Whitburn Studio

Guides from the workshop.

Practical advice from James on surfboard repairs, custom boards, fins, materials and shaping.

A surfboard being worked on in the Whitburn Studio workshop.

How to choose a custom surfboard

A practical way to brief a custom surfboard shaper, based on the waves you surf, boards you know and the change you want from the next board.

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A handmade Whitburn fish surfboard on tarmac.

Fish surfboard or egg?

Compare the speed and compact feel of a fish with the paddle power, range and flexible setup of an egg, using the Nudibranch and Eggspiracy as examples.

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A Hold single fin in the water with the logo visible.

Single fin or 2+1?

Understand how a single fin differs from a 2+1 setup in drive, hold, turning and tuning, with practical guidance for longboards, eggs and mid-lengths.

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A surfboard deck with a raised area of delamination where the laminate has separated from the core.

Can surfboard delamination be repaired?

Learn what surfboard delamination looks like, why it happens, whether it can be repaired and what James needs to assess the damage. Repairs start from £60.

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A small surfboard ding photographed beside a ruler to show the scale of the damage.

How to photograph surfboard damage for a repair quote

Learn how to photograph surfboard damage for a repair assessment, including the whole board, surrounding area, close-up, profile and useful details.

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A surfboard shaping experience in the Whitburn Studio workshop.

What happens during a surfboard shaping experience

See what happens during a one-to-one surfboard shaping day with James near Winchester, from agreeing the board to shaping the blank and collecting the finished board.

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A surfboard with several damaged areas requiring assessment and repair.

How much does surfboard repair cost in the UK?

How much surfboard repair costs in the UK, with Whitburn Studio starting prices for dings, fin boxes, delamination, buckles and snapped surfboards.

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A damaged surfboard fin box with broken material around the fitting before repair.

Can a surfboard fin box be repaired?

Can a damaged surfboard fin box be repaired? Learn what fin box damage looks like, what repair may involve and why Whitburn repairs start from £70.

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James working with surfboard materials in the Whitburn Studio workshop.

Custom surfboard materials at Whitburn Studio

A clear guide to the materials James can use for a custom surfboard, including PU, EPS, balsa, agave, bioscience epoxy and local reject timber for custom stringers.

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A cracked surfboard rail photographed beside a coin to show the extent of the damage.

Does my surfboard ding need repairing?

How to tell whether a surfboard ding needs repairing, including cracks, exposed foam, rail damage, water ingress and when to stop surfing the board.

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A surfboard with substantial rail damage being assessed before repair.

Should you repair or replace a damaged surfboard?

When is a damaged surfboard worth repairing? Compare dings, fin box damage, delamination, buckles and snaps before deciding whether to repair or replace.

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A surfboard completely snapped through before structural repair at Whitburn Studio.

Can a snapped surfboard be repaired?

Can a snapped surfboard be repaired? Learn what determines whether a broken board is worth rebuilding, what James assesses and why repairs start from £250.

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A buckled surfboard showing a structural crease across the board before repair.

Can a buckled surfboard be repaired?

Learn what a surfboard buckle looks like, how it differs from a full snap, whether it can be repaired and what Whitburn needs to assess it.

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