How to Glass a Skimboard

A skimboard is a little more than half the size of a surfboard, and is used primarily for surfing or skimming across the water's surface as opposed to tackling large waves. Glassing, or adding fiberglass, will help the board to skim better. Glass-coated boards will also be more durable and need fewer repairs than boards with other coatings. Save money by applying fiberglass to the board yourself, rather than using the services of a traditional surf shop.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • Scissors
  • Goggles
  • Mask
  • Gloves
  • Fiberglass cloth
  • Masking tape
  • Epoxy resin
  • Hardener
  • Paintbrushes
  • Container
  • Sandpaper, fine grit 700 and 900
  • Buffer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay your board on a steady flat work surface and measure the surface of the board.

    • 2

      Put on all safety gear. Lay the fiberglass cloth over the bottom end of the board to be glassed. If it is too big, cut it to size, leaving a little bit of the cloth to hang over the sides.

    • 3

      Use masking tape to tape the overhanging parts of the cloth to the other side of the board, making sure there are no air bubbles or pockets left in the cloth.

    • 4

      Mix resin and hardener according to the directions of the manufacturer. Mix only the amount you are going to use, because the hardener will cause the resin to dry out.

    • 5

      Saturate the fiberglass cloth with the resin-hardener compound, applying the compound with a paintbrush. Gently brush the resin over the cloth. Let the skimboard dry for about two days.

    • 6

      Lay the cloth on the top of the board, after removing any tape remaining from doing the bottom. Repeat Steps 2 through 5 to fiberglass the top end of the skimboard. This time, glass the sides of the board, as well.

    • 7

      Let the board dry for another two days. Sand the board with fine-grit sandpaper. You are just smoothing the board, so be gentle.

    • 8

      Apply another layer of fiberglass cloth over the whole skimboard surface. Use the same process that you did in Steps 2 through 5. Let the board totally dry and then sand the surface again.

    • 9

      Apply one more layer of fiberglass after you sand the board. Allow the board to dry completely.

    • 10

      Use the finest-grit sandpaper you can find to sand gently one more time. Buff the board all around to give it a nice polished look.