How To Do A Windsurf Board Resurface
When it is time to do a windsurf resurface there are two options. You can pay a windsurf repair shop to do the resurface or you can do it yourself. Windsurf repair shops have the equipment and materials to do this work and you can get estimates of the cost prior to the work being done.
If you have other repair issues, such as, larger dings or soft spots, having this damage professionally repaired first may be your best option. Another important thing to consider is the available space that you have to work with. The materials that you will be using for a board resurface may produce toxic fumes. A well ventilated garage or outbuilding should be available.
Equipment and Materials to Resurface Your Windsurf Board
For a windsurf board resurface you will need a sturdy pair of stands to securely hold your board while working at a comfortable height. You will also need some good quality masking tape that will not leave sticky residue on your board when removed. Poor quality tape will also allow new paint to seep under the edges. A tube of ding stick or marine putty is necessary. 120 and 220 grit sandpaper will finish off preliminary patching.
Since the good quality marine paint is toxic, you will need an area with good ventilation and a respirator. You will also need a paint sprayer to apply the paint. Applying a good finish with paint from cans will be a disappointment no matter how well you can control the application.
You will also need tack cloths to clean the board prior to paint application. You will need a very good quality primer and marine paint in the color of your choice. This paint is expensive, toxic, and provides the hard surface needed for durability.
Steps To Resurfacing Your Windsurf Board
As with any good quality painting project, 95% of the final outcome is based on the preparation. The first step in your board resurface should be to check your entire board for any imperfections in the surface. Clean and fill all correctly with ding stick. Allow to dry and then sand with 120 then 220 grid sandpaper. Once this has been done, you are ready to thoroughly clean your board to remove all sanding residue.
Now you need to mask off all areas within a 1-meter radius of your board to prevent over-spray. Once you have cleaned, you should not touch your board with your bare hands. Doing so will leave oils or other contaminants on the surface which cause problems with even paint adhesion. You can now apply the a primer coat to the board. This will assure better integration of the new paint application. Primer will also make any remaining imperfections more obvious.
Go over the board again. Fill all pin-holes and other surface flaws. Prime, sand, and clean all surfaces thoroughly. Put on you respirator. Mix your paint with appropriate additives exactly as directed on the paint container. Make sure that the paint sprayer is clean before you add the paint mixture. Set the pressure dial and apply an overall thin tack-coat.
Wait about ½ minute and then spray on a slightly wetter coat. Continue to spray on wet coats waiting about 2 or 3 minutes between each applications. This may need to be done four or five times to get total, even coverage. Set the sprayer for a little wider coverage after each application to get a nice soft edge. Remove all of the masking tape after one hour and allow board to dry for approximately 24 hours.
To complete your windsuf resurface use 400,600, then 1200 grid wet/dry sandpaper to feather-out the newly painted surfaces. You are now ready to polish your board and head for the beach.
Additional Resources:
http://www.boards.co.uk/articles/index.asp?ID_A=178&article_type=50 http://2006.star-board.com/products/assistance/repair.asp http://www.boardlady.com/fieldrepairs.htm http://www.paulscrutton.com/wsurfr.htm