pt 4: glassing in a leash loop on fish surfboard

This is the 4th video of a many part series. In this video I am using scrap fiberglass to create a glassed in leash loop. I hope you enjoy.

[@chrisgardner6677]

So here in Hawaii we run the loop following the stringer. Seems counterintuitive 3:29 but doing it our way has 2 reasons. 1. Stronger to have the surfboard pull on the end of the loop closer to the tail where more strands attach to the deck . 2. With the loop going nose to tail your foot (if you happen to step on the loop) will hit the transition from the deck to the top of the loop instead of hitting the top of the loop. Good job though! Also, Fiberglass Hawaii used to sell fiberglass rope so you didn’t have to make rope out of laminating glass. Back in the 70s our Sunset & Waimea boards had glass on fins so our laminators like Jack Reeves did not have to make rope. The fiberglass rope was 8oz & ready to laminate in foot long lengths. Thanks for the video. Aloha, Chris

[@paulzeye_surfboards]

Whooooaaaa… thanks Chris! You just dropped a lot of good knowledge! That makes a lot of sense! I wondered what the reasons were. Thank a bunch! I figured I’d just use what I have in the sense of fiberglass just because there’s always so much scrap. Is it okay to use a 6oz fiber and add a bit more?

[@chrisgardner6677]

6 oz is fine. What we do is tape one end of the unsaturated rope so you cam wet it out first in your resin bucket or cup. Then lay the saturated rope on the deck to make your loop. This is the same method laminators use to lay up glassed on fins. Then we cut the saturated rope with good glass cutting sheers just passed the tape. By taping one end of the rope it keeps random strands from creating a mess. Use masking tape & before you saturate the rope shake it & even gently hit it against a clean edge so the strands come neat & this will make the rope easy to wet out. Glass on fins are cool for twin fins too!

[@paulzeye_surfboards]

Great tips! I plan on making some glass on fins for this and hoping to throw them on this fish when I get the chance!

[@Hydrnaught]

Have to run longitudinal

[@paulzeye_surfboards]

That is what another person also told me down below! It’s good to have it reaffirmed by someone else! Thank you! I actually have a follow up question for yah. Do you know what the pros can cons are between a leash plug and a glassed in leash loop? Is it just preference aesthetically and time it takes to install one or the other? Thanks 🙏🏽

[@Hydrnaught]

@@paulzeye_surfboards so much stronger, you run the risk of getting the bridge ripped out by lateral torsion.

[@paulzeye_surfboards]

@plagalla 😯 that’s good to know!