Hollow Hawaiian Surfboard: Tom Blake's Classic Wooden Board

This is a surfboard with real history behind it. Tom Blake's hollow Hawaiian board is 12 ft 10 in (3.9 m) long and 22 in (0.56 m) wide, with deck and bottom planking over transverse ribs. Spruce frames keep it light, and African mahogany planking gives it a warm, rich finish. It is a lovely project for woodworkers who enjoy surf culture, and the finished board is as handsome on a wall as in the waves.

Hollow Hawaiian Surfboard at a glance

Detail	Hollow Hawaiian Surfboard
Type	Surfboard
Length	12 ft 10 in (3.91 m)
Beam	22 in (0.56 m)
Construction	Deck and bottom planking over transverse ribs; spruce frames, African mahogany planking
Designer	Tom Blake
First published	pp. 114–115
Plan sheets	2

Light, hollow and handsome

Building a surfboard hollow, with planking over ribs, keeps weight down compared with a solid wooden board. At 12 ft 10 in (3.9 m), it is long enough to paddle easily and glide on gentle waves. Spruce frames and African mahogany planking combine strength with beauty. Three sheets keep the plan focused and approachable.

The original plan sheets

These are the 2 original sheets, scanned from the magazine. For building, use the full-size PDF in the download section below.

Who designed it

Tom Blake drew this hollow Hawaiian surfboard, published on pages 114 to 115. Blake was a surfing pioneer best known for developing the hollow wooden surfboard, and this plan follows that approach.

Before you build

• Seal every seam carefully, since a hollow board must stay watertight to float well.
• Fit a small vent or drain plug so you can let out any trapped moisture.
• Try the board on small, gentle waves first, as a 12 ft 10 in board handles differently from modern boards.

Download the plan

Tom Blake's three original surfboard sheets in one file, ready to print full size or open on a tablet in the shop.

Download the complete plan (PDF, 2 sheets, 1.2 MB)