A reinforcing
system for a floatation device, such as a surfboard, and a method of its manufacture is disclosed. Such a floatation device has an elongated
stringer that has at least a top edge and a bottom edge. The reinforcing
system of the present invention includes an elongated top bracket and an bottom bracket. The top and bottom sides of each bracket are wider than the top and bottom edges of the
stringer. The cross-sectional shape of the top bracket is preferably rectangular, forming an I-beam cross-section when each bracket is fixed to the
stringer with a fastening means, such as a strong
adhesive or screws. The floatation device is preferably of the type having two buoyant blanks, each adhered to one side of the stringer. During fabrication of the floatation device, each blank is fixed at one substantially flat side thereof to one side of the stringer with
adhesive. A pair of notches may then be
cut into each blank and the stringer to accommodate each bracket, which is then fastened with the fastening means to each blank and to the stringer, resulting in each blank being adhered to the stringer and each bracket. Alternately, or additionally, each bracket may be fastened to the stringer with a plurality of the screws. The assembled floatation device may then be sanded and then coated with a
resin coating, applied over each blank, the stringer and each bracket.