Surfing Waves

I recently bought a new board and have just noticed what looks like a small crack in one of the rails after having used the board for two weeks. Is the crack bad enough that it needs a repair or is it one that I could just leave.

I've attached pictures of the damage below.

Scrape your finger nail over the area. If it "stops" along the way, then the shatter is to the surface and most likely water can get in. If your nail goes smoothly, the shatter is under the top coat. The thing about "shatters" is it's hard to repair such shallow areas. And you are bound to get more shatters the next time you go out anyways.

When I run a nail over the cracks it feels rough in parts but nothing seems to cause it to stop. Does this mean it's fine or should I still consider a repair?

In addition to this, I have surfed with the crack and was wondering if there is a way to tell if any water has got in.

The finger nail doesn't really come to a full complete stop, it just pauses a bit. So for yours there might be a very slight crack, since you said it feels rough. Question is who is going to repair it even if you want to ? Most repair shops won't repair "shatters" and doing it your self might just weaken the area. I say put a good mylar sticker over it. Or ask the shop where you got it from for their sticker.

Gabriel07 wrote: I have surfed with the crack and was wondering if there is a way to tell if any water has got in.

If you see Salt Crystal build up around the area. Or wait a few months and the area will turn brown.

I'm going away surfing for a few days soon and I'm not sure whether to chance it or whether getting some resin would work for this kind of repair? Using a sticker sounds like a useful quick fix but no where seems to do white mylar. Seems a shame to be having to patch such a new board with stickers.

Gabriel07 wrote:I'm going away surfing for a few days soon

and when you're surfing ......... you will get more shatters. Each and every time you go surf. It just a fact of life with Poly U /P.E. fiberglass boards. ( If you don't like shatters then get a molded epoxy board )

Gabriel07 wrote:I'm not sure whether to chance it or whether getting some resin would work for this kind of repair? Using a sticker sounds like a useful quick fix but no where seems to do white mylar. Seems a shame to be having to patch such a new board with stickers.

1) If you do get some resin, "HOW" or what method will you use to fix those shatters ?
2) Why don't you find some "clear" stickers ?
3) Would you rather have a stickers or brown spots on your board ?

waikikikichan wrote:....and when you're surfing ......... you will get more shatters. Each and every time you go surf. It just a fact of life with Poly U /P.E. fiberglass boards. ( If you don't like shatters then get a molded epoxy board )

My traditionally glassed Epoxy on PU board also shatters much less than my daughters Poly/PU board. It gets dings, but has much less cracks - only one after ~40 sessions.

I have custom made epoxy boards and they haven't had any rail shatters. I did bust the nose on the reef once but no little shatters. They are all epoxy on EPS