Is Surf the Channel legal?

How do you clean the old wax off of a found Channel Islands Al Merrick surf board?

• There is some duck tape about two inches across the top middle of the bottom, the part with fins also. I am going to prepare it to sell since no one claimed it and I don't surf.

• Answer:

  If you don't surf, I'm guessing you probably don't know what a wax comb is ;) I also wouldn't suggest using a paint scraper, as it's very sharp and will scratch the heck out of the board. Here's how I've been cleaning my boards for 20+ years: 1. Lie the board, wax up, in the sun. If it's a hot sunny day, around noon-ish, it should only take a few minutes to start melting. You'll know it's ready when the wax starts to glisten (yes, I know, you're not supposed to leave a surfboard in the sun, but we're only talking about a few minutes and, when compared to the amount of time it sits in the sun while you're actually out in the water surfing, that logic doesn't really add up). 2. Take a wood or plastic spatula from your kitchen and start scraping the wax off in long, even strokes. Using a paper towel, remove the wax from the spatula and dump it in a trash bag. Repeat until you've got the bulk of the wax removed. IMPORTANT NOTE: Wax is gnarly stuff. If you get it on your patio or carpet, it will stain pretty much permanently once it melts. I suggest doing this on your lawn or laying down a large towel or drop cloth. Also, if it's not warm and sunny, you can use a blow dryer to soften up the wax. It's kind of a hassle, but it works. 3. Using paint thinner, take a rag and wipe the entire board down (both sides). This will remove all the remaining wax, as well as any dirt or gunk on the board. Some companies sell a liquid they refer to as "wax remover" or "fire water" - it's all just paint thinner with better packaging and a bigger price tag. 4. Rinse the board thoroughly with water. 5. After you've done that, remove the duct tape. The reason it's there is because the board has some dings - cracks or holes in the board. You should see them as soon as you remove the tape. Using the paint thinner, do your best to clean off the tape residue. Try not to get any water or paint thinner inside the cracks/holes. The inside is made of foam, and it will soak up any liquid (hence, the reason for the tape in the first place). You can either take the board to a surf shop and pay to have the dings fixed, or just describe them to whomever buys the board, charge them less, and let them get it fixed. Hope this helps. Don't expect to get much for the board. Unless it's something special (very old or formerly owned by a pro surfer) used shortboards, especially those with dings, don't exactly command much on the resale market. My advice: Trade it in for a longer board and learn to surf! ;)