gday wats the trick to slapping some bindings on a reg surf board wanna convert one of me old boards

I did this recently to an old cheapo NPS epoxy surfboard.

First of all ride it strapless a few times to work out your feet position - in general the back foot rear plug will mount directly in front of the fin box and the front strap will be positioned 50% up the length of the board (for a standard shaped board).

Get some Chinook inserts, they're $5 each for a 5 hole job. Break them into 2 hole and 3 hole sections. Rough each insert up with a file. Mark their positions on the board and drill out the holes. Make sure you mark the drill bit at an appropriate length so you don't drill right through the board. Tidy up each hole with a file.

Get some epoxy, hardener and filler and mix away. Pour the mix in the holes and stick the inserts in. Make sure you cover the insert holes (the hole where the screws go) with a bit of surfboard wax so you don't fill the holes up with epoxy.
Once set roughly sand flat. Get some fibreglass mat and epoxy a large-ish section over each insert. When it's set tidy up a bit and drill the holes out. Use a pilot hole first so you don't "rip" the fibreglass with the larger drill bit.

If you want to make it look professional put some deck pads on the board or alternatively use some surfboard wax.

I find for my level of wave kiting this the NPS boards are more than adequate. You don't need to spend $1000 on a board to have some fun out there.

Try the nsi stick on pad / strap system

here is another angle

We have just had the worst case of slimey water and it was impossible to ride without straps for more than 2 mins without having to rewax

I tried using my wetsuit booties - Oneil surfing booties
they worked a treat and made my feet really stick to the board

this could really help newcomers to riding strapless with the extra board grip

I did this a few years back and it's been great ever since. Not so good for jumping, but great for low wind cruising. Cost bugger all too.

The main advantage is that it makes the water start heaps easier. You can control the board with one foot.

The back strap is the main one. The other's aren't as necessary.

My straps are about 300mm further forward of where you'd normally stand on a surfboard.

robo1111's method sounds great. I just used some Bunnings screw in wall plugs and some resin.

Supersane said...

"I just used some Bunnings screw in wall plugs"

Legend.....

yeah eppoxy a couple of those in and it does the job just fine.
or you can just buy an insert row of 5 for 5 bucks and do a professional job urself pretty easy.
p.s. its so easy to do it yourself and doesnt take very long, any mistakes you make can easily be fixed up, afterall it doesnt matter to much its only a kiteboard.