Surfing Waves

Hiya, I know there is no straight answer but, I have a longboard (9' 2") that weighs around 11 kg (PU), i feel it way too heavy (difficult to paddle). Chatting with a shaper I learned that the tint (the board has a wood-like paint job) can add lots of weight to it, any thoughts?

Typically tint is just a tiny fraction of the weight of a board but I guess it depends how it’s done

So, I don't longobard much, but when I have bought longboards I had them custom made to make sure they where not so heavy. Most longboard shapers are looking to make a work of art, usually gloss finish and double cloth, making them beautiful and long lasting, but also adding weight.

My customs I only had the deck double glassed, did no paint or gloss to save weight (and cost less).

So your answer: if the board has a good paint job, is gloss, and maybe has been fixed in the past, they yes 11kg is probably right. Repairs add a lot of weight by the way, even good one.

I have an old transition era log and it feels like it weighs a ton, but I love it for small surf because it carries so much momentum behind it.. catches anything and feels like its more a part of the wave. It's probably less common for the surfing style nowadays.. but I think it has it's place. I kinda prefer a log to be on the heavier side. It's kinda like the issue of newer epoxy boards being lighter.. but also having the drawback of chatter and can also be hard to paddle into steep or fast waves. For the type of waves that I use my log for.. I like it on the heavier side. I guess what I'm really saying is.. i like big glass

Zeq wrote: Chatting with a shaper I learned that the tint (the board has a wood-like paint job) can add lots of weight to it, any thoughts?

My thoughts:
1) Maybe you should talk to the "Glasser" of the board and not the "Shaper" ( unless the shaper did glass the board himself )
When adding tint to the laminating resin, it is rare to use a full 1oz. of tint. And most of it ends up on the glassing room floor.

2) So if you ordered the same exact board BUT without the Woody tint, would the board be easier to paddle ?

3) Does the board support you when sitting on it ? ( or is the water surface up to your chest ) Can you need paddle your LOG ?

4) Do you cup your hands on the paddle ?

5) How heavy are you ? If you have a board with a lot of nose concave, it might be pushing water on the paddle.

6) What's the proper weight of a baseball bat ? A bowling ball ? A golf club ?

7) Tyler Hatzikian's boards sometimes go up to 30 lbs. / 13.61kg.