Big Boy

[Hulk]

Hi, I’m fairly new to this forum but would appreciate some advice from the more knowledgeable surfers out there.
I know you get millions of similar questions but please bear with me...

I am currently looking to buy my second board.
I am 5’11”, 14.5 – 15 stone and have been surfing for over a year and half and currently surf a bic 7'9" but feel I have progressed enough to move on to a smaller board.
I have no problem popping up and steering down the face of the wave and have surfed up to shoulder high waves.

I would be very grateful if anyone could tell me if this board would be suitable for someone of my weight:


Big Boy Shortboard
Dimensions: 6’8’’ x 19 1/2’’ x 2 5/8’’
Bottom Shape: Single concave through fins and tail
Tail: Squash
Rails: 60/40
Glassing: 4oz bottom / 8oz top
Finish: Speed Kote
Fins: FCS
Description: Poly foam with a epoxy glass finish so super light for a big boy board.

Also does it seem ok as far as description is concerned? Thickness of glassing etc

Thanks your your patience.

[kitesurfer]

Size wise that sounds fine but personally i prefer swallow or rounded pin tails. 8oz glass is ok providing the board is glassed in epoxy resin, 8oz polyester would be too light! Ask what type of resin he intends to use and get back to us as this is important!

KS

[kitesurfer]

Size wise that sounds fine but personally i prefer swallow or rounded pin tails. 8oz glass is ok providing the board is glassed in epoxy resin, 8oz polyester would be too light! Ask what type of resin he intends to use and get back to us as this is important!
Also in my opinion light boards are ok but not essential. Good if you're a very good surfer who likes to throw the board around or if you're paddling is not great. Heavier boards tend to keep their speed a little better with less input from yourself as they keep momentum. So if your surfing is like mine a little lazy then a bit more weight is actually a good thing as the board retains its speed rather than me having to generate it.

KS

[Hulk]

Cheers for the helpful advice. I am pretty sure that it is epoxy glass but will get it confirmed.

Was also worried that the board might be a bit small for my weight, or should i say, too much of a drop down for my second board, but it seems it may be fine sizewise. I would prefer a board as small as possible.

I am a long way off throwing the board about as i'm not that good yet, and i would consider myself a reasonably ok paddler, but any help here and there wouldn't go a miss!

[kitesurfer]

Hmmm how'd that double post happen. Just to clarify its the resin NOT the fibreglass you need to be sure about! Ask what type of epoxy resin it is!

KS

[Hulk]

Ahh i see, my apologies...

[Hulk]

The board is a Homeblown blank with an epoxy laminate and hot coat with a speed kote finish.
Hope that makes sense?

I also wondered why you prefer swallow or rounded tails?
I would prefer a swallow tail, but that would be purely because i like the look of them!

[kitesurfer]

The board is a Homeblown blank with an epoxy laminate and hot coat with a speed kote finish.
Hope that makes sense?

I also wondered why you prefer swallow or rounded tails?
I would prefer a swallow tail, but that would be purely because i like the look of them!

Ok there all the right words so its afe to assume its an epoxy custom board.
Swallow tails combine good wave catching characteristics with good turning ability due to the double pin which is good for me personally on my thruster and they do look good. Rounded pins well its a just good simple design that to me looks right and i'm a firm believer in if it looks right then it probably is right. Personal preference really.

KS

[Hulk]

Ok there all the right words so its afe to assume its an epoxy custom board.
Swallow tails combine good wave catching characteristics with good turning ability due to the double pin which is good for me personally on my thruster and they do look good. Rounded pins well its a just good simple design that to me looks right and i'm a firm believer in if it looks right then it probably is right. Personal preference really.

KS

Ok while i'm really pecking your head for advice can you explain to me how an epoxy custom board differs from other kinds? And what other kinds are there?
(You must be really fed up with me now, sorry...)

[Hulk]

Ok while i'm really pecking your head for advice can you explain to me how an epoxy custom board differs from other kinds? And what other kinds are there?
(You must be really fed up with me now, sorry...)

Scrap that, i'm just being lazy, i could search for that myself, but can you please explain the pros and cons of each kind?

[kitesurfer]

Custom epoxy boards are generally lighter than custom polyester boards. This is becasue the epoxy resin is stronger than polyester resin and therefore you can use a lighter fibreglass cloth. You can also shape the blank thinner. It is also generally stiffer and has more impact resistance. A stiffer board will feel different and i think this is one of the reasons why alot of the pro's still ride polyester boards plus they don't need to worry about snapping boards and so can have their boards glassed light anyway.
Epoxy resins have different uv properties to polyester resins and this is why alot of them are painted all over. Also epoxy tends to be more expensive so expect to pay a little bit more.

KS

[Hulk]

Custom epoxy boards are generally lighter than custom polyester boards. This is becasue the epoxy resin is stronger than polyester resin and therefore you can use a lighter fibreglass cloth. You can also shape the blank thinner. It is also generally stiffer and has more impact resistance. A stiffer board will feel different and i think this is one of the reasons why alot of the pro's still ride polyester boards plus they don't need to worry about snapping boards and so can have their boards glassed light anyway.
Epoxy resins have different uv properties to polyester resins and this is why alot of them are painted all over. Also epoxy tends to be more expensive so expect to pay a little bit more.

KS

So would a polyester board be less floaty? Or are they like for like in terms of bouyancy?
If i were to get a board sized for me in both materials would they need to be the same size or would an epoxy board be smaller?
Thanks again for sharing your wisdom...

[dougirwin13]

It all depends on the construction. But if you make two identical boards and lam one with epoxy and the other with poly the epoxy one will be lighter, less flexible and stronger.

Epoxy boards shouldn't be built the same as poly boards to achieve the best result for a given design. Epoxy boards will need to be thinner and wider and foiled differently to allow the apropriate flex and "alive" feeling.

-doug
Compsand.com - The Composite Surfboard Cooperative!

[Hulk]

It all depends on the construction. But if you make two identical boards and lam one with epoxy and the other with poly the epoxy one will be lighter, less flexible and stronger.

Epoxy boards shouldn't be built the same as poly boards to achieve the best result for a given design. Epoxy boards will need to be thinner and wider and foiled differently to allow the apropriate flex and "alive" feeling.

-doug
Compsand.com - The Composite Surfboard Cooperative!

Ok i understand that to get the same feel, i.e. the same flex, the epoxy boards will need to be made thinner and wider than a poly board, and i presume that since epoxy is lighter it is also more buoyant.
What i'm trying to ask is, for someone getting their first shortboard and wanting to get a board as small as possible but without compromising buoyancy and the ability to progress, could they get a smaller board if it was epoxy?

[kitesurfer]

2 boards identical in size and volume one made with epoxy the other polyester then the epoxy one will have more bouyancy as it will be lighter.
However you won't be looking at equivilent sized boards as the epoxy one will be thinner and already have less voulme to get the flex and stiffness characteristics you want. Hence it is a trade off. The reality is that the polyester board and the thinner equvilent epoxy board will most likely have almost the same bouyancy.
It all depends on what your after most of all surfboard design and construction is allways a comprimise of one thing against another as to what best suits your needs.

In brief an epoxy custom board identical in size and volume to a polyester board will be more bouyant but this will be at the sacrifice in my opinion of some performance. Whether you notice that though is a matter for debate.

KS

[Hulk]

Thanks that has answered my question. An epoxy board will have less volume (size) than an equivalent polyester board.
Is this reduction in volume mostly in the thickness of the board as opposed the length and width?

[dougirwin13]

Yes, if your shaper knows what he is doing.

If you are good enough to feel the difference you should really be looking at getting a custom board from a local shaper. And in most cases that's goig to mean it'll be poly.

AFAIK there's only two custom epoxy composite shapers in the UK, one in cornwall and one in hampshire. There might be others, I just don't know of them.

I imagine there's plenty of good poly shapers closer to Manchester.

-doug
Compsand.com - The Composite Surfboard Cooperative!

[jackiebadger]

I was going to say you may have issues with your weight on such a board, but then noticed you said it is epoxy so may be just fine.