In a note related to my last report I'd like to ask for some of your thoughts: Generally speaking, I repair my own small dings. Major stuff I give to other folks. However, it's been awhile since I've something that needed that type of care. Now normally if a board has cracked all the way through, buckles, or gets a major delam I wouldn't really think of having it repaired as I'd view the wound as a sign of the end of days via plenty of use and/or abuse. However, given that this board is pretty new and I loved it, I am considering doing so. A suggested, this isn't something I'd be capable of fixing on my own so I'd have to take it to a professional. What are your thoughts on the pros and cons of repairing a fully snapped board? How much will it effect the performance? What's a rough cost estimate? If you do recommend doing it who would you go to locally for such a serious job?
To Repair or Not to Repair?
2 years ago
damn....I am sorry. That board indeed looks new! I've had three snapped boards repaired though out my life. All of them were great boards, and I was poor, so if I wanted to surf, that was th option I had (also, in my town, fixing that wasn't expensive at all). With two of the three repairs, the guys did a great job, and I;d say the performance of the board was almost back....a bit heavier maybe. With the other one, they fucked up, and I ended up throwing that board away.
If you find someone to do a good job for less than $100, I;d go for it. Otherwise, you can just surf craigslist and try to find something for that price that will be as good as a shitty repaired board.
2 years ago
You could repair the board. Probably about $150. I buckled my board and had it repaired last year and it has held up since. The board will probably weigh more, but should be worth it. Local repair go to Alex. Does a good job and is reasonable. If you need the board quicker he can usually do that for a fee. http://www.alexmartinssf.com
2 years ago
I had similar major damage to a board (was even worse - ripped pretty much all the glass of the entire bottom of the board). Was a nice Firewire. Cost $250 to repair, and they did a good job. Now it looks ugly as sin - my Frankenboard. It rides ok, but I hate bringing it out. Turns out that it matters to me that it looks like shit.
I wish in retrospect that I had saved the money & bought a new board, because I'm planning on replacing it anyway. On the bright side, I guess I've gotten an extra season & a half out of it; it's been rideable. But I wouldn't do it again unless I was SUPER broke.
2 years ago
I bought a board for 10 bucks that had been put back together, it rode great for a few sessions till I ditched it rather than take a large OB set on the head. It snapped after the first wave, it actually snapped along another repair at the edge of the full one, so I'm not sure if the board was even weakened that much.
Take home point, The board still rode really well.
2 years ago
Worst case here, is you got an art project.
I'm not going to repair my Cult Bullet for riding. Instead I'm going to fix it up just enough to make it whole again, so I can make a little art project out of it.
RIP Cult Bullet. Sticker saw her go down a few moons ago and was amused (at my displeasure and floating about in HH+ surf more than anything) :D
2 years ago
I had a 6'6 whose stringer had snapped, though miraculously at least some of the foam hadn't broken, though it was mostly delamed.
I fixed it myself (ie sandwiched the snapped stringer between two 1ft sections of new stringer, filled all the missing space in with stuff, re-glassed it, etc.). The hard part is making sure that the r0cker is what it should be.
It was a hideous fix-job, and it weighed a ton, though I'm VERY glad I did it. The extra weight changed the way it surfed, though it felt super smooth and in-control, especially on days with a lot of bump. (Though I swear after the fix it became slightly better on the lefts than on the rights...) Anyway, I got a good 9 months out of that board, then it snapped properly, and I never found one of the pieces....
2 years ago
I've attempted repairs on three snapped boards in my relatively short surfing life (hint: don't loan me your favorite board). One was rock solid, cost $125, ugly, probably couldn't sell the board for much more than $125 now, but it works, and it's a good loaner.
Second I tried to repair myself. This was a major mistake as it involved a great deal of labor, parts, and ultimately looked like shit (I took the rocker almost entirely out of the board by setting the pieces together wrong as Greg mentioned). IT IS NOT WORTH SELF REPAIR.
The third one was my trusty firewire I'd had for 3 or 4 seasons, buckled (not snapped) so I was hopeful. I invested in a professional repair that did not hold. Snapped on her maiden voyage after the repair. To be fair, the board repair guy warned me that he wasn't sure it'd hold ("can you save her Doc? Please doc, you've gotta save her") and he was right.
My takeaway, pay up for a pro job and if that pro says it's a bad idea, listen.
2 years ago
If you decide that's it's retirement time for your 2-piece board, I've a buddy that's got a buddy that'll turn your pain in to a cool 2-level coffee table. I can put you in touch, if you're interested. Email me.
2 years ago
@Sticker, It's a 6'3 (I was admittedly a little under-gunned today given the conditions). Therefore, it'd be more like a double level night stand.
2 years ago
You should just figure out how to fix it yourself, you'll learn a bunch and the next ding you get will be easier to fix with all the knowledge you gained.
If you do your homework I bet it will surf alright.
2 years ago
Ding repair = yes. Snapped board = no. I'm already super busy and have a bunch of other hobbies that are more enticing than replacing stringer sections, filling in foam, and glassing something that would most likely end up looking and riding like shit. Furthermore, it's a pretty jagged and haggard break which I think would make it even harder to throw down on D.I.Y. style. I also have a short attention span which wouldn't bode well with such a project... Driftwood and board chunk mobile? That I can do.
2 years ago
Oh, and thanks for all the advice and input, folks. Y'all have leaned me towards no, but I'm gonna email Alex or swing by and see what he thinks first. If anyone's selling a quad in decent shape in the $150-250 range hit me up.
2 years ago
I have repaired a bunch of snapped boards. Years ago my friend snapped a new Nev 7' 4". He rode the thing all over the world, for years. (I think I accidentally took some rocker out and/or put in more concave in the midpoint, it worked as good or better than new) Boards 7' and bigger, if they are in good shape when snapped or buckled are probably worth fixing. When done right they work as good as new, if slightly heavier. But then again I do the repair myself but $150 to get a good board back is better than $600-700 for a new one. Plus it's Kinda "green"
2 years ago
If you decide that financially it just does not make sense to repair your board I would recommend Vernor Surfboards down in Wattsonville, custom sticks starting at $450. I picked up a Shapers Choice model a few months ago and love it.
2 years ago
Honestly man,
I feel like the board never bounces fully back, literally and figuratively, it just doesnt feel right when youre pumping down the face. I would just pass. Sorry for you loss....
2 years ago
I've surfed on several snapped boards that were repaired, one of them I did myself. All of them worked great. They were all a bit heavier than before and deteriorated faster, but I surfed well on all of them, one of them I wanted to buy off the guy it worked so well.
You don't have to fuck with the stringer, just re-laminate it, the strength comes from the glass, not the stringer. I have re-broken, repaired boards and they always break somewhere else.
Of course you could just buy a new one like the rest of consumer America, it would probably help out the economy.
