Rocker Table

The first step in gluing the frame to the plank is setting up the rocker table. If you look on the indispensable forums like Tree to Sea and Swaylocks, you'll see some beautiful and complicated rocker tables. Grain Surfboards offers a custom set for each kit they sell as well. If you have the skill or the money (I have neither), then those are the way to go.

I opted for a much, much simpler version. Really all the rocker table has to do is support the frames during glue up. I shimmed under the rungs of the lamination table using scrap wood as recommended in the Grain manual. This is harder than it looks. Every time I got one frame to touch, it would push another out. I set up and dismantled the rocker table about three times. Eventually I just had to learn to live with well enough.

You can affix the shims to the rungs of the lamination table about any way you want. I tried tape first, but it is a huge pain. I picked up some stretch wrap which I found to be cheaper and far easier. It makes for a pretty solid hold as well.

I added additional shims conform the planks to the bottom contours built into the frame. The Seed has a subtle single to double concave from the belly through the tail. I dry fit the planks and frames to ensure it worked out and didn't put too much stress along the keel.

The rocker table looks ugly and it put my OCD into a frenzy, but I think it will work. Next step, frame to planks.......