Can you fix a small crack in a skim?

harriet · Since 10 Jun 2007 64 Posts

My phase 5 prop wakesurf board has a small crack on the bottom, about an inch or so long and about a foot from the nose. If I put pressure on the board from the top making it flex, , I can see it open and close. Seeing that it's not a fiberglass skim like that of my young surfing days, I don't know how to deal with a problem like this.
Is there any way? Is it landfill?
I would consider laying the bottom with fiberglass, but I'm uncertain it would work. Epoxy seems unlikely also, but I seriously don't know.
On a side note, I did notice a couple of flaws in the bottom surface, (2 dimples), adjacent to this crack. Makes me wonder if there isn't a flaw in the board's structure that happened in manufacturing, and if trying to fix the problem from the outside would be like trying to put a Band-Aid on my knee that's blown out. Kinda futile.
Any suggestions?
Scott

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

can you post a picture?

steve · Since 12 Jul 2007 74 Posts

don't know the length of the crack...try and route our a few grooves perpendicular to the crack and go at least an inch/or two passed the crack on either side. then take a few pieces of divinecel/wood/ice cream stick, and wrap them in some glass on three sides and drop them into the grooves with two part resin...can't tell you if poly/epoxy. Sand flat and glass over the top. less sanding if you cut the divinecel/wood to the depth of the grooves
steve

harriet · Since 10 Jun 2007 64 Posts

Here it is.

harriet · Since 10 Jun 2007 64 Posts

Here it is.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Yeah that is pretty minor im no expert but you could prolly just epoxy that up and be all good.

harriet · Since 10 Jun 2007 64 Posts

Having trouble getting a decent picture. White bottom, over exposure, crappy camera, etc.

C Johnson · Since 17 Apr 2009 854 Posts Seattle Opinionated

I like the idea of reinforcing with icecream sticks.

I had an old meyer skim that had a few different cracks in it. it was a foam with mahogany top and bottom sandwich with epoxy over the whole lot. no fiberglass.

I had a lot of trouble trying to keep epoxy repairs from recracking since the wood had already cracked.

the routing and placing in sticks sounds like a great option though.

good luck!

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

I think glasproinc makes phase 5 plus their own Zap boards. Here's a how-to from their site:

http://www.zapskimboards.com/community/boardcareDisplay.cfm?boaID=5

For added structural strength, you could laminate a couple of layers of veil (1-2 oz) in there after sanding it down. Superglue can be used to laminate. squeeze out a little glue and spread it around with a toothpick. then gently lay down a couple of layers of cloth (veil) and press them down using a plastic bag or waxed paper to keep from bonding your fingers to the board. Trim the excess glass off, sand a little and then fill as shown in their how2. Ding stick isn't as messy as Solarez. Keeps longer too. Hardware store may have some epoxy appliance ding repair, in white, even. ACE is the place.