Photo by V. Miller
March 29, 2006
Oiling Surfboards
Oiling the Waves: Surfing with the Fires of the Ancients
Robert Zane, 14, Honolulu, Hawaii
Finalist, Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, 2005
Project background: A magnificent kukui tree, the Hawaiian state tree, stands in Robert's backyard. He knew that ancient Hawaiians used the tree for medicine, food, and oil. He also knew that Hawaiians had invented surfing. Combining these two ideas, he hypothesized that kukui oil would be as effective as toxic commercial varnishes for waterproofing surfboards.
Tactics and results: Robert crafted tiny surfboards from koa wood, commonly used for surfboards in Hawaii. He prepared three sets of surfboards. He treated one set with the inner bark and nut oil from a kukui tree. He sprayed the second set with a commercial varnish. He applied nothing to the third set. He soaked all three sets in seawater and measured how much weight each gained. Weight gain, Robert knew, is a sign of poor waterproofing.
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| Photo by V. Miller |
Robert concluded that kukui products were just as effective at repelling water as the commercial varnish was.
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