MyPaipoBoards Forums

Uncle G,

Speedwise how does this board compare to the finless alaias?

Bob

Hi Bob,
I posted about my first session on another thread http://mypaipoboards.org/forum3/viewtop ... 1644#p1644
but to answer the question,
I was pleasantly surprised to find this board is just a little bit slower then my finless boards.
I suspect the very low profile fins and the lack of any real rocker is the key to that.

Loved the ride report! So accounting for actual finished thickness, about 1" rocker in front and nada, totally flat out the back?

I put the barest hint of concave from the forward third back, but yes it's dead flat fore and aft in the back.

Lovely looking board.

Thank You & Welcome Aboard.
It appears you have a bit of a hike to the surf.

Cheers, long time lurker. Landlocked now but thats going to change. Ive never used balsa but I might have found a good source, does it have the strength not to be glassed? Just oiled?

It depends on the balsa a smidge and mostly on the use of the board.
I'm a longtime volunteer at the Surfing Heritage Foundation and we have several old boards in the collection that are balsa without glass.
Usually topped with varnish of one sort or another, or paint and in at least one case a heavy coat of shellac.
Many of them have rails of another wood with balsa used as the center; typically with the stringer of the same wood as the rails; redwood, cedar, doug fir...
I think if I went that route I would give the balsa a good coat of epoxy warmed up with a heat gun for extra penetration and then a varnish topcoat to protect the epoxy. I don't think you could put enough straight oil finish on balsa to waterproof it.
As long as you are not banging rails with the competition, surfing leashless on a rocky shore, or are particularly rough on your gear it ought to work out fine, just needing preventative maintenance on occasion..
Some balsa is very light and that stuff is absorbant but you can find balsa that is fairly stout that water will bead up on for a few moments before it sinks in.
I've heard it depends on the sex of the tree.
My 2¢.

Thanks for the explanation UG, Ive only used paulownia and wr cedar. Its gonna be a while until I can get my hands on the balsa. Ill post some stuff Im working on. Cheers

Very nice, UG. I've been wanting to do a balsa build, maybe even chamber it. Just haven't made the time, but your build has re-kindled the flame. How much does the board weigh?

I chambered the three inner balsa planks, this batch of balsa was particularly dense and hard, the board weighs 9 lbs..

Where did you get your balsa? Anyone know of a good source for balsa lumber in the Ventura area?

It came from Austin Hardwood and Hardware in Santa Ana but it's been in my lumber stash for a couple years;
I just discovered I have some more too.
I don't know where to tell you to go up there.
There's these guys http://woodsurfboardsupply.com/ but their prices are pretty steep........

holy smoke that's gorgeous work man.

Beautiful looking creation!