How to Repair a Surfboard

If you surf more than a few times a year, you know dings are par for the course. Rather than taking your surfboard in for minor repairs, you can learn how to mend fiberglass and core dings if you've got the right equipment and can follow these simple instructions.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Masking tape
• Resin with catalyst
• Medium and fine-grade sandpaper
• Acetone-based cleanser
• Razor blades for cutting away excess resin
• Bucket or medium sized plastic container for mixing resin
• Fiberglass shards or small pieces of cloth

1. Use soap and water or pick up an acetone-based cleanser and remove excess wax from the surface of your surfboard. Let the board dry completely before you attempt to repair the ding.

2. Pick up some medium-grade sandpaper at your local hardware store and sand down the area. Make sure to even out the edges and smooth the ding out so the area is even with the surface of the board.

3. Tape off an area roughly 1/4 inch around the ding. This helps to ensure resin doesn't drip onto the deck when you repair the ding.

4. Hit the local hardware store, surf shop or boating supply store and pick up a resin mix. Look for a sanding resin or a glossing resin for best results. Check the label and make sure the resin includes a catalyst.

5. Mix resin according to the table on the package and be sure to keep in mind the temperature outside. Add 1 ounce of resin for every 10 drops of hardener when the temperature outside is between 60 degrees F and 80 degrees F. Use less hardener when the temperature reaches above 90 degrees F and more hardener on colder days when the temperature falls below 60 degrees F.

6. Add shards of fiberglass or small pieces of cloth to the mix for small dings. This helps to seal the bond and keeps water out of the surfboard once the repair job is done.

7. Pour resin into the ding and make sure to work out any bubbles. Tape a layer of wax paper over the ding and let it dry for at least 20 minutes.

8. Remove wax paper and cut away any excess resin from the surface of the board using a razor blade. Leave to dry overnight.

9. Remove tape from the area and smooth away any rough edges with sandpaper. Use increasingly finer and finer sandpaper to produce a finished look. Once you've evened out the ding use wet-dry paper to create a polished look.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't store resin in direct sunlight or it may heat up and ignite.

Who Can Help:

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[wotsgowingon]

on 12/9/2008 Just make sure what ever you do you don't get the acetone cleanser in the crack, It will eat the polystyrene core REALLY badly