How to Cut Bodyboard Fins

A bodyboard is a shorter version of a surfboard that is designed to be ridden in a prone position rather than standing. Steering is accomplished through pulling on the sides of the board rather than through the motions of the rider's feet. Bodyboards are typically not constructed with the fins that are found on most surfboards. However, if you have a bodyboard made out of wood and want to give it an extra level of stability, it is possible for you to cut a fin to attach to the bottom of the board.

Things You'll Need

  • Scissors
  • Cardboard
  • Pencil
  • 6 foot sheet of cedar plywood
  • Sandpaper
  • Epoxy resin
  • Epoxy hardener
  • Clean rag
  • Hacksaw
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Instructions

    • 1

      Draw and cut a template of the fin from the cardboard.

    • 2

      Trace the pattern of the cardboard in the sheet of cedar plywood.

    • 3

      Cut the fin out of the plywood with a hacksaw. Allow extra space outside the entire pattern, as you will make fine adjustments to it later.

    • 4

      Smooth and shape the fin with sandpaper. The front edge of the fin should be rounded and relatively thin, becoming thicker at the point roughly one-third of the way from the front edge across the fin's surface. Make it gradually thinner from this point to the back edge of the fin, smoothing it down to a sharp edge.

    • 5

      Use a clean rag to cover the entire surface of the fin with equal parts epoxy resin and epoxy hardener.

    • 6

      Apply a second coat of resin and hardener as the first coat is drying.

    • 7

      Give the second coat of resin and hardener time to dry. When it is hard, sand down any additional rough spots to complete the bodyboard fin.