Basher said..
Notes on windsurf boards.

1) We can have light boards which are well made, and I've had several from the Cobra factory, and under many different brands. The one board I had a warranty claim on was made in a different factory. I have several old boards made at the Cobra factory which are still going strong. I have three recent ones as well.

2) A good construction can be lightweight AND strong. A heavier construction can actually be weaker if the cheaper materials are used and where little sanding of excess materials occurs. A good construction takes time, in terms of labour costs. And that's why most boards are not made in rich western countries.

3) Cobra are a manufacturing institution, based in Thailand, where many laminated products including our windsurf boards are made to the brand label's specifications. - This means some breakages or other failures are down to the brand's designer's layup specifications.

4) But some people will be unlucky with that 'Friday afternoon board' where the worker absent-mindedly sanded a seam too much or else just didn't care. If that neglect then caused a failure then that should be then a warranty claim, and your first call will be to the shop or online retailer who sold you the board. If the board is more than one year old, then you won't get much help because, after one year, it's often down to wear and tear, or owner abuse.

5) We do need to talk about abuse. Some windsurfers break boards regularly. Sometimes it's the same guys, who are just heavy footed, or heavy on their gear, and the average board structure - which might work just fine for your average 70-90kgs sailor - is not built for them. My advice to you serial board breakers is to go to a custom builder for a heavy duty construction. I suspect you may still break those boards

6) Many other windsurfers are learners, and they catapult a lot, usually smashing board noses. This can be heartbreaking when it happens to a new board, but the real answer is to learn not to catapult. Harsh, I know, but true.

7) And there's maybe a third type of windsurfer, who doesn't treat his equipment well and the damage seen later could have started through careless transport and storage - or after an accident that was conveniently forgotten about, and where self blame is never acknowledged.

8 ) Am I sticking up for the Cobra factory? Yeah. Most of their products turn out just fine, are very well presented, and the world would be a worse or more expensive place without them. But, for sure, if you can get a good board from a local custom builder, then that is a great alternative too.

ADinis said..
Cobra and Kinetic made what board brands??

Kinetic
- Tabou
- Simmer

Cobra
- Starboard
- JP

??

Mark _australia said..



Secondly, almost all new boards now have the "hard" parts like tail and sharp rails moulded on with bog. Its easier.
In a custom you will have the PVC foam layer vac bagged on ALL of the board and glass etc over ALL of that. Its not easy at the borders, but we do it. Fussily. For the customer. An increasingly-seen trend is make a board with squared-off end then mould on bog for the last 10-15mm. That's why when you bang it lightly on the ground it fails.
I see this crap all the time - and Jake you have no idea what you're talking about. Come around, I'll show you.

segler said..
How about Fanatic and Exocet?

PhilUK said..




Do Kinetic make Tabou boards? I thought they use to be Cobra as well. Have they changed?

TheTank said..
In my opinion this is a non issue. Cobra sell ten thousands of boards each year. If they have a 0,5% fail rate that's 50 boards with issues for every 10.000 built.

A custom builder maybe produces 200 boards per year tops. If they have a fail rate of 0,5% that's 1 each year.

The 1 failed custom you won't hear about. The same with the 9.950 customers who have bought a Cobra board and have zero issues.

Imax1 said..


Where do you get 0.5% fail rate ? An add in a magazine ? What is a fail ? Are these fails in the first year ?
Ive seen waaaay more than 0.5% of what I would call an unacceptable fail .

Imax1 said..




Where do you get 0.5% fail rate ? An add in a magazine ? What is a fail ? Are these fails in the first year ?
Ive seen waaaay more than 0.5% of what I would call an unacceptable fail .

Sandman1221 said..
So who makes the JP MagicRides and Goya Bolts?, overall they were well made in my opinion, though the first Bolt had some pin holes on the edges and cutouts that were not a smooth curve on the vertical (a little wavey), but Goya got me a replacement right away and it was perfect!

gavnwend said..
RIP the cobra factory, l read enough going custom for my next slalom board.Oz customs, when l need you mark l send you my details.

Faff said..



DIY
www.alaljojo.com/diy-kit

gavnwend said..


Thanks Faff, l bookmark your details,

Shifu said..




I've had a number of exocets. Some have broken at a young age and some have been very durable. I sail in rough open water conditions. They're probably only average. I guess I buy them because of their sailing characteristics, not because they are better quality.

Imax1 said..
To be fair I have owned many Cobra made boards and all have been made well . Saying that they have all been well over 10 years old .
All the problems I'm seeing is in later models . Not just flimsy construction but dodgy construction .
I believe the life expectancy of a new board has dramatically gone down .
Some people accept that a board should only last a couple years .
I personally like seeing a sun drenched dinged and scratched 10 year old board that is still going strong . I don't think Cobra are making those anymore .

Surely I would be let down if it was my board that failed. But before I would start complaining about a 2018 product I would first contact the shop I bought my product and see if we could work things out if my usage of the product was within reasonable terms.