Epoxy board dinged and creased

[djpj1977]

Hey all, I'm trying to figure out the best way to repair my board and the best resin/epoxy to use.

It got crushed yesterday in big Hurricane Marie swells. There's some stress fractures on each rail that cracked all the way through. I know these need patched if I do fix the board so what's the best thing to use on epoxy?

The rail dings are connected by a crease on the bottom of the board only. This one I'm not too sure what to do with. The structure seems to be holding up well so I don't think the stringer's broke. What I was thinking was to just do the epoxy and see how long it lasts, but maybe sistering something to the stringer now would be good?

Also should I fill in the crease with epoxy or something else? Seems like it would only create minimum drag if I just left it.

Any help is appreciated. BTW I'm just getting past the beginner phase and I've never repaired a surfboard, but I'm solid with DIY projects.
Thanks!

[jaffa1949]

Not quite sure the how to fix the epoxy, just know you need to use epoxy resin or you will dissolve the foam underneath.
With a crease like that, that involves the rail laps and the bottom of the board a lot of structural integrity is lost.
Board strength is stringer and the the rail laps particularly vacuum bagged board. No matter how you go about it the board is on borrowed time.
Uncle jaffa's solution , have a practice repair( learn those skills) this board becomes a beater board and you can upgrade for your increasing skills.

Makes a great justification to a wife ( see it's about to break) I need a new board.

[oldmansurfer]

I have never fixed that type of damage, but I think you will need to do something to strengthen the blank in that area. I would probably sand it down and place 3 to 4 layers of glass over that area overlapping at least 2 inches of solid board on each side maybe 4 layers each going 1 inch further than the previous one out onto the normal area of the board.. Another possibility would be to cut out that section cutting the board in two then get a piece of foam to fit in that area the same size at the cut out area but thicker then run dowels both directions into the board....majorly difficult to do and keep the shape then sand the foam down to the edge of the blank then glass overlapping the solid foam. easiest is to get a pro to do it.

[jaffa1949]

I wouldn't go down the path Oldman is suggesting, the core is not a blank as such, it is a a vacuum bagged. EPS closed cell core, similar stuff to the beads in a bean bag but compressed and welded together . Think like a foam cooler box, that sort of stuff.
By all means sand the crease down to enable a bond with the outer "skin" then fill the crease. Judging by the rest of the board in the pictures, it's time to go to honourable calling of beater board.
Because it is also an older GSI model there is probably water between the cell, and so it likely to be heavier than before.
No real surfer needs no excuse to buy a new board. Your old board has fully matured and you are ready to move up the food chain . Get to it

[oldmansurfer]

I am sure surfboard repair guys know exactly how to best handle these type of bent boards. If you just glass over it it will be heavier than before not necessarily a reason to not do that but probably a good repair guy could do something else and end up with a slightly heavier board. I guess it depends on what you want but the board won't be the same which is not necessarily a bad thing. I have heard of guys who broke their board in two and liked it better after repairing it than before it was broken.

[drowningbitbybit]

Oh, haven't you two met? Bin, surfboard. Surfboard, may I introduce Bin?

[oldmansurfer]

I found this step by step instructions http://www.firewiresurfboards.com/pdf/FW_Repair_Manual.pdf

[jaffa1949]

A really good post Oldman more useful than my last couple of posts on this

[waikikikichan]

I fixed many of those boards. Most of the rental boards on Waikiki beach are NSP/Southpoints due to their durability. That type of ding is common, but that crease is fatal. There is no stringer so no worries about that. My advice is to get a two-part epoxy ding stick ( many brands- but basically its a 2 colored putty you squish together ). Cut away and sand the ding down so that there are no square edges. Don't need to make a bigger hole, just make it so the cracks don't have a area to run. When you shove the putty into the ding, make sure to have a cup a water nearby. If done nicer, with a wet finger you can smooth out the putty to where you wont need to sand. Fill in steps, not a lot at one time. Final fill you can smooth out with water. Last use a Rattlecan of white semi-gloss spray paint.