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Building wakeboards

 
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prospectwake
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Joined: 11 Mar 2014
Posts: 3
City: Madison, Wi

PostPosted: Mar 16, 2014 8:31 am    Post subject: Building wakeboards Reply with quote

It been cold, like really cold here in Wisconsin over the winter. Even as the most dedicated snow shredders, it is hard not to have some spring fever. If it doesn't quit I might have to retrofit a snowmobile track to the I/O.

Anyway backtrack to last summer, we had some of our snowboard buds asking if we can make wakeboards. We've been riding in the summer and working at a local wakeboard shop long enough and thought we would be up to the challenge so we made a prototype.

As it turns out, snowboards and wakeboards use the same materials, the same machinery, and the same construction methods.

Lucky for us, we have a snowboard factory up here in Wisco so let the fun begin.

The reason I thought I'd post.
How often is it that you get to see how wakeboards are built?
Well that's a loaded question. Through research we know that there is little to no info on how wakeboards are built.

We're going to post some pictures and media as time goes on of our build process.
Hopefully it is interesting to get a peek into what it takes to build some bit**'n boards.

We are in the build process now and will sail over updates on the regular. If anyone is interested in building their own, we'll do our best to help.

Feel free to follow us
instagram http://instagram.com/prospectsnow
facebook www.facebook.com/pages/Prospect-Snowboards/10675524748
For now I'll leave you with a view of the shop floor.
Cheers

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FlyZone CR
Wakeboarder.Commie
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Joined: 25 May 2008
Posts: 1089
City: Nuevo Arenal, Costa Rica

PostPosted: Mar 16, 2014 6:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interesting!
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prospectwake
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Joined: 11 Mar 2014
Posts: 3
City: Madison, Wi

PostPosted: Mar 18, 2014 7:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is a shot from some work we did last night making cores.

Something that is pretty exciting in wake for us is that wood cores are making an appearance. The techniques used to make boards with wood are similar to making boards on the snow side. What awesome about wood is that it is structurally tougher than foam which makes boards more durable. Especially getting into an age were flex matters wood will be king. It keeps is flex and pop compared to foam which breaks down.

To start the process, we are basically making a huge cutting board, or at least the way cutting boards are made is the same. Glue a bunch of pieces of wood together and smooth out the top and bottom.

We use poplar in our cores because it has the best strength to weight ratio. Or it is really strong and really light when compared to other wood. Other common wood... Aspen, Balsa, birch, maple, Paulownia, bamboo. Where the boards are made often determines what the cores are made of.
Aspen, Balsa, Birch, and maple are often used when built in the states.
Paulownia and bamboo are native to Asia and often used in boards made there.

Then we mill a channel into the wood for the fins and sidewall. That is when things get exciting because the material you put in for a sidewall changes the boards ride, the flex, the even the durability. We'll save that for next time Very Happy


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3MileBayWaker
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Joined: 14 Jan 2011
Posts: 256
City: Syracuse, NY

PostPosted: Mar 20, 2014 8:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool
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prospectwake
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Joined: 11 Mar 2014
Posts: 3
City: Madison, Wi

PostPosted: Mar 25, 2014 8:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Man, I can't begin to tell you what it takes to make these shred sticks. I'll just say, an incredible amount of energy goes into making them, snowboards too.

All the cores start life as a flat stock block. A trough is milled in and a liquid rubber is poured in and left overnight to harden.

Cores are Then profiled down on the tips for flex and to reduce weight. The height of the core is a big contributor to the flex of you board. Other factors are the stiffness of the core material and weight of fiberglass.

For those who are considering giving it a go, let me just tell you, it is a bugger.

Hope you guys enjoy!
Layup and pressing are next.


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FlyZone CR
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Joined: 25 May 2008
Posts: 1089
City: Nuevo Arenal, Costa Rica

PostPosted: Mar 25, 2014 8:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Keep 'm coming!
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mgs917
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Joined: 17 Sep 2008
Posts: 532
City: Spartanburg

PostPosted: Mar 26, 2014 4:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for all the info. Really cool thread to follow.
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