Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: Laird Surftech Bubble

« on: September 08, 2013, 07:26:53 PM »

Sorry for the slow follow up here, but it's taken awhile.

Long story short - Surftech said "tough luck".  They won't do anything at all.  The retailer said he went at them a couple of different ways and they weren't willing to do anything beyond pointing to a 90 day warranty - that's it.

I've bought this board and for my wife a Candice in 12'6"...needless to say I'll never by another Surftech product in my life.  I find it hard to believe what appears to be a manufacturing defect would not at least be repaired if not replaced given the cost of these boards.

I guess I'll be more aware of warranties as well, because I would've thought a year would've been standard for this level of a product.  I am very disappointed in Surftech though...even a follow up phone call might've been nice.

The retailer also insists I shouldn't have to do anything with the plug unless it goes on an airplane...think I'll start taking it out anyway after sunny day paddles.

2

Gear Talk / Re: Laird Surftech Bubble

« on: July 31, 2013, 12:20:28 PM »

So it is a delam...I wasn't sure something could delam internally without trauma, but makes sense.  We'll see what they say at the shop and I'll post a follow up.

The air vent plug hasn't been removed since new, and no air travel for the board...it's lived at sea level in Seattle the whole time.

3

Gear Talk / Re: Laird Surftech Bubble

« on: July 31, 2013, 12:02:12 PM »

Nope, it hasn't/wasn't - that's also on the bottom and it's almost always against padded Inno bars or in a Thule SUP taxi inverted.  It's hard to show in the photo...it's not a dent though, it's like a bubble/blister above and otherwise smooth surface.  In fact all the paint is soft in that area and you can push into with your finger - it's pliable.

4

Gear Talk / Laird Surftech Bubble

« on: July 31, 2013, 10:17:55 AM »

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem.  Bought this Laird Surftech 14' last Fall with the "elite" finish and it has no damage or dings and been totally babied.  Last night I noticed a 12" or longer "blister" on the bottom of the hull.  It can best be described to be like a paint bubble you would have after a house painting whereby the surface hadn't been properly sanded/prepped before paint was applied.

The retailer I got it from responded quickly and is happy to take a look at it, wondering what Surftech will do or if it's covered, but wanted to see if anyone else has seen/heard this before because it seems weird.  It also seems like it has to be a manufacturing defect.  Board has been stored inside a garage and out of the sun since new as well.

5

SUP General / Re: Considering a race board: Ohana, BARK, M&M

« on: June 18, 2012, 11:03:14 AM »

Thanks for the feedback so far and the local pointers as well in addition to the call out for women's racing classification.  Some kiteboarding buddies showed up early as I was writing this and had to head out quickly.  Thought I should also mention 99% of our paddling is in Puget Sound (Shilshole area), so we deal with everything from glass to wind waves/swell, tides, currents, etc.   I thought I should call out that we're not on the lakes. 

I'll check out the Fanatic too - sounds interesting...then I'll have to start figuring out how I can store more boards!

6

SUP General / Considering a race board: Ohana, BARK, M&M

« on: June 16, 2012, 07:39:43 AM »

Hi!

My wife and I have been paddling for a little over a year now.  We're both on Staboards, she has a Blend and I have a Big-EZ.  We're paddling 5-6 miles at a time and starting to drool over more speed, efficiency and being able to go further faster.  She aspires to race, I don't...just want to go fast.

Anyway, we're looking at the three boards in the subject line (all 14' ones) and sort of leaning towards the Ohana but haven't paddled any of them.  I', 5'9" and almost 200lbs, she's much shorter and lighter.  The M&M looks more rounded side to side than the other boards and we're hearing it's "less stable".  The Bark and the Ohana look like they have very similar hulls, but the Bark seems markedly lighter. 

TIA for any recommendations!

7

SUP General / Re: Ding repair advice? (last years BigEZ base model - white AST)

« on: March 16, 2012, 08:36:32 PM »

Thanks for the replies.  I did it in sunlight but used 220 grit - doh!!!

8

SUP General / Ding repair advice? (last years BigEZ base model - white AST)

« on: March 16, 2012, 07:43:57 PM »

Hi!

During a windy day this winter my board flew off my car in the parking lot as I was tying it down.  The tail hit a tree and I didn't notice any damage until the next outing.

Today I went to my local shop with my SUP, they looked at it and sold me some Solarez.  I applied it twice tonight and both times it was still tacky and pealed off easily by hand.  I was going to try a thinner coat tomorrow, but doing some reading it sounds like this is only a temporary repair.  It also sound like using some cold/slow curing two part epoxy might be the better option since I have a foam core (as I understand it), but I'm pretty ignorant on how these things are made.  I do understand I don't have fiberglass and that there is some hard layer over a foam core.

Here's a photo which may help in understanding the damage.



TIA for any help!

9

Sessions / <Video> Wednesday in Seattle

« on: January 23, 2012, 10:08:16 PM »

Enjoy.  

10

Downwind and Racing / Re: Round The Rock

« on: September 10, 2011, 06:11:17 PM »

Does anyone know if the 3.5 mile race has Day of Registration?  I spent 15 minutes on the website and couldn't find any details other than pre-reg has ended.

11

Technique / Re: Learning to surf or paddlesurf?

« on: August 27, 2011, 11:02:18 PM »

As someone who is not as exposed to the daily surf culture as many of you, would you be so kind as to provide some tips?  I'm a long time snowboarder and the standards are pretty straight forward, but the posts above make it sound like it might be different at each break, and complex?  Really?

When in Hawaii in July I simply announced I was a noob/ignorant, didn't want to be a jackass and was thanked and told to "take anything you want".  Granted there were only a handful of folks out there, but perhaps it's different in big line ups?

12

Gear Talk / Re: Quickblade Customer Service

« on: August 22, 2011, 07:33:03 PM »

I've got the **exact** same problem as well on a paddle I bought in May.  Glad they took care of you!

13

SUP General / Re: Paddle in the rain?

« on: August 14, 2011, 10:57:10 PM »

Living in Seattle and having spent a number of years cycling in the rain I've come to the conclusion that I hate riding my bike in the rain.  Thus, a large part of the SUP appeal for me was something fun to do in the rain, regardless.  I've only been out on one really rainy day this summer and it was great.  In a full wet suit it doesn't seem like the weather matters.

Couldn't agree more... having spent 20 years bike racing/training in Seattle rain I now HATE cycling in the rain... SUP: no problem, love it!

Yep...I'm only a CAT3 but I think my days are over...still like commuting when I can, but the death march training all winter isn't worth it.  Skate skiing in the Methow, backcountry snowboarding, SUP'ing right down the street and now learning to kiteboard are better drugs. 

14

Sessions / Re: an august SUP session on angry lake huron (pics)

« on: August 13, 2011, 10:01:00 AM »

Awesome report and pix!  Thanks for sharing the stoke.

15

SUP General / Re: Paddle in the rain?

« on: August 10, 2011, 09:18:47 AM »

Living in Seattle and having spent a number of years cycling in the rain I've come to the conclusion that I hate riding my bike in the rain.  Thus, a large part of the SUP appeal for me was something fun to do in the rain, regardless.  I've only been out on one really rainy day this summer and it was great.  In a full wet suit it doesn't seem like the weather matters.