New Board - Radial Hairline Cracks. Worth doing anything?

[Kyrano]

Hi all,

New to this forum, but really need a bit of advice on this one even if it's just peace of mind! I've been on and off surfing for years but after a couple of years out of it due to a combination of moving further inland and my go-to board being absolutely knackered I finally decided to get a new board which (I hope) will get me right back into it while still being versatile enough to progress a bit.

So I got this 4th Chilli Bean, which I was really pleased with on arrival. Until I noticed this little patch of tiny hairline cracks in a radial pattern (presumably from a minor impact on transit). The area is about 1cm across, and doesn't catch my nail when I run across it. From what I can see it doesn't seem to be very deep, but it's surprisingly obvious to see through the translucency of the glass from as far back as a few maters, due to the way it catches the light. So it's not just surface scuffs.

SO, my question is what should I do? Is it worth titting about waiting for an exchange which could be weeks ( I bought online due to no local shops + lockdown ) , or should I buy some repair resin for it? Or is it not even worth worrying about?

I don't care about the aesthetic as it's going to be covered in wax anyway, so if it's only an aesthetic issue then that solves my problem. My worry was will it damage the integrity of the board? with it being on the lower half of the deck it will be taking my body weight and foot position, therefore is it likely that the cracks will grow and be more likely to dimple with pressure marks than normal?

I'm hoping I'm just getting paranoid here - lost my first board to waterlogging about ten years ago and the nightmares of emerging from the surf with a snapped board never cease!

[Kyrano]

Bit more of a sense of scale on this one

[Lebowski]

Not even worth worrying about in my opinion

[waikikikichan]

1) bummers it happened to a new board in shipping, but you probably get way worse scuffs, spider cracks and pressures on your first go out.

2) “trying” to repair the area will weaken the area more then just leaving it. If you’re worried about water getting in, get a good sticker/decal and cover the area before your first wax up.

3) You should have got a molded/epoxy board,then you wouldn’t have to worry about those minor cracks.

[Kyrano]

Thanks for the feedback. First PU board that I've bought new, only other one of that construction I've had before had a fair few years on it already - and the scars to show it.

I did put in a request for an exchange with the shop, but if it's something I'm likely to see pop up regularly anyway then I'll just cancel and get the board in the water sooner. Waikikikichan, just going off your second point, do you think it likely that it's the kind of damage that water will eventually get in through and does it look like it will get bigger through pressure of my bodyweight?

[dtc]

I don’t think most surfers would notice it. If you were worried I guess you could brush on a thin layer of resin, or just go hard with the wax bar.

The resin won’t look great and might be a little lump against the rest of the deck (you will have to be careful in sanding do you don’t sand away the good parts of the board) but if it’s covered up then no real issue

[waikikikichan]

I did put in a request for an exchange with the shop, but if it's something I'm likely to see pop up regularly anyway then I'll just cancel and get the board in the water sooner.

I would just let it go, especially since it on the deck. But maybe let the shop know that it arrive "damaged", so they might credit you something at least for a future purchase from them.

do you think it likely that it's the kind of damage that water will eventually get in through

In the realm of Physics I guess it possible compared to the area around it. But what can you do about it ?

does it look like it will get bigger through pressure of my bodyweight?

In the realm of Physics I guess that's also possible. But again, when that kook drops in on you and puts a fin thru your rail, that tiny little crack under the glass, will probably be forgotten. ( or you miss your off the lip and the rail goes into your shins, or you drop your board at the showers or ........ )

A surfboard is a just a tool. Sure we want to keep our hammer looking nice and shiny. But sooner or later it's gonna get scuffed up.

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Put the fins on, install the leash, wax up and go surf.