surftec technology

General Discussion
21
Quote:

Webster online dictionary describes “composite” as -

A solid material which is composed of two or more substances having different physical characteristics and in which each substance retains its identity while contributing desirable properties to the whole; especially : a structural material made of plastic within which a fibrous material (as silicon carbide) is embedded

precisely my point…thanks lokbox.

now do you get it, popey?

22
Quote:

I personally don’t care for surftech either. I’m ordering an LZ and potbelly from him. I’m in California… (yeah, ouch on the shipping)

thanks

In my personal opinion…the lazor zap and pot belly are his two best designs ever. Good luck on the $$$. I used to order them 6 or eight at a time. You should have seen the shipping bills.

23

I get it… It sounds like surftecs are no more a composite than a poly board . But most people think they are more than just layers of foam and fiberglass.

Quote:
Quote:

Webster online dictionary describes “composite” as -

A solid material which is composed of two or more substances having different physical characteristics and in which each substance retains its identity while contributing desirable properties to the whole; especially : a structural material made of plastic within which a fibrous material (as silicon carbide) is embedded

precisely my point…thanks lokbox.

now do you get it, popey?

24

Surfboards have been composites since the 1950’s, guys. Balsa with fiberglass

is a composite, PU with fiberglass is a composite. EPS with fiberglass and epoxy

is a composite. And yes, Surftech is a composite. Buzzword usage of the term

is all that’s new. Read the definition of the word.

Mike

25

Heat gun, parabolic stringers, smaller sheets on the deck, slice the foam, use precut checkerboard foam, use a mould and preform the deck skin. Is that enough?

Boardbumps

26

Surftechs are made with a layer of PVC sheet foam. That’s the “foam” in the cutaway view, in between the glass layers. I’m pretty sure it’s bonded to the previous glass layer using heat and vacuum bagging.

I always laugh at the uninformed masses who ask about the difference between epoxy/Surftechs and “glass” boards. Except for Bic and some other molded types, most boards are made with fiberglass. Hell, even the original balsa boards of the 50s were glassed.

27

I have probably owned 100+ surfboards over the years. Back when Surftech first came on the scene I was given a 6’8 MelMachine. It quickly became my favorite board of all time. Its a great shape. That was about 5 years ago. I have traveled with that board and surfed it a ton. When I strip the wax off its hard to believe but this board still practically looks like new. Even better the board is still as lively under your feet as the day I got it. Had this shape been a poliester board I would have gone thru at least three of them in the same time period. The best thing is if I snap it tomorrow I can order another and have the identical board back.

28

Yes thats enough.

29

thanks for the info. my only other question is how can the suftecs and tuflites not say made in ________ instead they say … David Nuuhiwa Surfboards Huntington beach California U.S.A. or Hobie Surfboards Dana Point California how do they get away with that?

30

The design’s point of origin can be put in the logo. They should put

‘‘made in ______’’ on them somewhere also. The Flexlite boards all have

‘‘made in vietnam’’ embossed into the board, to Matt Biolas’ credit.

Mike

31

thanks Mike…that makes sense.

32

its kind of a moot point when everything else in the house is made in china anyway

a label that says its “not made in china” would be more appropriate lol

id rather buys a surftech then off my local shaper

oh thats right i am a only local shaper as well

well my advice to a customer whom I cant make a board for would be

“dont buy a poly off the local guys,as it will fall apart in a couple of months”

“buy a imported one for cheaper as there is little difference and they will both fall apart”

“but if you can get a composite board like a surftech then that would be your best choice for a board that lasts.”

if my “local shaper” went broke

thats his problem

probably half the things in his house is made in china anyway

does my local shaper only buy and sell kiwi made

NO

90 percent of his accessory stock is made in china

cloths, grip,leggies

all made in china

so my local shapers are selling out to china

why should surfboards be any different

i make okay money as a jeweller because im am good at my job

and always improving (theres a lot more jewellery imported then surfboards ,yet i can compete)

anyone in the surfboard industry that isnt the “best quality” or improving and developing there products or"hype label marketing".

will suffer from imports until there eventual demise

and there nothing anyone can do about it

in saying all that though

id rather support kiwis if their product and service is good

33

I bought a Webber (renowned Aussie shaper) afterburner 6’6" model a couple of years ago. I was amazed to notice a tiny sticker on the tail when I got home with “Made in Thailand” on it.

I bought this from a local shop which has boards from the 40’s onwards absolutely filling its rafters and racks. Its an old school type of shop that hasn’t been decorated that way it is as it always has been.

I thought I was simply buying a handshaped stock Webber.

By the same token a Ute (pick up truck to the rest of the globe) which my parents have is a Holden Rodeo. Holden is the Aussie branding of a GM. It’s advertised as an Aussie Ute. It is made in a factory in Thailand with an Isuzu engine which is also made in Thailand. Holden keep all that to themselves. I only spotted it because I noticed the little Thai label one one of the windows and starting looking around the vechile.

34

I have had quite a few Webbers in for repair all made in Asia, but all, it would seem have Gregs personal signature in pencil under the glass, and all with a made in Thailand sticker on them.

Can Greg or anyone give us the goods on how this can be?

Regards

Daren

Edit

Sorry for off topic.

But I think this would give the impression that Greg personally shaped these boards in Australia.

35

silly wrote… “but if you can get a composite board like a surftech then that would be your best choice for a board that lasts.”

i thought we cleared up the composite BS…silly…everyone seems to say poly is a composite also.

it sounds like the real diffrence is surftec uses a harder plastic…less likley to ding…but less flex …so more likely to snap.

and mass produced…

i wonder if an art collecter would pay the same for a copy as an original?

36

its not BS

cheese on toast is a composite

but that not how id describe my breakfast

i should have said an “expanded polystyrene board with pvc foamcored/Eglass/epoxy sandwich skin” like a surftech would be the best choice for a light board that doesnt fall to pieces and is not a toxic piece of mass produced ,locally made,machine shaped rubbish.

now a classic pu/pe board handshaped with resin colour and pinlines and a decent amount of glass is another story

(however personally i prefer my board in the 5 pound weight range)

but if you want to compare a surftech to a white, black labled pu/pe 4oz potato chip

id take the surftech anyday

37

Popey I don’t think that you are smarter than a fifth grader.

38

Just to clear things up…

‘composite’ is too general of a term.

Most/All surfboards are composites.

Its about composite SANDWICH.

http://oneoceankayaks.com/Sandcore.htm

Pupe is a single sandwich.

Surftech is a multi-sandwich composite, usually three.

Two in the skins, plus one for the normal board panel.

The original intent of ST tech is to put more strength (weight) in the reinforced shell for better surface durability. Of course, to keep things light, weight has to be taken out of the board’s core, which is nearly impossible to do with pupe, at least not without severe durability consequences.

Pretty hard to argue against the market success of ST.

HTH.

39

I may not be smarter than a fifth grader …but I don’t pretend to be. It sounds like half the wizards on this site don’t know what a composite is… or why a foam and plastic surfboard from surftec would be stronger than a foam and plastic surfboard from Hobie,cooperfish,or Jacobs. They are stronger in one way but weaker in another. example: Take a dead 2" thick tree branch …if you hit it with another stick it will probably not dent…but bend it too much and the rigidness of the branch will make it snap. Take a 2" thick live tree branch…if you hit it with the same stick it will probably dent…but when you bend it the live one wont break near as easy. Surftec is the dead branch…poly the live. Now take the same 2" dead branch and smack yourself in the face …from me …for the fifth grader comment.

40

poopey you should really do some research.There is alot of info in the archives that might help you educate yourself.I tried what you said and It worked you are a genious!!