floppy skin on deck??

[OcaToro]

Hi all, I am pretty new to surfing, started only last year so be kind

I've noticed the skin on the deck is sort of floppy. like you can push it a bit before it hits anything solid.

is this normal? is it just where the top is dinged and theres a dent underneath the outer part of the board?

thanks for any help

[jaffa1949]

Hi Oca toro, I gave some advice about this to another new surfer, (my advice was wrong) posting a picture of the board and the problem might help us give you the right advice as there are a great number of ways of making surfboards and so there are a great number of ways of fixing them.
In short it sounds like you have a delamination bubble, but it all depends on whether you are talking skin or glass.
If you find it hard to post a picture the brand name and model of the board may help!

It is fixable but just needs the right advice

[OcaToro]

thanks jaffa, i'll go one better and post a video as well

here's the info off the bottom


and here's what its doing

it does that for that thin strip along the right edge for about 7 inches, and on the left side for maybe 2 or 3 inches.

[jaffa1949]

Oca Toro first job is to clean all that wax off around the area where the glass is springing up and down.
Then have a look and see whether the foam under the bubble is depressed, if not great you have a good start.
Look around the bubble to see if there are any cracks splits or circular shatters,, these would be where the water has got in and caused the delamination.
If the foam is depressed greatly then we have to think a little differently

The picture you posted shows the stringer and a pencil notation along it so the board is most likely a normal board not epoxy with strange foams inside.

So there these options I think.
If the board maker or another board shop is nearby, take it to them and get an idea of how much it would cost to fix and if the general state of the board warrants repair.

If you want to try a self repair then post again with a clear picture of the damaged area free of wax.

Me, I'd get the area reglassed if the board were worth it.

You can still ride it if the repairs are too costly and when it dies get your next board!

[OcaToro]

ok, will clean the wax off later and get photo of the area. i dont think its that depressed at all, the video shows the entire movement of the fibreglass.

unfortunately i am in west wales nowhere near the chap who made it. he's in woolacombe. he tells me the board is at least 18 years old !!

i think its definitely worth repair as there is 1 crack on the tail, and these 2 spots of delamination. other than that its in great condition and from more experienced surfer friends who've ridden it, it rides well too. so i guess its just a case of find someone to bring it back to life for me or have a go myself

i'll get pics up in a bit, cheers

[OcaToro]

ok, so i scraped most of the wax off. found exactly where the skin's gone loose. couldnt see anything at all, so ive drawn on the outlines of bits as i found them. here are pics

(ive upped the saturation to show the green better, i dont have a radioactive board)
all areas of delamination

the first couple i knew about


overall condition is pretty good for an 18+ years old board no? must have belonged to a poser before me or something and been shut in a shed for years


top end



so, any sort of verdict? she gonna be fixable and live some more years?