Real Cost to Shape Your Own

[Dwight (DW)]

http://ncpaddlesurfer.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-real-cost-to-build-113-wind-sup.html


blank   $293
epoxy 2 gallons   $148
S cloth 20 yards   $160
carbon tape 24 ft   $36
carbon sheet 3 yd   $90
fin box   $15
mast track   $15
handle   $15
divinycell   $30
vent   $25
deck pad   $100
fin   $90
micro-balloons   $25
squeegees   $12
tape   $10
sandpaper   $20
mix cups   $20
stir sticks   $6
pad glue   $12
pad spreaders   $5
paint brushes   $6
tyvek suits   $22
plastic sheeting   $30
plastic gloves   $6
disposable scissors   $10
pigment   $6
Total   $1,207

These prices include freight, UPS, FedEx, and Taxes.

Posted for anyone who thinks shaping saves them money. You do it because you love it.

[SUPflorida]

I have always done it (surf boards/windsurfer/wave skis) because I love to experiment...since I am not made of money, having someone else "flesh" out my ideas is not an option.

I can truly say that I have never bought a board that worked as well for me as the ones I designed and built myself. Every single instance I caved and bought or had one custom shaped/built for me it was a disappointment over my own creations.

Not saying that this applies to everyone, or to all custom builders or manufactures. I just know what I want, I know how to achieve it, and for me it is a living process from conception to finish.. there are too many subtle changes that take place as the process unfolds for me to try and convey to someone else.

If all I needed was a good craftsman, that would be easy to find. Its the sensitivity of years on the water and the cycle of direct input/direct feedback/board creation that make is work for me.
It's a hundred times easier to go to the shop and lay down the cash and walk out with a beautiful board...and very few have the expertise/tools/space to make a quality board that is anything more than a shot in the dark. For those that can't build themselves there are many great shapers ready to hook you up. We are all using what we have to achieve what we want. Some have skills others have money...some are lucky enough to have both.

By the way I just priced a 8' X 4' x34" block of foam for $365. a far cry from pre-made blank prices.

Bob

[CB1]

DW, how many hours of labor do you have in your project?

[Dwight (DW)]

By the way I just priced a 8' X 4' x34" block of foam for $365. a far cry from pre-made blank prices.

Bob

I'm thinking about going back to block purchases. But it sure was nice shaping real surfboard foam. Are you buying block from a surfboard supplier?

A few years back, I bought block from http://www.carpenter.com/index.php/us/en/expanded-polystyrene-systems/overview factory was in NC

[Dwight (DW)]

DW, how many hours of labor do you have in your project?

~24 hours

[TallDude]

Time thinking about the shape= Months
Cost of the blank= $40. (from a friend)
Time it took me to shape it= Six pack
Cost to have my buddy glass it= $300.
Cost of the fins & fin boxes= Mooched
Cost of the deck pad=$80. :-(
Cost of the handle =$40.

Total Cost $ 460.

Does it rip? Yes!
Am I 'Jones'n for another piece of foam? Yesss!

[SUPflorida]

DW
It is a bulk local fiberglass supplier...they sell to surfboard shapers and boat builders in my immediate area in Fl. I was lucky to find them…I was doing an internet search on the east coast of central/south Florida without much luck on any with a decent price.
They can get anything I want pretty much...this was just a block they already had in stock. Don’t know if the price would be as sweet if I had a special order…

I like the bulk blocks so I can hotwire my deck & bottom rocker exactly to my finish thickness flow... rather than force my desired rocker into something pre-cut for generic use with the need to mow inches of foam unnecessarily and the extra care not to induce a twist. So much easier to know that the thickness flow is dead on, level and ready for outline/bottom/rail work. Got away from using stringers when building sailboards…they just created delamination problems in the heal areas. Those were 1 lb EPS/4 oz/ ¼” H80 plain Divinicell/6 ozX2 top & Bottom/+ 2 extra 6oz under foot straps vacuum bagged. Never broke one…even with some flat 20’ +landings.
This EPS foam they quoted was 2 lb density by the way.

Bob

[Dwight (DW)]

I like the bulk blocks so I can hotwire my deck & bottom rocker exactly to my finish thickness flow...

I do the same. My surfboard blanks were custom made for me without stringers. Then I just hotwired with less waste. but way more cost 

[DurhamSUP]

DW, I've been getting my foam from tri-state foam in Ridgeway, VA. They can CNC hotwire custom rocker profiles up to 12' long and can do bigger rectangle blocks. Anything from 1# to 3# foam.

[punasurf]

$365 for the blank?  Seems rather high.  I just paid $177 plus shipping for a 10'-4"  blank with a 3/16 bass stringer (us blanks).  I will post final cost soon as I finish project.  Blank was listed as 31" wide but was really 32.5".

[SUPflorida]

Read again...Not one blank..."one bock" 8 feet long x 4 feet wide x 34 inches thick...that could produce as many as 8 eight foot blanks up to 34" wide... $365.00 divided by 8=$45.63 each. I Hotwire them myself, very easy to do...I get it exactly what I want from my own designed precision rocker templates once your set up there is no further expense involved.

Bob

[punasurf]

That makes way more sense.  I was actually blown away by how expensive my blank was.  I would love to see your hotwire and rocker template set-up.

[Dwight (DW)]

$365 for the blank?  Seems rather high.  I just paid $177 plus shipping for a 10'-4"  blank with a 3/16 bass stringer (us blanks).  I will post final cost soon as I finish project.  Blank was listed as 31" wide but was really 32.5".

My blank was a 12'1 Marko. Cost was $168 plus shipping. I bought a carton full. 3 blanks to a carton. Shipping on carton $277. With tax and shipping brings true cost close to $300!

US Blanks 12 footer is $241 each plus shipping. 

[getsupngo]

The carbon and S glass can also add up real fast. Then there can be the costs of all the other stuff like tools, lighting, a good vacuum pump and vac bagging stuff. Sometimes the cost of creating something to be realized may not matter so much as long as the ideal is eventually expressed.

 

[punasurf]

blank   $180
epoxy 2 gallons   $150
S cloth( 6 oz ) 4 yds       nc
e cloth  37 yds (2.4 oz)  $75
fins and boxes    nc      (5 ofishl boxes and fins)
handle and lease plugs 4    nc
vent   $25
deck pad   $130
1” drill bit   $15?  Still have to purchase
squeegees   nc
tape   $10
sandpaper   $20
mix cups   $10
stir sticks    nc
paint brushes   $21
plastic sheeting   $10
plastic gloves   $6
dust mask  $5
pigment    nc
digital scales (ebay)   $21
shipping and tax  $60
total $738     round it up to $750, but may still be kind of rough estimate, gas, etc.,but for sure under $800.

nc—no charge,  already had some

Also, I bought in bulk.  Shared shipping between 2 blanks, resin for 2 and cloth for 2+.  So I realized some savings that way.

In the end, it would sure be easier to go buy a board.  In a few weeks I will know whether it was all the work or not.  Also, $235 for nitro paddle and $85 board bag off craigs list.  And none of this counts the many hours of working, cursing, planning, frustration, and hopefully joy at the end.