I just ordered a new EPS board. And I know you can glass them a bit heavier since the blanks tend to be quite a bit lighter. But was wondering how much is too much where it starts to really affect the flex.
I know that the patagonia EPS boards are glassed 4/4/4 top and 4/4 bottom. I recently got a new EPS board that I had glassed 6/4 top and 6 bottom (all S glass). Its still super light and will be pretty bullet proof, but surfed it this morning and really wondered it the flex had been affected by too much glass. Its a standard 6'2" hpsb. I had the exact same model and dims in a PU board, which was glassed standard 4/4 top and 4 bottom, and I think it had a bit more flex, but not sure. Could be that I am just feelind the difference between PU and EPS. Not really sure.
Thoughts on glassing schedules and flex on an EPS board?
i’ve seen Patagonias with all kinds of different glass schedules. i have built 2 boards with Marko 2lb blanks and Resin Research epoxy. the first is 6+6 / 6 with a 6 fin patch all E glass. that thing has been BULLETPROOF. no dings and minimal pressure dents in about 3 years. on the next one, i did 6+4 and 4 with a 6 fin patch. it’s only been about 6 months but, it’s proving to be really strong too. i was surfing a jetty leashless recently, surf was about headhigh, didn’t come out of a little barrel and my board got away from me and was getting tossed repeatedly on the jetty until i could get to it. no dings… super happy… your board with with the S glass should be pretty much bombproof… i’m sure the flex is effected by the glass especiall the glass that wraps on the rail… “ I had the exact same model and dims in a PU board” … from what i understand, if you want the same or similar performance using different materials that have different characteristics, you need to alter the shape to suit the materials… BUT, you said twice that you weren’t sure if it rode differently. my question to you then is, “does it really matter?”… i’m not good enough of a surfer where that small change in flex patterens would really effect my surfing. in other words, it’s probably just in your head… i think the durability of the EPS/Epoxy is far more important in my progression. i can have a board around long enough to really learn it and to get comfortable with it… i’m really over the disposable lightweight PU board
It is more complicated than a comparison of EPS and polyurethane foams. Patagonia for instance uses extruded (not expanded) polystyrene foam.
Each foam has different characteristics even among the same densities of each.
There has been a quantitative analysis study of various laminate schedules and a key factor in the winners was multiple layers of criss crossed weaves.
PS - I've yet to find a surfboard that was bulletproof. I'd love to invite anyone who claims to have one to my local target range where we can test the claims.
The general rule I’ve gone by is S-glass is about 20% stiffer than the same weight E-glass. That pretty much explains it… at least to me: not too much glass, but the type of glass. I do my 2lb eps boards with 2x6 deck and 6 bottom, all E-glass, and yes, they’re stiffer than 4 all around, but much stronger. I don’t feel the need for S-glass, considering the strength/cost/stiffness tradeoff.