Usual story, longtime follower of the site first time posting... Used the archive search quite a bit instead of asking. Thanks to everyone for all the help in the past, crazy amount of info and knowledge on this site. Now have a pretty specific question and didn't have much luck finding it in a search.
Been fixing my own boards since I was 14, now 32. Building board number 11, so not my first rodeo, also not a pro by any means.
This one is a 4'11" mini simmons inspired diamond tail quad. Stringerless blank from a block of what I think is 2lb eps. Guy I got it from on craigslist wasn't sure what density it was, but judging by weight and comparing it to 2lb blanks I've got in the past it's pretty close. My plan is to veneer 2 1/2" wide strips of eastern red cedar on the whole deck about 1 1/2" in from the outline of the board, probably right where I'm going to do my cutlap from the bottom lam. The strips will be 3/16" thick and range from 12" to 16" long. Going to epoxy them to the deck then normal double 4 oz for deck lam. Going with 6oz on the bottom, not too worried about weight
My main question is whether I should put something on the bottom to stiffen the board up. Not too worried about flex, will mostly be surfing it when the tide gets high or when I don't want to ride a longboard. But I do want to be able put the thing on rail and surf it.
Also any suggestions for putting the cedar on is greatly appreciated. I don't really have the cash to get a vacuum set-up, I know that would be my best bet. Any others tricks?