Making a Skimboard

It's not 100 percent surfing-related, but a skimboard is great for those really small / non existent surf days spent down at the beach. This little how-to guide has been put together by Death Frog over at the forum, and it will require some knowledge of surfing lingo. If you have any questions, get over to the forum and post them on the skimboard construction page.

Anyway, let's take a look at what you'll need.

For a wooden skimboard

• A 2'x4'x3/8" sheet of plywood (see full specs below)

For a foam skimboard

• 3/4" EPS sheets (that are sold for insulation)
• 1/4" solid hardwood for your stringer
• Epoxy, tacky glue, Elmer's glue, Gorilla glue — anything that won't melt your foam
• 6oz fibreglass

And for both

• A jigsaw (or hand saw if you want to work a lot harder)
• Card / paper for the size template
• A pencil
• A belt sander
• Paint / airbrush of your choice if you want a design on it

Got the Materials? Let the Construction Begin

With the wood-based design the hardest part is usually getting a clean line and finding a good shape. Death Frog may be available for help with sizes, etc. — find out more here. With foam it's basically find some, glue in a stringer, cut out the shape and turn down the rails all the way around and glass. (Glassing is the hard part.) On wood boards, you can get away with varnish if you take good care of it. Just add enough coats so that you don't see wood texture on most of the board. (Three coats usually works.)

Ok, on to the actual making. Go to your local hardware store, somewhere that will sell you a 2' x 4' x 3/8" sheet of plywood. The higher quality it is the longer your skimboard will last. Don't be tight — put your hand in your pocket! Choose a piece that has smooth grain running the long way of the board, preferably with no big knots, and no chunks taken out of it.

Now you are ready for tracing and cutting your skimboard shape. >>

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  Guest

  on Sep 7, 2011

  yay

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  D&T chick

  on Feb 4, 2014

  Thanks! Going to try this out with my D&T class, adding some tribal designs to it!should work a treat

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  super dave

  on Feb 20, 2015

  How about cedar

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  RED BULL SURFING

  on Jan 11, 2016

  WHAT WOOD DO I NEED!!!!!! i going to get my stuff today
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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  Booty

  on May 23, 2017

  My Anaconda don't.

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  Shawn

  on Aug 25, 2017

  Most plywood near me is Spruce, will that be OK?