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.
