TECH TALK with DAVE
Over the last 15+ years that i have been making surfboards
i have tried lots of things.
From alternative materials & construction methods,
there is many ways to make a surfboard.
Everything i have tried has had pro's and con's. The Way we
make surfboards everyday (polyurethane foam/polyester
resin) is the most ideal, It is the easiest to repair, it
lasts a life time if its made with good quality materials
and built by craftsmen & is the most cost effective.
Most importantly the traditional way guarantees the best
all round performance in any conditions as it is the most
understood medium we have used!
Resin infusion is a Direction that has room to grow in our
production process. We have had some promising results
& will continue with our experimentation as we can see
environmental, as well as health and safety benefits in
this process. Each new way of construction takes time to
learn & perfect, but what takes even longer is learning
the final effects on the boards performance! As the best
performing & strongest product is the golden fleece we
all seek, its worthwhile making sure the tech we try has
long lasting benefits for you... I see companys go public
very quick with surfboard tech fashion trends without
understanding what effect it really has for everyday
customers.
We use Polyester & Epoxy resins. most of our boards are
made with PU (polyurethane foam), but we do some boards
with EPS (expanded poly styrene). EPS takes very skilled
worker much longer times to make boards that compare to PU.
Epoxy resins have great flex properties and can give some
performance enhancements. The negatives EPS and Epoxy have,
create other methods to get the same performance that PU
has. Currently several companies use wood or carbon on the
rails to dampen the flex and give a more normal feel to the
boards shape! This can give you some advantages and also
disadvantages. Twang and flex is the plus if your in good
waves,but Balsa wood soaks water like tissue paper and
carbon makes the board stiffer... Some good advice, Watch
trends for a couple years and if your seeing lots of
secondhand ones in that tech method, question the benifits
and the durability! Try a s/h one first and save your
money, let someone else be the sucker...
This board has art applied on the foam. It is a computer
printed fabric! We have made several board trophies for
Surf contest around the world including Oakley, RipCurl
& Billabong. Any Graphic you can make on the computer
we can print and apply to your board! Perfect for Corporate
Branding or Prizes, or your own special individual
board.