Standup Zone Forum

General => The Shape Shack => Topic started by: supuk on October 21, 2015, 01:01:11 PM

Title: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on October 21, 2015, 01:01:11 PM
after the success of my first hand shaped down wind board i thought i would stick it on cad do a few tweaks and cut myself another. This board is not aimed at speed but purely at being the most fun board posable to down wind here in the uk conditions so it has plenty of rocker,greenly quite thin all round and with a even thiner nose and rails that don't mind a good old cross wind and mountains of chop. As i say i was supper stoaked with the first one i did, its kinda like down winding on a lazy boy its so easy and relaxed even at only 26 1/4" wide. Personally i think i would go narrower but i wanted to do one that i can share around with friends to try without it being to tippy for the average paddler.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Bean on October 21, 2015, 01:26:12 PM
Nice!  Looking forward to another great build Supuk.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Argosi on October 21, 2015, 01:27:09 PM
Nice! Is that your personal CNC machine? I'm sure you'll keep us updated as the work progresses.

What's the volume?
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on October 21, 2015, 01:35:32 PM
cheers yes its my own machine i built and got up and running 10 months ago. I guess I'm pretty lucky to access to something like it but it does mean that i will never have to buy another board again.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Argosi on October 21, 2015, 01:51:41 PM
That's a great reason to have your own CNC machine! Heck, if you start making a few more boards for others, you could end up with a reasonable payback period. Although I really have no idea of the cost of something like that.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on October 21, 2015, 02:21:37 PM
That's a great reason to have your own CNC machine! Heck, if you start making a few more boards for others, you could end up with a reasonable payback period. Although I really have no idea of the cost of something like that.

To buy something similar your probably looking at $60,000 if on average a prediction board is $2400-4000 then it's not actually too many. Lucaly it didn't cost that much but it did cost a lot in parts time and most of all research and I have a machine of a lot higher quality than most. Since Jan when I got the machine running This will be the 6th board I have done for myself, which would probably cost around $23000 if they were production boards so that's I gess one way to justify it lol
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on October 23, 2015, 02:13:10 PM
few pics after fluffing
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: SlatchJim on October 23, 2015, 02:25:03 PM
Just more evidence that you need to become your own shop/label Charlie.  This board fills that portion of your "corporate" lineup that is sure to be a hit in the isles.  While I love your shaping talent, the thing that hits me hardest is your artist's eye for color, and the look of your finished products.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Biggreen on October 23, 2015, 02:37:05 PM
Just more evidence that you need to become your own shop/label Charlie.  This board fills that portion of your "corporate" lineup that is sure to be a hit in the isles.  While I love your shaping talent, the thing that hits me hardest is your artist's eye for color, and the look of your finished products.

Ditto!
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on October 23, 2015, 02:46:34 PM
cheers jim. the thing that i would like to be able to do is spend more time doing design work to do more of the design work as thats what i enjoy the most. i would love to have a shop also but property and land is so expensive over here its all most imposable to afford to get any where large enough to set up a proper place to build big sup boards on a larger scale and i would never want to get boards made in china as i have enough problems doing ding repair on them !
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: getcarter on October 25, 2015, 11:53:07 AM
nice work as always !!!!!.....love the longboard too.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on October 30, 2015, 12:18:11 PM
the plan was to do vac bagged cork however there was a 2 week wait on it from the supplier so going for glass deck and glass/carbon bottom bottom but glassed deck first
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on October 31, 2015, 01:07:27 PM
got the bottom done today with the help of the other half. we wet the carbon out on the table and then did a layer of glass over the top. I cant quite decide on how to finish this one. Im half tempted to try the "light" finish with a qcell hot coat mix but it feels a bit wrong for some reason. Ether way I need to cover up a majority of the carbon as it to riskey leaving it on the top of the van in the summer.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: TallDude on October 31, 2015, 07:54:00 PM
Just paint it.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on November 04, 2015, 11:42:33 AM
i decided to give the "light Finnish" a go and see how it turns out. As far as i can tell the production Finnish is the lay up then just a fill coat of epoxy Q cell  black pigment mix then a black hi build primer and then the colour and that is what i will do. The reason i think it is done this way is because the amount of sanding very hard hot coats is dramatically cut down. The Q cell mix sands very fast with 100 or 120 grit and you need not go any further before doing a coat of hi build primer which again is very easy to sand and the the colour wish all so gets a light sanding so no need for any perfect finishes, really it seams like a pretty lazy way to build a board and I'm not all that convinced by it but by building one with the same process its very interesting to know what they are doing in the factory and what people are paying so much for.

pic below is of the board with the filler coat on and sanded back,I'm not sure at this point if to stick exactly to the production technique or to do a extra thin coat of resin on top before the primer goes on.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on November 11, 2015, 04:13:07 AM
so after the qcel mix I went with a very thin coat of resin to fill some of the holes yo get when you sand the qcel then a coat of 2k black primer and then a coat of 2k white and sanded back. Its so nice working with the new sander and not having clouds of dust in the air and being able to see what you are doing the hole time. Its also nice being able to flick it out of the geared mode when you want to tone it down and be less aggressive.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on November 11, 2015, 08:50:13 AM
And the finished board coming in at 10.5kg  which is 6oz carbon + 6oz glass bottom and 2x6oz glass deck  + patch.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: NEplay on November 11, 2015, 08:53:22 AM
That is rad, I can't believe you built that at your house, stud.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Glowmaster on November 11, 2015, 08:59:58 AM
Gorgeous , well done, with a very British board stand.

I like the contrast between the bright yellow and the whitish carbon.

ed
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: corrego on November 11, 2015, 01:25:39 PM
awsome mate!
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: SlatchJim on November 11, 2015, 01:37:58 PM
Fantastic board Charlie, but the board stand has to be the most original display device ever.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on November 11, 2015, 02:52:31 PM
cheers yea it makes a great little board stand although it was a little tricky today as its been super windy hence no vertical shots. looking like we should have 30-40knots blowing again this weekend so hopefully i will be able to get a few runs in on it.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: yugi on November 11, 2015, 02:58:17 PM
Dream board! Can't wait to hear how it feels.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: TallDude on November 11, 2015, 05:34:13 PM
Charlie, you are a true renaissance man.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Bean on November 12, 2015, 06:02:19 AM
Very, very nice!  You've truly outdone yourself.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on November 12, 2015, 10:52:03 AM
got a very quick vid from last weekends run on the old board I made, it was another good 40knot run in the harbor so zero fetch wind swell and only over about a 3.6 mile distance, more surfing than paddling and  needing very little effort to get on to the bumps! sorry it was also very wet and grey so quality is pretty poor.

https://youtu.be/sqUCwHxh5Rg

Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: yugi on November 12, 2015, 11:31:13 AM
sweet...

I mean apart from the weather.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on November 12, 2015, 04:45:07 PM
It's still in double figures and were in 3/2's you won't hear us complaining :)
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: blueplanetsurf on November 12, 2015, 06:00:48 PM
Beautiful board and back yard!  I personally like my downwind boards with more volume in the nose but I think you said you kept it thin to make it less susceptible to side winds, so I'm interested to hear how that works out.  Let us know how she rides!
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Area 10 on November 12, 2015, 06:22:13 PM
That's a great vid.

Following on from Robert's comment, why do so many DW boards have so much volume, especially in the middle? Is it just to accommodate the occasional larger paddler? Volume above the waterline isn't contributing much, and being higher above the waterline has obvious stability and paddle power shortcomings.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on November 16, 2015, 08:34:17 AM
got it wet for the first time at the weekend unfortunately not great conditions but still fun and the board went really well.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on November 22, 2015, 11:28:46 AM
chased a few more bumps this weekend but again, think i may have a few little tweaks to make but nothing mayjor at the moment.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on December 07, 2015, 08:25:40 AM
still yet to have a big run on this but we had a small on on sat that was fun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foNxWhH2vts&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foNxWhH2vts&feature=youtu.be)

https://youtu.be/foNxWhH2vts
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: yugi on December 07, 2015, 09:08:45 AM
Can't wait to see what the Black Run looks like.

Agree with A10's volume comments. I like low riders.

So... how's the feel? I imagine the long parallel outline makes it stable. Look's like it turn nicely.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on December 07, 2015, 09:27:04 AM
feels good definitely faster than my mk1 that has a lot more rocker so better on the flatter stuff, still super stable very rarely get wet paddling this or mk1. It turns great but all ready planning a new one with a few more subtle tweaks.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Biggreen on December 07, 2015, 04:55:33 PM
That's a beautiful board. I've never ridden a downwind board, but would absolutely love to. Catching the glide looks like a blast. Time to look into it, I guess.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on March 11, 2016, 07:39:20 AM
So I sold this board at the end of last year I think so I could do the few tweaks to the design. This board is right on the limit of my cnc with the amount of roof hight I have and the rocker in the board. The blank is 9.75" thick to start with so I worked a bit with Thomas from shape 3D to change the program parameters which has finally allowed me to cut it out! Super excited to have this board ready for the summer sea breez season !
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on March 11, 2016, 11:19:59 AM
Some 4 hours later this tock twice as long as normal to cut
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Eagle on March 11, 2016, 11:56:06 AM
feels good definitely faster than my mk1 that has a lot more rocker so better on the flatter stuff, still super stable very rarely get wet paddling this or mk1. It turns great but all ready planning a new one with a few more subtle tweaks.

Really like the thinned out nose with a touch of vee for heavy cross wind and chop - kinda reminds me of a narrower faster carbon M-14 with an easy grab SIC handle.  Your last board was a beautiful clean shape that looked like to perform like a champ in a bit of breeze.

While stability is important to us as well - a board must be fast to be fun.  We DW primarily because of the fun factor - and it really comes down to getting our boards to release and jump up on plane for a bit of a thrill.  The feeling of being on ball bearings and a bit out of control is what always brings us back for more.  We have a stable M-14 and Bullet 14V2 so we also rarely get wet - but each one has a very distinct wind speed before they will consistently pop up on plane.

Coming off such a beautiful shape - what sort of tweaks have you incorporated in your latest iteration?   :)
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on March 11, 2016, 12:10:56 PM
The mk1 and mk2 feels quite similar to ride as a bullet v1 and the m14 however more stable and it copes with cross chop and the messy conditions a lot better. It is actually still a lot of fun in the small stuff as it is super surfy you can go left and right really easy and will go as fast as you can read and react to the little bumps.

This one has had a tiny tweak to the rocker, the bottom of the rail has gone back to the same as mk1 and i have changed the volume of the first 12" of the nose closer to mk1 which was a fraction more than mk2

I have already got a 12'6 and a 16' drawn up and in the weighting along with a narrow 24.5"  14'
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Eagle on March 11, 2016, 12:24:31 PM
Very interesting - look forward to seeing them.   :)
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on March 17, 2016, 03:32:05 AM
Cleaned up and ready for glassing
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: bef on March 17, 2016, 08:03:05 AM
You do some awesome work and to share it with others is just neat.  I am amazed at how strong the layups are with the laminates you specified.  How cool!  2 or 3 hours and I will be putting another layer of glass on my molds.  Starting to warm up here, gotta get to work on mine!!!!

Brian
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Off-Shore on March 17, 2016, 09:05:34 AM
She looks a beauty!
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Ichabod Spoonbill on March 17, 2016, 10:09:30 AM
Wow. I so wish I had your talent.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Eagle on March 17, 2016, 04:28:22 PM
Looking very nice indeed.   :)
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Glowmaster on March 17, 2016, 04:36:36 PM
genius+gorgeous= gorgius


ed
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on March 23, 2016, 04:25:23 AM
Bottom laminated with a nice bit of carbon this will be the same layup as the last one I did.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on March 25, 2016, 07:45:40 AM
Glassed and ready for boxes and handles next week.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on March 29, 2016, 01:08:22 PM
Finbox in and lazer aligned with a little jig I made. Once set this will get cleaned up and caped over.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on March 30, 2016, 07:04:22 AM
Carbon handle and vent which I have moulded separately is installed
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: jrandy on April 01, 2016, 07:51:09 PM
Cheers Charlie, looking great!
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Zooport on April 01, 2016, 09:04:41 PM
supuk, you are the most advanced garage builder I have ever seen or heard of.   Putting us lowly Yanks to shame!  :)
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Area 10 on April 02, 2016, 03:15:34 AM
Wow - even the handle is a work of art.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on April 08, 2016, 12:50:53 PM
Finally after a hold up on a new batch of resin I got the top hot coated with a light Finnish
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on April 11, 2016, 06:35:08 AM
The festool is great sanding with almost zero dust and not having to constantly hover up.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Area 10 on April 11, 2016, 07:39:06 AM
Very nice indeed. How does the fin placement compare with eg. the SICs?  It looks like it might be a smidgeon further forward maybe - but pics are very deceptive. 
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on April 11, 2016, 08:12:29 AM
I'm not to sure we're is the sic fin position is?
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: TallDude on April 11, 2016, 08:24:33 AM
I think SIC sets their fins about 6" closer to the tail.  Their X- line which is not a bump chaser is set more forward.

BTW, nice calendars on the wall!
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on April 11, 2016, 12:36:10 PM
I like having it near you back foot maybe that's why mine feels a little more surfey and controlable than the sic 14bullet. My flat water boards tend to have it more rearward
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Bean on April 11, 2016, 05:23:02 PM
When you compare short-period Atlantic swells with stretched out Pacific ground swells, the massive rocker and fin placement really make good sense.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: yugi on April 12, 2016, 08:37:33 AM
it this one the same rocker as your previous versions? it does look like a big rocker.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on April 12, 2016, 08:44:47 AM
yes its the same rocker as the last one its no more at the tip and nose than a sic bullet however the actual curve is quite different
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on April 13, 2016, 05:58:45 AM
A nice warm day to get some paint down first the black primer then the White
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Off-Shore on April 13, 2016, 08:00:00 AM
THAT is looking very tasty indeed...
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on April 13, 2016, 09:25:21 AM
Last little peak before it gets finished still a little more paint to go.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on April 14, 2016, 04:15:56 AM
Just finished the paint it's simple but I'm loving it it's similar to a surf sup I did a long time ago. Here's a teaser
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on April 14, 2016, 09:38:42 AM
Was struggling to deside the deck pad, always seam to end up with green. I like to template for them as it makes life a lot easier to get a smooth curve first time with a shap knife. Board is all done I will post a few pics this eve of the completed board when I get them off my proper camera.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on April 14, 2016, 10:35:58 AM
test

can't seam to get any other picture to load for some reason just putting them on my fb page and will try and put a link up
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Bean on April 14, 2016, 11:18:57 AM
The suspense is killing me!  ;D

Nice hat by the way, Yankees fan I presume ?
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on April 14, 2016, 11:36:58 AM
pictures here

https://www.facebook.com/CGCustomPaddleboards/photos/pcb.573673139473175/573672102806612/?type=3&theater

(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlf1/t31.0-8/13029472_573672102806612_1595381964308854776_o.jpg)
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: PonoBill on April 14, 2016, 12:28:13 PM
Nice. Immediately makes me think of a Foote Maliko 14. If it performs like one it will be a fine board.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Bean on April 14, 2016, 01:05:33 PM
Great colors UK!
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on April 14, 2016, 11:18:12 PM
ok lets try again with pics
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Area 10 on April 15, 2016, 01:12:45 AM
Well, if it's anything like that earlier version I tried, it's going to be totally amazing.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on April 15, 2016, 01:19:49 AM
Well, if it's anything like that earlier version I tried, it's going to be totally amazing.

soon as we get some wind we will have to go back to back again, typically its goes flat when you get a new dw board! best start building a flat water board.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: yugi on April 15, 2016, 02:39:23 AM
nice. weight?

I remember you had a really narrow one too, that you liked. I'm thinking of trading my x27 DW 14' board for same in x25 (quiver-of-one: it's one or the other). Figure I'll just get used to the narrower one. Thoughts?

me 5'11" 160 lbs comfy on x26 race boards

(As a backup plan: I do have access to 14' Bullet's to use in festive conditions if it turns out the x25 is a bit challenging for me)
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on April 15, 2016, 03:02:55 AM
I don't have a weight yet I'm guessing around 11 or 12 but it's super solid construction as dw boards seam to take a pounding and I like mine to be super stiff and last. I don't have any narrow dw boards ... Yet... I plan a 24 or 25 16' the only narrow ones I have are a 12'6 and 14' flat water at 21" I will do a proper narrow 14 but that's a good few boards down the line like I say there is a dw16' 12'6 flat water and 12'prone board and a 12'6 ocean that I want to get done before.
This board at 26 1/4 is so stable we did a 8 mile run last week that was all over the shop and wasn't even close to wobbley at the end and it was the first run of the year, we all kinda say it's like paddleing a sofa.  I think I could easily go down to 24 on this board for a little more of a chalange you do notice the extended glide of the narrow boards between bumps.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Ichabod Spoonbill on April 15, 2016, 06:24:50 AM
That is a gorgeous board. Great skills.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: TallDude on April 15, 2016, 10:56:19 AM
Excellent. I don't know what it is, but I'm always drawn in to the green and black deck pad myself.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on January 22, 2017, 03:38:45 PM
So out in Melbourne for a few more mouths a few have said they are missing my build posts so will try to keep updated the few bits that i can.

I managed to get a slightly special prototype one of these 14' dw boards over with me to aus. Unfortunately the thing is a bit of a heavy weight for various reasons and i can officially say heavy downwind boards suck compared to light ones! While it still feels the same to control the extra weight make it a lot harder to get up to speed and the added swing weight makes it a lot less responsive to turn and there is no noticeable increase in glide so please don't try and tell me weight can be a good thing on a dw board! However that said i wouldn't want a super light board that falls apart its just that thing of were you sit in the strength,weight,cost triangle.

Any way here is a shot from a dw here in port Philip bay Melbourne the other day with myself in the background taking a short steep and steep one shot from a friends camera on his board
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Eagle on January 22, 2017, 04:35:10 PM
Unfortunately the thing is a bit of a heavy weight for various reasons and i can officially say heavy downwind boards suck compared to light ones! While it still feels the same to control the extra weight make it a lot harder to get up to speed and the added swing weight makes it a lot less responsive to turn and there is no noticeable increase in glide so please don't try and tell me weight can be a good thing on a dw board!

^^^ Heavier DW boards are slower to accelerate to get onto a bump.  So you use a lot more energy.  Everything just is slower and more tiring.  For me a 24 lb board like my AS23 is a tad too light vs my 26.5 lb Bullet a tad too heavy.  So based on this for production ~ 25 lbs to 25.5 lbs full carbon would be optimal.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on January 22, 2017, 04:49:43 PM
personally i really don't think there is a thing as to light there is a thing about to fragile though from being built to light.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Eagle on January 22, 2017, 06:12:09 PM
".....there is a thing about to fragile though from being built to light."

Yeah.  Light is great so long as it is durable -> but too light often equates to too fragile.  Every board that I have used that is too light happens to also be too fragile - as only so much weight can be reduced before durability is reduced too much.  A board too light can often crack like an eggshell.

This guy at 2:30 says "While I use the ultra light biaxial on my nose".  Well as it happens this is the exact area that developed a crack on my board from an impact.  So in the effort to eliminate weight - this board now is at risk from minor impacts in this ultra light carbon area.  Interestingly Connor in a 2017 vid talks about how the new board is "stronger" now.  Hmmm?  Maybe too light was indeed too fragile.  ;)

https://youtu.be/zyW2-VQI6bs
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on January 22, 2017, 06:51:05 PM
".....there is a thing about to fragile though from being built to light."

Yeah.  Light is great so long as it is durable -> but too light often equates to too fragile.  Every board that I have used that is too light happens to also be too fragile - as only so much weight can be reduced before durability is reduced too much.  A board too light can often crack like an eggshell.

This guy at 2:30 says "While I use the ultra light biaxial on my nose".  Well as it happens this is the exact area that developed a crack on my board from an impact.  So in the effort to eliminate weight - this board now is at risk from minor impacts in this ultra light carbon area.  Interestingly Connor in a 2017 vid talks about how the new board is "stronger" now.  Hmmm?  Maybe too light was indeed too fragile.  ;)

https://youtu.be/zyW2-VQI6bs

There are ways to build lighter and stronger boards but it comes at a cost that is all.

Most company's could build stronger more durable boards if they just used more skilled labour. I recently repaired a carbon nsp that was suffering from loads of little cracks all down the rails, when I striped the paint and filler off the surface you could see the carbon had been sanded through when it was built and just covered over with the paint to hide it.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: yugi on January 22, 2017, 08:05:59 PM
Strong, Light, Cheap.

Pick any two.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on January 22, 2017, 08:23:30 PM
Strong, Light, Cheap.

Pick any two.

yes exactly!
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Eagle on January 22, 2017, 10:24:00 PM
Strong and light - questionable
Strong and cheap - no
Light and cheap - no

So SB carbon sandwich is more strong and light vs the other options.  But is too light making the board too fragile.  They should add 1 to 1.5 lbs more material using skilled workmanship.  Then the board would be more durable for the racer or average joe like me.  Something did give somewhere for 2017 because list prices dropped a few hundred bucks.

Besides that little crack I repaired in a few minutes -> the board is quite good.  More of a needless irritation and sloppy construction.  Not expected in such a high priced board.  QC was lacking that day.  And if it was not cracked by someone else -> I would never have seen how thin the carbon skin layup actually was.  Was kinda scary - and about as thin as shown in the vid.  So be very careful handling SB race boards 24 lbs and under.  They may be very fast and win races -> but can be somewhat fragile.  But that is kinda expected for a race board of that ilk.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: supuk on January 22, 2017, 10:52:04 PM
From the quality of the SB race boards I have seen on the shelf in the local shop here QC at least has defiantly dropped just look down the rails and you can see them wavering around all over the place!
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: Area 10 on January 23, 2017, 12:53:22 AM
Has the build quality of Starboard race boards ever been particularly good? I think they cater to the market mainly for avid racers who will replace their board with next year's model every year, so they only need them to last for the bare minimum of time.
Title: Re: 14' bump chaser
Post by: UKRiverSurfers on January 23, 2017, 02:19:34 AM
".....there is a thing about to fragile though from being built to light."

Yeah.  Light is great so long as it is durable -> but too light often equates to too fragile.  Every board that I have used that is too light happens to also be too fragile - as only so much weight can be reduced before durability is reduced too much.  A board too light can often crack like an eggshell.

This guy at 2:30 says "While I use the ultra light biaxial on my nose".  Well as it happens this is the exact area that developed a crack on my board from an impact.  So in the effort to eliminate weight - this board now is at risk from minor impacts in this ultra light carbon area.  Interestingly Connor in a 2017 vid talks about how the new board is "stronger" now.  Hmmm?  Maybe too light was indeed too fragile.  ;)

https://youtu.be/zyW2-VQI6bs

There are ways to build lighter and stronger boards but it comes at a cost that is all.

Most company's could build stronger more durable boards if they just used more skilled labour. I recently repaired a carbon nsp that was suffering from loads of little cracks all down the rails, when I striped the paint and filler off the surface you could see the carbon had been sanded through when it was built and just covered over with the paint to hide it.

 shockingly bad!!
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