DIY Plywood surfboard/kiteboard

[MozSurfer]

Hi everyone

My first post here so bear with me. I am an avid and a reasonably good kitesurfer and a reasonable surfer. But I don't get to surf a lot. Sometimes there are months in between sessions(live far from waves). But I live next to the sea(the sea is just flat because it is a bay) so I kitesurf a lot.

I have made a DIY plywood kiteboard that I custom made for my needs and it works awesome. Made it from 12mm plywood. Now I got a lot of wood still left and now I want to make a directional kiteboard(surfboard shaped board) that I can also use to surf a bit if I get the chance. So basically I want to use it for kitesurfing in the waves when I get to the waves and use the board for when the wind is too low or I am feeling like a surf.

SO here is my idea. Board size 180cm x 60cm x 2,6cm. I basically want to attach two plywood layers on top of each other. I want to put some concave in it so I don't nosedive when riding a wave. I had a bit of a egg shape in mind with either a square tail or swallow tail. Not sure which is best shape.. I don't want a completely round nose. Slightly pointed but not too sharp. I could be wrong so any suggestions are welcome.

I know 2,6cm depth will have little buoyancy. But would it be technically possible to surf a wave with a board like that? Waves are usually 2,5ft - 4,5ft in the spot I surf. I have a bit of riding experience on shortboards. 5'11'' is very short I admit but longer than that gets a bit big for kiting. Kiting is my main pursuit but I would love it if I could use the board for both sports.

So to boil down what I am asking. What is the best tail for a board to turn nicely(doesn't to be dramatic) and have a good speed? Secondly, is it technically possible to surf a low volume 5' 11'' board? I am 6 foot and 73kg.

One advantage I can see about the board being low volume is that it would be very easy to duckdive and easier to get past waves. I struggle duck diving a bit but my basic technique is OK. So I have handled paddling past big waves without too much trouble.

Thanks guys. This is a bit of a odd question but anyway

Cheers
Mozzie

[jaffa1949]

Hollow ply surfboards and single ply boards predate any of the current boards.

Have a look by googling at Wooden Surfboards, and sites like Tree to Sea.

You could also look at Tom Wegener surfboards, although his boards are done in Paulownia wood , which is what I'd suggest as a better material than a low volume glue up ply wood.
Paulownia also doesn't need to be glassed.
Roy Stuart ( Stewart ) makes beautiful behemoth wooden boards. Check his site out.

The lower volume of wooden boards ( like Alaia) usually means you have to swim them out through the surf and onto the waves. Pop up is harder than standard as you have come out of the swim position into the stand.

There are still traditional paipo boards that are made of ply google them !

[oldmansurfer]

A small plywood board would be difficult to catch waves with without a kite, technically possible but not for a beginner surfer, but put some swim fins on yourself and use it like a paipo board (laying down on it) and that should work. Or just start off laying down and don't try to stand till you get the wave catching down. You might find you can do it. I was a really good swimmer and I could catch waves on a small plywood board without fins but it was much easier with fins. But the timing and paddling will be difficult and if you aren't already a good surfer then you will find it very difficult.

[MozSurfer]

Thanks for the reply guys.

That was the info I was looking for. The board is mainly for kiting but I would probably try the board for surfing just for the fun. Even if it works as a Paipo board it's good. If I see it is impossible I will rent a surfboard. There is fortunately a surf shop at the surf spot so I wouldn't need to rely on my board working. If it works great. If it doesn't no problem. It is just fun riding something you made yourself.

Thanks! Will give it a bash and report back after I have made and tested it.

Cheers
Mozzie

[MozSurfer]

Hollow ply surfboards and single ply boards predate any of the current boards.

Have a look by googling at Wooden Surfboards, and sites like Tree to Sea.

You could also look at Tom Wegener surfboards, although his boards are done in Paulownia wood , which is what I'd suggest as a better material than a low volume glue up ply wood.
Paulownia also doesn't need to be glassed.
Roy Stuart ( Stewart ) makes beautiful behemoth wooden boards. Check his site out.

The lower volume of wooden boards ( like Alaia) usually means you have to swim them out through the surf and onto the waves. Pop up is harder than standard as you have come out of the swim position into the stand.

There are still traditional paipo boards that are made of ply google them !

What do you reckon would be the best tail for a board like the one I am planning to make? Maybe a baby swallow? And what would be the best fin setup? Single fin? Or a thruster setup?

[MozSurfer]

A small plywood board would be difficult to catch waves with without a kite, technically possible but not for a beginner surfer, but put some swim fins on yourself and use it like a paipo board (laying down on it) and that should work. Or just start off laying down and don't try to stand till you get the wave catching down. You might find you can do it. I was a really good swimmer and I could catch waves on a small plywood board without fins but it was much easier with fins. But the timing and paddling will be difficult and if you aren't already a good surfer then you will find it very difficult.

Thanks for the reply. What do you reckon would be the best tail for a board like the one I want to build? A baby swallow maybe? Or a square tail? The max height wave is probably head high but it is rarely that large. And what would the best fin setup be? A single fin or a thruster setup?

Many thanks

[oldmansurfer]

I have no idea what makes a good kiteboard but I would go for that then see if you can surf it. I was a paipo boarder long ago before i was a surfer. For my paipo boards I used the thickest marine plywood I could find, don't recall but I think 0.75 inches was the thickness. I started by cutting the outline and for my boards I always used an almost parabola shape. The widest point in the back. This acted as the "fin" in turns and held the wall in steep waves, probably not a design you want for a kiteboard, but other designs will work for paipo boarding too. Then I placed the board on a table with the nose sticking off and placed weights on the board to keep it in place then weights on the nose to bend it and make a nose rocker. Then I poured a couple big pots of boiling hot water over the nose to permanently warp it so it kept the nose rocker. I let it dry for a day then took the weights off and let it dry more. then shaped it rails first then a concave in the nose to a channel mid board to a second concave that spread out to a flat end to the board. Then i glassed it. I didn't make a very big nose rocker maybe a couple inches of curve. We used to have a guy who was into kitesurfing who posted frequently here, unfortunately he seems to have disapeared.

[MozSurfer]

Thanks a lot. Good info. I think I will go with a baby swallow perhaps. And I will start with a single fin. Then I can add some later if I need it

[waikikikichan]

I will start with a single fin. Then I can add some later if I need it

Hmmm, is your single fin a GLASSED ON single ? When / If you add fins later, in what configuration will you do it. Might want to plan ahead, just in case. If you plan on Paipo boarding it sometimes ( since I don't think it'll be possible to standup surf on it ), it be easier as a TWIN. If you find it too loose, you can add a trailer/stabilizer in the middle.

[MozSurfer]

I will start with a single fin. Then I can add some later if I need it

Hmmm, is your single fin a GLASSED ON single ? When / If you add fins later, in what configuration will you do it. Might want to plan ahead, just in case. If you plan on Paipo boarding it sometimes ( since I don't think it'll be possible to standup surf on it ), it be easier as a TWIN. If you find it too loose, you can add a trailer/stabilizer in the middle.

No not a glassed on fin. One that can be removed. If it doesn't work for stand up then I can rent a surfboard so it's not a problem. It's main purpose is to surf with a kite towing me. So it needs to be quite loose for turning, carving and snapbacks. If I had other fins later I will do it in a thruster configuration.

[waikikikichan]

No not a glassed on fin. One that can be removed.

And what fin system and how to you plan to install it in the plywood ? Or maybe use the wakeboard bolt-thru type fins ?

.So it needs to be quite loose for turning, carving and snapbacks.

So if you want it quite loose, then why are you going with a Single ?

[MozSurfer]

No not a glassed on fin. One that can be removed.

And what fin system and how to you plan to install it in the plywood ? Or maybe use the wakeboard bolt-thru type fins ?

.So it needs to be quite loose for turning, carving and snapbacks.

So if you want it quite loose, then why are you going with a Single ?

I am going with wakeboard bolt through type fins.

Can you perhaps explain which setup works better for good turning and looseness? I am not sure which fin setup does what. Can you please explain?

[waikikikichan]

When it comes down to it, it's the Indian not the Arrow. Tail designs and fin (or fins), don't make the board turn on it's own. A person with the right skills can turn a Single fin, while someone else might have a hard time turning three fins. Usually on surfboards, you see Single fins for stability and long drawn out turns, known to be Stiff, Twins for pivot like turns, known for being super loose. That's why the Thruster set up has been the go to fin configuration for the past 40+ years, since it combines aspect of both the single and twin.
( I won't get into Quads ). I understand you're asking which set up is "easier", but surfing doesn't have "absolute" answers. As time goes by, you'll find what works best for you.

[MozSurfer]

When it comes down to it, it's the Indian not the Arrow. Tail designs and fin (or fins), don't make the board turn on it's own. A person with the right skills can turn a Single fin, while someone else might have a hard time turning three fins. Usually on surfboards, you see Single fins for stability and long drawn out turns, known to be Stiff, Twins for pivot like turns, known for being super loose. That's why the Thruster set up has been the go to fin configuration for the past 40+ years, since it combines aspect of both the single and twin.
( I won't get into Quads ). I understand you're asking which set up is "easier", but surfing doesn't have "absolute" answers. As time goes by, you'll find what works best for you.

Thanks. I will weigh up the options a bit and see what I decide on.

[waikikikichan]

Can you perhaps explain which setup works better for good turning and looseness? I am not sure which fin setup does what.

You have to look at the board as a whole. If you had two exact boards but different fins, then maybe you can tell. Just like tuning a carb or suspension on a motorcycle, one thing affects something else. This forum is great for surfing, but if you need designs and making a board, Swaylocks has a lot of info.

[MozSurfer]

Thank you. I did have a look at swaylocks and a few other sites. From the info I read and based on my local conditions I decided that a fishtail style board with a swallow tail and a thruster fin setup would work best. Thanks for all the info and feedback