Surfboard Guards

[BoMan]

I will soon move up from a foamie to a proper longboard and wanted to get your opinion about nose and fin guards. I work hard to keep control of my board but "the ocean's in charge" and I don't want to hurt anyone.....especially ME

What are the pros and cons of these products?

[surfing2good]

Buy the nose/tail guards if you are buying a new $4,5,6,7,00 or more $1k.000 for a board, protect it, especially nose and tail, just banging it to get to your car and back, will save a bit of repairs. because like most foamies they dont ding there just dingy. the real deal inless you go epoxy will suck water like a sponge, turn brown and get heavy. The epoxy one will not but may delaminate in the sun or left out in the sun, but you need to protect your investment! I make and repair them, so protect it or pay the price, its for your protection of the vehicle not the other guy, The fin is for the other guy, i think the flow of water over the fin will get disturbed and wont have the drive you started out with, that edge will form a very wide ebb around the fin and the drive off the back of the fin will be deminished, so the fin one is up to you! Do you run people over? or have you been run over by your own board? Don't worry just go surf DAMIT.
Oh if you are buying a used beater to start, save the money for a new board, and support your local shapers.

[jaffa1949]

Nose guards smose guards on a round nose board , not worth it IMO, if you have a sharp nosed short board , yes, the nose size has the ability to cause horrific eye injuries. Fins again IMO don't bother , blunt force trauma, can be cause from fins and the rails. Leading edges of fins should be airfoil blunt sharpening fins defeats the fluid dynamics and does add injury risk.
For serious protection wear a surf helmet. I've a Gath, with camera mounts for water shooting where I am in the line of fire.
Wetsuits are pretty good padded protection. My knees have caused me more damage having broken my nose more often than my rugby time.
Short board heavy duty top turns smacking knees into my face

[RinkyDink]

I might use a nose guard for one of my boards that has a death point. I wouldn't use fin guards. I do think a nose guard or any another board guard is a good idea if you're playing around with a surfboard in a pool.

[pmcaero]

An alternative would be to make your own using Instamorph plastic. I made permanent nose and tail guards for a couple of surfboards using that.

https://www.amazon.com/InstaMorph-Molda ... B003QKLJKQ

[BoMan]

For serious protection wear a surf helmet. I've a Gath, with camera mounts for water shooting where I am in the line of fire.

I hadn't considered a helmet but according to Dr. Guillaume Barucq in a study on surfing-related traumatology ...

Head trauma is by far the first cause of injury among surfers. Our study about surfing-related accidents in the southwest of France showed that 51% of injuries affected the surfer’s head (scalp or facial cuts, concussions, nasal fractures, dental traumas, perforated eardrums).

Head trauma can be caused by contact with the sea floor (rocks, coral reef or sand), but most of the time, the mechanism for head injury is direct collision with a surfboard (the surfer’s own surfboard or another surfer’s board). Sharp fins and pointed noses are the most frequent causes of lacerations (scalp lacerations can bleed profusely and cause hemorrhage).

The major risk of head trauma for surfers is drowning, resulting from loss of consciousness in the water. Even if you lose consciousness for a few seconds, the risk of drowning is high if there’s nobody around to rescue you immediately. There is also an increased risk of drowning in case of confusion or disorientation caused by a concussion or in case of vertigo due to a ruptured eardrum.

More info: http://www.theinertia.com/surf/5-reasons-why-surfers-should-wear-a-helmet/

Thanks for the advice! I will pass on the guards and get a Gath helmet. I wear one while skating so it only makes sense.

[saltydog]

When (notice I didn't say if ) you bring the board in for the nose or tail ding repair for the first time, have them glass the whole nose or tail a little heavier than the original state.

Must be pretty exciting to be getting a new board! Post pics of the board once you get it

[Big H]

When (notice I didn't say if ) you bring the board in for the nose or tail ding repair for the first time, have them glass the whole nose or tail a little heavier than the original state.

Must be pretty exciting to be getting a new board! Post pics of the board once you get it

Seems a little rash and would change the performance characteristics......

....boards ding...and they can be fixed...not a big deal.

[saltydog]

Seems a little rash and would change the performance characteristics......

You are probably right. But it might not be that noticeable to someone coming off of a foamie (myself included) to have 1 extra layer of 4oz cloth compared to a nose guard. If not, I'll stand corrected.

[RinkyDink]

An alternative would be to make your own using Instamorph plastic. I made permanent nose and tail guards for a couple of surfboards using that.

https://www.amazon.com/InstaMorph-Molda ... B003QKLJKQ

That looks like an interesting product. I was talking to a guy the other day about delam fixes using a syringe filled with super strong glue/resin. He mentioned "window glue", the kind used for mounting windshields, as a super strong glue you could use to fix a delam bubble without having to cut the entire section out. Sounded like an interesting fix.

[jaffa1949]

Be really aware when using various types of glue on EPS foam under epoxy or soft shells.
The wrong glue /resin/ paint or coloration can dissolve the foam itself, very quickly and there may well be nothing left to delaminate

[dtc]

For fins, check out pro teck fins - they will be indistinguishable (for most surfers) from regular fins to surf but might give you some confidence re the injury factor. I've used them, they are good (although limited in sizing etc but for a first board they are perfect). Go for the performance fins (or the clear ones - which look cool - although I've never used those)

A thick neoprene beanie/cap will give maybe 70% of the protection of a gath for minor impacts; but obviously not for a board straight into the head. I've always wondered why there aren't surfing sun hats with a bit of padding, give some protection without the surfer opposition to helmets and without the weight

[jaffa1949]

I've always wondered why there aren't surfing sun hats with a bit of padding, give some protection without the surfer opposition to helmets and without the weight

Protec Fins are a good option! Padded sun hats though in Indo or tropic waters you'd fry your brains, strangely Gaths get a a little hot, but a head dip fixes that!
However do not get a visor version, a couple of things I found didn't work for me.
Visor down limits visibility in two ways, in cold water and weather your breath fogs the visor up!
Distortion on the peripheral edges gives weird appearance to the wave and you do moves that don't fit!
Maybe it was just me

[BoMan]

Thanks DTC and Jaffa for the Pro Teck suggestion. I'll ask about them when I get the new board and found more info if anyone else is interested.

Pro Teck Fins are surfboard fins with flexible leading and trailing edges designed to enhance board performance and reduce fin cuts. The flexible trailing edge allows the water to flow smoother with less turbulence off the fin. The flexible edge also creates a "rudder action" as the water pressure bends the edge, creating tighter and more fluid turns, similar to the fins of dolphins and sharks. The flexible urethane edge also greatly reduces fin cuts compared to conventional hard edge fins.

Pro Teck Site: http://www.surfcohawaii.com/Pro-Teck-Fins-s/26.htm

[RinkyDink]

Be really aware when using various types of glue on EPS foam under epoxy or soft shells.
The wrong glue /resin/ paint or coloration can dissolve the foam itself, very quickly and there may well be nothing left to delaminate

That's what my broken boards are for. Resin, glue, and fixit test runs.

[dtc]

I don't know if pro tech are available everywhere and you may find the average shop guy won't know about them - but you might get lucky. Obviously you can order them online.

[waikikikichan]

If your local surf shop stocks FCS, then you can order the Soft tech fins from FCS. I have seen the black one with the wavy lined soft edge. Don't know about the new orange one.
But if you can, get the Surfco pro-teck versions. I know the owner Dave.

[dtc]

But if you can, get the Surfco pro-teck versions. I know the owner Dave.

They do nose guards as well

I read somewhere that Dave the owner developed the pro tech fins after his son (??) was badly fin cut, across an artery in his leg or something - I can't find the article so maybe I'm remembering wrong, but sounds scary.