Need TO's input/opinions

[laserfish]

Warning, this will be kind of long. Two summers ago, we purchased an XXX Nitro surf board in July. After about 3 weekends we noticed a big bubble had formed under the front footpad. Contacted XXX and they sent a new one right out. No problem there, great service. Got to surf 3 more weekends, then the board was put into a bedroom closet for its long winter nap. Got the board out for last summer, and another bubble had formed on this one under the rear foot pad. Contacted XXX and this time they said I must have left it out in the sun and that would cause the delam. Told him no that it happened over the winter, still would not stand behind the product. He says that any brand will delam if left in the sun (keeps going back to that example), which of course mine was not. I have a hard time believing that something that is made to be used in the sun cannot be out in the sun. Does anyone else think this is true. We store ours in the rear locker and do not even put it in the rack. If other brands of surf boards cannot take the heat inside the rear locker, I will shut up and take my medicine. If that is not true, I will continue to fight this fight.
Someone give me some input. I know my Hyperlite Broadcast has never had a problem in 4 years. HELP, opinions please.

[Nobody]

Nobody has an opinion.

[racerdave]

The only thing that should cause bubbles in the gelcoat or fiberglass material itself is the footpad was applied before the gelcoat was fully cured not allowing the solvents to evaporate out. My race car has a carbon fiber body. I have had it fully engulfed in flames and no bubbles in the fiberglass or gelcoat on it. I have a phase five surfer I have kept in the rack all weekend in the same type of heat and humidity you have in TX with no issues I have a hyperlite boadcast also with no issues. Good luck.

David

[boardman74]

I don't think the sun has anything to do with it. I put a few layers of glass over the kids little hydroplane boats for durability and perfection. I don't paint them just a few extra coats of resin. They sit in the sun all summer and none of them ever bubbled. Sounds hokey to me. Sounds like some flaw in the process to me.

[SBM1234]

Could be that the wood they used was too wet resulting in a crappy bond of the fiberglass to the wood and the ability of the water to heat up, expand, and cause a bubble. If they say the sun causes it then they have obviously had more than one of their boards have the same issue.

Hope you get it worked out!

[NICKYPOO]

Never had a board delam before. I keep my boards in the races all day in 90+ temps and never once had one bubble. That list includes Hyperlite, Phase 5, Trick Boardz, Walzer and Inland Surfer. Ask Surfdad what he thinks.

[Bruizza]

My favorite saying when it comes to surfboards and boats is "If you keep them dry and out of the sun you will never have a problem with them"

I would say roughly 99% of the Ronix Carbon Thrusters that were sold last year had to be warrantied for this exact problem. Black carbon fiber top sheet that you weren't supposed to have in the sun............ Not sure about you guys buy my favorite time to use the boat is when it is warm and sunny.

So yes storing a board in the sun will cause the delam. However you didn't store yours in the sun so keep fighting the good fight.

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

Just explain to them the value of honest business practices and happy customers. Then, let them know that we (potential customers) are discussing thier response to your inquiry in a public forum that is frequented by over 15000 wakeboarding / surfing enthusiasts.

If they refuse to make good, let them know that you will inform us of their decision.

[Joeprunc]

I like the the idea above...

I've seen surfboards delam, but that's usually after years of abuse and leaving in the sun. If the second board delamed that quickly its definitely a mfg issue. Whoever glassed those boards obviously didn't do the best job (dirty glass room, old resin, too much catalyst, not putting glass down before applying the cloth). Once a board starts to delam it is very difficult to cure it, I've only been successful once (but then the board weighed more so I didn't ride it much).

I'm going to give them props for sending you out a new board the first time, but after the second one delamed, I wouldn't expect much more from the third board. In all honesty I would try what Big Daddy mentioned above, and if not cut my losses and go with another company...one that seems to be more reputable.

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

your ugly too! (oops.. I thought you asked for a "second opinion... my bad)