Alex's surfboard repair tips--fixing a delamination/split fiberglass

So, I just got a couple of beat-up surfboards off craigslist and I've been fixing them up this past week. Naturally, I've been documenting everything, so this is the first in what'll hopefully be a quick, punchy series of quick tips for fixing various surfboard ailments.
This particular instructable will show you how to fix a nasty delamination/split. One of the fins of my new [sic] surfboard must have gotten whacked at some point, since the fiberglass had actually cracked open and had some uberdelamination going on. After five minutes of work and some drying time, it was good as new!

enjoy!
--alex
www.artiswrong.com

Step 1 What's wrong?

Well, here the main problem is that the fiberglass actually broke off. That fin's not long for this world. It either needs some tender love and care or a quick mercy slaying. Being a humanitarian type, I opted for the tender lovin' route.
The other problem is that the fiberglass is delaminating, or separating from the foam core. Even if I were to re-attach the fiberglass, it still wouldn't have much rigidity, since a couple layers of fiberglass alone isn't very strong. You have to glue it to something to really take advantage of the modern marvel that is composite construction

Comments

[grewr]

This looks like my 30 year old Surf Board! I've been wanting to fix it up.

[Dewi Pinatih]

I like your repair. I would like to invite you to join my new group 'Remarkable Repairs' http://www.instructables.com/group/repair/
And was wondering if you would like to join the Most Remarkable Repair Contest Platform21 organises with Dutch magazine Bright. Platform21 is a design platform in Amsterdam and our current project is called Platform21 = Repairing. We hope to spur a reappraisal of repair, which is a kind of forgotten activity in our throwaway society. Please check http://www.platform21.nl/page/4509/en for more. I hope to welcome you as a contestant!

[kennethdjs]

i was wondering does the Pc 11 epoxy works all right or could you tell me wich epoxy you used cuz in my place there aint no surfshops

[lebowski]

Nice. I'm just about to drill some holes in a 11' soft-top. My plan is to insert some windsurfing footstrap plugs along each side so I can attach nylon webbing for my little girls to hold on to while I'm behind them. I got the idea from watching the kids playing around with a rescue surfboard that has handles all along the sides.

[prank]

Cool! I have no idea how to do that--I'm pretty much just making it up as I go along. You should post an instructable when you do it

[GorillazMiko]

cool, i might show this to my friend.