Category Archives: Surfing

Balance Paddle

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When I decided to build a balance board Hammerhead Balance Board, I also knew that I would need a safety net.

I was committed to strengthening my legs for hydrofoil surfing, but really did not like the idea of possibly falling and breaking a bone(s). So, instead of a net or pads, I thought I’d make a ‘Balance Paddle.’

The balance paddle, would act like a long cane, with a paddle at each end. The paddle would hopefully prevent me from tipping over.

I began the build with pallet wood and four old ceiling fan blades – Recycle and Reuse.

I glued and clamped the pallet wood to form the paddle shaft. I also glued and clamped up the fan blades, with each paddle end consisting of two fan blades glued together.

I left a slot at each end of the paddle shaft, so that the fan blades could be inserted.

Below, I have decided that I wanted the area where the blade attaches to the shaft, to resemble a hammerhead shark, emulating the balance board.

Here I have cut away the excess pallet wood.

Next, I began to shape the paddle shaft. I used a belt sander and coarse hand file.

In Part 2, I will finish shaping the shaft, and will cut it so that one paddle end can be removed, and a handle end added. This will enable me to use the paddle with the Hammerhead Board once the hydrofoil wing is added and I’m in the water, like the surfer below.

Am I crazy for doing this? I guess I’ll find out.

Surfboard Rafter Rack

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After I built my hammerhead shark board – Hammerhead Balance Board, I had several pieces of oak wood leftover.

Now that I was ‘morphing’ from hodad to surfer, I decided that I needed a rack in the garage to store my board.

I framed up a simple rectangle, with a couple of center struts, and assembled with glue, screws and clamps.

I also had several pieces of punched angle iron leftover, from my solar on the go kart project – Solar on the Go Kart.

I cut 4 legs to size and bent over the end to form a corner, and screwed each leg to the rack frame.

Here’s a good view of how the legs looked prior to attaching to the garage rafters.

I screwed the top of the legs directly to the rafters. The rack is now installed, securely holding my custom board.

You can see the unglassed hydrofoil wing just peeking out, resting on top of the board. Or… is it a giant petrified shark’s tooth? I’ll let you decide.

Gotta get going on the hydrofoil wing or I’ll never hit the waves. The surf is always up somewhere!