Start with the enclosure you already own
Choose the OMW Cavalry replacement deck for a rigid battery enclosure, or the OMW Hussar replacement deck for a flexible or segmented enclosure. Match the enclosure first, then choose your preferred Low, Medium or High Flex.
This guide helps riders transfer existing components to an OMW deck. For shapes, materials and general build principles, read the DIY electric skateboard deck guide.
Which deck matches your battery enclosure?
| Existing enclosure | Choose | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid, one-piece housing | Cavalry deck | Its more flexible bare-deck layout retains movement at the ends with a rigid enclosure. |
| Flexible or segmented housing | Hussar deck | Its firmer bare-deck layout works with an enclosure designed to accommodate deck movement. |
Identify the housing itself and how it mounts. A rigid enclosure resists bending; a segmented enclosure has separate sections intended to accommodate movement. Adding a soft gasket beneath a rigid box does not change that distinction.
Bare-deck flex and complete-board feel are different
The Cavalry bare deck is more flexible than the Hussar bare deck. Once paired with a rigid enclosure, the complete Cavalry feels more controlled and firmer. Hussar's firmer bare deck works with its flexible enclosure to allow more noticeable movement through the assembly.
Conceptual comparison of the two layouts, not a dimensional drawing or a measurement of flex.
Choose for the enclosure you are keeping. The ride feel of a complete factory board will not transfer unchanged to a deck fitted with different DIY components.
Choose flex for feel, then check dynamic clearance
LF, MF and HF Cavalry and Hussar decks all support riders up to 150kg / 330lb. Flex describes the movement you prefer, rather than different maximum-load grades. Other components in a DIY build have their own limits.
- Low Flex: a firmer platform with less movement. A lighter rider can choose LF for that feel.
- Medium Flex: an intermediate amount of deck movement.
- High Flex: more pronounced movement. A heavier rider can choose HF while accounting for the assembled setup's clearance.
On a complete Hussar, a heavy rider using HF can compress the deck enough for the enclosure to contact the ground over a pothole. This is a dynamic-clearance issue, not insufficient deck load capacity.
OMW's complete Cavalry does not have that same Hussar-style flex-induced bottoming issue, including with heavier riders on HF. For either replacement deck, a DIY build needs its own loaded-clearance assessment because enclosure depth, wheel size and mounting differ.
Check fit before ordering
Both have a deck size of 958 × 276mm / 37.7 × 10.9in. These are deck measurements, not complete-board dimensions. Check these four points against your existing parts:
- Enclosure footprint: compare the housing, flange and mounting locations with the usable underside and deck contour.
- Truck fit: confirm your baseplate mounting pattern and intended position.
- Moving-part clearance: check wheels, motors and cables through steering and deck movement.
- Loaded clearance: account for rider load, enclosure depth and movement over uneven surfaces.
Inspect components from a damaged board before reuse. If your custom housing or mounting layout is unclear, send OMW underside and side-view photos before ordering. Do not begin drilling until the proposed layout is confirmed.
Plan mounting holes and understand coverage
OMW provides factory-drilled truck mounting holes. Enclosure holes must be planned for your particular housing; OMW does not custom-drill them for every DIY enclosure.
All OMW decks have lifetime warranty coverage for the original purchaser under the published warranty terms. The deck construction and lifetime warranty article explains the broader coverage and material design. The FAQ below clarifies how correct installation affects that coverage.
Replacement deck questions
Do I have to replace the enclosure when replacing the deck?
Not automatically. You can plan around an existing enclosure if its construction, footprint, mounting and clearance suit the replacement deck. If those checks fail, reassess the layout before transferring the components.
Do equal deck dimensions mean the mounting holes are the same?
No. Overall length and width do not specify hole locations or baseplate compatibility. Compare your actual mounting pattern and housing layout; the deck size alone does not confirm a direct swap.
Does drilling the required holes cancel the lifetime warranty?
Correctly making the required truck or enclosure mounting holes does not, by itself, cancel deck coverage. Incorrect drilling or installation damage, including a later crack or break caused by that mistake, is excluded. Follow the agreed installation guidance and applicable warranty terms.
Your order: enclosure, deck, flex, then mounting
- Identify the enclosure: rigid or flexible/segmented.
- Select the deck: shop Cavalry for a rigid enclosure, or shop Hussar for a flexible or segmented enclosure.
- Choose LF, MF or HF: use your preferred feel and the complete setup's clearance.
- Confirm mounting: settle the truck-hole option and enclosure-hole layout before installation.
