Surfing Waves

Who likes what better ??? Traditional Polyurethane foam vs. Epoxy.

Any tip on Knee paddling Lonboarders ???

I find that there are many diff. variations. I like to "V" my legs out so that my knees are way out by the rails & just charge....even take off on waves that way !!!

Is the traditional polyruethane same as fiber glass???

no it's more bouyant & less heavy.

***(no pic uptight webmaster see !!!)

polyurethane is the foam inside most fibreglassed boards. epoxies can also be made with fibreglass (epoxy also a type of foam the blank is made of) but is generally lighter and stronger than PU.

Epoxy is Fiberglass with epoxy resin and polystyrene (styrofoam) blank, PU is polyurethane foam with fiberglass and polyester resin.

I've ridden both and have even ridden the same basic board in each - 9'8 Yater spoon in both custom and surftech versions. The surftech (epoxy)was very good but the custom (PU) version was far superior as it was more responsive and gave more feedback, the epoxy was stiff in comparison. Traditional wins every time in my book.

There's something special about a custom polyurethane that a mass produced epoxy just cant match..

A certain je nai se quoi.

So for me the PU does it!

I grew up with custom short boards but now live on the east coast and have to travel a lot for small surf so I now surf mainly epoxy longboards ( a 9' Robert August Wingnut) and occasionaly my poly short board on the odd day that the surf is big and steep enough to make it fun. The epoxy is great for travelling because it is so ding resistant. Its definitely not bad, I'd like to try and epoxy short board sometime.

PU is definatly the best. Surftechs are a gimmick!!

The faults with a surftech are

1/. They float too high in the water. When you screaming down the face on a monster and go to crank a bottom turn on a log the extra bouyancy in the tail means its harder to sink and bury a rail to perform a hard turn.

2/. They are very difficult to fix when dinged

3/. There is no character in a 1 of millions shape from Surftech

4/. They are overpriced

5/. They flex differently to PU board. Most noticible is when you hit chops on an onshore day. The board reverbirates as you ride and slows the board down.

Basically you can perform better manouvers and ride faster on a PU board.

Thats my findings anyway!!

but have you tried a custom shaped epoxy/EPS combo?

I ride an epoxy 9'6" and I must be honest I bought it cos it were cheaper than a double 6ounce glassed custom board and I haven't had a single gripe with flotation, no matter what youre on it worlds apart from the old logs from yester year and them old guys ripped on waves like Makaha which is beyond what most of us will ever do, yeah I know weight helped 'em but with ligheter boards when you get over the tail you really can throw 'em, downside being on strong offshores you need to trim much further forward and then you drop really quik which can be good or canbe reaallyy Bad i.e today I went over the falls got my board in the back of the head and didn't ding it, The damn thing practicaly called me a fairy told me to stop whining and then sat obiediently waiting for me to get back on....Traditional lay ups are like family epoxys are smug colleagues!!!

I understand the attitude towards epoxy popouts. But really, does anyone like PU popouts?

I wonder whether any of the people on here who dislike epoxy boards have ridden a properly designed and build custom epoxy sandwich board? Be interested to hear that.

Oh yeah, one last thing. If you take a PU board and "clone" it in epoxy it is going to be lighter, stronger and more floaty. Because the same volume of EPS foam has more air in it the if it where PU. A good epoxy board should be slightly thinner and wider than the equivalent PU board (amongst other things).

-doug

I am all for supporting your local shaper who ever he or she maybe and what ever they prefer to use. With respect to longboards glassed using Epoxy Resin or Polyester Resin... Polyester Resin with Volan glass all the way, primarily on account of the overall board weight being higher and conversely better response in the water. PS. who gives a rats ass about price, a good solid longboard is well worth the money (drastically under priced from the shapers side) and will last years if treated right

dougirwin13 - what are you paying over there for a 9ft plus with Volan deck patches and rails?

If you are interested in a light read I spat out a few of my views on Multinational company's fabrication of boards with respect to home grown experiences on this thread at MSW quite a while back: http://magicseaweed.com/surftalk/viewtopic.php?t=4482&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=60
I don't know how much relevance it has but a few ideas to think about before purchasing an off the shelf import next time.

A good epoxy (composite) board builder will easily turn out a 9'+ board at whatever weight you want. And all additional weight also means additional strength.

Who cares about price? Well I have a family to support so I can't just throw $$ down the drain on a whim. But I agree with you on the value of a good board and how long it should last.

dougirwin13 - what are you paying over there for a 9ft plus with Volan deck patches and rails?

I don't use volan. But I can ask one of my local shapers if you really want to know.

Interesting rant on MSW :)

Try this on a PU/PE:


It's good enough for Nev, too. Take a gander at Firewire.

-doug

no, don't do it, DON'T DO IT!!!

Ok I tried it.

um...




now what?

Sweet! wrote:
[sarcasm]
Ok I tried it.

um...




now what?
[/sarcasm]

please tell me that's the way you intended it?

um

sarcasm?

Whats that?

ok, I'm still going to assume both of those were sarcasm

the forum really needs a sarcasm BB code...

Sweet! wrote:Ok I tried it.

um...

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:


now what?

If it was PU? Go to your shaper and get a new board :D

If it was a good custom composite/epoxy board? Pick it up and go surf. Becuase it'll be fine (like this http://www.mbawa.org.au/bounce.avi).

-doug