Made my own wakeskate

[-Brad]

Hey i just made my own wakeskate in wood class. here are a few pics i just need to put grip tape on it and ill be done. and the plans



Tools and materials
• 1/8” thick wood sheeting
• Lots of epoxy
• Can of urethane
• Grip tape or foam padding
• clamps
• Some boards to stack under the tip and tail for a drying rack
• Some weight to rest on the middle of the board while in drying rack
• saw

Design
First you want to determine the size and shape of your board. Look on the internet at various companies’ wakeskate specs for reference. Generally they are between 40 and 45” long and about 15” wide, with 1.5-3 inches of rocker.

Wood
Now that you have your design, you will need some wood to make the thing. Go to the store and buy some 1/8” thick wood sheeting. Buy enough to cut 4 to 6 patterns of design out. To prevent wasting money on too much wood or not buying enough wood, it helps if you draw out your board shape to scale on the computer and see how many layers you can fit on certain size sheets of wood.

Layers
Once you have the wood, draw your board shape on a piece of cardboard or something to make the template. Then transfer the outline onto your wood and cut out however many layers you want. Make sure all your layers are fairly even with each other to save sanding time later.

Epoxy
You should have about 6 patterns of your board cut out of the wood sheeting now. Before you epoxy them all together you will need to set up a place for the board to dry while keeping it bent. I just made 2 piles of boards 3” high to rest the tip and tail on, then put weight on the middle of the board to bend it to the ground while it dried. Make sure that the boards under the tip and tail are square with the board otherwise u will get a twist in the board. Now you are ready to epoxy. Find the nicest face to make the bottom of your board, then completely coat the top of it with epoxy and then lay another layer on top of it. Find some way to get lots of pressure by squeezing the two layers together, I put a bunch of C-clamps around the board. Let it dry overnight before removing the pressure. In the morning you should be able to remove the weights and clamps and find the board together and bent just how you wanted it. Personally I let each layer dry separately with this process. You could probably do it all at the same time if you wanted.

The Edges
Now the structure of your board is done and you just have to finish it. Take a File or some kind of sander and round off your jagged layered edges. Round the corners of the boars as you please as well. When all that is done, check alone the edges of the board for any cracks or separation between layers and fill those in with some more epoxy and pressure if needed.

Fins
If you want fins on your board, You can either just drill some holes for normal wakeboard fins or shape some of your own and epoxy them to the bottom of the board. I sanded a pair out of a garden stake and it worked out fine.

Urethane
After you’ve drilled your holes or stuck some of your own fins on the bottom, the board is ready to be sealed. I got some Spray on urethane from walmart which worked well. Follow the application directions cause it’s important. Get lots on the edges of the board to prevent water from getting between the layers and separating them.

Grips
Now your board is done, You just need to be able to stay on it. Wakeskate companies either make boards with some type of foam foot pads to stand on, or else they have grip tape requiring you to wear some skate shoes. I chose the grip tape option, So just go to the skate shop and buy twice the length of your board in grip tape, then run two strips of it side by side down the board and trim. Make sure the grip tape is on well or else it will start to pull off once you use it a few times and you will loose it all.

Now you are done the hard part. Now you are free to add graphics or fins as you please.

[ZoSo]

Nice board...your method is almost exactly the same as I how I made my two boards.

[-=AlexXx=-]

that thing looks pretty solid man, just round out those edges and shed be perfect!

[nopulseimpulse]

-Brad, Awsome board bro!

This sorta reminds me of when surfers make their own surfboard. Feels grassrootish...(is that a word?)

I might have to do the same!

[ZoSo]

Riding something that you've made yourself is one of the sickest things ever.

[Jordan Sprague]

do you like it as much as a board you have bought or riddin

[-Brad]

i havent tried it yet but when i do i will tell

[KyleMcleod]

-Brad, did you use presure treated wood? and how much did it the total come to?

[Poo]

KyleMcleod, where do you go to school? i ride on pigeon lake in ennismore

[Poo]

i = dumb, didnt know that was your name, i just added you on facebook, broc never told me your name hahaha.

[Brett Williams]

-Brad, 1/8" ply wood is so hard to find, what retailer did you get yours from?

[wakeshredder]

looks good, I wonder how hard it would be to make a bi-level...

[Raven]

That thing is sick looking I like hard corners..but damn, those are lethal. Let us know how she rides, I loved your tutorial. That was so savage breh, major props. What graphic were you thinkin?

[-Brad]

i got the wood from home depot. i put grip tape on i just need to find a camera then ill post pics

[conwest]

how did you curve the wood??

[KyleMcleod]

[Poo]

KyleMcleod, i did the E-Vill Wake ones myself, the L13 ones were done by L13 lol.

[KyleMcleod]

VinceWhiteman, man thats sick Im making a company, well attempting.. lol do ya think if i paied for paper and ink and stuff you could make me some?

[Poo]

KyleMcleod, i dont have the stuff to do that, im really tight with the owner of L13 so he let me make them. i only ever just got them made once. what kinda company you starting?

[Wakeness450]

it looks like one side is wider than the other