Questions and
answers

Every Watta is shaped by hand by Luis Brito. He works the foam blank himself with a planer and sanding tools, reading the curves by eye and by feel as he goes.

A machine shaped board is cut to a fixed digital file, so every copy comes out the same. Shaping by hand means the board can be tuned to you, your weight, your surfing and your waves, and small adjustments to rocker, rails and foil happen on the blank rather than on a screen. It is slower, and it is the way Luis prefers to work.

Volume, measured in litres, is the float in the board, and it is the best starting point for size. It depends on your weight, how often you surf, your ability and the waves you ride.

As a rough guide, a stronger and more experienced surfer rides less volume, and a beginner or a lighter wave surfer wants more to catch waves and stand up easily. Use the volume calculator in the Shape Room for a guide figure, or tell Luis your weight, height and surfing and he will size the board for you.

Order through the form on any board page, or in the Shape Room if you want to build a full custom spec. Fill in what you know and leave the rest to Luis. He reads it, talks it through with you, and confirms the board and the price.

The current build lead time is roughly three to four weeks, about 15 to 31 days, depending on blank availability. Your board is ready once it is shaped, glassed and cured.

Boards start from €620 for a plain board in a standard size, with larger sizes stepping up. Colour, resin tint and artwork are quoted separately.

Every price is worked out from a real cost base, and the exact figure for your board is confirmed by Luis before you pay. Shapecamp, where you build your own board, is priced separately.

Luis shapes at his workshop in Arelho, by the Óbidos lagoon and ten minutes from Caldas da Rainha, on the Silver Coast of Portugal. He shapes and surfs for the coast around him, mainly Foz do Arelho, Peniche and Nazaré, and he works with a few local surf shops and schools.

Custom boards are ordered from anywhere and shipped, so you do not need to be local to ride a Watta.

Payment is by bank transfer, arranged directly with Luis. Send the order form and he is in touch to confirm the board and how to pay.

You can pay in full for a plain board in a standard size, or leave a 50 percent deposit to secure your place while the spec is worked out, with the balance settled before delivery. There is no card checkout on the site, and no bank details are shown here. The board is reserved once your payment lands.

Shapecamp is where you build your own surfboard by hand with Luis over four to five days, then paddle out on it. You design the board, shape the blank, finish it and glass it, all one to one, with every tool and material provided.

It suits complete beginners and experienced surfers alike. There is a build only package and a build and stay package with nights by the lagoon. See the Shapecamp page for what is included.

Yes. Luis repairs boards by hand at the Arelho workshop, the same hands that shape them, and not only Watta boards. Cracks, pressure dings, snapped noses and tails, fin box and leash plug work, delamination and water damage.

The quickest way to a price is a photo. Send a picture of the damage with the board length and where it is, and Luis will tell you what it needs before you drive down. See the ding repair page.

Yes. Within Portugal and the EU, boards are sent boxed and protected by a surfboard friendly courier. Because a surfboard is large and light, freight is quoted per board and per destination, and the cost is confirmed with you before dispatch.

Outside the EU, contact Luis for a quote before ordering, and note that any import duties or customs charges in the destination country are the buyer's responsibility. You are also welcome to collect free from the workshop in Arelho. See the shipping page for detail.

The right board depends on volume and shape more than skill level alone. A beginner usually wants more volume and a stable, wide outline to catch waves and stand up, while an advanced surfer can ride less volume and a more performance shape.

Many Watta models work across levels at the right size, so the honest answer is to tell Luis your weight, ability and usual waves, and he will point you at the shape and size that fits. The board finder in the Shape Room is a good place to start.

Yes. The 3D designer in the Shape Room lets you spin a board, choose the shape, resin tint and fins, and send the picture straight to Luis. It is a simple way to see the idea before you commit, and it gives Luis a clear starting point for your board.

Yes. You can collect your board free from the workshop in Arelho by appointment, which is a good chance to meet Luis and talk it through.

You can also see and order a Watta at the local surf shops Luis works with, Surf Foz in Caldas da Rainha and The Bunker in Peniche. The shops and schools page lists them.

You can specify the fin setup, single, twin, thruster, quad or 2 plus 1, in either Futures or FCS II boxes. Glassing runs from ultra light through standard to strong, depending on how light or how durable you want the board.

Construction can be traditional PU or EPS and epoxy. If you are not sure, leave it to Luis and he will build what suits your surfing.