I don’t own one, but was wondering how dings or slices are repaired on surftech type boards? Are they a real pain? Do they have to go to a place other than a local repair-glass shop? My bro-in-law is considering paying the mucho bucks for one, and wants to find out all about them. Any experience / stories out there fixing one of these epoxy boards would be appreciated.
Not much different than repairing poly boards except you use epoxy resin. For chips or damage not exposing foam, you can use suncure or other fast curing fixes. Then again, it takes a lot to ding a surftech. However, airline baggage handlers are known to be able to ding anything. Like Avis, they try harder.
I don’t own one, but was wondering how dings or slices are repaired on > surftech type boards? Are they a real pain? Do they have to go to a place > other than a local repair-glass shop? My bro-in-law is considering paying > the mucho bucks for one, and wants to find out all about them. Any > experience / stories out there fixing one of these epoxy boards would be > appreciated. What us it specifically your bro in law is looking to get out of riding a surftech?
I honestly don’t know why my brother-in-law wants one. Just know that he has questions regarding repairing them if they ever ding, crack, slice, or chip. Basically, are they harder to repair than regular fiberglass boards?>>> What us it specifically your bro in law is looking to get out of riding a > surftech?
I honestly don’t know why my brother-in-law wants one. Just know that he > has questions regarding repairing them if they ever ding, crack, slice, or > chip. Basically, are they harder to repair than regular fiberglass boards? Yes they are. Polyester technology is refined to a point that there are relatively easy, inexpensive, and quick ways to fix a “regular” surfboard that most people can do by themselves in a matter of minutes. Although the basic techniques of ding repair extend to the epoxy sandwich boards, epoxy is more difficult to work with and more expensive. Additionally depending on the surftech board he picks fixing a ding may leave a cosmetic blight or be hard to fix and match the original cosmetic appearance. Where with standard construction most paint jobs can be matched or other simple techniques can be used to make the board look good. One thing to remember is that all surfboards are made from composite materials that may have great tensile strengths but in light weight applications lack impact resistance from sharp or hard objects. So while a surftech may not heel ding as easily, dropping it in the parking lot (major source of dings), running it into the rocks, smacking the rail with your shin, knee, or head, and other such traumas will result in the board dinging. I met a girl with a nice looking wood veneered robert august model that had a rail that was just butchered and she claimed it all happened in the water. Another concern can be if the swandwich is penetrated to the core. I’m not sure what surftech is using but open celled EPS foams suck water which will lead to further deterioration of the board. I should mention however that if the ding does not penetrate to the polystyrene core “regular” surfboard resins and fixes can be used. Good luck, Matthew Weaver
Hey Grant - You didn’t mention which type of Surf Tech. For a quick fix I have used basic 5-minute epoxy glue available in any hardware store for small dings into the foam. Just mix, apply and slap a piece of wax paper over it to help hold it in place. After it goes off, peel the wax paper and you’re good to go. Feathering the repair with sandpaper may not even be necessary. If the board has not been purchased yet, you might consider checking the archives for comments on these boards. As mentioned above, they can crack and split just from normal wear and tear in the water. I believe that this is a result of no stringer allowing excessive flex - that’s what scared me away from them.
Hey Grant - You didn’t mention which type of Surf Tech. For a quick fix I > have used basic 5-minute epoxy glue available in any hardware store for > small dings into the foam. Just mix, apply and slap a piece of wax paper > over it to help hold it in place. After it goes off, peel the wax paper > and you’re good to go. Feathering the repair with sandpaper may not even > be necessary. If the board has not been purchased yet, you might consider > checking the archives for comments on these boards. As mentioned above, > they can crack and split just from normal wear and tear in the water. I > believe that this is a result of no stringer allowing excessive flex - > that’s what scared me away from them. I have a surf tech skimboard that i ride in the shore break bunny hops and flips is what i like to do. so you see i get lots of dings they’re not ot hard to fix as mentioned in other responses except i have the added disadvantage of 1/8 inch rails. To fix those I have a little elf in costa mesa who does a good job on them pray for chop !!!
I have a surf tech skimboard that i ride in the shore break bunny hops and > flips is what i like to do. so you see i get lots of dings they’re not ot > hard to fix as mentioned in other responses except i have the added > disadvantage of 1/8 inch rails. To fix those I have a little elf in costa > mesa who does a good job on them pray for chop !!! One reason I view them in a dim light is because I don’t feel that they are that much more durable for the added cost. I had considered buying one until I met the girl I mentioned in my previous post. Part of the reason I wanted one is because I do not enjoy doing ding repair and thought they were more durable. I should also state out of fairness that I take a dim view of epoxy because it is toxic(actually it is the hardner side) regardless of what you may have read elsewhere working with epoxy requires the same protection as polyester resin but since it doesn’t “stink” many people don’t protect themselves and develop epoxy sensitivity. Of course a little repair here and there probably won’t bug you but I have seen people who had never worked with it be sensitized right off the bat. One option is to have your board glassed with vinyl ester resin. I do my own personal stuff in VE, I met another glasser in Hood River that does his in VE, and Hammer out on the Oregon Coast does kiteboards and some surfboards in VE. The benefit is that it has the strength and flexibility of epoxy, cost less in small quantities than epoxy, can be UV cured, has no blush issues, and you can order a custom shape because it is not a pop out board. It can also be repaired by any shop or by yourself without worrying that you are using the proper resin. While not bullet proof, the VE boards that I have done are much more durable and resistant to dings and spider cracks than regular polyester boards. Anyway that is probably a little more than my two cents. Matthew