You'll find all sorts of surfboard conversions on the page below. It's just a handy tool to have so you can get on with making your board quicker!
Out of all the measurement dimensions of a surfboard, the thickness is probably the most argued about when it comes to performance. For example, take 2 boards that are the same length and same width but if one is thicker than the other they will perform differently for the same person. The normal measurements in surfboards are of the finished shaped blank, before the outer skin (usually fibreglass) is laminated on.
How to measure the thickness of a Surfboard: The best way is with calipers in the middle of the board at the thickest part of the deck.
Below is how much difference there is between the normal measurement increments we go up with.
Thickness
1 inch = 25.4mm
1 inch = 2.54 cm
Thickness of a surfboardCONVERSION CHART |
||
|
inch |
mm |
cm |
|
2 |
50.8 |
5.1 |
|
2 1/8 |
54.0 |
5.4 |
|
2 1/4 |
57.2 |
5.7 |
|
2 1/3 |
59.3 |
5.9 |
|
2 1/2 |
63.5 |
6.4 |
|
2 5/8 |
66.7 |
6.7 |
|
2 2/3 |
67.7 |
6.8 |
|
2 3/4 |
69.9 |
7.0 |
|
2 7/8 |
73.0 |
7.3 |
|
3 |
76.2 |
7.6 |
Click here to download a PDF Thickness Measurements Chart
Width in a surfboard this is the distance across the widest part of the board. Other width measurements that are used are the tail and nose width which is usually measured in about 300mm in from the ends of the board.
How to measure the width: at the widest part of the board measure from rail to rail.
1 inch = 25.4mm
1 foot =304.8mm
Width of a SurfboardCONVERSION CHART |
||
|
inch |
mm |
cm |
|
18 |
457.2 |
45.7 |
|
18 1/8 |
460.4 |
46.0 |
|
18 1/4 |
463.6 |
46.4 |
|
18 5/16 |
465.1 |
45.5 |
|
18 1/3 |
467.5 |
46.8 |
|
18 1/2 |
469.9 |
47.0 |
|
18 9/16 |
471.5 |
47.2 |
|
18 2/3 |
474.1 |
47.4 |
|
18 3/4 |
476.3 |
47.6 |
|
19 |
482.6 |
48.3 |
|
19 1/8 |
485.8 |
48.6 |
|
19 1/4 |
489.0 |
48.9 |
|
19 1/3 |
491.1 |
49.1 |
|
19 1/2 |
495.3 |
49.5 |
|
19 9/16 |
486.9 |
48.7 |
|
19 2/3 |
499.5 |
50.0 |
|
19 3/4 |
501.6 |
50.2 |
|
20 |
508 |
50.8 |
Click here to download a Width Conversion Chart
Length of the board is measured from the tip of the nose to the tail of the board. The age old question…. Do I measure the deck of the board or the rocker to get the length?? Well we can’t avoid the different thoughts and arguments on this…. But generally it’s the rocker measurement.
How to measure the length: Measure the bottom of the board from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail.
Whichever way you measure it, the table below will help you with the conversions:
1 inch = 25.4mm
1 foot = 304.8mm
1 meter = 3.281 ft
Length of a surfboardCONVERSION CHART
|
||
|
Foot ‘ inches” |
mm |
Metres |
|
6’0” |
1828.8 |
1.83 |
|
6’1” |
1854.2 |
1.85 |
|
6’2” |
1879.6 |
1.88 |
|
6’3” |
1905.0 |
1.91 |
|
6’4” |
1930.4 |
1.93 |
|
6’5” |
1955.8 |
1.96 |
|
6’6” |
1981.2 |
1.98 |
|
6’8” |
2032.0 |
2.03 |
|
6’10” |
2082.8 |
2.08 |
|
7’0” |
2133.6 |
2.13 |
|
7’2” |
2184.4 |
2.18 |
|
7’6” |
2286.0 |
2.29 |
|
8’0” |
2438.4 |
2.44 |
|
8’6” |
2590.8 |
2.59 |
|
9’0 |
2743.2 |
2.74 |
|
9’6” |
2895.6 |
2.90 |
|
10’ |
3048.0 |
3.05 |
Click here to download a Length Conversion Chart
New fabrics are being used in surfboard manufacturing, which are mostly in metric weights so understanding how to convert measurements will be more important in the future.
To make this easier consider this:-
1 metre (m) does not equal 1 yard, so you can't directly convert them. To get the proper conversion you need to take into account that 1 metre equals 1.09 yards.
Here is how to convert Ounce (oz)/Yard2 to Gram (g)/m2
1oz/yard2 = 33.9g/m2
33.9 x oz = gsm weight (grams per square metre)
Here is a quick conversion guide for you:-
|
Grams per square metre |
Ounces |
|
140 |
4 |
|
170 |
5 |
|
203 |
6 |
|
237 |
7 |
|
254 |
7.5 |
|
271 |
8 |
|
289 |
8.5 |
|
305 |
9 |
|
322 |
9.5 |
|
339 |
10 |
Click here to download a Fabric Weights Conversion Chart
With Epoxy and Vinylester resins becoming more popular in surfboard manufacturing, measuring volume is now more important when mixing your resin and hardeners together. Too much or too little you will find it might not set hard.
Most shapers are now buying scales and go by the weight, but if you are a backyard/hobbie surfboard maker you may not want to spend the expense on the scales and most measurements can be done with measuring cups. If so here’s a quick guide on liquid ounces and millilitres, pints/quarts and litres.
1 Fluid Ounce = 29.57 millilitres, 0.029 litres
1 Pint = 473.18 millilitres, 0.473 litres
1 Quart = 946.35 millilitres, 0.9463 litres
1 Gallon = 3785.41 millilitres, 3.785 litres
Volume of Resins/Liquids (Measuring Cups)CONVERSION CHART
|
|||
|
Measuring Cups |
Fluid Ounces |
Millilitres |
Litres |
|
1 teaspoon |
0.170 oz |
5 ml |
0.005 L |
|
1 tablespoon |
0.507 oz |
15 ml |
0.015 L |
|
1/8 of a cup |
1.014 oz |
30 ml |
0.030 L |
|
¼ of a cup |
2.028 oz |
60 ml |
0.060 L |
|
1/3 of a cup |
2.705 oz |
80 ml |
0.080 L |
|
½ of a cup |
4.227 oz |
125 ml |
0.125 L |
|
1 cup |
8.454 oz |
250 ml |
0.250 L |
Download a PDF here of the Volume of Resin Conversion Chart
This page is to help convert the metric/imperial measurements and in turn help you understand what measurements help a shaper. Most surfboards are still measured in ounces and pounds though it is getting harder to find scales which have these details.
Weight in grams converted to ounces
1 ounce = 28.35 grams
1 pound = 453.59 grams
1 gram = 0.35 ounces
1 kilogram = 35.27ounces, 2.205 pounds
Weight of a SurfboardCONVERSION CHART |
|||
|
Grams |
Kilograms |
Ounces |
Pounds |
|
2000 g |
2.00 kg |
70.55 oz |
4.409 pd |
|
2250 g |
2.20 kg |
79.37 oz |
4.960 pd |
|
2500 g |
2.50 kg |
88.18 oz |
5.512 pd |
|
2750 g |
2.75 kg |
97.00 oz |
6.063 pd |
|
3000 g |
3.00 kg |
105.82 oz |
6.614 pd |
|
3500 g |
3.50 kg |
123.46 oz |
7.716 pd |
|
4000 g |
4.00 kg |
141.09 oz |
8.818 pd |
Download a PDF here of the Weight of a surfboard Conversion Chart
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