John Mellor posted this list of Chinese made boards a couple years back; it’s likely several more have been added since…
old thread from ten years ago
There is quite a few big names missing from that list.
They put their order in,
got their first container, OK boards.
Next container, first 1/2 OK, second half Bad quality.
Third container all Bad.
cancelled orders.
Brought back production to the states.
Regrets a plenty.
Reminds me of a Latin phrase.
Caveat Empture.
Buyer beware.
I never sold out.
They try to avoid the subject.
hey barry you forgot toxic drywall
Don’t think things have changed.
Things have changed. SUPs Have taken off in a big way since 2004. And---- They are almost all made in China or Thailand. It’s what it is.
the name on that list that both startles and sadden me is Wardy.
my first custom surfboard, a years worth of cutting nieghborhood lawns, was a Wardy shaped by the man in 1964.
Wardy later bailed on the surfboard business, moved to New York, became both well known and well off in the art world.
just strange to see that name for a chinese popout business, especially considering it run a couple of aussies
neither of who is named Wardy…
‘life, ese, is a trip’
Sorta new here and missed this. And a coupla recent things just hit home about China talking to a freind who manufactures wood flooring here AND imports and it was just like Barry said, 1st OK and then downhill with vacant promises, now me, waiting on lighting fixtures (sparky) because of “year of the horse” celebration and strikes.
Oh the stress on the SUK industry exec’s!
In the 9+ years since this thread was started things have changed so much. It would be easier to make a list of who’s not getting boards made in China. Just about every big company and even quite a few small names are getting boards made overseas and only hand shaping for special orders. Combine that with the machine cuts and you don’t know who’s making that name brand you got from the super duper surf store. Might be a board made by someone trained and certified by the person who’s name is on the board, but that person probably never even saw the board. Not saying that those boards are not good. Probably the same for some of the China boards, they may be doing a very good job now.
I wonder what happened with Surftech. They used to have a lot of boards from big name guys. Now the list is short. Did Hobie and all the others pull their agreements? I always thought it would be great to have these boards available after the shapers are gone. The list of great shapers leaving us is growing every year.
farking surftech
Jumped on the Surftech after Clark foam shutdown
1st (Al Merrick CI) 7-6 good board.
2nd (Rusty C5) 8-6 Awful
No “magic boards” here!
Back to homemade!