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151

Gear Talk / Re: Epoxy and heat.....

« on: February 09, 2008, 11:07:52 AM »

Its not the epoxy. Epoxy is a resin. Its the foam core that's the concern. Foams can have heat issues and some have more than others when water gets in there. Be carefull with boardbags, they can get really hot in there with the sun unless its one of the reflective bags.

152

Gear Talk / Re: So many choices-who is the best shaper?

« on: February 02, 2008, 08:52:20 PM »

The boards don't have to be made in the USA. Maybe you live elsewhere...

Ok, if you live in USA then Made in USA by shaper who actually SUP is harmonious. Even more so if you can identify with them in similar ways and waves.

153

Gear Talk / Re: So many choices-who is the best shaper?

« on: February 02, 2008, 10:56:39 AM »

Hard to say who the best shaper is. It's like trying to say who the best musician is, it's too subjective and there are many great ones. You also have to include the glasser, materials and production method into the equation.
The shape of a board is an obvious primary design feature and that has to be there. There are many other things that are often overlooked that can make identical shapes feel and perform very different. Board weight, center of gravity, balance, the materials and construction methods, flex response, stiffness and so forth make up the whole board. The different foams and densities, stringers, woods, sandwich, layups, etc... have different bouyancy accelerations, flex response, stiffness, resonances, etc...It can get complicated but they all go into the board, just like all the instruments playing in a song. A favorite song always sounds great when everything is in tune.

154

Gear Talk / Re: Air Vents EPS Custom Boards (PSH) - Any thoughts

« on: January 31, 2008, 10:21:46 AM »

A newer 1 lb density molded sandwiched board without any water intrusion should be fine unless it gets over around 160 degrees. Then the EPS will melt. Water intrusion is the thing to watch out for with 1lb EPS and as boards get older and used alot there's more wear and tear. It's a good good idea to check the board from time to time for possible leaks. There's a reason why used windsurf boards are so cheap. The bottoms also get softer and bouncier as the core gets all fractured up from the jumps. They still work as long as long as it's in one piece or doesn't have a big delam bubble on the bottom. A light colored board won't get too hot in the sun, but it could get much hotter inside a boardbag.

155

Gear Talk / Re: Air Vents EPS Custom Boards (PSH) - Any thoughts

« on: January 29, 2008, 12:15:22 PM »

SVF was real heavy foam but waterproof. No vent and no ding worries. There's lighter extruded foams around and they are also waterproof. Gary Young uses it(pink foam)in his bamboo veneer boards. The sandwich EPS sailboards still tend to crack at the rail as that's where most of the stiffness, strength and load is. A stronger core will help bear the loads and have a different feel. This is especially noticed in a sailboard. The current industry standard sailboard construction might be light and strong but IMO they ride like a bouncy hollow drum because the core is so weak and the rails are really stiff. It's something most have gotten used to after all these years because the initial reduced weight feeling was so dominating.

156

Gear Talk / Re: Air Vents EPS Custom Boards (PSH) - Any thoughts

« on: January 29, 2008, 10:19:49 AM »

EPS foam comes in various densities , bead sizes and there's other variables. 1lb foam will be more sensitive to heat expansion and water intrusion, whereas 2lb is usually worry free and 1.5 in the middle. The better 1.5 EPS is probably worry free if glassed properly. If you have a 1lb core and had any water intrusion it would be a good idea to open a vent if it's going to get too hot or you'll be risking a possible delam. Usually you'll find 1lb in most production and sandwiched boards and 1.5 and 2 in non-sandwiched customs, it will have a stringer instead.

This brings up another question. Any thoughts on how the different constructions compare when paddling thru chop, riding waves and so forth? Does stiffness, flex or feel of one or the other play a better role in sensitivity to balancing in chop or in riding a wave? I notice the comments on how stable some custom boards are. Is a sandwiched board too stiff along the rail making it more sensitive to chop and more likely to buck you off?

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