An Introduction To Surfboard Repair
It is very important for every surfer to know surfboard repair because trust me you will ding and damage your brand new surfboard sooner or later whether you like it or not!
Once you own your first surfboard you will find that it doesn’t look all shiny and new for too long. Rocks, coral and other surfers can all impact and leave their mark on your precious stick.
While small dents and dings may just cause cosmetic issues, bigger dents, cracks, fractures and holes will need your attention, sooner rather than later! Sometimes, if you are really unlucky, your surfboard might actually break in 2, or you might snap off a fin.
These situations all require surfboard repair, and obviously if your surfboard is in two pieces you won’t be using it until it is fixed.
The reason why you want to fix the smaller cracks and holes right away is that once the surface of your board is no longer sealed water will start getting into your surfboard.
This is bad news as the water will start to cause damage, make the surfboard weigh more, and impact on its speed and performance.
Now, with theses smaller issues, you can have a crack at repairing your surfboard yourself. This will save you money and time.
I can hear yourself thinking “Well, if it is a really big issue I will get the guy in the surf shop to fix it”. Yep, that could be one alternative, but if you are surfing in the middle of nowhere on a surfari, that may not be an option, especially if you only took one board.
So here is the lowdown on surfboard repair and what you should consider when attempting to fix your surfboard.
What Type of Surfboard Foam is Your Surfboard Made Of?
OK, before you rush out and get yourself an emergency surfboard repair kit before your surf trip, you will need to take into consideration what type of foam is in your surfboard.
Why?
Because if you repair it with the wrong compound, the foam in the middle of your surfboard will be dissolved by the inappropriate chemicals, leaving you worse off in the long run.
There are currently 3 main types of surfboard foam requiring a specific surf repair resin.
- My surfboard is made of PU foam (Polyurethane Foam) – If you have a polyurethane surfboard you will need a polyester resin for your repair job. This type of surfboard resin is temperature sensitive….more on that later.
- My surfboard is made of EPS foam (Expanded Polystrene Foam) – If you have an EPS surfboard do not use polyester resin! You will require an epoxy resin for your repair job. It is vital to remember that an epoxy surfboard should never ever be repaired with a polyester resin….the result is disatrous..trust me!
- My surfboard is made of Extruded Polystrene foam (XTR) – If you are trying to repair a XTR epoxy surfboard made from extruded polystyrene surfboard foam you will also require an epoxy resin for repairs. Products such as EasyDING can be used for this job.
What Do You Need To Perform A Surfboard Repair?
Now that you have determined what type of surfboard foam you have and are ready to proceed with your repair job you will need to get your tools together.
Ding Repair Kits
These are like a surfboard first aid kit!…every surfer should have one. They come with all the bits and pieces that you will need to fix your surfboard.
These kits are especially great for travelling surfers as you can just pack it in your luggage and have it ready for use whenever a ding occurs.
Just remember the golden rule, get the one suited to your type of surfboard. A polyester kit for PU surfboards or an epoxy kit for epoxy surfboards (EPS or XTR)
Ding surfboard repair kits will come with the following vital components:
Resin
A ding repair kit should always come with surfboard resin, either epoxy resin for epoxy surfboards, or a polyester and sanding resin for PU (polyurethane) foam surfboards.
This resin will be going to the bottom of the crack or hole, and will be sitting on top of the foam.
Now do you see the importance of getting the right one?.. : )
Fiberglass Cloth
Fiberglass cloth is also found in ding repair kits. Fiberglass cloth is important for adding extra strength to your repair work, and is available in varying weights.
A good and general place to start is with the 4 ounce weight.
Hardener
Surfboard hardener is the stuff that you add to the resin so that it will harden. Always remember to be sure to follow the instructions and measure accurately when combining hardener with surfboard repair resin.
This is a job where near enough will not be good enough.
Fin Rope
If you have been unlucky enough to have broken a surf fin off the bottom of your surfboard you will need to make sure your surfboard ding repair kit comes with fin rope.
This stuff is made of strands of fiberglass and when combined with your resin will make a foundation for reattaching your glass on fins.
If you have a removable fin system you won’t have to worry about fin rope, instead you will need to repair the fin plug if it has been stripped from your board.
Block Sander and Sandpaper
The sandpaper in the repair kit will be used in the beginning to sand around the damaged area to get rid of the really rough edges and extra pieces of broken fiberglass.
The sandpaper will then be used again when the top layer of resin is nicely dried to smooth it all out.
Other Important Factors Regarding Surfboard Repair
Now that you have all your tools ready there are some other important things to consider before proceding with your surfboard repair job.
Dry out the surfboard
Before embarking on any surfboard repair it is critical that your board is nice and dry, otherwise you will be sealing water into it and this will allow the damage to progress.
How do you know if there is excess water in your board?
Squeeze the area surrounding the ding or crack and see if any water seeps out.
If it does your board needs more time to drain the remainder of the water out. You can try using a hairdryer to speed up this process but I do not recommend this at it can lead to delamination issues of the surrounding area.
Never leave your surfboard out in the sun to help dry out the foam core either. This will also lead to delamination issues and possibly destroy your surfboard.
The best thing is to just let time and patient do the job.
Temperature
OK, not everyone is surfing in the balmy temperatures of Hawaii. The colder the temperature, the more hardener you will need to add to your resin.
This will not apply if you are using a ding repair kit that does not require hardener. Read the instructions first.
Sun Repair Kits
If it all sounds too tricky there are some great surfboard ding repair kits that just require you to basically squeeze a tube of pre-mixed repair goo over the ding and put your surfboard in the sun for the product to cure or harden.
These can be extremely handy in remote surfing locations and vacations where facilities and time may be limited.
Once again, these kits are available for both epoxy and polyester foams.
Now It’s Time To Decide If You Are Up For The Job
I hope this introduction to surfboard repair has helped you understand the important aspects of fixing a surfboard.
For the majority of surfboards, cracks and holes need repairing before you take your surfboard back in the water.
Don’t put repair on hold by sticking a sticker or duct tape over the ding and hoping in the water to finish your surf session for the day. Suck it up and head home.
And always remember, the first rule of surfboard repair is to ensure you buy the correct repair kit for your epoxy or PU surfboard.
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