1. Your Name: Dan Howard.
2. Your Brand name: I just slapped a big ole DAN on the deck.
3. How did you hear about us? I heard about Foam E-Z through several shapers I have known over the years and was finally put in contact by my buddy Mark who works there.
4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? It was good. There was plenty of inventory to browse through when selecting a blank, including seconds in almost every size, which helped me stay within a tight budget and still build a completely functional board. The staff were all really helpful and knowledgeable, and just seemed genuinely stoked to see me getting into shaping. Having access to a proper shaping bay was hands down the biggest benefit.
5. Why did you want to build your own board? As long as I’ve been surfing (12 years) I have been deeply fascinated by the colorful history of surfboard innovation and design. I love how each and every handcrafted surfboard is completely unique in its own way and the pure creative artistry that goes into that. I’ve been blessed with artistic abilities my entire life and always knew I had it in me to become a successful shaper but never actually tried. Finally I just decided it was time to make it happen. Paddling out for the first time on a board I built was easily my proudest day as a surfer.
6. Shape of finished board? Early 70’s era single fin hot-dogger.
7. Size of finished board: Length 6’4’ Nose 15’ Width 21-1/2” Tail 15” Thickness 2-3/4"
8. What blank did you use? 6’10” A
9. How was your board building experience? This was my very first board. I had a fairly basic yet solid knowledge of the board building process and understood the specific mechanics behind different boards and how they will work in different waves.
10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? I had collected a lot of knowledge throughout the years through all kinds of sources, but mostly from listening to and watching other shapers. My buddy Mark from Foam E-Z was there to walk me through the whole process; so I owe most to him.
11. What videos, books, web, other did you use? Just a little bit of web browsing.
12. Do you recommend these resources? I honestly recommend talking with shapers, asking questions and watching anyone who will let you. I’ve sat in and watched Rich Harbour and Tim Stamps shape boards start to finish. They didn’t explain what they were doing and I didn’t bug them with questions, but I learned so much just from watching. If you can have anyone help you out through that first board that’s got to be the best way.
13. What do you wish you knew going into this project? Honestly, I felt about as prepared as I could be. Having an experienced shaper there to help me out filled in all the gaps and gave me the confidence I needed to build the board I really wanted.
14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Pretty much what I said to question 12. Look at every kind of surfboard and learn what it does, how and why… every kind of board. You’ve got to know the mechanics behind surfboards if you’re going to have any chance of building a functional board. Ask and listen. If you can, get help.
15. What tools did you find most useful? The
16. Where did you run into trouble? I was a bit sketched out about shaping my rails with the power planer at first, but after a little demonstration by Mark I realized how useful it was. During the glassing process it was a bit difficult tucking all the rails before the resin gelled and keeping bubbles out of the seams while laminating. We were really conserving resin though, so I’d probably recommend spending a few more bucks to buy some wiggle room. Defiantly don’t try glassing your first board without help. Mark really saved my ass there…
17. What kind of fin system did you use? I fabricated an 8.5” raked single-fin glass-on from a box fin (the base got turned into the leash loop).
18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Yeah, we glassed it in my garage on top of a card table and a cardboard box. As a mentioned for question 12, it was a bit difficult at parts, but not bad as long as you have somebody there who knows what they’re doing. Shaping and glassing the board was even more rewarding. That’s how they had to do it back in the day and it remains a skill I feel every shaper should have. Being able to call yourself not just a shaper but a “board builder” is pretty special these days.
19. What supplies were purchased from Foam E-Z? I picked up the blank and all the glassing materials from Foam E-Z and borrowed the tools from Mark. I plan on purchasing my own set of tools through Foam E-Z for the next board. The selection is quality and the prices seem reasonable.
