How to Make a Wooden Skimboard
Skimboarding is a sport that is similar to surfing. One uses a skimboard by running toward a wave and dropping the board into the sand. The skimboarder then jumps onto the board and is carried out into the ocean by the wave. According to Skim Online, the boards were originally round but have evolved into a shape similar to a surfboard. Build your own skimboard and head to the beach to practice riding the waves.
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Things You'll Need
- Large sheet of paper
- Pencil
- Scissors
- 2-by-4-foot sheet of 3/8-inch plywood
- Jigsaw
- Belt sander
- 100-grit sandpaper
- 150-grit sandpaper
- Spray paint or airbrush (optional)
- Marine spar urethane
- Paintbrush
Instructions
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1
Draw the shape of a skimboard or trace the outline of a skimboard on a large sheet of paper with a pencil. Cut along the lines with a pair of scissors to create a template.
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2
Lay the template on a 2-by-4-foot sheet of 3/8-inch plywood. Trace around the template. Cut along the lines with a jigsaw. Carefully move the saw along the lines.
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3
Sand the skimboard to remove ¼ inch from the nose. Use a belt sander to sand the top 3 inches of the nose. Continue to sand until you have removed ¼ inch. Sand the entire board with 100-grit sandpaper. Sand the board again with 150-grit sandpaper to create a smooth surface on both sides and all edges of the board.
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4
Paint the board, if desired. Apply spray paint or airbrush a design on the board.
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5
Apply at least three coats of marine spar urethane to the board with a paintbrush. Coat the sides of the board to ensure that it is waterproof.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Visit a newspaper printing facility to see if they offer free paper roll remnants; these sheets would be large enough for making your template.
If the board is not waterproofed, it will soak up water. A waterlogged board will not work very well.
References
- Photo Credit woman on a skimboard image by Wimbledon from Fotolia.com
