How Much Does It Cost To Build A Surfboard

When I first got into shaping, this was a big question I had. How much money was I going to save by making a surfboard myself? Turns out, to make a proper surfboard, it costs a lot. Between tools, materials, space and time, all the costs add up. For the purposes of this article, I will consider all those things, but let's break down the bare bones of what you need to build a surfboard

Materials

These are the hard costs of things you NEED to have a functioning surfboard at the end of this process. All prices are pulled from the supplier’s website that I use, located in southern california (unless otherwise noted). I am also going to make the assumption that you are making a 7’6” single fin midlength. Costs vary based on length of board.

Blank - 7’9” H Fish/Egg US Blank - $118.76

Fin Box - Bahne Longboard Fin Box 10.5” - $8.80

Leash Plug - FCS Leash Plug - $1.38

Fiberglass - 6ox x 30” E-Cloth - $4.67/yd - 9 yds - $42.03

Laminating Resin - 249A - 1 Gallon - $56.38

Hot Coat Resin - 250A - 1 Gallon - $56.38 (this will have a lot of leftover but is most economical)

Misc (Tape, Sandpaper, brushes, mixing cups, etc.) - $25.00

Total: $308.73

Tools

When it comes to making a surfboard, there is only one required tool. That is sandpaper. However, I highly do NOT recommend you only use sandpaper to build your board. It will take forever and you will hate every second of the process. Below is a basic list of tools I use to make my boards.

Planer - $42.79 (I use a more expensive one modified to shape surfboards, but started with one very similar to this)

Sandpaper - $10.00

Saw - $10.98

Router - $39.99

David Combi Hand Plane - $21.99

Total: $125.75

Space

This is the largest variable cost for any builders. I am lucky enough to be able to shape in my garage (although my wife hates all the dust coating everything). Some people shape in their backyard, driveway, spare room or anywhere they can find. You also need something to shape and glass on. A spare table might work for shaping but glassing is a different story. Only you know where you will have space to build a board. I have seen a number of people use greenhouse tents in their yards or garage to use as a shaping bay which contains all the dust. Currently, you can get this one off amazon for $119.

As for shaping and glassing stands, I built these for $150, but you can easily make something functionable for $50 or less.

Total: $169.00

Overall

So if you wanted to build yourself a brand new 7’6” singlefin, you would be looking at spending a grand total of $603.48! Now, compare that to purchasing a brand new custom Channel Islands Mid. Ordering a custom CI Mid would cost at least $1,195.00 before taxes. So you would be saving $591.52 by building your own board. 

Now the ultimate question, should you build your own surfboard? If your only reason behind this is to save money, then the answer is No. Your board will not be as good as buying one off the shelf. It won't be exactly what you want, there will be issues in the glass and shape, and you will be left with a huge mess. Either save up and buy a new one, or hunt for a used board online. 

If your reasoning is to start a new hobby that is rewarding and fulfilling, then Yes. There's nothing quite like the feeling of catching the first wave on a board that you poured blood, sweat and tears into. My first board is an orange monster that hangs on the wall behind my computer. It's ugly, has pieces of tape forever trapped behind the glass, and is twice as heavy as it should be. But I love it and will never get rid of it. 

So ultimately, yes, you can save money by shaping a surfboard yourself. 

Stay Stoked!