WHITNEY SURFBOARDS, she's a girl!!!

1. Your Name: Whitney Lang

2. Your Brand name: Whitney

3. How did you hear about us? My friend and mentor, Ken and the Internet

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? I felt welcomed and slightly overwhelmed with all that they have to offer!

5. Why did you want to build your own board? I actually shaped my 4th and 5th boards at Foam E-Z because I was venturing out on my own from my mentor to apply what I’ve been learning. I love shaping and starting to love glassing..

6. Shape of finished board? One of the boards was a 6’0” performance shortboard and the second was a 9’0” fatty longboard which I love so much…

7. Size of finished board: The longboard… Length: 9’0” Nose: 18.5” Width: 23” Tail Thickness: 3”

8. What blank did you use? For the long board I used the US Blanks First Yater 9’3”

9. How was your board building experience? Great! I love working at Foam E-Z! I even got to rock out to Grant’s Britney Spears collection while I mowed foam!

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? I have trolled Swaylocks Surfboard Design mostly to get information. Also its nice to have friends and mentors who are just a phone call away!

11. What videos, books, web, other did you use? Essential Surfing by George Orbelian is helpful. Also used Grant haha.

12. Do you recommend these resources? Yes! Definitely beneficial to talk to someone knowledgeable to get real world experience, opinions on shapes, and fin setups.

13. What do you wish you knew going into this project? How to shape long board rails accurately. They are tough!

14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Be very careful and accurate when cutting out the template because the outline is very important. Don’t over shape the rails and use caution with the planer.

15. What tools did you find most useful? Electric planer, surform, and sanding block.

16. Where did you run into trouble? When cutting the outline and truing it up.

17. What kind of fin system did you use and why? It’s a single fin.. because they are awesome.

18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? No this is the first board I didn’t glass.

19. Where did you shape and glass your board? I shaped at Foam E-Z’s rad shaping bay!

20. What type of board do you want to make next? Looking to make a 7’6” mini mal thing… I love the wide nose and single fin feel. This next board will need more rocker so I can enter steeper waves.

21. Feel free to add any other input or interesting information you’d like… Brad and Grant are awesome. Support your local shaper! Ohh yeah, I’m a girl!

Ascent Surfboards by Calvin Chau

1. Your Name: Calvin Chau

2. Your Brand name: Ascent Surfboards

3. How did you hear about us? Swaylocks/ Google

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Welcome, encouraging, and knowledgeable. Brad and Grant are very friendly, gave me advice, and answered all my questions.

5. Why did you want to build your own board? After performing numerous repairs on existing boards: everything from nose repairs, tails, rails, spider/ hairline cracks, delams, FCS fin plug repairs, I decided to try my luck at shaping a board. I was frustrated with constantly repairing old boards. Winter was also around the corner, and my boards were in no shape to handle the incoming swells. My goal was to shape a board that would be tough and durable.

6. Shape of finished board? Shortboard Thruster

7. Size of finished board: Length 6’2” Nose ~11” Width 18 ½” Tail ~14” Thickness 2 ½”

8. What blank did you use? Marko Foam 6'2"H Short Board Blank

9. How was your board building experience? My first board building experience was very time consuming, educational, and ultimately very satisfying. I spent countless hours examining boards at local surfshops, surfing the web for design and specs before starting. After determining my dimensions, I used BoardCAD and AKUshaper to design my template. Using a surform and sanding block I shaped my first handshape. Paddling out on my first board was the most rewarding.

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? Yep, all of the above.

11. What videos, books, web, other did you use? JC’s Shaping & Glassing 101, Greg Leohr’s Epoxy 101, Swaylocks Forum, YouTube, and every site returned from Google searches.

12. Do you recommend these resources? I must’ve watched John Carper’s Shaping 101 ten times before even touching my blank. I’d highly recommend his video, he shows and explains a lot of technique and design concepts of shaping an average thruster. Greg Leohr shows you how to shape a fishboard as well which was nice and the camera quality is better, but I found JC’s dialogue much better for learning and amusing too.

13. What do you wish you knew going into this project? I wish I knew a more accurate way to measure the rocker. Wish I knew how to accept the fact that it wasn’t going to be perfect better. As for glassing, wish I knew to keep my laps cleanly cut.

14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Don’t be afraid to try shaping. The initial investment may be steeper than you’d like, but the accomplishment you’ll feel afterwards is wayyy worth it. Don’t expect a perfect board, it’ll look something like a surfboard and it’ll be surfable. Watch JC’s Shaping 101. And wear a respirator; you don’t want this stuff in your lungs.

15. What tools did you find most useful? Surform, Sanding Block, Calipers made from scrap plywood

16. Where did you run into trouble? Routing the finboxes. I used the Future Fins routing kit and followed the instructions exactly but my deep cut was not deep enough. I had to extend the drill bit further and re-route multiple passes making sure the slot doesn’t get too deep.

17. What kind of fin system did you use and why? Future Fins! Solid fin system

18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Glassing was messy! It’s a whole different skill to master. Glassing in the finboxes was scary after reading horror stories of people melting their boards from overheating and exotherming. My fears were increased as the resin in my cup became too hot to hold and the cup started melting. I ran to the freezer for icepacks. I’d recommend using a slow curing resin to install your first set of finboxes, it’ll help with the sweating and panicking you’ll experience.

19. Where did you shape and glass your board? On my homemade shaping stand in my garage.

20. What type of board do you want to make next? A little 5’4” Quad

Neal Bahram's Wood Fish!

1. Your Name: Neal Bahrman

2. Your Brand name: n/a

3. How did you hear about us? Yahoo search

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Good!

5. Why did you want to build your own board? The last board I bought was made by guys in a sweat shop in China! I said that’s it, I’m making my own from now on!

6. Shape of finished board? 6’8” retro fish

7. Size of finished board: Length 6’8” Width 22 ½” Thickness 3”

8. What blank did you use? Hollow wooden surfboard – strips over framework

9. How was your board building experience? Great! Except the final gloss coat – still wrestling with that!

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? Yes

11. What videos, books, web, other did you use? Tree2Sea forum, swaylocks, surfersteve.com

12. Do you recommend these resources? yes

13. What do you wish you knew going into this project? That Merton’s sb112 takes so freakin long to dry!!!

14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Do your homework first, then Go for it!

15. What tools did you find most useful? Clamps clamps and more clamps! Belt Sander!

16. Where did you run into trouble? Final gloss coat

17. What kind of fin system did you use and why? FCS – it's what I had on my other board.

18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Yes. It was cool. Turned out nice. But the SB112 resin takes 12-15 hours to set up. That is just WRONG! I don’t like the stuff!

19. Where did you shape and glass your board? In my backyard shed

20. What type of board do you want to make next? Another hollow wooden surfboard retro fish!

1. Your Name: Neal Bahrman

2. Your Brand name: n/a

3. How did you hear about us? Yahoo search

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Good!

5. Why did you want to build your own board? The last board I bought was made by guys in a sweat shop in China! I said that’s it, I’m making my own from now on!

6. Shape of finished board? 6’8” retro fish

7. Size of finished board: Length 6’8” Width 22 ½” Thickness 3”

8. What blank did you use? Hollow wooden surfboard – strips over framework

9. How was your board building experience? Great! Except the final gloss coat – still wrestling with that!

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? Yes

11. What videos, books, web, other did you use? Tree2Sea forum, swaylocks, surfersteve.com

12. Do you recommend these resources? yes

13. What do you wish you knew going into this project? That Merton’s sb112 takes so freakin long to dry!!!

14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Do your homework first, then Go for it!

15. What tools did you find most useful? Clamps clamps and more clamps! Belt Sander!

16. Where did you run into trouble? Final gloss coat

17. What kind of fin system did you use and why? FCS – it's what I had on my other board.

18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Yes. It was cool. Turned out nice. But the SB112 resin takes 12-15 hours to set up. That is just WRONG! I don’t like the stuff!

19. Where did you shape and glass your board? In my backyard shed

20. What type of board do you want to make next? Another hollow wooden surfboard retro fish!

Red Perspective by Dan Howard

1. Your Name: Dan Howard

2. Your Brand name: Red Perspective

3. How did you hear about us? Through my buddy Mark who works for the
shop.

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Always been the best.

5. Why did you want to build your own board? Since I first started
surfing I knew I wanted to one day become a shaper. Building and
riding your own board is one of the most rewarding experiences you
can have as a surfer and gives you the ultimate ability to dial in
your equipment. The best part is knowing that whether you build
one board or one-hundred, you have contributed to the amazing
lifestyle that is surfing and have become more than just a consumer.

6. Shape of finished board? Classic log similar to a late 50’s to
early 60’s Velzy pig or Malibu Chip.

7. Size of finished board: Length 9’9” Nose 16 ¾” Width 22
½” Tail 17” Thickness 3 ¼”

8. What blank did you use? US Blanks Green 10’2” B

9. How was your board building experience? Better than ever.

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? I learned all I know thus
far from years of watching others, talking with shapers and
studying board design. My buddy Mark was the one to finally take
me into the shaping room and helped me through my first board.

11. What videos, books, web, other did you use? I usually just Google
whenever I need info.

12. Do you recommend these resources? There’s a lot to be found on the
web…

13. What do you wish you knew going into this project? Having never
shaped this type of board, I would have liked to know a few more
tricks for shaping more efficiently. Thanks to a close familiarity
with this style log, having ridden many, I eventually ended up
with just what I wanted, but it took me much longer than it should
have.

14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? I
feel the most important thing when shaping is to understand how
boards work. If you know what makes a board work you will be able
to figure it out what you need to do to shape the board you want.

15. What tools did you find most useful? A good power planer (Hitachi
in my case), sharp Surform and a padded sanding block are a
must. The E-Z Square for measuring out the template is a gift from god…

16. Where did you run into trouble? I got stuck about half way… I mean
really stuck… figuring out the bottom contours of this board. I
literally had to just stop and take a break to think it over
before I continued. I knew I wanted to give it a lot of belly so
the board would hold back easier in the pocket, but didn’t wan to
make it too slow. Eventually I just threw some MUSE on the stereo
and went and went for it.

17. What kind of fin system did you use and why? I hand-foiled a 9.5”
plywood pivot fin to be glassed on after I had finished shaping
the board. I set the fin 2” from the tail to give plenty of drive
and stability through turns and gave it a moderate rake to keep it
lively.

18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? I had
this one expertly glassed next door at Aloha and highly recommend
their work. I have glassed a board, however, and it was a huge
learning experience. I think every shaper should at least know how
to glass a board.

19. Where did you shape your board? I shaped it right out
back in the E-Z Shaping Box.

20. What type of board do you want to make next? I am coming in later
this week to shape a 9’6” classic cruiser for my father. I’m
planning on keeping the template pulled in and trim with a low to
moderate rocker throughout (using a US 9’8” Y).

Anthony Brock's Electric Surfboard Project

The project goal was to design and build an electric motorized surfboard. The electric motor and propeller fit into a standard
longboard fin box. The propeller is in place to replace paddling.
The board will propel itself out to the line-up and into a wave. Once riding a wave, the board uses the forward motion produced from the wave to continue to spin the propeller and produce energy from the electric motor. This energy is stored to recharge the batteries. The board is essentially a miniature wave energy power plant. The board uses a small commercially available electric trolling motor and a 12V 7.2amp-hr battery. Wires run along the deck of the board under the glass next to the stringer from the battery housing back to the motor.

As this board was a prototype there were some problems. It was difficult to keep the battery compartment on the top deck of the board waterproof. It was flooded with water several times. Somehow the motor continued to work even when flooded, but I was shocked a few times when trying to take the battery out of the flooded compartment back on shore. The board itself was huge. It turned out to be overbuilt and did not need to be quite that large. It is a 10'8" x 30" x 5.5" SUP. I first tried the board out at the Santa Ana River jetties just because it was close and I wanted to get it into the water right when it was finished. The board powered through the crashing waves and quickly got me to the line-up, but it was very
difficult to actually ride a wave because of the size of the board.
It does not turn easily and it tends to pearl. I was able to catch a few waves there, but I had much more success at SanO. The problem at SanO, though, was that the seaweed floating around in the water kept getting caught on the propeller.

Work is still being done on this project as a hobby. Future developments will have everything housed in a single attachment that can fit into a standard longboard fin box. This way any longboard can be modified with this device. We won't have to worry about running wired to a battery housing on the top deck anymore. I am also working on incorporating a flow sensor that will detect the speed of the board while riding a wave and adjust the speed of the motor to counteract the drag caused by the motor. A wireless motor controller that you can wear around a wrist is also being developed.

That's a brief overview of the project. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Neil's Single Fin Eggy!

1. Your Name: Neil

2. Your Brand name: Don’t have one.

3. How did you hear about us? Browsing the web.

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? It was good…got everything I needed and could afford to build my own board.

5. Why did you want to build your own board? Watched “North Shore” one too many times I guess.

6. Shape of finished board? Single fin Eggy.

7. Size of finished board: Length 5’10” Nose 17” Width 22” Tail 17” Thickness 2 ¾”

8. What blank did you use? US Blanks 6’2” A fish.

9. How was your board building experience? Excellent and time consuming…didn’t use a single power tool all hand planer and sandpaper…built shaping racks with a hand saw and 2 x 4’s too.

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? All of it.

11. What videos, books, web, other did you use? Shaping 101 and Glassing 101…some different books…swaylocks.com is a lifesaver.

12. Do you recommend these resources? yes

13. What do you wish you knew going into this project? How to glass better.

14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Have fun and don’t worry if it doesn’t turn out perfect Mine is far from perfect, but its so much fun to surf and so rewarding.

15. What tools did you find most useful? Planer, calipers, sand paper.

16. Where did you run into trouble? Glassing…cutting down humidity and keeping a stable temperature.

17. What kind of fin system did you use and why? O fish l single fin box…it was the easiest…get it set…glass over it…sand the cover off...i wanted to make a single fin.

18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? I did…it was a little sketchy at first but I got the hang of it…ended up pretty smooth except where the top and bottom overlapped near the rails.

19. Where did you shape and glass your board? Shaped on my back porch and glassed in the break room at my office (don’t tell anyone)…It was the best place I could find where I could really control the temp.

20. What type of board do you want to make next? I was thinking a quad fish but I bought one instead…now I'm thinking SUP.

21. Extra info: Building your own board was so much fun…cant wait to do it again.

Cowan's Greenough Inspired Diamond Tail!

1. Your Name:Jamie cowan

2. Your Brand name: cowan

3. How did you hear about us? Sacred craft

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? cool

5. Why did you want to build your own board? I have always liked to build cool stuff. I was a hefty 250 when I was looking for a board hard to find at 6’6", 3 inches thick or more. So I got a blank and went for it.

6. Shape of finished board? I made a template off an old Greenough kneeboard

7. Size of finished board: Length 6’6" Nose 15" Width 23" Tail 16"

8. What blank did you use? I think 6’10A fish blank

9. How was your board building experience? Rad, I did it without a planer just the David Plane and floor sanding paper

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? web

11. What videos, books, web, other did you use? Surfersteve!

12. Do you recommend these resources? ya

13. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Lose your fear!

14. What tools did you find most useful? The lights are important to me.

15. Where did you run into trouble? The stands I made kept moving.

16. What kind of fin system did you use and why? Future

17. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? No, I let Grygera and sons do the first one they gave me a great deal, and did a good job.

18. Where did you shape and glass your board? I shaped it in an empty warehouse.

19. What type of board do you want to make next? I have already done 5. I am going to glass my first board this weekend.