The Steps for How to Make a Skimboard

A skimboard is a small wooden board similar to, but smaller than a surfboard. The board is thrown onto wet sand after a receding wave. The rider then jumps onto the board and skims across over the surf wash until another wave pushes the rider back onto the shore. Making your own skimboard takes a few tools, not much time, and gives you a board you can hit the beaches on time and time again.

Things You'll Need

  • Jigsaw
  • 1 sheet 1/2 in. thick plywood
  • Polyurethane enamel paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Large size paper
  • Belt sander
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Research designs for your skimboard. You can do this by looking on the internet, in ships, or at your friends' boards. You want to get an idea of the size and shape for when you build your own. Skimboards are generally an oval shape with two pointed ends.

    • 2

      Draw the board out on some large paper or newspaper. Fold the paper in half, drawing one side first. It will look like a long, low arch. When you're happy with the shape, cut this out. Use an X-acto knife to cut through both sides of the paper to ensure that the design is perfectly symmetrical.

    • 3

      Lay the paper cutout over the plywood and carefully trace around the edges with a pencil.

    • 4

      Cut the shape out using a jigsaw. It can be difficult to make a precise cut with a jigsaw, so grasp the saw firmly while cutting.

    • 5

      Lay the board out on a flat area, such as a concrete floor. Test it by pushing on the sides, the front, the back and flipping it over to see where the natural bend in the wood is. This bend is called the "rocker." The board will naturally have a slight bend in a certain direction; you want to position the board so that the bend curves the nose upwards. The rocker shows you where the top, bottom, front and back of the board are when you are using it.

    • 6

      Sand the board. A belt sander will be faster, but any electric sander, or even sanding by hand will work. Sand until the edges are slightly curved so that they will not dig into the sand. More shaping can be done with a belt sander, but for your first skimboard, it is simpler to just round out the edges and smooth the surface.

    • 7

      Paint the board. For this, use only polyurethane vinyl paint. This will keep the wooden board smoother, faster and more waterproof. Use a large paint brush and apply four coats to the entire board. After this, the board is finished, but you can add your own designs in different colored oil-based paints if you like.