Surfing Waves

morning all, long time no speak..

Gettin a new board made and was wondering your thoughts on whether I should spring for a gloss coat or not?

Ermm, what type of board is it as a gloss coat will make it heavier?

KS

hybrid fish....somewhere between 6'3-6'6

I realise it will make it heavier, but that would only be around half a pound anyway? Ive read the 'matt' finishes are more susceptible to pin hole leakage and ding easier etc, but yes are lighter. Just wondering what the general concensus was? And if there are other pros/cons to be considered? cheers

dunno wrote: Ive read the 'matt' finishes are more susceptible to pin hole leakage and ding easier

Where on earth did you read that? A correctly glassed board won't suffer from pin hole leakage, gloss coat or not. Also it is the amount of glass fibre on a board that dictates its strength and ability to withstand dings not how much shiny top coat it has.
Your other option is just to run a polishing machine over the matt finish. It won't give as deep as shine but it will be shinyish.

KS

So basically you are saying the gloss is nothing but a cosmetic feature? Would you agree the weight diff would be negligible?

dunno wrote:So basically you are saying the gloss is nothing but a cosmetic feature? Would you agree the weight diff would be negligible?

Thats correct the gloss coat is purely cosmetic, the extra weight on a 6ft6 board will be between 0.5-0.75kg. So just over a pound.

KS

gloss coat = (in My Opinion) a complete waste of time and cash.

ive never liked the gloss coat because i find it less easy to grip hold of, it adds weight unnecessarily. i agree with the other guys, no problems with holes on any of my boards, i have them made with 4 oz bottom and double 4 oz top patch, standard sanded finish, no pin holes if finished by a professional glasser/sander.

kitesurfer wrote:
Where on earth did you read that?
KS

Here.. http://www.surfscience.com/topics/surfb ... oss-finish

and a couple of other place that I cant be bothered looking for at the mo...

quote "In exchange for the increased weight a surfer receives a better sealed board with no pin holes or sandthroughs in the resin. The seal will limit water absorption, making the board more durable while also keeping its liveliness for a longer period of time. Another great benefit is the beauty of a glossed finish; it will often produce a surfboard truly pleasing to the eyes. Finally, these boards are also very easy to clean. "


hmmmm what to do. I must say I do prefer a gloss board-the matt/sanded finish looks 'unfinished' to me...and I doubt I would be able to tell the weight difference...hmmmm

dunno wrote:

kitesurfer wrote:
Where on earth did you read that?
KS

Here.. http://www.surfscience.com/topics/surfb ... oss-finish

Hmmm, that is one interesting read.
He says that sanded boards are only sanded to 100 grit. If this was the case the boards would be slow and look awful. This is just not the case.
All my boards and the majority of other custom boards will be sanded to either 600 or 800 grit. I also happen to know from my work in hydro dynamics and boat hull testing that a finish of 800 grit sand paper is about optimum for minimal drag levels. Any finer and the gains in drag are a very tiny percentage of the overall drag.
With my surfboards I start at 80 grit and very carefully sand as he is correct in that it is easy to cut through to the weave of the fibreglass. However even if you do the board is still protected by another full layer of resin and fibre glass. Then you work through the grades upto 800 grit. This gives a very smooth albeit matt finish to the board. One which is easy to clean and does not collect dirt off the beach as he also suggests. If i add a gloss coat then at the 80grit stage i will heavily sand the board cutting through to the weave and removing as much of the hot coat off as possibile. I will sand to 240 grit and then apply the gloss coat. Then you go through the whole sanding process again right upto 800 grit before polishing the board. A very labour intensive job. Far easy to just go easy on the 80 grit sand and then polish the board after you've sanded it to 800 grit without the hassle of adding an extra layer of gloss resin.
As for speed there will be no noticable difference between a gloss board or a sanded board (other might disagree with this Roy) but i know from my work when you have 2 hulls exactly the same, both sanded to 800, one is polished and the other is not, there is no noticable change in drag.

Make up your own mind but definately take what you have read in that article with a very large pinch of salt.

KS

Glossy shiny slippy.

'nuff said.

drowningbitbybit wrote:Glossy shiny slippy.

'nuff said.

ummm....wax? lol

Thanks for help guys-order is in and she will be a nice sanded finish-no gloss

dunno wrote:

drowningbitbybit wrote:Glossy shiny slippy.

'nuff said.

ummm....wax? lol

Thanks for help guys-order is in and she will be a nice sanded finish-no gloss

Cool stuff, don't forget to post up a couple of piccies of your new board when you get it.

KS

Will do-four weeks till she is finished...

don't do it! gloss coat makes it fat and heavy, trust me!!!!!

Sand coat finish might be a heavy 'gloss' sanded gently so as not to hit the glass and just as heavy - all depends on the builder.