A friend of mine went to the factory last year for a couple of days to see car manufacturing parts (they do high end composite parts for vehicles)

He is no SUP expert, but told me he saw Naish, Fanatic and Starboard brands there. There may be more I think that are made there too.

Naish, Fanatic, Starboard, GSI ie. NSP, Coreban, Surftech, BIC, Amundson are some...Im sure there are heaps more!

Sandsy1 said...
If epoxy standups were made by hand, we would be paying double or more. Just the nature of construction costs. I've had 4 surftechs, short, long and sup and have never had any problems, great boards by great shapers and they hold their value as does the other name brands. I've got no problem that they are factory made. Sorry to the local shapers out there.

I reckon if you made a call to a local custom board maker you may get a surprise then, the last time I checked about a month ago custom sups made here where very similar in price to the popouts with the added benefit of a fit to individual reqiurements.

camo hosk said...

Sandsy1 said...
If epoxy standups were made by hand, we would be paying double or more. Just the nature of construction costs. I've had 4 surftechs, short, long and sup and have never had any problems, great boards by great shapers and they hold their value as does the other name brands. I've got no problem that they are factory made. Sorry to the local shapers out there.

I reckon if you made a call to a local custom board maker you may get a surprise then, the last time I checked about a month ago custom sups made here where very similar in price to the popouts with the added benefit of a fit to individual reqiurements.

Good point. You're right, custom designs can only come from your local shaper. I hope they can match the 'popout' prices to stay operational.

My C4 was made by Cobra

Cam Gillies said...

camo hosk said...

Sandsy1 said...
If epoxy standups were made by hand, we would be paying double or more. Just the nature of construction costs. I've had 4 surftechs, short, long and sup and have never had any problems, great boards by great shapers and they hold their value as does the other name brands. I've got no problem that they are factory made. Sorry to the local shapers out there.

I reckon if you made a call to a local custom board maker you may get a surprise then, the last time I checked about a month ago custom sups made here where very similar in price to the popouts with the added benefit of a fit to individual reqiurements.

Without getting into the whole custom verses pop out argument..... Doubt you will find a custom with the same durability as a popout, I know you are gunna get alot of bull**** artists on here saying how there custom is 2 years old and not a scratch or heel dent to be seen..... yeh right!!

who made your crappy customs cam.

you've posted similar responses before.

you could be saving someone else the same trouble you had

So who can tell us what "brand name" boards are made in China?

Mark, some sups are made like windsurfing boards and have foam sandwich lay ups but most customs don't. The only custom manufacturer that I am aware that make full foam sandwich layup is the Maui brank called quatro. There probally is another on main land USA but I cannot think of the name. Then I am unsure about the JP custom program but all in all, there are not many.

I'd like to know why where a production board is made has to be such a "secret", that is to say if it's not labeled "made in Thailand".

For example, most people seem skeptical of the quality and durability of boards made in China (yes, I count myself as one of those people).

Seems like when you ask about the origin of a production board the sales rep's programmed automatic response is "Cobra Factory" whether this is fact or not. If a customer asks, that puts the rep's guard up....so they dance around, avoid answering or just tell the customer what they think they want to hear.

For the investment we make in their product we should know what the board is made of and where it really comes from.

If I don't know how it's constructed or where it's made I'm not buying the product! Simple as that.

(Of course I might not ever really get the full truth).


If you put a product out, put your name on it....OWN IT! I do not like the game.

CMC said...

That's why the smartest local shapers have both, production versions sold globally and customs available for people that want something personal or that the produced models just do not fit.

I know one guy that is arguably the best paddler/shaper in the world that makes the best boards in Australia and already has people all around the world begging for the production versions of his shapes to arrive

you know everyone CMC so who is this best paddler that is also best shaper that lives in Oz? I didnt know that Travis, Kelly or Jamie shaped boards??? But then would you put them above Danny as a paddler.....hmmm Im confused

AkeG said...
I'd like to know why where a production board is made has to be such a "secret", that is to say if it's not labeled "made in Thailand".

For example, most people seem skeptical of the quality and durability of boards made in China (yes, I count myself as one of those people).

Seems like when you ask about the origin of a production board the sales rep's programmed automatic response is "Cobra Factory" whether this is fact or not. If a customer asks, that puts the rep's guard up....so they dance around, avoid answering or just tell the customer what they think they want to hear.

For the investment we make in their product we should know what the board is made of and where it really comes from.

If I don't know how it's constructed or where it's made I'm not buying the product! Simple as that.

(Of course I might not ever really get the full truth).


If you put a product out, put your name on it....OWN IT! I do not like the game.

Both my Naish Javelin and wife's Fanatic had "Made in Thailand" stickers on them....don't know about the other brands though.

my golding sup was hand shaped in a shed in tassie
more backyard shapers giving it a go like matt are needed

AkeG said...
I'd like to know why where a production board is made has to be such a "secret", that is to say if it's not labeled "made in Thailand".

For example, most people seem skeptical of the quality and durability of boards made in China (yes, I count myself as one of those people).

Seems like when you ask about the origin of a production board the sales rep's programmed automatic response is "Cobra Factory" whether this is fact or not. If a customer asks, that puts the rep's guard up....so they dance around, avoid answering or just tell the customer what they think they want to hear.

For the investment we make in their product we should know what the board is made of and where it really comes from.

If I don't know how it's constructed or where it's made I'm not buying the product! Simple as that.

(Of course I might not ever really get the full truth).


If you put a product out, put your name on it....OWN IT! I do not like the game.

I asked the question as to what "high end" SUPS were made in China and no one wanted to answer it. I've done my own research and this is what I have found (please correct me if I'm wrong)
PSH
LSD
SImon Anderson
C4 waterman
Starboard???

As I said please tell me if I'm wrong, and please add to this list.

Pretty sure Starboard sup's made in Thailand @ Cobra factory. Have owned a few and they are as tough n' durable as they come.


Also have Fanatic sup's (made in Thailand) equally as well-built as Starboard IMO ... tough as nails.


Am curious about the JP Australia boards country of origin....


Owned and operated by Neil Pryde whose big factory is based in Hong Kong but with another in Thailand. Am quite interested in their boards, look like well-thought out designs.

Maybe it's like Naish, whose bamboo-decked boards are apparently made in China and the others AST construction in Thailand.

Who knows who or what to believe? If you're proud of your product made in China (like Suplove seems to be) just come out and be honest about where it's from and how it's built.


Just want a good product, don't care as much about cost I will (and have) paid plenty for a quality build.

Cam Gillies said...

camo hosk said...

Sandsy1 said...
If epoxy standups were made by hand, we would be paying double or more. Just the nature of construction costs. I've had 4 surftechs, short, long and sup and have never had any problems, great boards by great shapers and they hold their value as does the other name brands. I've got no problem that they are factory made. Sorry to the local shapers out there.

I reckon if you made a call to a local custom board maker you may get a surprise then, the last time I checked about a month ago custom sups made here where very similar in price to the popouts with the added benefit of a fit to individual reqiurements.

Without getting into the whole custom verses pop out argument..... Doubt you will find a custom with the same durability as a popout, I know you are gunna get alot of bull**** artists on here saying how there custom is 2 years old and not a scratch or heel dent to be seen..... yeh right!!

There is no way a custom board is as durable as ay production board! Sure one may last for a couple of years and still look great. However if a production is treaded the same a custom...the production will outlast it any day!