Reviving a Surfboard: The Journey

​Repairing a Delaminated Surfboard

Recently, I encountered a bit of a setback in the water—delaminating the nose of one of my favorite boards. It wasn’t an expensive new one but a groveler that had seen better days. A combination of wear and tear, along with some damage from a wave, led to a delamination issue. So, I decided to repurpose it into something new.

​The Repair Process

​I started by removing the glassing and fiberglass with a 5n1 tool. With some elbow grease, I stripped it down to the core. To make the board rideable again, I turned to drywall sponges, a recycled sawzall blade and a planer, quickly shaping the repurposed blank.
The damage in the nose caused the board foam to break slightly, so I had to shorten it to a 5’6". However, I kept the tail wide and preserved the bulk of the foam throughout the board. This kept the board's natural float and maneuverability, which were already built into the design.
I also worked on the concave, increasing the single concave down the middle, which you might call a single with slight double to vee concave. I also increased the rocker in the nose by planing it thinner to help improve performance on steeper waves.

Comparing Profiles

In this photo from Levitate Surf Shop in Marshfield, MA, you'll see a legit RNF from Lost Surfboards in a custom made Shaper Stand, which was crafted on the South Shore of Massachusetts. The purpose of this photo is to compare the profile and rocker of the RNF to the board I’m currently repurposing. Seeing the difference in design helps to understand how my adjustments—like increasing the rocker in the nose—compare to the performance-focused contours of a high-quality board like the RNF. For more on Lost Surfboards, visit lostsurfboards.net, and to explore Levitate Surf Shop, check out levitatebrand.com.

​Glassing and Potential Options

I reached out to Space Rock Glassing in Matunuck, Rhode Island, to get an initial quote. You can visit them at www.spacerockglassing.com.  They’re known for handling most glassing jobs in the Northeast. However, the quote I received was a bit higher than expected. It made me rethink whether investing that much in glassing for a repurposed board was the best move.
The reality is that spending significant funds on a glass job for a board that can’t compete with CNC-designed boards might not be the best way to support my surf hobby in the long run.

​Keeping You Updated

I'll keep you posted on how the board turns out once it’s glassed. In the meantime, I’ve been making the most of the snowboarding season, catching up with friends up north for the Methodology event. It’s always a blast riding with seasoned pros, banked slalom champions, and even some amateurs. Check out the Methodology event website to learn more about this fun event here.
Also, I bought some ice-cold wax and warm-temp wax from One Ball Jay to keep things moving for next year. You can check them out at www.one-ball.com.
Feel free to follow along with the journey, and I’ll keep sharing updates on the board repair with photos when I get to it, along with any updates to the Shapers Rack as well!