Ghetto board building for broke surfers

[TheCruz831]

Whats happenin fellas, I've never built a board before and I want to do so. Im far too broke for buying a blank and resin and all that stuff though. I do have a lot of tools though. Do you know of a cheap way to build a board? Long or short, either is fine.
I was thinking about just getting a big block of foam and shaping a board out of it by cutting away at the foam. Then, I would maybe get plywood for the flatter parts, i.e. the top and bottom of the board, and use a strong, water-proof glue to glue it on. Maybe liquid rubber or something. Not sure what I would use for the rails yet, but I'm gonna keep thinkin on that one. I'd fill in any gaps with some sort of resin to make it even. Then, I'd sand it down and make it as even and smooth as possible. Maybe put some thing all around it to ensure everything would stay together (this board would mostly be used for lighter, smaller waves).
This was off the top of my head and i didn't really consider the buoyancy of the ingredients, but do you think that would work?
Thanks brajs

[jaffa1949]

Wow Ambitious project, you could see if you can scam or dive in dumpsters around your area for paulownia wood wood this can be glued together to make a wooden blank which you could shape. don't worry about resin, linseed oil the timber.
If you are a big guy, try the 1940s style and use redwood.
Just a though for you though, there is no cheap way to make a board, most of the real cost is labour, often a board maker keeps the price down as few people will pay what the labour is really worth.
Then of course is the knowledge of materials and making them work together.
Other things you can consider agave cactus wood, various plant piths and there is a pattern available on the net for a cardboard interlocking system. Collect old wrecked boards recycle them for the foam inside.
Please post up your progress with pictures. succeed and you will break the current static system out of its mould!

[dtc]

I've seen a guy surfing a bit of thick plywood that he cut into a sort of board shape (looked like a 'tomo mph' board). No fins but I presume you could stick some on.

See what the guys at 'swaylocks' think - thats a forum for board builders. I suspect there are some issues.

[jaffa1949]

There is a great article in Pacific Longboarder magazine on paipos, the original plywood belly boards and like all things retro they are reappearing, like surfing on a teatray but so fast across the wave.
Google paipo see what you get!