Sorry in advance if this question has been asked (cant get the search function to work for some reason) but has anyone got any first hand experience (a) with the black box 2 as a daily driver and (b) with the new JS hyfi technology ? There doesn't seem to be much that I can find on the net beside the JS blurb

Not personally - but my mate has one and he is very happy with it. It's become his go-to board... he has not made any comment on the construction - but I don't see any deck depressions on it.

I have a Black Box 2, for small wave use. My go to as Perth doesn't get big enough to warrant a step up. Good board - takes a bit of getting used to if you rode a different shape before you get one. But it's a sweet ride once you've learned how to get the most of it. Mine has deck depressions. Pretty normal with boards these days though.

Ta Sparki,
Is yours PU or the new HYFI ?
I've pretty well sold myself on the board design just don't know a lot about the construction. Its just that the tight a$re in me cringes when you fork out a gorilla for board to last a year or less. Love the Firewire FST construction if only for its durability

I've got no idea about the construction. I only buy second hand so I tend to not be so fussy about things like that. I just get fibreglass and go surf. If you're not a dick to your board (not leaving in the sun or putting it under the guillotine) and it's well made it should last a while and do your spend some justice, regardless of the new tech they're putting into it.

I have the 5'11" blackbox 2 hifi which I picked up just before Christmas. Super light and floaty so beware not to over volume. Speaking of volumes if you check the volume on both the standard construction and Hifi in the same dimensions you will see there is less stated in the Hifi. They have refining the rails a little more on the HIFI to loose that corkyness you get in the EPS core boards. I love mine and have surfed it in everything from 1 foot dribble at Surfbeach to solid 4 foot down the coast and Nusa Dua at 4 to 5 foot. A bit sketchy in the bigger stuff but with a set of the big MF fins managed even though the board is not really designed for it. Strength wise it's still in one piece and it has been surfed pretty hard. I have heard of one creasing but apparently after inspection from JS it was going to get replaced due to it being faulty. The deck is not so good on mine. It started compressing under my feet from the first surf and continued to for the first couple of months but appears to have stopped now and not getting any worse. I guess I'm pretty hard on my boards and after 6 months use it's still in good nick apart from the deck. They have an amazing amount of pop and the harder you push the more it responds so if you want a fast and fun allrounder for Perth based type crud and better waves up to 4 foot it's a pretty good option. If this one disappeared I wouldn't hesitate to buy another.

I have a Blackbox2 that I bought in late 2014. To be honest the board's okay but I wouldn't say its great.

The glass is really light and doesn't take much to get a fracture. I've had it repaired 2 times professionally (1 from an airline ding, another someone dropped in on me) and the next time i fixed the tail myself. Deck compressions everywhere.

Having said that I reckon I bought mine a bit too small. I'm 6"4 and I got a 6"0 - so i struggle sometimes with my feet placement. The guy in star surf reckoned i could go shorter at 5'11.

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lfc said...
I have a Blackbox2 that I bought in late 2014. To be honest the board's okay but I wouldn't say its great.

The glass is really light and doesn't take much to get a fracture. I've had it repaired 2 times professionally (1 from an airline ding, another someone dropped in on me) and the next time i fixed the tail myself. Deck compressions everywhere.

Having said that I reckon I bought mine a bit too small. I'm 6"4 and I got a 6"0 - so i struggle sometimes with my feet placement. The guy in star surf reckoned i could go shorter at 5'11.

That guys a fool. I just looked at the webpage and if I was you (I'm 6'2" and 90kgs) I would have started at the 6'3" and certainly considered bigger.

But what do I know?

Get a 6' twin fin and be done with this whole "good boards for Perth thing".

Bit harsh. If I was you (same height) I'd look at the 5'9" to 5'11". Not everyone's the same.

Do they still only put one layer of glass on the deck?

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Legion said...
Bit harsh. If I was you (same height) I'd look at the 5'9" to 5'11". Not everyone's the same.

Nope - and I reckon the vast majority of recreational surfers are under volumed because:

A) they are not fit enough for the volume they are riding,
B) poor advice from the industry,
C) they don't know what would actually help them - they get what they want, not what they need).

Volume definitely isn't everything, but it pretty much helps in a grovel board, helps in a gun, and helps in a HP.

Most sales assistants - esp in Perth from what I have seen - assume everyone is a semi-pro fit ripper.

If you reckon 27-30 litres is working for you in a grovellor then great. But sales people shouldn't steer people towards poorly fitting boards.

Anyway, my real advice is always go to a shaper, tell them what you want, what you like and dislike about your present board, then shut your mouth and let them figure out what you need.

Oh yeah 6X4x6 minimum for glass.

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bene313 said..
Do they still only put one layer of glass on the deck?

I've got a newish Monster3 and the glass on the deck is very strong, only very small heel dents.

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thedrip said...

Legion said...
Bit harsh. If I was you (same height) I'd look at the 5'9" to 5'11". Not everyone's the same.

Nope - and I reckon the vast majority of recreational surfers are under volumed because:

A) they are not fit enough for the volume they are riding,
B) poor advice from the industry,
C) they don't know what would actually help them - they get what they want, not what they need).

Volume definitely isn't everything, but it pretty much helps in a grovel board, helps in a gun, and helps in a HP.

Most sales assistants - esp in Perth from what I have seen - assume everyone is a semi-pro fit ripper.

If you reckon 27-30 litres is working for you in a grovellor then great. But sales people shouldn't steer people towards poorly fitting boards.

Anyway, my real advice is always go to a shaper, tell them what you want, what you like and dislike about your present board, then shut your mouth and let them figure out what you need.

Oh yeah 6X4x6 minimum for glass.

Your bang on there.. I'm 85 kg and fairly fit . Always order customs and my go to 6'2 channel bottom has 32 liters 6x4x6 glass. So many guys riding wafer thin boards or total opposite real short and fat , then wonder why they aren't getting as many waves or struggling to hold rail in anything solid. Nothing wrong with a bit of length and foam .. Just because slater rides it doesn't mean it will work for the average punter

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Soggy said...

thedrip said...

Legion said...
Bit harsh. If I was you (same height) I'd look at the 5'9" to 5'11". Not everyone's the same.

Nope - and I reckon the vast majority of recreational surfers are under volumed because:

A) they are not fit enough for the volume they are riding,
B) poor advice from the industry,
C) they don't know what would actually help them - they get what they want, not what they need).

Volume definitely isn't everything, but it pretty much helps in a grovel board, helps in a gun, and helps in a HP.

Most sales assistants - esp in Perth from what I have seen - assume everyone is a semi-pro fit ripper.

If you reckon 27-30 litres is working for you in a grovellor then great. But sales people shouldn't steer people towards poorly fitting boards.

Anyway, my real advice is always go to a shaper, tell them what you want, what you like and dislike about your present board, then shut your mouth and let them figure out what you need.

Oh yeah 6X4x6 minimum for glass.

Your bang on there.. I'm 85 kg and fairly fit . Always order customs and my go to 6'2 channel bottom has 32 liters 6x4x6 glass. So many guys riding wafer thin boards or total opposite real short and fat , then wonder why they aren't getting as many waves or struggling to hold rail in anything solid. Nothing wrong with a bit of length and foam .. Just because slater rides it doesn't mean it will work for the average punter

Ooooooo....channels....everyone should have channels.....love channels....

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thedrip said..

Soggy said...

thedrip said...

Legion said...
Bit harsh. If I was you (same height) I'd look at the 5'9" to 5'11". Not everyone's the same.

Nope - and I reckon the vast majority of recreational surfers are under volumed because:

A) they are not fit enough for the volume they are riding,
B) poor advice from the industry,
C) they don't know what would actually help them - they get what they want, not what they need).

Volume definitely isn't everything, but it pretty much helps in a grovel board, helps in a gun, and helps in a HP.

Most sales assistants - esp in Perth from what I have seen - assume everyone is a semi-pro fit ripper.

If you reckon 27-30 litres is working for you in a grovellor then great. But sales people shouldn't steer people towards poorly fitting boards.

Anyway, my real advice is always go to a shaper, tell them what you want, what you like and dislike about your present board, then shut your mouth and let them figure out what you need.

Oh yeah 6X4x6 minimum for glass.

Your bang on there.. I'm 85 kg and fairly fit . Always order customs and my go to 6'2 channel bottom has 32 liters 6x4x6 glass. So many guys riding wafer thin boards or total opposite real short and fat , then wonder why they aren't getting as many waves or struggling to hold rail in anything solid. Nothing wrong with a bit of length and foam .. Just because slater rides it doesn't mean it will work for the average punter

Ooooooo....channels....everyone should have channels.....love channels....

+1

Remarc,
Thanks heaps for your feedback. A relative of a relative who works in the industry got back to me today and pretty much repeated verbatim what you said. Cheers mate

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thedrip said...

Legion said...
Bit harsh. If I was you (same height) I'd look at the 5'9" to 5'11". Not everyone's the same.

Nope - and I reckon the vast majority of recreational surfers are under volumed because:

A) they are not fit enough for the volume they are riding,
B) poor advice from the industry,
C) they don't know what would actually help them - they get what they want, not what they need).

Volume definitely isn't everything, but it pretty much helps in a grovel board, helps in a gun, and helps in a HP.

Most sales assistants - esp in Perth from what I have seen - assume everyone is a semi-pro fit ripper.

If you reckon 27-30 litres is working for you in a grovellor then great. But sales people shouldn't steer people towards poorly fitting boards.

Anyway, my real advice is always go to a shaper, tell them what you want, what you like and dislike about your present board, then shut your mouth and let them figure out what you need.

Oh yeah 6X4x6 minimum for glass.

Agree on under volume point but I reckon there's a percentage that's over volumed too and corked to oblivion. I call it the hypto krypto effect.

The Hypto-stinking-krypto.

It has a lot to answer for. I've seen good surfers ruined by that thing, yet they love it.

I guess it is all about the feel. Dude.

Hyfi tech - 2 layers on the deck, first layer next to the core/blank is a "Direct size" Eglass/innegra hybrid that is put on a 45 degree angle. Direct size Eglass is 20-30% stronger than normal Eglass and is made in Australia!

Normal Eglass these days is baked at high temps to get the silicons off it before you can use it with resin - what happens if you bake glass? It melts and loses strength hence weaker glass but its made offshore (cheaper) and because its melted together, its easier for the glasser to use.

2 layers on the deck is an advancement in itself!

yep well lack of volume for me means I'll probably end up selling my black box2.

anyone surfed a ci new flyer or chili rare bird?

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lfc said...
yep well lack of volume for me means I'll probably end up selling my black box2.

anyone surfed a ci new flyer or chili rare bird?

Go get a custom. With a decent glass job.

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lfc said..
yep well lack of volume for me means I'll probably end up selling my black box2.

anyone surfed a ci new flyer or chili rare bird?

I just got a Fred Rubble CI goes good

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lfc said..
yep well lack of volume for me means I'll probably end up selling my black box2.

anyone surfed a ci new flyer or chili rare bird?

How much?

I've had a Hyfi black box 2 for nearly a year. (Disclaimer) Am mates with JS part owner. He lets me know when something goes really well... And it does. I love it. I got on it after wanting to get back on traditional boards after tomos. I have a 5'8" (the low volume one) and surf it in everything except XL conditions. I have tomos, lost mayhem, Channel Islands, Stretch, Gary McNeil and Tomos in my racks and this is my go to board. In fact it's made some of my other boards obsolete. Has foot dents and had one repair after I split rail with elbow. No matter how they dress it up, it's an epoxy. Modern epoxy are so much more refined with flex and float, design and with slater using so much of the technology, will eventually become more of the norm despite cost difference. I use Mick fanning mediums. I'm 75 kg. The (fuller) outline is not what I would ordinarily ride but it really works well on rail and down the line speed. I've had some great hollow waves on it. I would buy this board again in an instant if it snapped. Tip. Don't go with too much volume in epoxy. I was going for the high volume 5'9" and was 'told' to get the low volume 5'8" and it's perfect for me. Paddles well to. I have the newest monster 6 in a gun and don't rate it as well as the Hyfi.

I think a lot of people's problem with buying the big brands is not supporting local industry.
But at the same time people are limiting themselves by not trying out different materials.
My 2 cents is to dig a little deeper and see what's about.
There are some great local shapers that work on different constructions
Ever heard of Eye Symmetry surfboards
The kid makes the same stuff as the JS HYFY construction but knocks them out himself In Brookvale. Calls them magic fibre
Tom Carroll has even jumped on board.
Im sure Perth crew would rave about Katana as well.
Having said that the big brands haven't become big for making rubbish.

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TimKay said...
Having said that the big brands haven't become big for making rubbish.

Ummm.....marketing?

Distributions?

Built in failure so they need to be replaced regularly, thus ensuring the product continues to flow?

Sponsorship of name surfers who either surf well or have cool image?

Lots of things contribute to success in the market place other than a good product.

The shapes may be okay, but a lot of the time the stock boards have really crap construction, so yes they did become big making rubbish in my books. Dimpled decks and snapped boards should be rare and infrequent, not taken as par for the course.

Then there is the whole idea of a shaper shaping what you need not what you THINK you need.

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thedrip said...

TimKay said...
Having said that the big brands haven't become big for making rubbish.

Ummm.....marketing?

Distributions?

Built in failure so they need to be replaced regularly, thus ensuring the product continues to flow?

Sponsorship of name surfers who either surf well or have cool image?

Lots of things contribute to success in the market place other than a good product.

The shapes may be okay, but a lot of the time the stock boards have really crap construction, so yes they did become big making rubbish in my books. Dimpled decks and snapped boards should be rare and infrequent, not taken as par for the course.

Then there is the whole idea of a shaper shaping what you need not what you THINK you need.

Beat me to it.....but what he said

Makes good discussion though. Beats talking about sharks
I have had big brand boards in the past
Some have worked
Others not so well.
But for me personally i like to ride a lot of boards as I enjoy riding different boards
Whether that be big brand or local I think there's gold in both

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TimKay said..
I think a lot of people's problem with buying the big brands is not supporting local industry.
But at the same time people are limiting themselves by not trying out different materials.
My 2 cents is to dig a little deeper and see what's about.
There are some great local shapers that work on different constructions
Ever heard of Eye Symmetry surfboards
The kid makes the same stuff as the JS HYFY construction but knocks them out himself In Brookvale. Calls them magic fibre
Tom Carroll has even jumped on board.
Im sure Perth crew would rave about Katana as well.
Having said that the big brands haven't become big for making rubbish.

Max From Eyesymmetry works closely with us on cloths google "Nylextra Hybrid"

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sanded said..

TimKay said..
I think a lot of people's problem with buying the big brands is not supporting local industry.
But at the same time people are limiting themselves by not trying out different materials.
My 2 cents is to dig a little deeper and see what's about.
There are some great local shapers that work on different constructions
Ever heard of Eye Symmetry surfboards
The kid makes the same stuff as the JS HYFY construction but knocks them out himself In Brookvale. Calls them magic fibre
Tom Carroll has even jumped on board.
Im sure Perth crew would rave about Katana as well.
Having said that the big brands haven't become big for making rubbish.

Max From Eyesymmetry works closely with us on cloths google "Nylextra Hybrid"

Its good to see Max doing well and making a name for himself in the surf industry
Makes a high quality product and goes the extra mile to keep surfers stoked.
If he makes it big he definitely hasn't achieved it by making rubbish.