Custom vs off the shelf surfboard

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swinginginthewind

281 posts

swinginginthewind

WA, 281 posts

13 Aug 2012 2:22pm

As summer is approaching I am looking to upgrade my surfboard for kiting.

Currently use a 2011 5' 6" Cab Skillit which is great for the Perth slop but have been considering a custom as I can have some input on shape.

Just wondering about the pro and cons of custom versus mass produced and would like to hear from users of each who could comment on what they like about their choice.

stamp

QLD

2797 posts

stamp

QLD, 2797 posts

13 Aug 2012 5:00pm

no comparison in my book. go see a local shaper & get a handcrafted stick that is made for the way you ride and your conditions. plus you get to have input in the design & benefit from an expert's advice.
get a heavier stringer and a couple of layers of 6oz to beef it up, and ask for extra patches thrown under where your feet go to minimise dings.
all for less $ than a chinese pop out...

stamp

QLD

2797 posts

stamp

QLD, 2797 posts

13 Aug 2012 5:01pm

i'd recommend colin earle if he's still in perth- osbourne park from memeory

wishy

1501 posts

wishy

WA, 1501 posts

13 Aug 2012 3:26pm

Most off the shelf boards are made ultra thin high performance (aka designed to explode into a milllion pieces the first time a decent 3ft lip hits it).

doggie

15849 posts

doggie

WA, 15849 posts

13 Aug 2012 3:26pm

stamp said...

i'd recommend colin earle if he's still in perth- osbourne park from memeory

Also try Katana also in Ozy Park. Does awesome epoxy boards that I think would be great for kiteboarding.

Disclaimer - Im not a kiter, I just know these boards are strong!!

bene313

1347 posts

bene313

WA, 1347 posts

13 Aug 2012 4:52pm

- Stone Surf
- Katana
- Dave Lewy

All doing nice looking shapes.

Custom pros:
- It's a custom
- Support a local business
- Shaper/rider relationship etc

Custom cons:
- maybe re-sale vs big brands?

The only Pro to getting a shelf board is maybe the re-sale as mentioned, but also the convenience.

SugarQube

490 posts

SugarQube

WA, 490 posts

13 Aug 2012 4:58pm

Hey Mr swinging, so how was Bali?? you must have had some big waves, or else you might not be asking this question...

Heres my $5 worth ...
A lot of surf board shapers dont have a clew aboat kite surfing and dont kite them selves, if you can tell them exactly what you want, and how much glass where, your ok with just about any shaper in Perth, they will all do a good job.
Best thing would be to bring in a board, and say" I want this, with that changed," etc

Paul1

QLD

1011 posts

Paul1

QLD, 1011 posts

13 Aug 2012 7:12pm

If you get a custom, thick stringers and heavy glass jobs eliminate flex and will make your board perform like sh1t.....If you already surf shortboards to a decent standard, seriously put up with the dents and breakages......All of the kite brands surf boards are fkn terrible in my opinion, way to stiff and heavy, depends if you want to actually surf with a kite, or tear up and down in a straight line, strapped in.

swinginginthewind

281 posts

swinginginthewind

WA, 281 posts

13 Aug 2012 7:09pm

Thanks guys, some helpful comments and the consensus is to go custom.

I have a Katana 6' 4" surfboard for paddling - I'm not good at it but its not the board's fault - so I will give them a call

@SugarQube - Bali was good thanks, wind was light but great waves. You're right, that's why I am asking now as the Cab felt pretty heavy and slow. There were some French guys with custom boards there and I tried one out. Felt looser and much snappier, even to a hack like me.

Jonopark

400 posts

Jonopark

WA, 400 posts

13 Aug 2012 7:56pm

call dave from katana. he does epoxy kite boards. They are cheap (especially if you dont have strap inserts) and he double glasses under the feet and uses carbon on the rails and balsa on the deck. they look the part to!

tightlines

3509 posts

tightlines

WA, 3509 posts

13 Aug 2012 9:14pm

Stoked with my last custom from Ocealine up in Wangara, it's holding up well but if anything I did go a bit overboard with the build, my fault I said I wanted strong after snapping 3 boards in 12 months before this one.
It is a little bit to heavy and stiff but was exactly as I wanted at the time.

P.S. nice conditions over here in Bali today, the wind lasted longer than I did.

swinginginthewind

281 posts

swinginginthewind

WA, 281 posts

13 Aug 2012 9:20pm

tightlines said...

P.S. nice conditions over here in Bali today, the wind lasted longer than I did.

Hey TL,

did you go further up the coast in Bali as you were thinking? I heard that the waves are bigger again there and the wind cross off.

Kiting in boardies and rashie is tops after the cold down here - enjoy!

allano

188 posts

allano

WA, 188 posts

13 Aug 2012 9:35pm

stamp said...

i'd recommend colin earle if he's still in perth- osbourne park from memeory

+1
Colin is in Osy Park
92441767

richswing

724 posts

richswing

WA, 724 posts

13 Aug 2012 9:47pm

I reckon check the fin tow-in and the rocker otherwise the board will feel like its s bogging the whole time and you cannot get the speed up.

The new shorter fatter boards are the way to go as they are longer boards cut down so the rocker is a bit flatter.

See you out there SITW.

My 2 cents.

Rich

bene313

1347 posts

bene313

WA, 1347 posts

14 Aug 2012 9:32am

SugarQube said...
Heres my $5 worth ...
A lot of surf board shapers dont have a clew aboat kite surfing and dont kite them selves, if you can tell them exactly what you want, and how much glass where, your ok with just about any shaper in Perth, they will all do a good job.
Best thing would be to bring in a board, and say" I want this, with that changed," etc

Good point, although there are some eg Stone (and maybe yourself SugarQ??) who have been doing windsurf for many years and kite for a number of years also.

brady

TAS

454 posts

brady

TAS, 454 posts

16 Aug 2012 9:27am

Definitely custom, when you've been riding enough to talk about how you ride and what you do.

My new custom milch board is truly jizz-o-matic. Never enjoyed wave kiting so much

bjw

QLD

3690 posts

bjw

QLD, 3690 posts

16 Aug 2012 12:55pm

Custom all the way. Still not many pro surfers ride epoxy boards coz they just feel a bit odd.

Also if you ride in Vic, a board made for Gold Coast conditions will just not be right for that type of wave. So go to your local shaper, request it a tad stronger, then enjoy your masterpiece.

tightlines

3509 posts

tightlines

WA, 3509 posts

16 Aug 2012 12:34pm

swinginginthewind said...

tightlines said...

P.S. nice conditions over here in Bali today, the wind lasted longer than I did.

Yep up the coast getting heaps of swell but not enough wind.

delta designs

12 posts

delta designs

WA, 12 posts

17 Aug 2012 12:50am

you could also try a custom delta design bamboo deck "AMP".there are no complaints down south or up north about their performance and price.
10 years of kiting really counts in dialling a kite board compared to a surfboard.
i'd rather play guitar but sometimes a note or two on the trumpet is necessary !!!

swinginginthewind

281 posts

swinginginthewind

WA, 281 posts

15 Sep 2012 3:44pm

Thanks for everybody's input

I've had a custom board made up by Dave at Katana - took it out yesterday for it's first run - am stoked, great board, snappy turns and powers upwind.

Construction is epoxy with carbon fibre rails and bamboo deck.

Size 5' 6" x 18.75" x 2"

A few pics attached.

tightlines

3509 posts

tightlines

WA, 3509 posts

15 Sep 2012 9:18pm

Looks sweet Al, bit hard to tell from photo's but looks like a fair bit of concave possibly double concave towards the tail and a bit of tail rocker.

One thing that does stand out is one of your side fins isn't right in, better sort that out or it will be a weed catcher.

Gottta watch that with FCS's.

P.S. Nice lawn.

swinginginthewind

281 posts

swinginginthewind

WA, 281 posts

15 Sep 2012 9:37pm

^^

Cheers TL, have fixed the fin

Yes there is a double concave and some rocker.

The lawn's so that I can go kiting instead of being collared for gardening duties

katana

644 posts

katana

WA, 644 posts

15 Sep 2012 9:52pm

swinginginthewind said...

^^

Cheers TL, have fixed the fin

Yes there is a double concave and some rocker.

The lawn's so that I can go kiting instead of being collared for gardening duties

have you given it a good go yet

swinginginthewind

281 posts

swinginginthewind

WA, 281 posts

15 Sep 2012 10:25pm

katana said...

swinginginthewind said...

^^

Cheers TL, have fixed the fin

Yes there is a double concave and some rocker.

The lawn's so that I can go kiting instead of being collared for gardening duties

have you given it a good go yet

Yes Dave,

got our yesterday for a quick run and today on a downwinder from Trigg to Pinnaroo.

Went really well, snaps around in the turns and is great upwind

Its quick as well, can't wait to try it as a quad - the 7s are good.

pro merc

NSW

300 posts

pro merc

NSW, 300 posts

18 Sep 2012 12:48pm

that is a nice looking board!

lostinlondon

VIC

1159 posts

lostinlondon

VIC, 1159 posts

18 Sep 2012 4:50pm

Very nice looking stick.

Slack

685 posts

Slack

WA, 685 posts

18 Sep 2012 3:35pm

and my new board arrived today

swinginginthewind

281 posts

swinginginthewind

WA, 281 posts

18 Sep 2012 4:50pm

Slack said...

and my new board arrived today

Nice looking board Tony... see you on the water on Friday?

taxi

QLD

416 posts

taxi

QLD, 416 posts

18 Sep 2012 7:19pm

swinginginthewind said...

Thanks for everybody's input

I've had a custom board made up by Dave at Katana - took it out yesterday for it's first run - am stoked, great board, snappy turns and powers upwind.

Construction is epoxy with carbon fibre rails and bamboo deck.

Size 5' 6" x 18.75" x 2"

A few pics attached.

rail make the board feel rigid..

Nice looking board mate, the outline looks a bit like the skillet, do the carbon fiber rails make the board feel rigid..

tightlines

3509 posts

tightlines

WA, 3509 posts

18 Sep 2012 5:28pm

Yep another great looking board Slack, lovin the look of the bamboo decks.

Damn I shouldn't have got my last board made so strong, I can't justify another board yet unless I snap it, looks like I am gunna have to start jumping it.

Thanks for the go on your new board the other day Allan, very nice and so light and loose compared to mine.

swinginginthewind

281 posts

swinginginthewind

WA, 281 posts

18 Sep 2012 9:21pm

taxi said...
Nice looking board mate, the outline looks a bit like the skillet, do the carbon fiber rails make the board feel rigid..

Cheers Pete,

you've got a good eye - the outline was based on the Skillit with some changes.

There is still good flex in the board but the harder rails help with upwind performance - if the wind is right.

How's the wind been up your way, had any breezes yet?

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