Aqua Tech Glassing

These guys are great. I know in the past they have got a bad rap, but every time I take a board there, they do great work, great color match and they stand by their repairs. Scott is awesome and is always very kind. I think no matter where you go there can be punk kids working but if you need some good repairs, I would definitely recommend Aqua Tech. A+ all around. Thanks guys!

Short version:
If you need a repair or getting a blank glassed look no further. You will not be disappointed when it comes to the job done and the responsiveness of the guys here.
Long Story:
I found an 8′ funboard in the dumpster behind my apartment. I grabbed it stripped the glass and reshaped the foam into some freak fish. The foam was old and had taken on some water in several places but Scott and his team helped me with a little of their own time in the shaping bay and smoothing out my first pass. When it comes to advice and the general stoke required to make this monstrosity ride they went through some great lengths for me in a short period of time. At no extra charge Scott added an extra layer of glass and went through some test phases to stiffen the more spongy foam imperfections. Really above and beyond a general glass job that would go into a fresh blank. We managed to re-​purpose the old board and take it out of the landfill system.
Every call I made was answered by Scott or his team and they were quick to get me any answers I was after. If you can’t fix the ding on your board or if you have a blank that needs glass get it done at Aquatech. They have generations of experience and they put there practice into great use. I saw Scott in the water today when I was riding the board he glassed for me. I have a new blank that I will be taking into his shop very soon.
Honestly it is one of the funnest boards in my quiver and it is only possible because of Aquatech.
Best to you.

I needed a repair done to my favorite long board. They took a look at it, and for $ 100 they fixed a stress fracture that kept opening up. Their glassing was so good, I can’t even tell where the repair starts or ends. Thanks, guys!

I have been taking my boards here for repair for the past several years. They have always done a relatively decent job at a fairly reasonable cost. Over the past few years I’ve started to try to avoid taking my boards here not because the work was bad but because they have a reputation around town for being really rude (the term that most commonly gets thrown around is «d-​bags») and they sit on minor repairs that should only take a couple hours for a couple weeks.
The last time I took a new Channel Islands in that had a minor pressure ding along the stringer. I told them it wasn’t a huge concern so not to touch it if it would be over $ 50 to repair. They absolutely hacked the board to pieces. They ripped off over 30% of the laminate on the board (including ripping off the new tail pad) and re filled and re sealed the area with heavy resin. The «repair» took a harmless ding and turned it into a Frankenstein board that’s twice as heavy as it was prior to the repair and virtually unsurfable now. When I went to talk to the «manager» about it he defended the shoddy workmanship and to add insult to injury he told me «if you don’t like it then you should sell it.» No apologies, no offer of a discount, just a big F-​you and an ugly worthless $ 800 surfboard.
No one I know enjoys taking their boards to this place but they do it out of necessity. That will be the last time I ever visit that place and it feels good to know I won’t be going back.

These guys kill it. Blew out a fin box and it looks like new. All I care about is not losing the original performance that the board had. But these guys went above and beyond. It doesn’t even look like a repair was done. I have had boards repaired in the past and Aqua Tech is much cleaner than the other jobs I’ve seen. Everything is lined up perfect and super clean. Stoked

Scott came highly recommend by a few friends when I was looking for a new custom shaped long board. I shopped around and spoke with a number of people who have used a number of other shapers.
Scott and I had a long conversation as to what I was looking for in a surfboard. I was impressed with how Scott listened to my needs and wants in a board. Super stoked with the finished product and the price was very reasonable.

When I left my board at Aqua Tech I felt genuinely pleased. The $ 50 repair cost was fair, the guy I handed my board to felt professional.
The problems arose when I came back a week later to pick up my board from what appears to be the Owner of the company (BEWARE: a guy with short, dark, curly hair). I told him I had come to pick up my board and handed him my ticket. He looked at the ticket and asked,
«What brand do you have?»
«Pesce» I replied.
«What tail does your board have?» he asked.
«I don’t know», I replied.
He sighs and asks if I can see it amongst 100 of boards lined up next to each other. To my surprise I find it, and as the Owner pulls it out he goes; «Aaaah, this is a DIAMOND tail». Duh!
He looks at a note attached to the board with the repair cost scribbled down.
«That’ll be $ 150», he says.
«No», I reply, «they told me $ 50 dollar, not $ 150». He looks at me with one of those you’re-not-from-Venice type of stares; «Why would it say $ 150 if its only $ 50? See — it says $ 150 right there!», he says while pointing angrily to the scribble note on the board. At this point, one of his colleagues chimes in, «It actually says $ 50, see — that „1“ is actually just a line in the dollar sign». The Owner grumps, «well $ 50 it is, and here’s your board». I look at it and go «can you help me to put the fins back on?». He gives me that you’re-clearly-not-from-around-here look again and replied «Don’t you know how to do it yourself?». I explain to him that I very well know how to screw the fins back on myself — however — I don’t have the right tools at home and I’m heading straight to the beach to surf. «I’ll teach you how» he sighs and walks off to fetch the screwdriver.
While the Owner is working the fins I look at the board and instantly identify a NEW ding. I look at him and go «Hey, you don’t happen to have some SunCure that I can seal that hole with?». «Oh, that’s a ding. We can repair it to you — for $ 40″(!!!). I am flabbergasted, I KNOW that I haven’t caused the ding and now he’s asking for $ 40 to repair a cent-​sized ding that I can fix in less than 5 minutes with a $ 6 bottle of SunCure. I cautiously tell him «I’m pretty certain this ding has not been caused by me». The Owner looks at me in triumph and goes; «We REPAIR surfboards, we don’t DING them».
I thank him for all HELP and walk over to my car with a strong urge to punch something; or someone. I decide to release my anger in the surf and when I arrive at the beach its completely flat.
***K him!

I would just like to thank aqua tech for a board I just got, and what’s a better way, than to give them a good review. Just bought a slightly used Farberow long board, and the guys were more than helpful. I would just like to recommend getting a board there, or fixing a board, first because the crew there is amazing at what they do, and create amazing boards, but also because they are the nicest boards that I have seen used and new, and I have many friends who’s lives are surfing. Thanks agains to everyone there

Brought in two boards with simple rail dings. Both came out lousy. Barely better than I could have done myself with Suncure. Strongly doubt Scott touched either board. Most likely someone in training.

Scott and his team fixed all my dings .i have an original vintage longboard shaped and signed by Scott Anderson. It is a real classic long board. He treats his customers like his surfing pals. I took a picture of my classic board right before I took it for a rude

THEY HAVE HELD MY BOARD HOSTAGE FOR THREE WEEKS AND NOW THEY CANT FIND IT AND THEYRE BEING REALLY, REALLY MEAN ABOUT IT!!!
I brought my board in 3 weeks ago because it had a chip on the nose, and the shaper said it would be ready in about a week. I called a week later and they said they were really backed up and it would be another few days. Fine. I called another week later and they said it would be another couple days and they would call me. When another week went by and I did not here from them I gave them a call. After looking around the shop for like 10 min with me on the phone, the guy couldn’t find my board so he gave the phone to his manager. I think the manager must have gotten some kind of doctorate in being an awful person because I have never experienced such an advanced degree of rudeness and unprofessional behavior. He told me that he didnt know where my board was, it might be at another store but it’s Saturday and they’re closed so he has no way of finding out. When I asked when it might be done he said that he could not see into the future. If he is not managing his staff, inventory, or workflow, I’m not exactly sure what that guy is doing there, but at this point I just want my board back. I don’t want to pay them for services that may or may not have been rendered, wasting my time, and for being mean about it. But at this point I can’t even do that because they can’t find my board. I hate them.

I dropped my board off to someone who I think works with Aqua Tech and Referred by ZJs.
I ‘ve been surfing since 15 – 17 and 41 now, so I ‘m hip to the surf community, matter of fact one of my friends is the première surf guitarist in So Cal.
I say this because I am giving the guy a chance at a good referral on repairing my board — he has a great rep apparently– but he promise my board like 4 – 5 to five days ago and hasn’t returned calls. Not professional — even in the surf community.

These guys do very good work. Their customer service on the other hand sucks. They will keep you board for weeks at a time without a phone call, after giving you an approximate time frame you think their going to stick to.
They are very rude if your board is not an «Anderson» or other local board that is shaped their on premises. I am They currently have had my board almost three weeks after a repair they said would take a week. I will never use them again. smaller mom and pops in the area are the way to go, although Aquatech will tell you thats what they are.

This was my first true need of repair on a surfboard in my low count of years surfing. As heard from a close friend, I decided to listen to his advice and use Aqua Tech to repair my board. An accident caused around 3 inches of the tip to break off, and a reasonable sized dent in the bottom of the board, they charged $ 85. I expected around way over $ 135 or so. They aren’t too great about picking up the phone, but they did a phenomenal job, restoring the board to looking almost brand new, besides the lighter color of white, you could never tell it was broken in the first place. Definitely a win situation. I’m very pleased with their work and highly recommend them to fellow friends, family, etc.

I am very impressed with the quality of work at AquaTech, not to mention that this place is a landmark of surfing the surfing community. I could not even tell I had a huge gash in my rail from some kook at Malibu the day before!
You might even get a chance to meet up with living legend, Skip Englumb (Founder of Dogtown Team), who runs the repair side of the business.
Not easy to find from street, but head to the back of the lot behind the Auto Body place, and they have a large operation with all the tool needed to repair both Epoxy and fiberglass boards.
Just got a fresh board from Scott Anderson that I was inspire to have shaped from my last ding repair visit, and it is amazing.
Thanks Scott and Skipper!

I am sad to post a bad review here. These don’t seem like bad guys and I think they probably do good work. I watched them glass a repair before I left my item, and the work looked very professional.
Sadly, after they set a price, agreed to a deadline, and took the job, they never did my work. Didn’t take my money, just screwed up my week.
I say item because I didn’t drop off a surfboard. I left a fiberglass model rocket that is constructed of the same materials, about the same size and a similar shape, so I knew they could do the work. I needed a couple dings and a crack touched up, basic cosmetic work. At first, they didn’t want to accept the liability of working on a model. I assured them that the item in question was less valuable than most of the surfboards they work on, and that I did not need a like new appearance. I just needed the glass and the paint touched up, and only the parts they thought they could do. Anything that seems tricky, I said, they could just tell me that and skip it.
See, none of the work was really difficult, I just didn’t want to have to do it myself. I haven’t fixed my own dings for a decade, and I knew my repair would be slower and lumpier than theirs. Also, I figured they’d have a shop already set up, with supplies and paint and everything. That they do. So I asked if they could do it.
Sure, they told me. Could they do it in 9 days, I asked. I had a deadline to deliver it to my boss. No problem, they said. Could they call me if anything came up, I asked, because if they had a schedule issue, I would need time to do the work myself. Absolutely, they assured me. They gave me a claim check, wrote my number and the deadline on the tag, and told me they’d get started on the weekend.
After the weekend, I called on Monday afternoon to check in. No answer, I left a message, waited a day. Called on Wednesday morning, and was told, «The guy who we’re gonna have do that job, he’s on vacation. With his family. He won’t be back till next week, so we won’t start til then.» It’s 48 hours before I’m supposed to hand the finished item to my boss. «I’m coming over to pick it up today», I said. I couldn’t think of what else I could say. I was floored.
I returned to the shop and saw the guy I had left the item with originally. The same guy who had assured me it could be done in 9 days. The same guy who assured me that if anything came up, I’d get a call. The same guy to whom I had explained, at length, that I could do the job myself, and would do so if he was not willing to for *any* reason. He never apologized or tried to explain. He did give me a look I might have interpreted as sheepish.
So I spent the next two nights in my unheated garage, clumsily patching these minor dings and touching up the paint with little jars I got at Pep Boys. Midway through, I decided it would be healthier to just resolve to leave a negative review, and my anger did indeed subside once I made that decision.
I think if you only bring a surfboard, if you let them fix it however they want, charge whatever they want, and finish whenever they want, these guys probably give good service. And I know that those are pretty acceptable standards in the surfing world. But if you are used to having input, having a schedule, or shopping for a good deal, these guys will likely frustrate you.

They were recommended to me for good reason… First time I brought my funboard in, they patched it and it lasted the rest of the season.
The next year, I basically busted the nose. They fixed it though it turned out not to hold. I took it back in and they gave it another shot for FREE.
I broke the nose off the board later. It was shot. Good guys. They kept it alive as long as possible.

I think this can pretty much sum it up:
Professional work
Appropriate prices
No friendly service
I personally love it because I want my board done professionally and for a good price, and that’s what they do.
I can understan the service complaints but I don’t mind it. I think it also depends on which employee you get.

I fully second Kathy P.‘s review below. Monty took his board in, they were professional, timely and super cool-​not in that cheesy, trite way. Just straight up, and everyone’s happy. Monty’s got his board back in one piece, color matching-​great job.
He may even get a mid-​size board from them as well. Shouts to Skip (yes, *that* Skip!), Jeff, and Scott. Thank you much!

This is a response to «Oliver I.» who made comments above on 09/​04/​2010. I am the person who he refers to and states that he was surprised I could use a tool to remove the fin from his board. Throughout his review, it’s hard to get past the pain he is so freely displaying. I will not address that however.
The interesting detail about anonymous reviewing is that you can choose a pseudonym and create any story to strike at a business or person of your choosing. No personal accountability is involved, and in this case, not even a photo. You know who I am, you see my photo, you may visit me at the above address. I am accountable.
«Oliver I. «called on the phone to ask how much it would be to repair his surfboard (much as he did in his negative review of «Radi’s Mechanic Service»). He was told that we don’t give estimates over the phone because we can’t see the damage. Every instance will be unique in the work it needs. He pressed and was told that it would b a minimum of $ 45 to repair. The key word here is «minimum». Oliver arrived and brought his damaged board. I examined it, turned it over and saw that the FCS plug had been forced by an impact to the fin all the way through the deck. The board in this condition is unridable and will take on water if riding it is attempted. I told Oliver it would cost $ 80 to repair. He protested saying he got an estimate of $ 45 over the phone and that $ 80 was just too high. I took the time to tell Oliver the steps involved: we would have to pull out the damaged plug, repair the large hole in the foam left by the impact, grind the top and bottom surfaces flush, re-​fiberglass the deck and the belly with two layers of fiberglass cloth, route in a new FCS plug, sand it flush, hot coat the repair top and bottom, and wet sand it smooth. Oliver trivialized it by saying, «So you’re just going to Q-​cell it (fill the hole) and reglass it, and you’re going to charge me $ 80 for THAT? I could do THAT myself!»
At that juncture, I said, «It’s a free country».
We have a price list posted on the door of the repair area. It lists several typical repairs and their approximate costs. But every ding is different and we stress that we have to see the actual ding to give an accurate estimate. And when we write a figure on the estimate, you can hold us to that – we will not waver from it when you pick up your repaired board.
The owner of Aquatech, Scott Anderson, was standing nearby my entire interaction with Oliver. He can attest to my treatment of Oliver. In fact, Scott was the one he talked to on the phone when Oliver wanted an over the phone estimate and was told it was a $ 45 minimum charge.
Yet, the point remains: Oliver is not complaining about a service he received and its quality or lack thereof. Oliver did not receive any such service, but that was his choice. Oliver is complaining that the price he wanted to pay was less
than we wanted to work for. That is his right. That’s why we give estimates. Can you complain about that?