I've got a BIC Veloce 288 that I don't use anymore 'cos I've got a new gen slalom board. I smashed the nose catapaulting last season and haven't got around to getting it repaired.
I want to give it to a mate as his beginner board (he's a lightweight, so at 120L it's heaps big for him to learn on), but I want to repair the nose first. I know there are heaps of threads on nose jobs in the forums, but this board is neither epoxy nor glass, it's some sort of thermoplastic moulded construction. All I could get from the Bic website is the following basic specs:
Length 2.88m
Width 0.59m
Weight 9kg
Vol. 120L
Fin 35cm
Program freeride
Technology Thermo
Years 97/00
I figure I can cut off the damaged bit without affecting the boards performance (no more than 6" to be hacked off) and give it a rounded nose. Anyone familiar with this board's construction who can recommend how to proceed. I'm not looking for a flash job, just want to make it watertight!
And yeh I considered taking it to a pro repairer, but given the boards vintage the repair would probably cost more than the board is worth!
I think that plastic is polyethylene. Absolutely nothing bonds with it.
It has been suggested on these forums before that you try going to a water tank maker. They have plastic welding equipment.
Or a car bumper repair place - they have the welding gear too. Ultrasonic welding is really the only way to make stuff stick to it.
I had a Tiga 285 which was a old plastic coated board and it came off the roof racks. A guy helped us to repair it and did an excellent job. I can probably find out how exactly he did it and what he used. I think it was actually epoxy and he tucked it under the plastic then built up from that. Asuming this is the same stuff as your board anyway i'm not sure.
Bubs
