Bark 2016 Pro Elite Construction

[baddog]

How has the 2016 Pro Elite construction held up?  I'm hoping with the new order at Surftech, Cobra has tightened up on the their manufacturing.  I like the looks of an old school Bark and a new school NSP.

I won't buy either if they are soft and denty, like the Barks of old.

[Area 10]

Mine's been excellent. A year of downwinding and choppy coastal paddling, which is usually quite hard on boards, with no rail tape, and it still basically looks like new. No paddle chips, no dents.

The old ones around here (and my paddling group has 5 of them) might have been quite easy to dent, but they didn't chip, and they have held up remarkably well. No weird paint problems like my Fanatic, no leaks like our Starboards, no peeling mats or leaking handles (Fanatic again) or funny internal rattling noises or mysteriously collapsing rails (my SIC), no bizarre chipping (my mate's Coreban; my Naish) etc etc.

All brands produce lemons. But Surftech seemed to beef up their construction recently, and the boards might not be particularly light, but the 2016 ones we have have held up well. I don't see Surftech as any worse than the other top brands. It's certainly not a reason to avoid buying one IMO. After all, the same people who part-own Surftech also part own the factory they are built in, now, I think (and most other major brands too). So you'd think that if Surftech can't get their boards made well there, no- one can

[starman]

My Downwinder has been excellent as well. A chip here and there from banging on rocks is the extent of the wear. No rail tape as well and it still looks very good. They may not be the lightest but they certainly are not disposable like many of the boards out there.

[baddog]

Thanks, looks like I be getting my first Bark.