How to Make a Foam Skim Board

Make a skim board out of foam.

Skim boards are small surfboards used in a board sport called skim-boarding or skimming. In skimming, the rider runs and drops the skim board on the small waves near the shore, gliding over a layer of wet sand and water, skimming toward the bigger waves. The types and materials of skim boards depend on the purpose, rider's skill level and beach terrain. Foam skim boards, also known as foamies, are light and provide a great lift for wave riding.

Things You'll Need

• ¾ inch EPS foam sheet
• Jigsaw or handsaw
• ¼ inch hardwood
• Router tool
• Sandpaper
• Glue
• Fiberglass cloth
• Resin
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Draw the outline of the skim board shape on the foam sheet. The easiest way to get the template right is to trace around another skim board. Note that it is generally a good idea for the skim board to be as long as the distance between your toes to mid-waist and as wide as the distance between your shoulder and your wrist.

2. Cut out the template for your skim board from the foam sheet. Use a jigsaw or a hand saw and follow the outline precisely while cutting. Then cut the skim board in half lengthwise through the middle, from the tip of the board going down to the bottom.

3. Round the edges of the foam skim board pieces with a router tool and use sandpaper for fine finishing. Make sure to round the top and the bottom edges of the pieces so that their curves almost touch in the middle.

4. Cut the¼-inch solid hardwood to make the stringer. The stringer is a curve that helps the rider achieve balance and control on the waves, and is positioned between the two pieces of foam boards. Trace the shape of the straight side of the foam board onto the wood and then cut the shape.

5. Apply a thick layer of tacky glue or epoxy (or another glue that doesn't eat through foam) and glue the foam pieces on either side of the stringer to attach the skim board together. Wait until the glue dries completely before continuing.

6. Put a sheet of fiberglass cloth flat on the skim board so that it goes over the edges. Tape the sides of the cloth all around the skim board and make sure it's tightened and without air pockets.

7. Apply a mixture of resin and hardener on the fiberglass cloth stretched over your skim board to glass the surface of your foam core skim board. Make sure that the fiberglass cloth is completely saturated and use a paintbrush to spread the mixture all over the board surface. Be very careful and brush the resin onto the surface very gently. Saturate the surface of the skim board and its edges as well.

8. Leave the skim board to dry for two days and then do the same with the other side of the skim board. Now the whole skim board is covered with fiberglass.

9. Treat the whole surface of the skim board with sandpaper, gently rubbing to achieve perfect smoothness.

10. Re-glass the skim board now that it's evened out and smooth.

11. Repeat steps 8 and 9 until you've glassed and sanded each side of the board three times. Just make sure you don't glass the edges of your skim board the third time.

12. Sand the whole surface of your board with the finest sandpaper, then buff it and polish it.

Tips & Warnings

• When glassing your skim board, always start with the bottom side.

• Be very careful when using hand held saws and always wear work gloves.

References

• Surfing Waves: How to Make a Skimboard
• Kidzworld: How to Build a Skimboard