nearly-buckled board - beef-up for 5 year old?

4Stringer/KipWinger · Since 27 Apr 2005 541 Posts Hood River Addicted

Ideas on sensible/best/easiest way to beef-up area of massive crack before turning-over to my 5 year old this spring?

weston5 · Since 04 Sep 2012 6 Posts sea Kook

I've saved a board like this by sanding it down and epoxying some carbon cloth. The thing was bomb-proof until I lost it.

Even cheaper option could be to glue some carbon tows lengthwise to the bottom: http://www.cstsales.com/carbon_tow.html

bwd · Since 04 Aug 2007 385 Posts Obsessed

plain old fiberglass would work too...
I'd sand back 2-3" each side of crack, through the resin but not too much into the glass, use 40-60 grit, cover with new glass patch. Use epoxy not polyester resin, it sticks better. best luck!

Scriffler · Since 03 Jul 2005 581 Posts LYLE Addicted

Definitly use epoxy. West system 105 with 207 special clear hardener.Cut three pieces 4 ounce glass all under lapping each other 2 inches. Also remember to span the crack with a good 8 inches on each side, then one smaller piece on top of that, then one more. That way, with three layers, you get a nice feather strengthening both sides of the crack equally. Also carbon strips always help. I put together broken surfboards all the time and feathering is the key to fixing lateral cracks or buckling.

Scriffler · Since 03 Jul 2005 581 Posts LYLE Addicted

Definitly use epoxy. West system 105 with 207 special clear hardener.Cut three pieces 4 ounce glass all under lapping each other 2 inches. Also remember to span the crack with a good 8 inches on each side, then one smaller piece on top of that, then one more. That way, with three layers, you get a nice feather strengthening both sides of the crack equally. Also carbon strips always help. I put together broken surfboards all the time and feathering is the key to fixing lateral cracks or buckling.

4Stringer/KipWinger · Since 27 Apr 2005 541 Posts Hood River Addicted

Okay. Thanks for input. Good off-season project. It's my favorite board of all time.

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

What kite / other setup are you planning on using with it?

I have a 4.5 yr old, but he isn't near ready to kite yet. Curious when the time comes. I was thinking 3m inflatable + skimboard or floaty surfboard.

shred_da_gorge · Sun Jan 05, 14 9:08 pm

Hey Jim, there should be a bunch of glass at my condo if you haven't already picked some up. I grabbed a bunch on the last trip to fix Tiffany's SUP but I had a ton leftover from the pole-dancing days. (Unfortunately the huge jug of West resin I had was pretty rock-solid).