Looking for a new custom board. Any recommendations? All help appreciated. Cheers

Plus one for the Delta. The Shmook boards look very nice too but have not ridden one yet.

Warner and Black Sheep are the go on kite specific design and construction on the East Coast.

Thankyou very much to all
Now with many options who to choose
Found this old thread 2013 in case anyone looking as well
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Local-surfboard-shapers-Who-to-go-with?page=1
Cheers

Blacksheep by Matty Green. Great boards and great glass job. I've had two and they just keep going despite years of use surfing and kiting them daily.

bjw said..
Warner and Black Sheep are the go on kite specific design and construction on the East Coast.

+1 on both shapers.

Warner is a well known shaper. I've had 3 boards made by him, and know of a dozen or so other kiters on the East coast that have used him. All seem pretty happy with the result. He's a busy guy though!Black Sheep boards seem to hold up really well. The shaper is a kitesurfer himself which helps in terms of understanding what needs to be reinforced, shapes, etc. Haven't bought one of his boards yet but might try him next!

CJ2478 said..
If you have half a brain, some spare time and possess some craftsmanship you should look into making your own.

A phd in fluid dynamics isnt necessary, shaping is mostly common sense. Go with what you know works and trust your intuitions.

Here is one I prepared earlier. 5 10 stringerless eps blank glassed in double bias basalt and S-2 fibreglass and pretty much indestructible. White pigment in filler/sanding resin layer to give "distressed" effect.

Inspired by Al Merrick Proton (Dane Reynolds pro model) and the Taj Firewire model. Although I didnt do it with this board it is very easy to replicate boards in the Akushaper software.

Total cost was around $330.

If done properly, shaping your first board is not gonna save you any money. To do a decent job, you'll need tools that aren't cheap. A decent half face mask and cartridges, etc...

By the way, the deck of that boards really looks like the choice of foam wasn't right or it could have done with a sandwich build.

billygreen said..

If done properly, shaping your first board is not gonna save you any money. To do a decent job, you'll need tools that aren't cheap. A decent half face mask and cartridges, etc...

By the way, the deck of that boards really looks like the choice of foam wasn't right or it could have done with a sandwich build

Haha are you serious? $330 + cost of respirator ($100) + router ($100) + orbital sander ($100) = $630 which is a saving of about 50% on
production boards.

edit: assume machine shaping to avoid cost of purchase of decent electric planer, avoid having to build or purchase decent shaping racks, reduce dust, reduce change of f***ups etc

Yes, I am serious. For $650-$750 you get a one season old quality board (a mate recently scored a Sunova in kite construction and in brand new condition for just $550).

The board pictured has massive compression on the deck which clearly shows that the laminate schedule is questionable and that it would have benefited from a vacuum sandwiched deck in foot area. And for a vacuum bagging set up, unless you're a handyman and can turn your old fridge compressor into a vac pump, you're up for a couple more hundred bucks....

You probably also found out that you could benefit from a router jig for Fin boxes which are generally between $80 and $250.

Bottom line is if you are just after one board, you are not gonna save any money by making it yourself vs buying a good used one.

Livit said..

billygreen said..

If done properly, shaping your first board is not gonna save you any money. To do a decent job, you'll need tools that aren't cheap. A decent half face mask and cartridges, etc...

By the way, the deck of that boards really looks like the choice of foam wasn't right or it could have done with a sandwich build

Haha are you serious? $330 + cost of respirator ($100) + router ($100) + orbital sander ($100) = $630 which is a saving of about 50% on
production boards.

edit: assume machine shaping to avoid cost of purchase of decent electric planer, avoid having to build or purchase decent shaping racks, reduce dust, reduce change of f***ups etc

Yes, I am serious. For $650-$750 you get a one season old quality board (a mate recently scored a Sunova in kite construction and in brand new condition for just $550).

The board pictured has massive compression on the deck which clearly shows that the laminate schedule is questionable and that it would have benefited from a vacuum sandwiched deck in foot area. And for a vacuum bagging set up, unless you're a handyman and can turn your old fridge compressor into a vac pump, you're up for a couple more hundred bucks....

You probably also found out that you could benefit from a router jig for Fin boxes which are generally between $80 and $250.

Bottom line is if you are just after one board, you are not gonna save any money by making it yourself vs buying a good used one.

Thanks for the advice, you sound like the expert.
included in the 330$ was also cost to hire a shaping bay and futures jig and router, but doable with a simple jig if you have the ingenuity.
I am working on a layup that allows some denting because I like the feel
of them and act as a bit of a sweet spot. The double bias basalt cloth allows it to 'settle' in those spots under your feet without de lamination or brittle failure of the laminate. If youR background is from shortboard surfing you know the feeling. Each to their own thohere is an earlier one I did which I would use if going for a session to focus on strapless jumps with pretty minimal denting (it has a layer of 100mm carbon uni tape under heals)

Always great to see kiters support local custom boards like Black Sheep ,Delta etc long as they are made in Aus I have a page just some of boards made over the years on Instagram #smookepoxykitesurfingboards

Falco said..
Just got a new custom vadar copy from Glen Stone, cant wait to get it wet ????. Glen was super nice and easy to deal with and best part 4 weeks turn around, fastest wa shaper that's made a board for me.

sick! very tidy looking

i ride Vons, feel great - pretty durable to date, can't and won't complain as we're spoilt for choice with some great shapers mentioned above. get out there and get a local (or aus made) custom folks - and post more pics!

this is a great thread, some of these pics are giving me GAS (gear acquisition syndrome)

How good is the bat tail, looks like a sci-fi cross BWS stallion, but the best parts of both, bat tail, grab rails, stub nose, nice and light so it sticks to your feet,.. very nice design.

I used to have a Stone surfboard a few years ago, great board. Good to know he's still cranking out some weapons!

Just arrived
Mastercrafted by Mark Stone in Gero. Built strong. Custom fins

Hey DJMWA. The photos don't do it justice!
6"" * 18'3/4 * 2''5/16 Glass/carbon fibre. Have straps
Built bit thicker for my 80kg and lighter east coast wind
Bit extra length for choppier cross on waves
Mark is a legend, easy going, master shaper/glasser
Pm sent (extra info)
jeff