Is it possible to strengthen a Polyester surfboard

[Toj]

Hi,
my girlfriend has got a 7ft4 Elua Maui polyester surfboard with the wooden stringer down the middle. obviously these boards are very fragile, and she has only had it 8 months, but every time we check over the boards we are finding new dings and cracks and all sorts of damage! we did expect some damage with dings and cracks, but not as many as this, and new ones seem to keep appearing without us even having touched the board on something!! I have an 8ft bilbo minimal and its epoxy construction which i find much much more durable and hard wearing. i do have many compression marks in it.

my question is, is there anyway of strengthening it? can i get a pro to do a complete re resin of epoxy, or maybe polyester again and get it thicker so its less likely to keep cracking. or is it not going to make much difference! and the final question is can i use solarex on this board to repair the cracks or do i need some other form of repair kit??

Regards,
Tj

[tony g]

Hello TJ,
Yes it is possible to strengthen your board, but it will add some weight. You can take it to a glasser and have them add a layer of 2oz cloth to strengthen the board. One thing to remember is that polyester boards are typically not as strong as epoxy boards. Polyester boards do have more flex than molded epoxy boards and also are more popular because of the way they feel and the flex in the water. It should also be said that there are variations to the glass jobs you can get. Try to ask next time what the board is glassed with before you buy it. A standard glass job could be a 6 oz + 4oz deck, and a 4oz bottom. Custom boards can be glassed how ever you want. You could even ask for a double 6 oz deck and a 6 oz bottom for a more durable glass job. Most guys split the difference because they do not want the extra weight.


Good Luck!

[Toj]

Hi Tony,
thanks very much for the reply. we did pop into our favourite surfing shop in devon on the way back from our new years surf and spoke to the guy in there who said the same as you. we had it checked too for piece of mind and my girlfriend is now happy that there is no major damage to the board. she is having a bit of a dilemma. she either wants to sell the board and put the money towards a Rusty Piranha, save some money and keep the board and get the Rusty Piranha, or get the one she has now strengthened and live with the extra weight.
The main thing now is that she has piece of mind that the board isnt letting on water and that the stress marks that are on there are normal for a polyester board as they are fragile. but thanks for the reply.

Regards,

Tj

[esonscar]

" The main thing now is that she has piece of mind that the board isnt letting on water and that the stress marks that are on there are normal for a polyester board as they are fragile. but thanks for the reply. "

WAT! I have poly boards built in 1976 I ride and the only stress marks are skids on the deck from my good self ! (sorry mod, I just had to express myself).

[Toj]

Haha, well she is blonde and they are fragile. the latest ding she got was from turning around between two fence posts and clonking the tip of a board on the one and only nail that was sticking out. so out came the solarez to fill in the whole. it also doesnt help that we have to strap the board to the roof everytime we go for a surf and typically her board is on top, so the rails get the most of the pressure from the straps.

[kitesurfer]

typically her board is on top, so the rails get the most of the pressure from the straps.

Hahaha so your board is nicely protected! Good skills. If you decide you want a reinforcing layer of 2oz glass on this board i can do that for you but it will add weight and you will need another hot/sanding coat on as well. I'm down in poole so not too far from you guys.
Epoxy will not adhere to polyester so any repairs need to be done using polyester resin.

KS

[Toj]

Hi Kitesurfer, i dont think she will mind the extra bit of weight on the board if its going to be a bit thicker to withstand a few more dings. how much would your service cost with a a layer of 2oz glass? might eb interested:)

Regards,

Tj

[Jimi]

Kitey, I think you may have made a bit of a typo... epoxy will stick just fine to existing polyester resin, but if you have epoxy on your board, you must stick with epoxy for repairs.

[kitesurfer]

Kitey, I think you may have made a bit of a typo... epoxy will stick just fine to existing polyester resin,

Really i have had it delam clean off in one piece. So your saying epoxy will stick to polyester but polyester won't stick to epoxy? You may get away with it but it's never a good idea to mix the two. Also your not thinking of vinlyester which simillar in strength to epoxy but will bond to polyester?

KS

[Jimi]

If you hit the textbooks, properly prepped polyester will allow epoxy to adhere on top - BUT it must be well sanded, clean etc. Vinylester I haven't worked with much. Also polyester resin if applied on top of Epoxy is guaranteed to fall off after a while as a big sheet of delamination regardless of how well it's prepped. Something to do with persistent leaching of MEKP and the slight porosity of the polyester, which doesn't agree with the much more rigid epoxy.

That said you're right KS on the fact that you need to use the same type of resin as your board is made out of if you want hassle free repairs/modifications. I just thought I ought to clarify, as it's regularly done to repair polyester boats/yachts with epoxy resins to improve/waterproof the polyester layup and protect from osmosis.

[esonscar]

Board repairs: Made of x = repair with x ..... Made of y = repair with y

[Toj]

that is the best way of looking at it but thanks for all the advice