You gotta have fun.

It takes a lot of time and work to build a hollow wood board.  When I started it was a good way for me to escape to the shop.  I hope that doesn't change.

Most of the time I'd rather be surfing with friends.  The most important lesson I've learned from building boards is enjoy the moments.  All of them and with practice your life will get better.

Board is shaped.

It's a pleasure to shape using hand tools.  I do my shoulder cut passes with a block plane and use the little Stanley 12-101 to fair it in from there.  Fun stuff.

The leash plug got installed so I can laminate the bottom.

Ready for rails.

It usually takes a few days for me to get the rail strips ready for shaping.  It's an important process in the build so, I take my time.

I love to build wood surfboards.  Shaping the rails is my favorite part.  It's going to be fun.  I set-up the new and copy boards for a little comparison.

It looks like their about the same.  I'm going to copy the rail profiles of the old one on the new one.  It's best to stay with something that works.

Starting to shape.

All the rail pieces are in place.  This board  gets (3) layers of 1/4" balsa.  The tool I like to use for shaping is a Stanley 12-101.  Really fun little plane.  It works well on paulownia also.

Got skin needs rails.

I cleaned up the bottom and top.  It's ready for a little fine tuning and then rail strips.

The board feels light and strong.