Why are surfboards so expensive?

[Tazza]

Well the title says it all, but im curious to know what makes a surfboard cost so much, like hayden shapes, dhd, superbrand etc... like if you want to buy a new surfboard that is "decent" you will spend well over 500 bucks. so yeah whats with the prices?

[Rickyroughneck]

Actually compared to other sports, the mark up of a surfboard compared to the cost it takes to produce is pretty small.

Beware the big brands, they charge more for inferior products. In the UK at least it is cheaper and better quality to get a surfboard from a shaper.

[tony g]

Hello Tazza,
If you look back 25 years and compare the price of surfboards then, to the price of boards today, they have really not gone up very much compared to most everything else. A lot of guys out there don't mind spending a little more for a name brand board like say Channel Islands Surfboards knowing that the boards will work well. Al Merrick is one of the most respected shapers in the world and his boards speak for themselves. Yes you will have to pay a little more for a proven design and shape, but the board is going to work, and that can actually save you money. It's never good to get a new board and then have it not work properly. With some name brand boards You can even look at different models and see how the boards work and compare the differences. I think we can all bennefit from the top shapers out there and all their research and design and expertise!

[MORE]

try to make one for yourself mate, then see why they cost a bit...experience the skills required to make them with very toxic materials....

[IB_Surfer]

Here add it up: You need to make a mold then buy $80 worth of pour foam, then $10 at home depot for a stringer.
Next you will need $80 worth or resin and about $40 worth of fiberglass cloth. Of course, you will need a sander, and sand paper, and a saw, and a planer. Then you will need to pay $20 for the fin plugs, $40 for the fins, and $4 for a leash plug. So, matterials about $275, it takes about 2 hours to shape one, an hour per side to glide but you have to let them cure over night. Then another hour to set the fins, then another other to finish sanding. How much is that much labor worth?

So, if labor was free, the board would cost $275, what's a fair price for the labor involved in making it?

[MORE]

and the many years of skill and researching to get the design right...whats the value of that ? personally I think they should be much dearer but surfers arent the type to wanna spend much, plus surfers like to have many of them, and like to upgrade often....its up to the customer to find the right board and right shaper for them...and if they want cheap, then you can always buy very poor quality Asian imports....