Haole Built Surfboards Hand Shape SUP, by JK

Quite a hand shape from a Slab!

1. Your Name: Johnny Kahanu

2. Your Brand name: Haole Built surfboards/ Kahanu Surfboards

3. How did you hear about us? Built my first pine glue up alaia and decided I needed a leash plug in it, and a google later you guys popped up!

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? It was great! Grant had a crazy personality that made it easy to be a total kook that knew nothing except that I was more stoked than ever to get my creation ion the water!

5. Why did you want to build your own board? I have been extremely fortunate to be surrounded by surfers shapers and family that all contributed something to where I am now! Big mahalos to Kirk Kahanu my fathering in-law for showing me the happiness and aloha that could be gained from surfing, to uncle Tommy Stone who gave a glimpse in the roots and beginnings of surfing and Hawaiian culture, the entire Hawaiian Surf Club of San Onofre who have all helped make me the person and surfer/shaper I am today. Lastly thank you to my wife for putting up with the early mornings and late nights, the foam dust all over everything and the sticky resin fingers!

6. Shape of finished board? Stricktly surf SUP 

7. Size of finished board:  Length 9’0" Width 33" Thickness 3-5/8"

8. What blank did you use? A cast off from a CNC company that was a 1# density with a 1/8” stringer outlined and rocker profile already set.

9. How was your board building experience? It was an interesting experience with a lot of different things. My first EPS shaping as well as epoxy glass job.

Killer Airspray, 80's style!

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? A few tips from the boys on swaylocks here and there, some help from Grant and Matt Bettis.

11. What videos, books, web, other did you use?  Lot's of knowledge gained from working at the shop.

12. Do you recommend these resources? I would always recommend swaylocks.com to everyone with any interest in fixing or making anything surfy.

13. What do you wish you knew going into this project? How much work it takes to hand shape a SUP as well as how much time is wasted watching resin dry when using epoxy.

14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Take your time and measure often!

15. What tools did you find most useful? The foam E-Z shaping block and 40/60 HD grit sand paper. I also made a custom tool to true up the bottom by using the HD sandpaper 

16. Where did you run into trouble? Crowning the deck is a must tougher process than I originally thought!

17. What kind of fin system did you use and why? Futures all the way, I just like the feel of them and how simple they are to install!

18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Yes, first full epoxy glassing using rr2000 system and thought it was great stuff!

19. Where did you shape and glass your board? At Foam E-Z!

20. What type of board do you want to make next? I would like to make another long board or mini Sims.

DRAGOMIR SUP BAT TAIL

1. Your Name: Paul Dragomir

2. Your Brand name: Dragomir

3. How did you hear about us? In the water surfing by “word of mouth”.

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Convenient.


5. Why did you want to build your own board? I like building my own things. And also there was a lack of options on the S.U.P. market.

6. Shape of finished board? Short S.U.P. with “bat tail”.

7. Size of finished board: Length 8’5” Width 26” Thickness 4-1/2”

8. What blank did you use? EPS by U.S. Blanks.


9. How was your board building experience? It was a “love/hate” thing because it was first board. But I want to make another board again.

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? I found most of my info on the web, asking other people, and my own personal experience.
11. What videos, books, web, other did you use? I found some stuff on You-tube, and everybody at Foam E-Z were SUPER helpful.
12. Do you recommend these resources? Yes.

13. What do you wish you knew going into this project? I should have better planned my shaping of the rails on the board.
14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Make sure you plan ahead for every detail.

15. What tools did you find most useful? Stanley rasp planer, Makita upright sander polisher (with 600 to 2000 rpm settings), and a tool I made that work as a sander/leveler/planer.

16. Where did you run into trouble? On the rails. I did not plan enough before I started.

17. What kind of fin system did you use and why? Future. Because they had good options to choose from with S.U.P. fins. They also seem stronger and durable.
18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Yes. It was scary at first, but I got used to it quickly and ended up enjoying it.
19. Where did you shape and glass your board? In a work shop that I am currently renting.
20. What type of board do you want to make next? Another S.U.P. in a wide tail fish shape.

21. As a tip to other people who want too make their own board. When you are mixing the epoxy in a measuring cup take a couple of minutes to make sure it is mixed well. Then pour it slowly into another clean cup (slowly so you don’t get many bubbles), get a brand new stirring stick, and continue mixing again. Doing this process will ensure that the resin is properly mixed, as epoxy is a high viscosity material. I also noticed that doing this seems to keep it from exotherming as quickly. And try to use a big stir stick like the ones they hand out at the hardware store for mixing paint.