Surfboard repair

JOJO · Since 12 Mar 2008 91 Posts PDX

Hey,
Just wondered if anybody has some advice for my Christmas Holiday project. Need to fix my surfboard that had a rough encounter at Lyle. One of the rail fins punched through the bottom and even damaged the deck. You can see from the pictures further details. Wonder how to tackle the job, what to do and what materials to use. Obviously I am in need of glas fiber and polyester resin, but I wonder with what foam to fill up the damaged area. The current foam has to be taken completely out the damaged area I assume. I don't care really how it will look afterwards as long as it holds up nicely. Oh, one more: where to I get material and one set of two of fin receptors/bases? Don't know yet if I can re-use them.

Anyhow, any advice will be greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays everyone.
Jochen

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2620 Posts The 503 METAL

Hey Jochen,

I love to DIY, but that might be one for the Ding King!

gorgebob · Since 25 Jun 2007 259 Posts Portland, OR Shop Owner

We have the stuff you need . Plugs, q cell, resin, cloth. You might want to change to the new double plug system. Or if your in no hurry Brad can do it.
Bob Gorge Performance 503-246-6646

Pepi · Sun Dec 26, 10 6:23 pm

Fin box damage like that is not fun to work on and even harder to get right.

I'd recommend calling Bob at Gorge Performance if your in PDX, or Cascade Surfboards in Mosier if your in the Gorge.
North Pacific in Hood River also does some excellent repairs, but I think he mainly focuses on building boards.

forrest · Sun Dec 26, 10 9:13 pm

Damn dude. I just toasted a board here on Maui too, though mine was due to my leash breaking. I dropped mine off at Ding King. Let the pros take care of it!

Sauve · Since 19 Mar 2009 97 Posts Hood River

Gary is THE MAN at Cascade in mosier

JUMPIN JIMI · Since 11 Nov 2006 123 Posts Stoked

RUSSO SURFBOARDS IN LINCOLN CITY DING MASTER

Bettyboarder · Mon Dec 27, 10 3:04 pm

wytcap · Since 10 Mar 2005 203 Posts NW oregon Stoked

I second Russo! great work!

gorgebob · Since 25 Jun 2007 259 Posts Portland, OR Shop Owner

Call Gary before heading out to Cascade this time of year. He spends a lot of the winter in Mexico. He does do great work and it will be done when he says it will.

Ben · Since 28 Jun 2005 43 Posts Hood River

For FCS plug repair there is no one better than Russo Surfboards. Rob will make it better than new.

His repairs have saved my boards more than a few times.

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

Screw sending it in to a shop, that's not the advice you asked for anyway.

There's nothing like a fun fiberglass project for the break, its definitely a fun thing to gain experience in. Here is how I would do it:

From my experience, the best way to repair any fiberglass it to cut away all damaged areas (in your case the top and bottom of the fin area) and sand the surrounding area. Re-glass the top so you have a surface to fill the core up against from the other side.

I'd probably also cut away the damaged core. If the hole in the core is small enough, you can prob just fill it up with resin+microballoons (microscopic hollow glass spheres that make the resin foamy). stick the plug in while attached to the fin so it sits in the right place and fill in with resin+microballoons around it, and lay some fiberglass over it.

I don't see why this method wouldn't be sufficient, plus doing it yourself gives you the experience to do a better job the next time around, don't just send it to a shop because you don't know how to fix it, learn how to do it yourself by experimenting, its pretty fun to do. There are plenty of YouTube tutorials on this stuff too (check out "fiberglass boat repair")

Good luck!

forrest · Wed Dec 29, 10 11:30 am

Yea, I agree. If I was home, where I have tools, I would have done the whole thing myself. Would have been more fun.

JOJO · Since 12 Mar 2008 91 Posts PDX

Guys,
tx a bunch, very helpful altogether. DIY is a difficult question since I don't want to mess up the board, but if the professional repair exceeds the boards value it wouldn't make a lot of commercial (not ecological) sense. However, did fix my windsurf boards in the past.
Will talk to gorge Performance and take it from there.
Tx again and Happy New Year.
J