Skimboard bottom custom art help

[perskim]

A friend of mine is going to draw or paint some design on the bottom of my skimboard, and I wasn't sure how it should be done. I'm not sure what type of paint or marker to use or what. Another friend said that it doesn't matter too much, but I would need to get a coat of fiberglass coating over it. I have a exile Carbon fiber if that makes a difference. I know some of you guys make your own skimboards and designs so any help would be very nice.

[Jim Gordon]

Don't put resin or fiberglass over the art on the bottom, that would be a total fail. Just put the art on top and shoot a clear coat over it then just use surf wax over that. Be sure to do a test to make sure the clear spray doesn't eat up the paint.

[Aaron Peluso]

i recommend painting the top as it doesnt get the same kind of abuse as the bottom does...

[perskim]

So both of you would recommend not doing the bottom of my board. So if I do the top of my board would I need to sand it down at all because it textured and then would I just spray a clear coat over it? And also is there a certain type of Marker or Paint I should use?

[Jim Gordon]

Sharpies work good, and if you don't put a clear over it, you can take it off (alcohol or acetone) and do some new art on your board again. Now if you do want to put a clear over it, be-sure to test it first, some clears will eat the art up. I don't remember what kind of clear I used on my board though.

[drewk]

I used Krylon UV-Resistant Clear Acrylic Coating and it turned out perfect.
It's been a couple months with constant use and there hasn't been any signs of wear.

[Jim Gordon]

I used Krylon UV-Resistant Clear Acrylic Coating and it turned out perfect.
It's been a couple months with constant use and there hasn't been any signs of wear.

I guess that's on the top......right?

[drewk]

I guess that's on the top......right?

Ya it was on top, sorry should have specified. I used paint pens and coated it with the above after the paint dried.

[perskim]

Thanks for all the advice! Can't wait to get this done. I'll remember to test it first.

[bmearns]

So is there a good way to paint the bottom of the board? I don't want to do a design on the bottom, I just want to paint it something bright: I keep loosing track of it when it rolls over in the foam. I don't mind if it scratches a little with wear; I don't care how it looks, I just don't want to have to redo it too often. The most important thing is that it not add drag or otherwise effect the ride.

[Jim Gordon]

So is there a good way to paint the bottom of the board? I don't want to do a design on the bottom, I just want to paint it something bright: I keep loosing track of it when it rolls over in the foam. I don't mind if it scratches a little with wear; I don't care how it looks, I just don't want to have to redo it too often. The most important thing is that it not add drag or otherwise effect the ride.

You really shouldn't paint the bottom, but if you must......just paint the the nose. Where, it doesn't touch the sand when you lay it down.

[bmearns]

Thanks, Jim. Could a manufacturer, in theory, put down a design on the bottom of the board without effecting performance?

[Klaustrophobia]

yes. most (all?) of them have custom art options.

[bmearns]

So I just coated the bottom of my board with resin (had a patch job to do anyway) with a bright yellow coloring agent, let it cure, sanded it up real well, and it seems to be fine. I was riding for several hours yesterday, flatland and deepwater, and didn't notice any increased drag or anything. The bottom was pretty banged up as it was, so I don't know if I would recommend this for a new board, but it seems to be fine for me. The bright yellow makes it easy to spot when it gets flipped in the foam.

[Georgia Jeff]

Thanks, Jim. Could a manufacturer, in theory, put down a design on the bottom of the board without effecting performance?

Yes. They put the art on and then clear coat over it. I know that Slotstik has been doing resin art for atleast 16 years.