Homemade wakeskates: Did they work out?

canadian_wakeboarder · Outlaw Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Posts: 171 City: Dirty 'shwa

I have an oppurtunity in tech class to make a wakeskate but am wondering did anyone else have success with their homemade skates?
I'd appreciate any help you could offer.
Thanks
Rob

jeffrey_25 · Addict Joined: 05 Oct 2003 Posts: 811

Someone in the shop class is making one so I'll get back to you with how it turns out. So far it's look pretty great. I might buy it for 20 bucks if it keeps coming along at this same rate.

TL · Newbie Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 19 City: Christchurch

As long as you dont do a half-ass job building them they come out sweet.

Probably the most underestimated part is making the rocker shape, this really defines how the board will ride when its finished.

If you do build one make sure that the rocker jigs are even on both sides or the board will have a twist when its finished.

Its good fun making them, I've just finished my 5th.
Good Luck

TL · Newbie Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 19 City: Christchurch

go to a mate of mines sitehttp://www.geocities.com/devzon for a step by step guide

canadian_wakeboarder · Outlaw Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Posts: 171 City: Dirty 'shwa

Do you guys have an approximate price range?
Is it easy to put on grip tape and fins?
Thanks for the site it was helpfull

Rob

TL · Newbie Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 19 City: Christchurch

The grip tape was ~75% of the cost of the boards I made (the tape cost me NZ$40 =~ US$20). Which is why I have used plain EVA on sum boards as it costs NZ$4.80 to totally cover the board.

Grip tape is OK to put on, there's an article on http://www.wakeskating.com about doing it.

My little brother put fins on (1" double up), getting the holes in the right place and aligned down the center of the board is pretty tricky but important. If you really want fins (why?) then I suggest make a template of the hole placements on a scrape piece of ply, then if you screw it up you can throw it way and start again without ruining the board. Also this means that you only have to worry about one issue at a time, hole placement for the fin, and then aligning the template so that the fins are running North-South on the board.

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

canadian_wakeboarder, mine cost about $20 for the wood and grip tape will be about $15 bucks at a skate shop. You can get a whole roll of grip tape for about $35 off ebay or online if you look hard enough.

TL · Newbie Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 19 City: Christchurch

ontrider, you haven't seen rolls of clear/transparent grip tape on there have you? I used to have a skateboard with it on it and it looked pretty sweet, would like to do a wakeskate with it. Otherwise I'll use that powder you get at marine stores for addijng to sealant for boat decks (I think this is similar to what Kampus have started using)

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

TL, nope haven't seen any clear - did see coloured though. I didn't really look around much. I had enough wood for a few skates so I just bought a whole roll for about $35 bucks since it's 5 times as much at the board shop.

canadian_wakeboarder · Outlaw Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Posts: 171 City: Dirty 'shwa

Would fins be worth it? I've never wakeskated so im going to make one instead of paying big bucks 4 one if i don't like it.
Thanks for the price info!

Rob

TL · Newbie Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 19 City: Christchurch

I haven't put fins on any of mine, although one I did put a central channel at the tip and tail tapering out at the middle for a bit extra tracking on one board. You notice the difference going from a board without fins to one with fins though, like going from a rear wheel drive car to an all wheel drive, rwd slides through turns where awd bites and changes direction very quickly.

morphious · Posted: Feb 05, 2004 8:20 pm Post subject:

Is anyone doing one out of FiberGlass or is it mostly Wood?

TL · Newbie Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 19 City: Christchurch

I have been thinking about making one out of glass, the mold would require a lot of care - more so than a wood deck

HaveNewACL · Outlaw Joined: 21 Dec 2003 Posts: 207 City: Richland

from everything ive seen and heard if you do it right you can pretty much make a wakeskate that works relativly eaisy