Bark Downwinder - Pro Elite durability questionable

[Luc Benac]

Bummer today.
Took the Surftech Bark Downwinder for the second time - brand new board.
I use board bag (nice Riviera bag) and pads FCS and DaKine.
When strapping the board, it looks like the seam of the bag move a little bit and come on top of the rail.
I do not strap very tight but just the same there was a huge dent on the rail. The skin did not break so likely I do not need a repair yet.
It does not bode well for a downwinder board.
I never had a problem with the Allstar in the very same bag.

Somewhat ruined my day...

[sicktwist]

Well that's weak...this was one of the boards I had my eye on lately. 

[Luc Benac]

Well that's weak...this was one of the boards I had my eye on lately.

Yes that is what I thought too. I just got a reply from Surftech that if there was no crack that I could feel with my nail then it was still watertight and no repair was needed. They did not seem surprised of what happened. I was looking forward to the Bark Vapor but will likely reconsider if this is going to be the same problem.

[Muskoka SUP]

Their (Surftech) Pro-Elite construction has always been fragile.. The very first time I paddled the original Dominator I could feel it flex as waves passed under it.. You could easily depress and dent the board with your thumb.. It's the price of admission for these type of boards.  It's not restricted to Surftech by any means...

Personally, I'd rather deal with a few more lbs knowing that my board might actually last a few years..

[southwesterly]

Pro Elite construction means that it is made for the pros to use one race season. Then they upgrade to a newer one.

Sucks for the guy that has to pay $3,000 dollars for it.

[Luc Benac]

Their (Surftech) Pro-Elite construction has always been fragile.. The very first time I paddled the original Dominator I could feel it flex as waves passed under it.. You could easily depress and dent the board with your thumb.. It's the price of admission for these type of boards.  It's not restricted to Surftech by any means...

Personally, I'd rather deal with a few more lbs knowing that my board might actually last a few years..

I won't disagree. At 28.5 lbs this one was supposed to be more durable....
After I posted a review on FB, Surftech has contacted me again and is apparently going to review the issue.

Cheers,

Luc

[Luc Benac]

Pro Elite construction means that it is made for the pros to use one race season. Then they upgrade to a newer one.

Sucks for the guy that has to pay $3,000 dollars for it.

I guess that is why the Pro do not use board bags :-)
The new Surftechs (D2, Downwinder) only come in Pro Elite so there is not a lot of choice. I have also been told that the upcoming Vapor will be in same construction.

[DavidJohn]

I think it's important to use straps and have them just snug.. Not tight.. If you can't slide the strap side to side a bit after you tightened it it's too tight.. IMO.. Shame about the board damage.. I've seen it a few times now in other brands of boards.. I would rather have my board move around a little in the wind at high speed on the roof of my car than risk rail damage on a board.

[Luc Benac]

I think it's important to use straps and have them just snug.. Not tight.. If you can't slide the strap side to side a bit after you tightened it it's too tight.. IMO.. Shame about the board damage.. I've seen it a few times now in other brands of boards.. I would rather have my board move around a little in the wind at high speed on the roof of my car than risk rail damage on a board.

Thanks David. I did not tighten it up more than usual which means that the boards have a little bit of wiggle room from side to side.
I always double strap so there are really two strands of the straps maintaining the board which also allow you to tighten less.
If I had cranked the strap like no tomorrow, I would understand the damage.

[TallDude]

The racks on my Element are pretty close together, so there is more of a lever being applied. I do worry a little when I hit bumps in the road causing the board to bounce with my 14' and unlimited. Right now we have tons of road construction going on, so lots of bumps. I try to slow down and take them like speed bumps when I have my longer race boards strapped down.

[DavidJohn]

They can remove hail damage dents on cars with paint-less dent removing techniques.. I wonder if that could be done on these boards.. I have one on the deck go of my Jav caused from a small fall forward and with the paddle handle in my hand.. I went slowly down on my knees and my hands forward on the deck.. Didn't fall off and quickly stood back up hoping no one saw me.. I wasn't happy after to see the dent I had caused.. It's weird how these boards are soft enough to dent without and cracking of the skin/fiberglass.. Older boards would never do that.

[Luc Benac]

I am wondering if anybody with a Bark Pro Elite could check for me.
Where the rail stops and the bottom of the board starts, the board is somewhat soft. As you move toward the middle then it becomes stronger/stiffer.
That is only for the middle part of the front of the board with very soft rails and does not apply to the hard rails at the back.
I also checked on my All Star and that is not the case.

Thanks in advance.

[Luc Benac]

I am working with my local dealer and in parallel with Surftech USA (there is no Surftech Canada). After the initial "it is not possible" they seems to come to term that indeed the problem has been caused simply by the seam of the bag putting pressure and indenting the bottom of the board along the front rail. I am now asking them to consider this a warranty issue as the whole section along the front rail on both side is very soft so that you can press it down with your finger.
Not sure where it will go. It would be very difficult for me to ship the board back anyway.
The depression can be filled in but I am worried about what more can happen in this area.

[TN_SUP]

Last month Surftech refunded the dealer, who refunded me 20% of dealer cost for a series of paint chips along one side and a bubbly pad. Packaging was perfect, so it left the factory that way. Then I whacked it against my deck, like I do every board, and spent the money on pro repair of the cracked tail. (Bark Commander)

[raf]

That should be one of the stiffest parts of the board.  I would not be happy with any softness around the rail transitions.  I have had boards like that before, and made and received warranty claims for them.  I suspect that the guy sanding the lap was careless and sanded through the top layers of glass.