I picked up a 9'8' solid balsa with redwood triple stringers from a bloke on gumtree for $800 - surfed it a fair bit for a couple of years then sold it for $1200 woot! I'm abit rough with boards but I was a bit disappointed with the compression onions I caused on the deck = not glassed great pretty tricky to surf given the weight and old school log (1965-67) type shape but a beautiful board. Probably should have kept it as a wall hanger.
It's not for me, a work colleague wants to build a timber/balsa type board and found Riley via google. He asked me what I knew of them so I said I'd ask via the brains trust.
very easy to deal with V...he imports his own balsa and has everything your colleague will need for the build....from solid to styro filled blanks...his balsa is A1
I was amazed at the quality of the balsa - in a 9'8' that is probably $500-600 of balsa alone. maybe more. Vanders if your mate wants to do a hollow timber board I've made a few now and they are great fun - get him to read through the tree to sea forum if he hasn't done so yet. that will give him a very good head start
I had the chance to surf a hollow palownia fish and it went unreal,so good that I'm going to make one for myself,just deciding on the shape.Check out grain surfboards if you want any info.Theres a couple of blokes down Vicco that run build classes over 3 days which would be epic too 'tree to sea'
Thanks fellas, I'll pass on the info. Ever got me half keen myself for a long term project, I'm trying to convince myself I have the patience and skills.
they had tom wegner? on abc radio the other day and a bunch of crew who make wooden surfboards. from pros to beginners......the message was simple...patience,lots of patience
also check out bhodi wooden boards,the fella seems pretty with it
