AboutKat Dawes Expertise I'M SORRY I DON'T DO WINDSURFING!
I am the sub-editor and editorial assistant for Carve and SurfGirl magazines, based in the UK. I can answer questions about all aspects of surfing: equipment, travel, history, culture, locations in the UK, the pro tour, training for surfing, technique, women`s surfing, forecasting, surf media and so on.
Experience I am the sub-editor and editorial assistant for Carve and SurfGirl surfing magazines, based in
the UK. I have been surfing for 12 years in Wales and Cornwall. I have also travelled to
Australia and various European locations to surf.
Publications Carve and SurfGirl magazines
Education/Credentials 15 A grades, BA and MA in English Literature.
Expert: Kat Dawes Date: 12/31/2006 Subject: Repair
Question I own a starboard carve 144 which requires a small repair job, due to a ding centrally positioned on the underside of the board. the plastic coating has been punctured leaving the polystyrene material exposed. The puncture hole is approximately inch by inch. Having asked a few people I am informed it is easy enough to repair and can be done by myself. Someone has recommended car body filler (not polyester based due to chemical reaction). Will plastic padding chemical metal do the job. I obviously want to avoid any reaction between materials and want to make sure before I attempt any sort of repair.
I look forward to your response.
Kind Regards
Answer I take it this is a windsurf board; I'm a surfer not windsurfer but I think the principles will be the same!
If you use car stuff or plastic padding you'll end up with an ugly yellow repair and it's not made for the job. Visit www.seabase.com and check out their kits, I've got one of the tubs which contains everything you neeed. Surf shops will sell them too, should be about a tenner. eBay - search for Ding All or Solarez for smaller tubes suitable for one repair.
The Ding Repair Scriptures book is the definitive guide to how to repair dings; for this little one you probably don't need that much information but it's the best book around anyway. Again you can get it online somewhere like a1surf.com or other online surfshops.
Hope that's enough info for you and good luck with it.
