Skimboard Guide In 8 Steps: How To Make A Wood Skimboard?
Skimboarding means shallow water surfing, and it is an exciting, fun, and stimulating sport, but it can be expensive for many. You need a skimboard for this water sport, which might cost you around $200 if you are looking for good quality and results.
We suggest saving those dollars and instead, making one by yourself. Though it might sound like a difficult task but with the right guidance, you can learn how to make a wood skimboard in no time.
Here are eight easy steps for skimboard construction, if followed precisely, it will result in the best board and that too at an incredibly low price. So, let us begin our skimboard guide on how to make a wood skimboard in 8 steps.
Get Your Hands On The Right Piece Of Wood:
The first step for you is to find the right piece of wood in terms of thickness, length, and type. The board should be around 1/4 inches thick and 3-5 feet long. You can use regular plywood; however, Marine plywood would be the best choice.
Trace Out The Shape Of The Board:
The second step is to draw the shape of your skimboard on your chosen piece of wood. You can choose the most basic designs available or search for more creative designs if you want something fancier. The bottom line is it should have two pointy ends and a wide center.
Cut It Out:
Next, you have to cut out the shape drawn on your piece of wood. For this step, you can go traditional and use handsaws or for quicker results, go with power saws.
Smoothen Out The Edges:
The fourth step is to sand your board to remove the edges made from the sawing. For this, you can start with coarse sandpaper 40 grits thick and work your way upwards. Take the sandpaper and smooth out the edges from both front and back.
Give It A Rocker:
The fifth step is to make a rocker, which is the bottom curve, running from the nose to the tail of the board.
For this step, soak your board in water for a couple of days. Next, take it out and place the board on a hard surface. Then, put a support under the nose and some weights over the board. Leave it like this for a few days. This will help curve the nose upwards.
Sand The Skimboard Again:
The sixth step is your final chance to make your skimboard as smooth as you can. After it has dried, use sandpaper to smooth out the edges one last time.
Give It A Paint Job:
The seventh step is to use enamel-based or oil paints of your choice and give the skimboard a good paint job. This is done for not just the looks but also for protecting the board from the water. You can coat your board with polyurethane for a good finish and give the bottom a good waxing.
Test Out Your Do It Yourself Skimboard:
Now that you have followed all the steps of this how-to skimboard guide and have a brand-new wood skimboard in your hands, take it out to the beach and give it a good spin.