Wierd Zits/ Pimples on the bottom deck of my surfboard

[reefersativa]

hi, i got a new board, used it twice. when i was cleaning off the wax and inspecting the board for cracks/ dings, i noticed that there were zits/ pimple like bumps spread across the bottom deck.

any ideas what caused this? there are no cracks or dings that i saw. the zits/ pimples are tiny dots across the bottom deck. I pierced 1 open and a drop of water came out.

Any ideas what i should do?

[kitesurfer]

That doesn't sound good if water is coming out. As you've only just bought the board i recomend you contact whomever you bought it from and perhaps ask for your money back.
If this is not possible then post some photos up and we can have a better look at them.

KS

[reefersativa]

ill post them up in a few hours.

the only MINOR dings are chips 1 cm on the nose and 1 cm from the tail. the pimples seem far from those dings so i didnt think that the water came in from there, and those 2 dings didnt even look deep.

its a china shaped board, not pop out, but shaped. epoxy 8'0.

isnt it a problem that i used the board twice already? and im going to return it? im just thinking, if it was my fault, coz there were 2 chips from traveling.

well thanks man, ill post pics later.

[isaluteyou]

2 dings didnt even look deep

Looks can be deceiving a small crack/chip can let in a suprising amount of water over a period of time. Always best to check all cracks 100% to make sure the seal isnt broken

[oldgrom]

If you value your equiptment then you check carefully and fix the
for sure's and the mabie's just to make sure. Why risk it?
Wht you have don't sound good better have it checked out by sombody who knows boards.

[Jimi]

it's called Osmosis Blistering. It's usually found on fiberglass yachts - and it's caused by the passage of salt water - from one concentration to another via a membrane.

In the case of your board, I suspect that there is some moisture on the inside- likely to be caused by humid conditions when the board was being fiberglassed, and NOT due to any damage or dings.

Also, I bet you keep your board in a salty, wet board bag. There's a pretty good chance that it's showing up because it's inside a salty wet environment, so simply rinse your board with fresh water and dry it thoroughly before you pack it up after a surf...

As for fixing the blisters, it's a major hassle, as you need to grind out the blisters and re-fill them or re-fiberglass them.

[Jimi]

It's most likely got nothing to do with you having chipped the board, but most likely to do with the shite quality laminating done in China! Just because it's epoxy doesn't alter the fact that you can get osmosis blistering, and it's definitely a warranty job! It shouldn't happen after 2 surfs, especially if you dry your board off after use!

[reefersativa]

guys thanks for all the replies. havent had the time to upload the picture, but Jimi got it right on the spot!

HAHA, i wouldnt be suprised like i said when i thought the problem was due to bad glassing. My board bag is sandy, wet inside and rained on, ill do what you said, rinse the bag out with fresh water.

Im amazed with the hypothesis of Jimi, he got it pretty much right on. Im going to ask my friends what they think, they always fix up their boards them selves, if they cant do anything, ill bring it to the repair shop.

thanks, anymore input would be great.

[Jimi]

No worries.. If they're small, it's possible that if you let your board dry out for a few weeks (or even months) by keeping it in a warm and dry environment the blisters might just disappear.

I've had this happen on a yacht where a tarpaulin was resting on the gelcoat on the deck, and thousands of blisters the size of pin heads appeared. I took the tarp off, and a few months later they were just about invisible.

On your board, it's possible that they might just go away if they're small enough and only in the top layer of resin.

[reefersativa]

jimi, i contacted the people who sold me the boards, he was offering a 9'0, but thats not the size im looking for. he said he'll check if he can repair it, if not he will refund the board.

Even if those blisters do disappear, theres a good chance of them coming back out right? i think its best they replace or refund. Because the blisters are small, on the top layer if im not mistaken. but they're are alot of them blisters, so i dont think its a smart if i keep the board.

my problem now, when i get the refund, its either i wait months for the next shipment to come in, or get a standard NSP or 7S from the shops here. I dont want to settle for those boards, even if they did improve the boards, the fact is its pop outs. i like having a custom board.

I need to find a board and bring it over here to the Philippines. its hard because i'm on a budget. $400 to be exact. i wouldnt want to spend anymore then that.

[oldgrom]

Return it, get your monney or replace it with anouther the shop will give you.

[reefersativa]

the seller contacted me this morning, "hey, the board is repairable, just a problem with the paint job. we'll repaint the board and fill the holes"

i didnt have the chance to say i want my money back during the call so i messaged him that i didnt pay for a board to be repaired. how can he think its the paint? haha, i already told him my research.

how can it be a problem with the paint? theres water in there. and there are no deep cracks for water to get in.

funny thing, he's going to have to fill all holes. he said him self "there are alot".

what made him think its a paint job?

[LibbyStano]

This post was made a long time ago but I noticed the same type of rash on the bottom of my board the other day.

It is an epoxy next to new board, given to me as a Christmas present.

I took it back to the retailer who squeezed one of the blisters and water came out.

I was interested in what Jimi from Cronulla had to say about osmosis blisters and have been researching this all day. While there is a lot of
information about this in regard to fibreglass boat hulls, swimming pools and concrete, I have not found any real significant info relating to the problem in surfboards.

I am getting back into surfing after a 30+ year absence and I knew when I bought the board it was a pop out, but saw it as a stepping stone to something better. Turns out I love my little 5'6" Eco Bean II board and am upset by these blisters.

The retailer is insinuating heat is the cause and the implication is that I have left it in its bag in the heat. The explanation I got was that the board has sweated in the bag and absorbed the moisture.

From what Jimi has described and from what I have read osmosis seems the most likely cause of the problem and while heat is an accelerant of the process, it is not the cause.

I guess my question is has anyone else had this experience with an epoxy board or does anyone have any expertise on the subject. While I have the retailers assessment of the problem I wouldn't mind having it assessed independently, but don't have a clue where to take it.

Thanks
Libby

[oldmansurfer]

Jimi hasn’t visited the forum for 4 years so not likely to answer. Not familiar with the problem myself but it seems odd that an intact board absorbs moisture. What did the retailer suggest to fix the problem?

[LibbyStano]

Hey Oldmansurfer

Thanks for the reply.

Today the retailer has offered to fix the board free of charge.

I guess that is a way of accepting liability without verbally acknowledging liability.

I found some really good info on the Osmotic Blisters in relation to boats, concrete, swimming pools, spas and hot tubs.

Very little info in regard to surfboards.

If interested there is one by Ed Petrie, EMP Solutions, Cary, N.C. "Osmotic Blisters in Coatings and Adhesives" 12 October 2011.

Worth knowing about if you are considering buying an epoxy board.

Libby

[oldmansurfer]

I have only epoxy boards for several years now and no such problems

[LibbyStano]

Yeah my son has a JS hybrid and he hasn't had any trouble either.

Perhaps you get what you pay for.