Still getting my head around the board options. I've focussed a lot on the production boards available (I suppose they make up the lion's share of the market, so no surprises here).

In terms of custom boards, I've looked at Carbon Art, some very loyal fans of these and they clearly perform well. Are there others I should look at? Very happy to hear from anyone who makes them as well, as long as you make it clear. A chance to spruik your wares.

I'd be interested in people's thoughts on the difference between production and custom boards. I would have thought that for the little bit of extra cost, custom boards give that bit of extra performance, but all the pros sail production boards (I think, thought maybe they are all custom specs for the sailor and just look like production).

So I suppose the real question is, are there good reasons to consider a customer board for the average recreational sailor?

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Sputnik11 said..

*snip
So I suppose the real question is, are there good reasons to consider a customer board for the average recreational sailor?

In my opinion no, the production stuff is so good these days that unless there is a specific reason I wouldn't bother, particularly slalom stuff. Wave boards are slightly different as custom stuff can better fill a niche situation and can often be cheaper. Still for 'your average recreational sailor' i'd question the value.

you did say the average sailor ...
and you mentioned the pros are using custom boards as well
perhaps even on the Luderitz Canal ??
local shaper and builder Benoit Gauthier of windspirit was selling Wind Obession boards
they made ONE last year
Benoit says the costs of making GREAT production boards and the quality are HARD to beat !!!
now if you want something REALLY special - custom
see here:
boardseekermag.com/features/a-new-kind-of-windsurf-board/?utm_campaign=newsletter_20140110&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter_boardseeker

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joe windsurf said..

you did say the average sailor ...
and you mentioned the pros are using custom boards as well
perhaps even on the Luderitz Canal ??
local shaper and builder Benoit Gauthier of windspirit was selling Wind Obession boards
they made ONE last year
Benoit says the costs of making GREAT production boards and the quality are HARD to beat !!!
now if you want something REALLY special - custom
see here:
boardseekermag.com/features/a-new-kind-of-windsurf-board/?utm_campaign=newsletter_20140110&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter_boardseeker

Well, a bit above average, have been windsurfing 30 years.

I think the pros are using production boards, not custom, but I could be wrong.

I have a 2013 production board that has no glass , it's wood construction with a layer of 2oz glass between the core , I have emailed the manufacturer asking for them to explain if this is the standard layup without any reply, im also pressing the dealer for warranty on the construction of the board , the last I heard from him was the 28th/12/2013, i'm in no hurry to get it sorted as I have other boards but I will eventually need some answers
as a rule if you buy second hand and there's dents but no repaired fractures , that's the board to get, if your after a cheap solid so fast board
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Boards/~a_a-m/2009-Carbon-Art-Casl62-250-cm-101-litres.aspx?search=MsVd7Fn$$IqZI6U2c73OtbNH9B0riX5M

I had production boards for years and only ever had one with issues which resulted in delam. It was replaced under warranty so it wasn't a big issue as I was ready to progress to a new size ride anyway, Which they were happy to do.

As for custom, I went this way because at the time there were no wave boards available over 110L. The beauty of custom is that you can talk to the guy making the board and tweak it however you want as well as getting a unique paint job that makes it one of a kind.

Are they cheaper, Well depends....What I save on construction I normally invest in crazy paint work so in the end it works out about the same.

On the construction side custom takes a while so if your in a hurry then buy production, I plan mine to be made over the winter so it's ready for the next summer but the wait is worth it as you know they've taken the time to make sure each layer is perfect before moving onto the next stage and not just pumping them out one after the other. Plus these guys want repeat business and don't want to be replacing boards under warranty so they make sure they are built properly.

If you are considering a custom then give Peter Ross a call at OES in South Australia, I was blown away with my first custom and now all my boards are custom OES. (My shameless plug)

Do you need custom? That's up to you but it's nice having something different that no body else has.

My 2 cents.

Qn for Keef - would you agree that the quality/durability of production boards is generally very poor compared to customs?

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Sputnik11 said..

Qn for Keef - would you agree that the quality/durability of production boards is generally very poor compared to customs?

no I wouldn't agree, most production boards come out of the cobra factory and they follow the instructions of the companies there building them for , if the board companies say they don't want any glass on the outer layer that's it
the last production board I modified didn't come out of the cobra factory, I think it was Italy or some place , it was a full carbon /Kevlar board and I wore out 3 router blades on the cutouts , I had too hand sand the fluffed up Kevlar to blend ,
I have a ca55 and had to put some footstrap plugs in ( i'm short 5ft6"and phill mcgain is 6ft 6") there was atleast 3 layers of carbon in that area and as solid as a brick dunny
moral to the story if you order a custom board, talk to the guy and get the plugs where you want them,if you want a bit of Kevlar in the heel area or if your heavy but don't want a wider board they will leave a bit of volume in the nose and mast track, if you don't want carbon in the impact areas you talk to the guy, in the long run it mite cost an extra few $$$$$$ but atleast you know what you have got
I payed $1,400 for a board without any glass on the outer layer , if I had have known that I wouldn't have brought it
ok it was like new , imagine how pissed I would have been if I had payed the new price $2,800

I had a shocking run out of production boards for whatever reason out of Cobra, had a great board out of Vietnam (Kinetic) and now for the last few years or more CA out on NZ, never say never but can't see me ever going back to production. Besides Carbon Art, Lockwoods Mistrals come from I believe Vietnam so also worth a thought, my 2c