The Surfboard Racks Blog

If you are in the need to get your boards off the floor and can manage some basic Bob Villa skills, building your own surf or board racks may be the way to go. I have found many articles online of people building their own racks for about half the cost.  Here are some pretty sick racks that can be built with some basic home depot supplies. Pic and supplies listed below.

homemade surf racks

Supplies and tools:

• 2 pairs of board holders (main site recommends specific ones but and kind of rack will work)
• 2 2×4′s ( you can stain or paint these to match your room)
• 4 hanger bolts
• Carpet samples for wall protection (furniture pads all work well)
• Sandpaper (coarse, medium, fine – e.g. 100, 150, 220)
• 4 1 3/4 inch screws to mount the board holders
• Enough small nails to secure the carpet pieces, or furniture pads to the top and back of the 2×4′s
• drill, hand saw, tape measure, etc.

I simplified it down a bit but you can check out all the supplies that were used and the step by step instructions by going to Kevin’s Blog @ http://kdough.net/docs/surfboard_rack/

I also posted a few years back of the homemade bike rack for under $15 that can also be used. You can find it @ http://www.surfboardracksblog.com/surfboard-racks/the-do-it-yourself-bicycle-surfboard-rack-for-under-15

Here is also a link to a forum that discussed how to make homemade racks that can be added to your existing luggage racks for jeeps. Just scroll down a bit to find the post.

http://www.stripersurf.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14303

I have some more homemade racks that I will be posting later this week. If anyone has made their own racks and has pictures and supply list please let me know and I will put them up for everyone to see.

Technorati Tags: home surfboard racks, homemade racks

Ocean and Earth is probably one of the most recognized companies in the world of surfing. They have just about everything an enthusiastic surfer could ask for. From surfboard pads to wax, from surfboard bags to clothing, they pretty much have it all. That being said they also have, one of our favorite racks, the ocean and earth rap rax surfboard system. The Rap Rax system is very similar to the block surf single surfboard rack mentioned above. Both systems utilized a two strap system that goes through your car doors, front and back, which is then tightened. Once this is in place, you then place your surfboard onto the pad and then use the other straps to secure in place. Both systems also incorporate the quick cam buckle system. This mean as you pull the strap through the buckle, it will not go back the other way unless you press in on the buckle to release the locking mechanism. These is much faster and easier than some of the old school ratcheting systems and makes both, loading and unloading, a heck of a lot faster. Speed here is strictly up to the user.

Both Block Surf and Ocean and Earth rack systems are very effective for keeping your surfboard, or whatever board you have, in place on your vehicle. However, the Ocean and Earth has a convenient velcro strap you can use to bundle up the excess strap and keep from blowing in the wind. Block Surf recommends this can be achieved by just placing the excess strap in the car and shutting the door. While I usually like to excess strap inside the car, do to annoying wind noise the velcro straps works pretty effective as well. Most wind noise comes from taunt  straps that vibrate in the wind. The velcro strap helps to keep this down to a minimum. You will obviously have more excess strap with the less you carry on your racks. A maximum of three for each.

Judging the two side by side I think the Ocean and Earth strap seems also made a little better. I also like the carrying case for the ocean and earth, compared to the block surf, as it incorporates side air holes to help dry the rack faster after you use it with wet gear. I suppose if you don’t use the carrying bags for either, then this shouldn’t be a problem either way. Most of the time I just leave them in the back seat any way.

ocean and earth rap rax

In conclusion, if you are willing to spend the extra 6 – 7 bucks, go with the Ocean and Earth Rap Rax system over the Block Surf. Especially if you will be using these racks on a regular basis. But as for time and speed it takes to set up both racks work just fine. However, if your strapped for cash you seriously can’t go wrong with the block surf. I have had mine for years and have never had an issue.

If you also looking to carry more than three boards, both Block Surf and Ocean and Earth have double systems, to pads per main strap, which allow you to carry a total of six boards. I suggest buying these for your friends so they can carry your surfboards around too.

To learn more about this rack system and to see more images just click on the image above.

Technorati Tags: surf racks, surfboard racks

The Surfboard Racks Blog is proud to be apart of the eSurfbaord Racks store. Check them out for all your surfboard rack needs. They currently only carry The Nice Rack, see previous post, but will soon be carrying BlockSurf and Ocean and Earth surfboard racks, and other quality surfboard racks.

The Surfboard Racks Blog will be working directly with eSurfboard Racks to help provide reviews to users about the best quality surfboard racks on the market. If you would like them to carry a specific surfboard rack you can send them an email @ contact@esurfboardracks.com.

Happy Surfing.

Technorati Tags: surf shop, surfboard racks

Introducing the “Nice Rack” Surfboard Rack from thenicerack.com.

The great people from The Nice Rack were kind of enough to send my a one of their new surfboard racks. The first thing I noticed, when compared to other surfboard wall racks, it just how sturdy and solid this rack is. The rack is made from 100% recycled ABS plastic, which makes it very solid and surprisingly quite light. This rack is also incredibly easy to mount to the wall. Simply screw the two screws into the wall and snap on the supporting arm to complete the installation. Both the surfboard rack wall mount, as well as the support arm, have protective adhesive tape so you don’t have to worry about marking up your wall or your surfboards.

One of may favorite features about this rack is the fact that you easily add in other surfboard racks, which easily snap in and align with your first rack. This makes it an ideal rack for those who have multiple surfboards, as you can add or subtract as many as you want. These racks can also be used to store your snowboard, kiteboard, and wakeboard as well. Here is the expandable quad version that you can get and allows for the storage of multiple boards.

The Nice Rack is also reasonably priced at about $30 for the single version. Of course you get a discount if you order the multiple ones.

If you looking for a great wall surfboard rack, the nice rack is definitely one you should check out.

Technorati Tags: surfboard racks, the nice rack

Stykor Tadpole Surfboard Rack

I keep hearing and hearing about the Tad Pole System so I finally decided to check it out for myself. I haven’t purchased one yet, but decided to steal my friends the other day and see what all the hype is about. I gotta say the thing is indeed sturdy and holds your surfboard racks firmly in place. Most every surfer can tell you that one of the downsides of the soft surfboard racks is that some  just do not keep your board still when you start hitting higher speeds.

This can cause a scary noise.  Using the Stykor Tadpole system, surfboard noise, and surfboard movement  is no longer a problem. The system really holds your board down in place. One of the real cons I like about is that is pulls the front end of your board back allowing you too see much better out the front end of your car. Most current long board racks keep the surfboard centered on the roof of the vehicle which causing the front end to come over the edge of the windshield. It doesn’t blind you, but it can get annoying, especially on long trips.

The stykor tadpole system allows the long-board to be pulled back almost completely eliminating the front from the windshield. I could only see the tip of my board when I leaned forward towards the steering wheel. It was kinda of nice to be able to see completely unobstructed. However, like most racks with this added feature comes the sacrifice of something else. In other words freeing up the front obstructs the back.  How much will depend on the size of your car and board. I personally would rather be able to see more out of the front than the back, but for some it may be too much in the back.

So overall I would say this surfboard racks is perfect for the long-board but only on long, or perhaps, high speed trips. Using this system, your surfboard isn’t going anywhere, I don’t think I ever heard mine move at all while driving on the highway. This is why I give it a thumbs up for long trips. The noise is gone and you have no fear of losing your board. However, for short trips, it might be a little too much for me. It has an added back piece that goes on your truck that has to be fastened to the car’s trunk and then to the board. For me its too much work for a short trip, but I think this systems is for the long haul. And for that, this is a rack system I highly recommended you check it out, especially those of you with Longboards or SUPs

For Pics and Pricing:

http://www.esurfboardracks.com/products/stykor-tadpole-system

Technorati Tags: surfboard racks, tad pole