Adding Leg rope plug to a balsa board

[odedshankar]

Hi Guys,

Just got a second hand Balsa hollow Longboard with 8 OZ Volan glassing - it is a board that was used for decor and never met the water since it was handcrafted 10 years ago in the sunshine coast, Australia.
The wife wants to use it as a decor on the wall which we'll probably do, but before that i really want to try it out for few sessions at the points here - never tried a balsa board and want to feel it out.
Its a Balsa hollow construction and doesn't have any leash plug on it.
So my first question is - how hard should it be to add a Leah Plug? i'm afraid to drill through it and destroy this beauty
Second question is - does anyone know if these broads requires a vent plug? because there is none on this one.

Thanks

[waikikikichan]

By all means, please please do not install a leash plug or drill into that beautiful board. If anything you can hire a good glasser to install a "Leash Loop". If done correctly, leash loops are a work of art by themselves.

Another "cheaper" less permanent method is a stick-on leash mount.

EZ-Plug-by-Surfco-Hawaii-Great-for.jpg (17.73 KiB) Viewed 684 times

The mount looks red, but that's the peel off backing. It is actually Clear. ( also in Black or White )
It's made by Surfco in Hawaii called E-Z Plug.

[odedshankar]

Thanks mate, both good suggestions, i'll go with the first option, it looks classic and fits the board nicely. I spoke with a guru Glasser on the gold coast this morning he's happy to do that. Do you know if vent plug is required on these boards?

[waikikikichan]

In my opinion if it doesn't come with a vent plug, then it doesn't need one. You can look up " chambered balsa boards ", even those don't have vent plugs. ( I've ridden a Paulownia board by Tom Wegener and his had a vent plug though ).

Yours might be solid balsa or chambered balsa. Easy way to find out is if the wall mounts pull out of the wall and the board comes crashing down......... it's a full balsa.

[odedshankar]

Thanks mate haha wall is still there so I'm assuming a chambered one. Just joking I asked the guy that I bought it from and he confirmed that. I weighed it last night and was surprised that it was only 11kg. Thanks for your advise, seriously considering to leave it on the wall it's just looks so nice, would be a shame to destroy it in the crowded points around here.
Heard about the Tom Wegener Paluwnia and cork boards, how was the ride?

[waikikikichan]

Heard about the Tom Wegener Paluwnia and cork boards, how was the ride?

Hard to turn as expected since it had a "D" fin like the one on yours. But once you got it pointed the way you wanted, hold on cause it's going to rocket. Paddling out, it would just crush the incoming white water waves.

[odedshankar]

Sounds pretty cool, I think I'll wait till winter when the points are not as busy.