Custom Surfboard Inlay #2

The second in my collection of surfboard art is a combination of a 6’0″ retro-fish design surfboard shaped by Ron Heavyside, owner and master shaper of Nomad Surfboards, and the Giclée print entitled “Mullet Chase” by Tony Arruza. The idea of inlaying a fish photograph on a ‘fish’ type surfboard came easily especially since the image lent itself to cropping into the dimensions of the surfboard. The un-cropped photograph is shown here as well.

There are two significant differences between the prototype surfboard inlay, the 7’6″ Firo “Pipeline”, and this one. The first is that the Firo is made with epoxy resin and the Nomad is made with polyester resin. These are the two principal ways in which today’s surfboards are constructed. Without getting into the technical differences, which are significant, I was concerned as to how each resin and the heat that is generated when catalyst is added would interact and effect the pigment inks on the print and the textile material of the print. Fortunately both manners of glassing worked equally well and I noticed no difference between the two methods.

I was also concerned that the textile material in which the photograph is printed on would add significant weight to the surfboard. This would in essence eliminate much of the functionality of the surfboard that I feel is basic to this project. Again, I was glad to see that the textile material absorbed no excess resin and the added weight to the boards was insignificant.

The second difference in the two boards is that for “Pipeline” we used a box fin system and for “Mullet Chase” we decided to glass on fins. Glassing fins on to a surfboard is laborious and adds lots more time to the hand manufacturing of a surfboard. However it is traditional and becomes an integral part of the surfboard.

There are other differences between the two boards and characteristics and inputs from the shapers and glassers that worked on them making each a unique piece. However, what is exactly alike is that they are constructed by the hands of craftsmen and artists and thus are perfect in their imperfection. They are also equally beautiful and are both functional pieces of art.