want too make my own board

[essex sucks]

but do not know where too get the blanks from and how much it will cost
any help would be nice

[Laguna]

Theres this site to buy the stuff you need:
http://www.homeblown.co.uk/acatalog/Sur ... lanks.html

Theres a few people on here that are currently shaping their own boards so they should be able to give you good advice/

[tomcat360]

I think the best tip I can give you it to search.....a lot...

search google.
search swaylocks.
search here, for the very basics

and read http://www.surfersteve.com

and download the entire 1977 surfboard design and construction from swaylocks.

read all of that, and keep looking. Get an entire idea of what you are doing before you buy anything.

For design, I suggest using APS3000. Free software, super easy, and you can print accurate templates on any printer.

[FishKid Wales]

Speak with Kitesurfer he is currently making me a board as well as making a few other people on this sight boards, he really knows his stuff when itcomes to board construction.

[HitAndRun]

Any resources on the internet?
ive wanted to shape my own fish for quite some time now, but i have no idea where to start (im not even sure what dimensions i want it to be becasue ive never surfed a fish, and have no idea how it acts and how it should be)
But i love the idea of the fish, it suits my style really well because my passion is just carving and using the wave to its fullest
any links to get me started?

[tomcat360]

I think the best tip I can give you it to search.....a lot...

search google.
search swaylocks.
search here, for the very basics

and read http://www.surfersteve.com

and download the entire 1977 surfboard design and construction from swaylocks.

read all of that, and keep looking. Get an entire idea of what you are doing before you buy anything.

For design, I suggest using APS3000. Free software, super easy, and you can print accurate templates on any printer.

cough

Let's try scrolling up before working up the inginuity to build a surfboard...

[kitesurfer]

Hitandrun, the fishes dimensions will depend upon your dimensions so without appearing to be rude how heavy are you and what's your height?
Then maybe we can get you started.
As tomcat said the surfboard design and construction manual is an absolute must, especially good as it has several retro design in you can make for yourself. My fish that i ride is taken from this manual and boy is it retro.
As well as that another must are the shaping 101 and glassing 101 videos by john carper. They show everything and i mean everythin you need to know, have and do to make your own surfrboard. You'll need to search the internet for these things as i don't have any links to help you. Where are you based? If your here in the uk and you don't have any luck finding them then bung me a pm with your email address and i'll sort you out a dvd with it all on for a couple of beers.
KS

[HitAndRun]

Hmm sorry i missed your post tomcat, i was after a 12 hour shift at work
kitesurfer- im about 5"8 and weigh 140 pounds
i tried looking for those videos you mentioned, but so far no luck ill try some more surf shops maybe they will have them.
As for design and use i need a fish that will be able to preform upto head high waves, it should be good both on mushy waves and also on smooth waves, being able to paddle into waves easily is definetly a must (im not sure if thats possible with a fish?!), as for tricks and stuff on a wave, it should be more for carving and using the wave to its fullest (just styling) and sometimes modern tricks (snaps, floaters) so i was thinking about a 5"9 height, rather wide (about 20 inches) and extra thick to help with catching waves easily, and extra strong to avoid dings (i converted the measurements from meter to ft so hopefully it makes sense)
Again when it comes down to fish's im completly lost (need to do serious research on the subject) but this is the general idea (oh and im not based in the uk, not even close but thanks for the offer)

[kitesurfer]

Sorry r2barn we seem to be hijacking your thread abit here, hope you don't mind.
Retro fishes perform really well in clean or mushey waves but in my experience not so well in steep hollow waves. hey take off really early which is very useful in less steep stuff and have lots of speed due to their flat rocker and relatively high bouyancy.
You mentioned wanting a really thick one but for you weighing in at only 140lbs that won't be necessary. I would say 2 1/2 inches thick as a maximum for yourself. Also if you keep your rail bands down a bit as well you'll have a board that is snappy from edge to edge.
5'9" sounds good and f you feel you need extra glass then that's your choice.
http://www.surfingvideos.com/shaping_room.htm
Check out this link might help you find those videos.

KS

[HitAndRun]

Thanks for your help kitesurfer, i found "Shaping 101" thru a small surf shop, but the weird thing is they dont have "Glassing 101" wich is ok becasue i plan to just shape the board and have it glassed at my local surfshop (really good shaper).
About the strength of the board, the reason is because i do alot of crazy stuff in the water i have to fix large dings on weekly basis, so i would love a board that wont ding so easily.
Again thanx for your help

[kitesurfer]

Anytime. Have fun shaping. The best two tips i can give you are when shaping never fully finish one part before moving onto the next, that way you'll allways have a little bit in hand to go back to correct later and allways picture what you want the board to look like in your head and just get your hands to shape it.

[drowningbitbybit]

a fish that will be able to preform upto head high waves, ...good both on mushy waves and also on smooth waves... able to paddle into waves easily ...more for carving and using the wave to its fullest ...modern tricks... extra thick to help with catching waves easily, and extra strong to avoid dings

Um, thats asking a lot of any board!

I'd have a go on a couple of fishes first!
Remember, these boards usually have a high volume and width, and have that swallowtail. So they're brilliant for catching mushy gutless stuff, and by using the fin combination they can be excellent for doing the kind of tricks you'd do on a loose board. But, as ever, it has to be a compromise.

A fish will gain speed super-fast... but lose it just as quick. They've got a flat rocker making them easier to paddle into waves... but dont fit into hollow pockets and late take-offs can be a bit hair-raising. They manouvre like a skateboard on amphetamines... but dont hold the face on a powerful wave very well. They work best when they're as light as you can make 'em.... but thats not very strong.

That of course is all my opinion, and someone else with a different (or better) style will get different things out of their fish, but hopefully you get my point

[tomcat360]

Do you plan on doing your own glassing?


If so, the buttcrack would be tough on your first, just keep that in mind.

I have been doing tons of research for what I want, and I went with an egg shape. I think it really covers a lot of bases. Mainly I wanted a board that could get into most any small waves, but with all the fin options it can be used in bigger waves.

[bluesnowcone]

with that home blown place is the board alredy a surfboard shape of do you have to sand it down, and can you chaage the shape slightly , or is that the shape of the board, you just have you glass it and paint it?

also how much would it cost to glass the 6'8 retro black??

[kitesurfer]

Homeblown blanks do require shaping. Basically you pick a blank that is closest to the type of board you intend to make. You can order custom stringers and rockers and they also have a shaping machine but even that still requires some finishing work.
On the cost of glassing a board well that depends on whtere you intend to sand it yoursefl as that is quite a big part of the process but also something most people could do.

KS

[essex sucks]

u guys carry on u are helping me too man