You're right with the choice of CF. I'd love to give you some tips about working with it, but I learned the bits I know while under an NDA that still applies. However, you will find some help here. http://www.roarockit.com/ I suggest emailing the guy named Ted there, he's pretty big in composites use for longboarding. He'll definitely have some good advice for you. And they sell vacuum presses that work quite well.