Board longevity

[shaner]

So this is something that has really bothered me lately/I've been super curious about: I hope someone knows the answer

I have a board that is 15 years old. I've surfed it throughout my life and the thing is rock solid (6'0 egg shape). It has been dropped slammed on rocks and has no delaminations and only a few pressure dings.

I recently bought a second hand board (5'8 fartknocker) that was about two or three years old. I love surfing this board but the thing is deteriorating under me! spots where my front and back foot go are delaminating. The bottom of the board has a ton of pressure dings. If I slightly press my nail into the board it crackles like fireworks. And if I push into the board hard with my thumb it creates a pressure ding. When I got it, the board was nice and white and has never let in water.

So why, when I dig my nail into my old faithful egg, it feels like a rock, and this newer board is dying on me despite far less use??? Is it that boards are not glassed as heavily as they once were? If so why? I have felt fresh brand new boards and some crackle with even slight touches of your finger nail. So why are all the modern boards I am seeing so weak? It drives me nuts and I wanna know why!

[jaffa1949]

The answer is simple, the obvious equation in most surfers' minds is light gives performance ( And it is true easier to throw around ) so light glassing and less dense blanks, you can thumb them into ding.
Planned self destruction ( no worries we'll sell you another).
Mass shaped by machine, light glassed but " what the pros ride" buy the hype and don't gripe!

[dtc]

To expand on Jaffa, have a read of this

http://www.triggerbros.com.au/surfboard-quality/

You may have a 1x4oz glasses board for your new one and a 2x6for your old. I have a longboard from the mid 90s that hasn't a single ding; weighs a lot though

[waikikikichan]

Does you 15 year "egg" board happen to be a Santa Cruz Pumpkin Seed ?

I know of rival surf shops that sent in "customers" to other shops to squeeze the rails of stock short boards out on display. The staff would not find the pressure until they'd lay the board down flat on a stand. Then have to offer a $20-50 discount. Mean thing to do. That's why you sometimes see signs "do not touch, please ask for assistance", to prevent those sneaky damages.

[oldmansurfer]

There are differences in materials epoxy vs polyurethane and differences due to weight of glass (glass comes in a range of weights the higher the number the stronger and heavier it is ) and number of layers of glass. Then you have use and abuse of the board. I have always had delamination by my rear foot in every board I surf eventually. I guess I push really hard on my rear foot when I surf. Consequently I have a third layer of glass on the back one third of the deck but in prior boards I still had delamination by my rear foot eventually. One thing you should do with your second hand board is to dry it off after a session and place it in the sun for 30 minutes and look for water leakage from pin holes. There may be tiny little leaks where allowing water to soak into the board causing delamination.

[oldmansurfer]

Exposure to sun degereates a board also. I forgot to mention that prior dings that adsorbed water might lead to delamination if the water was glassed in under the repair (air under a patch will do the same thing). I looked at the fartknocker and that seems like a great board for me only maybe the oldmanoverweightoutofshape version of it. What is the make and design of the older board?

[greg2935]

yup, all of the above, I should add I've been pretty disappointed with the way some boards are produced now and there are some shapers using 4oz glass only and cutting other corners such changing the order of paint, glass, sealer to make it cheaper or faster to produce.

Greg

[jaffa1949]

Get a good custom,foam weight and specify a stronger glass job.