I have a 2008 Quatro FSW 85 which I have enjoyed for years. From the first ride, it felt light and sailed with a crisp feeling as it clattered over the water with a light 'hollow' feeling. Very nice. Like those nice light slalom boards but obviously a wave / FSW design.

A few years later, I bought a new 2010 Quatro Rhythm 81 in the Preimum PVC lighter weight but it didn't feel as light as my previous Quatro. The quoted weight was 6.1kg so it should have been a light board but it always felt heavier both on land and whilst sailing. Just had a dull and solid feeling on the water .. not the lightweight clatter skipping over the chop.

Then I bought a 2014 JP FSW 85 Pro at 6.1kg and it has a similar feeling to the 2010 Quatro. Feels kinda dull & heavy, not a light & crisp board that clatters over the water.

Are there some obvious construction technology differences between the boards?

How can I find another board with a similar feel to the older 2008 Quatro? I am hoping there is some simple construction method that I will need to look out for in the future when buying my next board.

Hi Quatro25,

I think that 'dull' feeling has more to do with board shape rather than construction. I've noticed that FWS boards are becoming much more wave oriented these days. JP FSWs have gone through that evolution with the one I had in 2006 feeling positively freeride compared to to the current singe thruster iterations.

That said, I have a feeling that to increase durability and reduce warranty claims manufacturers have toughened up construction which has added a little weight.

Being a light weight I struggle a bit with the weight of boards made to accommodate the heaviest possible sailor under the most extreme conditions.

For 'light' winds that's 18 knots and below for me I use a 5.3m and 90L freestyle board with a free wave fin, it planes really quickly, weighs 5.5 kgs so you can throw it around and it actually quite fun in small (< 2 foot) surf. You should give one a go if you are after a light crisp feeling.

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Relapse said..
I think that 'dull' feeling has more to do with board shape rather than construction. I've noticed that FWS boards are becoming much more wave oriented these days.That said, I have a feeling that to increase durability and reduce warranty claims manufacturers have toughened up construction which has added a little weight.

I'm not sure it is only the shape ... even just picking up the board, I can feel my older Quatro has a hard egg-shell feeling, whilst the newer boards just feel heaver and not 'hollow' and light. I should really buy some decent digital scales so I can at least get a proper measurement of the weight comparison.

I definately agree with your suspicions to toughen-up the boards to reduce claims.

Nice tip with the freestyle boards ... I will look into them.

Quatro 25,

It is in the construction. The new 2014 JPS's have a different construction then previous years as also the Quatro's. I think you will fine that less carbon is used now in the wave boards from these brands and I think "S" glass has replaced the carbon. The result is a slightly heavier board but a wave board or freestryle wave board that has a bit more flex, this has come about from what the Pro's ride the top guys were happier with the flex then the jarring of the carbon. I know the JP salomn & Freestyle boards are still made with carbon to give that crisp fell. Go to the JP website they have a video on the new lay up's.

Pete.

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Pete T said..
Quatro 25,

It is in the construction. The new 2014 JPS's have a different construction then previous years as also the Quatro's. I think you will fine that less carbon is used now in the wave boards from these brands and I think "S" glass has replaced the carbon. The result is a slightly heavier board but a wave board or freestryle wave board that has a bit more flex, this has come about from what the Pro's ride the top guys were happier with the flex then the jarring of the carbon. I know the JP salomn & Freestyle boards are still made with carbon to give that crisp fell. Go to the JP website they have a video on the new lay up's.

Pete.

Agreed, anfd not just JP, others are going to use of biaxial cloths, different glass, innegra etc.
Stuff the sound and feel, how they sail and if they last are the only criteria for me

Luckily you have not been able to sell the quatro. Keep the quatro, sell the JP and bank the difference

Here is the video that was mentioned above ....



Hmm. I didn't realise S-Glass is supposedly so great!?

Different bottom shapes.

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R1DER said..

Different bottom shapes.

The board design aspect is marginal. I agree some huge double-concaves (like the old hypersonic) would have an impact on the feel of the board, but it is more the construction .. just picking up the board and knocking the board, you can hear and feel the difference ... definitely must be the S-Glass that I don't appreciate just yet.

I emailed the guys at Quatro and the 2008 construction was .... "We used a styro core, double sandwich divinycell, fiberglass, carbon, epoxy resin."

Patrik wave boards = deck and bottom = full carbon/kevlar 90-90 (black resin)
Starboard wave boards = deck: biaxial T700 carbon / Bottom: pine wood bottom
RRD LTD = deck and bottom = biaxial glass-carbon layup and wood reinforcements
JP Pro = S-Glass

So maybe the Patrik is the same? Will research some more later.

You are not seriously going to buy a board based on "the construction sounds similar" and therefore it may sound clattery over chop....?

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quatro25 said..

So maybe the Patrik is the same? Will research some more later.

I have a few Patriks. They feel pretty crisp to me. Quite different to a wood Futura for instance. In fact, crisp was what I used to describe the FSW: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/Patrik-2013-FSW-2013/

But I think the point that others are making is that bottom shape influences the feel more.

Patrick

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Mark _australia said..

You are not seriously going to buy a board based on "the construction sounds similar" and therefore it may sound clattery over chop....?

Yes, maybe ... It feels like they are much lighter but I am going to buy some cheap digital scales from eBay and check the weights first. But at this moment, the carbon boards feel lighter, stiffer, noisier, more responsive and hence more fun ... the solid boat feel of S-Glass doesn't do much for me.

I have more research to do but I am guessing S-Glass is cheaper, heavier, stronger, less warranty claims.

Over 25 years of making boards with many different materials and I still say its the bottom shape. Good luck with your quest.
Edit I have tried both the quatros but not the JP

I can take that dull 2014 jp off your hands, I have a nice, crisp clattery 2007 jp fsw you can have