Surfcraft

The following pictures represent the two types of surfboards we build in the woodshop: (1) hollow wood surfboards and (2) traditional foam and fiberglass surfboards. 

Hollow Wood Surfboards

Our hollow wood surfboards are made almost entirely of sustainably harvested softwood--pine, cedar to be exact--and marine plywood.  These boards were all designed on a computer-aided design program called AKU Shaper.  Once translated into computer language, we cut out the internal skeletons of the boards on our CNC Router, glued super thin pieces of wood around the skeleton, bent them ever so carefully in places, judiciously hacked away the edges with a hand plane, and did lots and lots of sanding.  The finished boards took on a thin layer of fiberglass and epoxy resin, a fin or two or three or four, and eventually slid off into the Pacific Ocean.  Although these board are close to the same weight as normal foam boards, they are substantially stronger, last longer, and contain very little toxic matter.  We've been told they are functional works of art.   

Traditional Surfboards

Aside from occasionally building wood surfboards, we also shape traditional foam boards because the shaping process is substantially quicker for middle school students (two weeks instead of 4 months) and still involves the use of both computer-aided design skills and also hand work.  We especially enjoy shaping these boards because our students slide their work more easily into the water.  They are fun (and easier) to build and fun to surf!        

Please enjoy the pictures.  If you are interested in purchasing a board please email us.  All proceeds support the Cabrillo Middle School Woodshop.