I have had some issues with this board. Firstly though let me say I this board is unreal fun to ride. I wouldn't go and get another brand because of this. The tail has been splitting on the rail edge. I have just taken it in for the 4th time with the same problem and they seem to have finally worked out what's going on after seeing the same model coming in with the same problem. We ther it's just the 10' 6" I don't know but it seems to be with the bamboo top board.
Also seems to be the blue model. The guys fixing it are now filling the space between the outer shell and the core to make it solid around to the fin boxes. Hopefully this will be my last visit to them. I surf this board most of the time. Onshore slop, to real nice head high. Love every wave I get.

Same thing on my 10'6 blue bamboo surfer, had most the "air gap" in the tail done, Love the board but now have to check it after each outing, no issues in the last 4, may have fixed them all now. Very frustrating for such a unreal board and expensive.

Yep, the construction of them is crap - comparable to boards you would never pay over $900 full retail price..

My Laird hybrid bamboo fell apart. I feel like a total d#ck for the positive reviews I gave this board. Had I have waited a few months, I would have told people to steer clear of the Lairds. Never thought Laird would be a carpet-bagger, but the quality of his boards is disgusting!

Say what you want about this post. Start trashing me and I will post comprehensive photos of what is left of my Laird!!!!!!

Maybe Laird suffered from being so late to the party wrt builiding in China? I guess most brands have now had time to sort out the bad factories from the good ones, and newcomers get the crappy ones...

Only speculation there, but if true, could be quite irconic for the sport pionneer...

PS: Seems he changed factories and even country... www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/Review/LAIRD-EPS-Surfers/?page=7

Yep. Bought a Laird Firefish in glass - not bamboo not blue! More fragile and generally horrible than disposable contest prone boards from a long long time ago! Returned it to Team Amazonia after one week. Adios!

my big issue is Lard is walking away from the borads they provided which are not really fit for purpose

Wow. More negativity than I expected. What a shame. When you probably make a lot of money from such a good shaper and designer. Why wouldn't you make a little less but still a shot load and get the boards made properly.ill keep this one but will be searching for another brand for my next long board sup. Any suggestions welcome.

Too be honest I see so many people ripping here in Perth on Laird Surfers 10 or 10'6" they love em. Yes probably need a bit of tlc but seek out a good second hand one and you are on a winner

Yes, performance wise they are one of the best longboard type SUPs on the market. It is the inferior construction that is the issue.

Have to agree one on the best 10-6's I have seen and ridden but it is super fragile.

Same with the hydrid surfer .the fin boxes were not put in properly .ive had so many problems with the cause they just crack and leak.pity cause I really like the shape

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broadman said..
Any suggestions welcome.

Get a brand that really monitor the construction process, with the shaper often in the factory discussing with the workers, and shaping/glassing with them. Not just order boards on alibaba from generic factories. I understand Sunova, Starboard, Jimmy Lewis take a lot of care in the manufacturing (as Gong does), but of course, there may be many others.

A good sign of a quality brand is the ones that are proud of their factories, and do not hesitate to show pictures of their shapers/glassers/sanders, even if they are asian. Avoid the ones that try to hide where/how they are made.

Have a Laird 10'6" * 32" surfer - ride it as a quad fin ( the ones that came with the board ) - absolutely brilliant in waves from ankle high to shoulder height
Tough as - run onto rocks, fallen off roof racks, no problems - did drive into the carport and crunched a finbox - but we have a great local board manufacturer who can and does fix any thing
Steve

Stehar, buy yourself a lottery ticket

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colas said..

broadman said..
Any suggestions welcome.

Get a brand that really monitor the construction process, with the shaper often in the factory discussing with the workers, and shaping/glassing with them. Not just order boards on alibaba from generic factories. I understand Sunova, Starboard, Jimmy Lewis take a lot of care in the manufacturing (as Gong does), but of course, there may be many others.

A good sign of a quality brand is the ones that are proud of their factories, and do not hesitate to show pictures of their shapers/glassers/sanders, even if they are asian. Avoid the ones that try to hide where/how they are made.

Have a look at Bert! Each board get the proper ingredients....
Oh and at least you don't get thirsty as opposed to "water"-sanding.

Tino

I'll drink to that!

I had one for about a year and had no issues with construction. Luck of the draw I guess. It's by far the best performing longboard sup I've ridden!! And I've ridden most. I only sold it cos I needed cash at the time. I'd gladly own another but in getting a custom 10'6" shaped as we speak. Super frothing!!!

I'll never buy a board with bamboo construction again, or any kind of wood really. Mine have all delaminated. Every one. Favorite was an F-one Anakao, that was a sick board and I wish it was still in my quiver. Had a good handful of wood construction Starboard sailboards (acid, evo, quad) and they all fell apart. I personally don't think wood belongs in our SUP's/Sailboards/Kiteboards. Just my experience.

Gotta throw in there that yes, the Sunova's really do look solid. Much different than the pop out bamboo boards.

I've got two surf tech Lairds 10'6 and 11 and they're as tough as nails . Hoping they get their construction issues sorted because when the boards I have die I'd get another .

I have just seen yesterday my first Laird Serrator carbon (a 8'10") on my spot, and it seemed like a decent shape, well balanced but with a huge nose rocker. The metal paint (silver) is classy. But is it worth more than twice the price of my full-carbon, PVC sandwich deck SUP?

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Zeusman said..
I had one for about a year and had no issues with construction. Luck of the draw I guess. It's by far the best performing longboard sup I've ridden!! And I've ridden most. I only sold it cos I needed cash at the time. I'd gladly own another but in getting a custom 10'6" shaped as we speak. Super frothing!!!

I second that, don't bother with rest & stick with the best longboard shape on the market!

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fester said...

Zeusman said..
I had one for about a year and had no issues with construction. Luck of the draw I guess. It's by far the best performing longboard sup I've ridden!! And I've ridden most. I only sold it cos I needed cash at the time. I'd gladly own another but in getting a custom 10'6" shaped as we speak. Super frothing!!!

I second that, don't bother with rest & stick with the best longboard shape on the market!

Totally!!! I actually had the chance to ride it back to back with a 10'6" Nalu that a mate owns. We basically had 4 waves on each board, swapping every 4 waves. All through the session he was shaking his head saying he couldn't believe how much better the Laird surfed. We both agreed that it had more drive, turned better and more precisely from the tail, nose riding was easier and was generally more fun to ride.