the wall would put my better half in a questionable mood.

Google 'balsa surfboards' for a start. The key measurements are to measure 12" from each end, at that point measure across from side to side. These are called the nose and tail measurements. Along with your other measurements they should give the potential buyer a good description.
I'd take it off you hands but a fifth balsa board on the wall would put my better half in a questionable mood.

Google 'balsa surfboards' for a start. The key measurements are to measure 12" from each end, at that point measure across from side to side. These are called the nose and tail measurements. Along with your other measurements they should give the potential buyer a good description.



Excuse me, I didn't read your post thoroughly. You want to construct a surfboard? The piece you have may be too narrow in the tail or back. This would need another piece of balsa and a few redwood or cedar stringers (1/8"-1/2" wide) laminated in the center of the plank to give you the width and thickness you'd need for a more traditional cigar shaped longboard.

The learning curve to shape a board is simply to much to waste your balsa on a first attempt. Then there's the glassing which is usually done by specialist. I would suggest looking up a balsa board builder as near to you as possible and let him shape your blank and use his glasser. This may be more than you'll want to spend. The upside is that it will actually be ridable, be nice enough to put on the wall, or sell.

If you decide to go this route I would be happy to sketch the order for your longboard that would suite your weight. Typically, balsa boards are shaped overly traditional and they're difficult to ride. These boards appeal to old guy's like me who actually rode those shapes back in the day, and who usually put them on the wall after a few rides.

A typical polyurethane foam longboard should cost no more than $850-$950 brand new and weigh 15-20 lbs. A balsa will generally run twice as much or more and weigh in at almost 30 lbs or more.