Impatient to buy another new SUP for the good days, something around the 9 x 28 110 liter mark.
Have not been able to demo a local shaped epoxy eps construction yet and hoping to soon, but getting access to a demo coinciding with some decent surf is not easy.
When the Surtech/Tuflite thing happened now 10? years ago everyone did and still do bag them apart from the “slave labour, support your local shaper blah blah” because the laminate molded construction was too corky, stiff and felt dead to ride. I have identical Stretch 601 quads, one from Surftech and an EPS epoxy one from Stretch in the States and the EPS epoxy one is significantly better to ride. The best way I can explain the deference is you just felt more connected to the EPS board where as the tuflite one you always felt you were riding on it (If that makes sense!)
Since the SUP thing has happened and they are now predominately molded boards coming out of the Thai Cobra factory or similar, I can’t find any review where anyone has commented on the stiffness of the construction. I imagine when it comes to SUPS’s the “corky” part is a good thing.
So a long way round of asking anyone who has ridden a similar shape SUPs in both constructions, does the custom eps epoxy feel better to ride or are they so thick it doesn’t make any difference as they don’t flex anyway?
Tks
When the early Surftech/Tufflite surf boards came out I didn't like them either. I thought that had allot to do with the method of construction that couldn't perfect a hard/sharp rail. I think this style of construction has come along way and I now have an Billy Tollhurst Tufflite longboard that is my favourite. It would be interesting to get a comparison of the rails on your 2 comparison boards. Also are the blanks the same that both boards were shaped from?
I can't answer your question about flex but I recently tried a starboard with that grippy clear coat they put on some of their boards instead of deck grip. It felt a lot more like riding a surfboard in a similar way to how you describe. That is it's a different feel, better IMO. Also takes a bit of weight off the board by not having a grip. I can see people going back to wax and maybe these spray on grips as boards get shorter. Dogman is onto it already by the sounds of his posts.
Thank you for your feedback.
Really good point on the deck pad.
I pretty much learnt on a Jimmy Lewis Mano 904 and at 75 kgs, I have a handle on it pretty quickly, find it very stable and am keen to go smaller.
The only other board I have tried was last weekend the SB 805 pocket rocket as I was keen to try a more round nose shape compared to the surf board shape of the Mano.
The deck grip on it was really soft and spongey and added in with maybe the width of the board made it feel totally disconnected, almost like riding an inflatable. It did not paddle anywhere near as well as the mano either, but it’s ridiculously stable for its length. Good for choppy water, but I am keeping the 904 for that and just wanted something for better days.
Tried to arrange a demo of the DC 808 but didn’t happen. So have ordered the smaller JL 90 Mano for now and when I learn a bit more will play with getting a custom done.
So many things I would like to play with in a custom design sup, drop rails like the Delta designs surf board called the space ship, cathedral nose like Murray Burton is doing on his bullets to promote early planning and ease of paddeling, flat decks and plan shapes like Dick Van Straalen is doing on his pocket rockets, rail channels like Stretch Riddell puts on all his boards. I have each of these surfboards and would love to combine it all in a custom SUP.
Next project for sure if I can find a shaper who will give it a go for me. But the 90 Mano will be here soon so will have my new toy for now! Maybe I can get it without a deck pad!
