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

The best is Marty Littlewood of Delta Designs in Margaret River. Marty shaped for North Kiteboarding before shaping the Revamp, one of the most successful kite "surf" boards ever.

He does customs and one offs. He'll probably try and persuade you onto one of his latest passions, the "Assy". The guys is a living surfing legend. Give him a call. Bloody nice fella and a talented muso to boot.

DM

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

+1 on the smook. I haven't ridden, but guys that have rate them. Great Vader type designs, nice resin tints and layups.

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

+2 for Smook. I'm on my third one. Great boards, I go for his more traditional surfboard design over the vader-type, but have tried both and like both. I also go for slightly heavier glassing than his standard, but I've got a penchant for landing jumps very badly.

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

I got this one from Sunova. It's a 5'3" Darth so as the name suggests, it's a copy of a Vader. Pity you can't get the Vader in Australia as it might have cost less!

Went with Sunova as I've got a paddleboard from them and it's nearly indestructible and a great ride. The kite board has been the same - super light too. My Firewire kite board literally got a ding on the first day.

Paint job is custom. Cost me $1,200 including quad and tri fins and delivery. Only problem - fins are FCS so range can be limited.

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.

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.

Select to expand quote

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!

+1 on Smook, Have Mk4 Shredder, it's awesome!

Select to expand quote

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.

Select to expand quote

Livit said..

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.

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

Select to expand quote

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.

CJ that board looks sick. Good on you for having a go. Share future boards as well. It'll be good to see how they morph and advance!!!

Select to expand quote

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)

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.

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

I tried a Smook board a couple of weeks ago. They are killing it. Great board.

Select to expand quote

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!

My little weapon!!.. made from our local shaper Mr. stone here in Geraldton...
absolutely love the board??

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

We experimented on bagged epoxy with carbon double bias and 5oz clear top and bottom EPS blank with stringer and orange filler coat on our normal Shredder MK4 5'2" x 18" x 2" 1.8 kg it's a weapon loving it on east coast Vic May be to light for WA conditions but will try it out in Scarborough in January

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.

+1 for Stoney in Geraldton, fast turnaround and makes a strong kite proof board. Bat tails need channels!

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

I love the red carbon strips!

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

Select to expand quote

jeff0 said..
Just arrived
Mastercrafted by Mark Stone in Gero. Built strong. Custom fins

Ooo I like the looks of that. What dims and more details please.

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