Built By Hands, Surfed By Feet

Here are a few of the emails and messages we’ve received from Home Grown Kit builders and Grain customers over the past few months. Hope these words inspire you as much as they have us.

From Andrew
8′ Sapling with custom rounded pin tail
No wallhanger this one, loose and fast frontside, fin set up works well. The board scored its first off the lips and cutbacks today in head high rights. Looking forward to my first lefts to see how it goes backside. The wood construction seems to smooth out the surface chop, most unlike a foam and glass board. Lots of useable momentum to glide fast through long sections.

…A day later:
Got some lefts today. Still stoked, the board comes off the bottom like rocket on my backhand as well. At 8 ft it also generates enough momentum and glide to cross step and ride close to the nose, go figure. Thought yesterday it’s kinda like surfing on a Martin guitar…

From Joe:
10’ Waterlog
But I’ll like to tell you how beautiful this surfboard is. Well, tis’ the most beautiful surfboard i’ve ever wrapped me arms around.. no baloney.
Made by your hands. ‘nuf said. Stoked. jb

From Luke:
Home Grown 6′4″ Wherry
Mike, I de-virginized the Fish today in pumping head high swell at Long Beach in NY. What a great board, duck dives like a short board and paddled like a long board. The thing got up and really performed beyond my expectations. It was like being on a high speed skateboard…..And yes multiple people asked me where I got it, what great satisfaction in saying I made it!! Thanks Grain, pictures to come soon, Luke

From Mark
Home Grown 6’ Wherry
The best thing about this project was how much pride you will take in building your own board, and how rewarding each step will be. Building a board like this takes a lot patience and lots of time, don’t rush through the steps, enjoy every part of the process.

As you can tell, I have been loving this project. This has been a great process, and I hope my wife eventually lets me build a long board! Thanks for all the advice along the way. Later, Mb

From Yair
Home Grown 5’10” Waka
Hey Mike, Well…it took a while but she’s finally done …and damn was that a fun project! Thanks for all the help you gave. I can’t wait to slide that mother on some good waves. I’ll send pics when that happens. Cheers, Yair

From Bob
Home Grown Kit builder

Hi Mike, You have come up with a very innovative kit concept that anyone with some wood working background, a few tools, a ton of clamps (you can never have too many clamps) and some interest in surfboard design, can build a beautiful and functional board. It was a very rewarding experience. I had forgotten how good it feels to run a sharp block plane through wood.

I have ridden the board twice now. Yesterday was 4′-5′ and a little walled up and I was basically just along for the ride trying to figure things out. The board felt good and there was no drag. I had some good waves and I was excited about the potential. Today I didn’t just ride the board I surfed it and I am blown away by the smooth speed and positive turns. The extra weight is a good thing and I am stoked. I have been riding a Hynson epoxy fish for the last 6 months and after two days the Grain board is already my favorite.

There is a problem though. Both days it took me about 20 minutes to get from my car to the water. Every one that saw it had to check it out and ask questions. I guess I will deal with it, I can’t wait to build another one. Thanks Mike to you and your crew for a very cool product. Bob

From Dan
2 Home Grown Waterlogs
Aloha, both logs are done. Have been riding them for a week. They both turned out great. I’ve had mine out at Ania Hina and out side Kaleloa. These boards work real well in the more exposed reef breaks. The rides I got today are worth all the effort putting it together, Thanks, Dan.

From Andrew
8′ Sapling custom rounded pin
Just a note to thank you for the job Grain did on my new board.
The real test was in the water, and, as we all discussed, this board was built to ride, not just to look at. The board is a little heavier to carry, but most of the sense of weight disappears in the water, except maybe on roundhouse cutbacks, and I seem to be very aware of the weight in late take-offs. The other place the weight appears is in full trim, when the board generates the kind of momentum that a much bigger foam and glass board would. This is a goooood thing.

The subtle bottom contours make the board very quick rail to rail and after adjusting my approach on bottom turns found the board very responsive to being cranked over and pushed towards the lip. It rides really smooth too. Feels a bit like it smooths out small chop on the face, no chattering or anything. The only problem is that it takes me 30 minutes or more to get from the water to my car because everyone wants to see the board and talk about it… Cheers guys,
Andrew

If you’ve been thinking about getting your hands on your own Home Grown Kit, but have more questions, check out our FAQ’s or email us at mike@grainsurfboards.com.