| What's the difference between epoxy and fiberglass | | | | buoyancy than a fiberglass board, making it easier to |
| surfboards? This can be confusing to those just | | | | paddle, float, and ultimately catch waves, making |
| starting out and thinking about buying a surfboard. To | | | | them a great choice for those surfers just starting |
| the new surfer a surfboard is a surfboard. There | | | | out. |
| may be different lengths and shapes, but it may not | | | | * Lighter. The polystyrene foam inner used in a |
| have crossed your mind that surfboards can be | | | | epoxy surfboard weighs less than the polyurethane |
| made out of different substances. | | | | inner in a traditional surfboard, making for a lighter |
| Read on to learn the difference between epoxy and | | | | weight under the arm on the way to your local |
| fiberglass surfboards. | | | | break. |
| * Fiberglass surfboards are also sometimes known as | | | | * Less prone to waterlogging. Waterlogging is a term |
| PU or polyurethane surfboards. Fiberglass surfboards | | | | used to describe the phenomena where your |
| have been around for over 50 years and are | | | | surfboard takes in water over time. The end result is |
| considered a more traditional surfboard. Fiberglass | | | | a yellow surfboard that weighs a ton, and performs |
| surfboards are made from a polyurethane inner, and | | | | like a dog. Due to the manufacturing process, |
| then wrapped in fiberglass cloth, hence the name. | | | | waterlogging is pretty much going to happen to your |
| Fiberglass surfboards can have better flex out in the | | | | fiberglass surfboard at some stage, either due to |
| waves than an epoxy surfboard, but are easier to | | | | dings and dents that let the water in, and also as |
| damage. | | | | part of the aging process of your board. Due to the |
| * Epoxy surfboards have a polystyrene foam core | | | | harder nature of an epoxy surfboard, waterlogging is |
| and are then coated with an epoxy resin. It is the | | | | much less of a problem. |
| epoxy resin which gives this type of surfboard its | | | | * Some surfers prefer the feel and performance of a |
| name. Epoxy surfboards kicked off in the 1990's, but | | | | traditional fiberglass surfboard. |
| really gained in popularity after the closure of the | | | | Conclusion. |
| Clark Foam factory in 2005, which was a huge | | | | The difference between epoxy and fiberglass |
| supplier of the polyurethane blanks for the fiberglass | | | | surfboards comes down to the various substances |
| board. | | | | involved in making them. An epoxy surfboard is made |
| Epoxy surfboards pros and cons when compared to | | | | using a polystyrene core and is then coated with an |
| a fiberglass surfboard include: | | | | epoxy resin. Fiberglass surfboards are considered to |
| * Stronger. Epoxy resin can be as much as 35% | | | | be traditional surfboards and have a polyurethane |
| stronger than the resin used on a fiberglass board. | | | | core and are then covered with the fiberglass cloth. |
| This makes an epoxy board an ideal choice for those | | | | Epoxy surfboards are newer in technology, weigh |
| who are beginners and prone to dings, kids and | | | | less, float better, and are stronger than a fiberglass |
| teenagers, those who are on and off planes in | | | | board. Epoxy surfboards feel different to a fiberglass |
| pursuit of the perfect wave, and those who surf | | | | surfboard out in the water, and eventually it will |
| near rocks. | | | | come down to personal choice as to which suits the |
| * Floats better. An epoxy surfboard has better | | | | individual best. |