looking at getting a new board for the start of the new year, anyone riding katana surfboards. Whats your thoughts on them

Picked up a custom 5'9 fish a few weeks back. Only had the swell to use it a handful of times since but it's been awesome so far. Will be the go to board for summer without a doubt. It's the first board I've had from them but I know people that have been getting boards off Dave for years. I went the traditional PU style but would be keen to trial one of the epoxy boards as they look the business (similar constuction method to the firewire boards getting disucssed on another forum).

I've had two custom Katana's and both lasted 4+ years... design assistance, quality and price were all good.

Dave posts on here from time to time... pop into his shop and have a chat with him.

Dave Lewis shapes da lewy surfboards ; good boards as well.

My mistake, I deleted the post. Think I got my wires crossed.

Am picking up a new da lewy tomorrow morning, can't wait, was going to get a js but decided to use a local shaper instead. It's a 6'10" Rotto special

swalkington howz your new board, you been out?

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dreads said...

swalkington howz your new board, you been out?

Yep surfed it at gallows yesterday.....loved it best board I have had in years. Stoked I ended up going with a local shaper (Almost bought a js but glad I didn't)

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swalkington said...

. It's a 6'10" Rotto special

Does it have a gun mount on the nose

swalkington, gotta be happy with new boards, whats the crowd factor like down there, looking to head down when my i'm back in town. How much was the board

It was 840. Not cheap, but in my view people need to pay at least 800 per board to keep custom local shapers in business. The last thing I reckon we need is for all boards to come out of Thailand & the local shaper to be a thing if the past.

this is the new lewy.

geez wish i was getting that much for a pu board obviously the shop must be putting fair bit on top .

You can lead a horse to water.....

Katana, what's the price of your boards. I hear alot of talk about channels. What's your thought on them

i hand shape pu customs from $570 without fins . epoxy customs from $750 without fins ,artwork from $50, fcs fins from $25set,grips from $30,covers from $60,these are all package pricesand pickup special unlike my website prices.
hope this helps

i believe you can get the same performance from double concs and fin combos i also believe channels reduce flex in the business end of your board .however i can still do them almost every board i did in the early 80s had them.

Katana I noticed on yr website you do carbon fibre rails on your epoxies. Is this similar or the same as the fibre flex technology?

Also do you find epoxy boards can be too light and too boyant? (or do you add extra glass to increase board weight)

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smicko said...

You can lead a horse to water.....

But you cant make it float

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swalkington said...

Katana I noticed on yr website you do carbon fibre rails on your epoxies. Is this similar or the same as the fibre flex technology?

Also do you find epoxy boards can be too light and too boyant? (or do you add extra glass to increase board weight)

our epoxy boards are cross between fibre flex and firewire, very similar technology. we reduce the amount of carbon in the rail as it becomes to brittle on impact. also reduced volume to offset extra float from the eps core. and added extra glass for weight and strenght.

Katana, I take it your not a fan of the channels.

personally i think apart from the cool retro look i think as far as performance they are out dated.you will probably pay a little extra for them . you cant beat the single >double concave for speed and control in med to large surf and the deep single for small mushy surf .channels also become extra work for repairers with fin and plug replacement.