If you would like to be a good surfer, always choosing the perfect surfboard will take you in the right direction. When you are getting confused about taking fiberglass or epoxy, you should know about the similarity and differences. How to tell the difference between epoxy and fiberglass surfboards?
The difference is fiberglass resin is made from the combination of organic acids and alcohols, while epoxy resins are made from a reaction between bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin. But the easiest way is you can look for any stickers that tell about surfboard type or material.
If you would like to know more about the difference between epoxy and fiberglass, keep continuing without skipping!
What Does An Epoxy Surfboard Look Like?
Epoxy surfboards are made with a type of expanded polystyrene foam blank or EPS foam. The foam is first expanded with steam and then fused to make an open-cell foam.
It is useful to give you high amounts of buoyancy. However, it is lightweight as well. It is a good combination of having both that is rare. When you see the features on a board, you will instantly know that it is an epoxy surfboard.
How Do I Know If My Surfboard Is Epoxy?
To be sure whether your surfboard is epoxy or not, you need to know about the features. If your board is epoxy, it should have the logo. Most manufacturers advertise epoxy boards with their logos on them.
So, it will be easier for you to identify whether it is an epoxy board or not. Make sure you read the details before buying them. If the logo is on the product, this means the board is an epoxy board.
Are Epoxy Surfboards Stronger?
Epoxy surfboards are stronger than fiberglass. It is stronger than the resin or polyester resin used on the surfboards. These are durable and last longer than fiberglass boards. So, it will be a good choice for beginner surfers and those who are prone to dings. Another reason is that PU-based surfboards probably do not float better. Epoxy ones are stronger, lighter weight, and environmentally friendly.
Why Choose an Epoxy Surfboard for Beginners?
The Epoxy surfboard has polystyrene foam blanks. It is coated with an epoxy resin. That’s the reason it is named epoxy. You will be glad to know that this material is three times lighter than polyurethane surfboards. It is a better option if you want an eco-friendly board.
It also becomes good for beginners. People prefer to have an epoxy surfboard because epoxy ones are lighter and easier to use. It also floats better than a fiberglass board. Epoxy boards are made from EPS blank. These are polystyrene foam. If you are a beginner surfer, Epoxy surfboards are the better choice for you.
Recommended Epoxy Surfboard for Beginners
There are a bunch of epoxy surfboards that you need to check. If you want to get a better epoxy board for yourself, you should check the features and what makes them better. You need to know all about epoxy. Check out the list of some of the hand-shaped epoxy boards to choose the best from it.
The Pros And Cons of Epoxy Surfboards
If you are planning to buy an epoxy surfboard, you should be aware of both its pros and cons. Let’s see the details to choose better epoxy surfboards.
Are Fiberglass Surfboards Good?
Fiberglass surfboard is made with polyurethane blanks. This material is used for making a lot of products like yoga mats, skateboard wheels, tires, and more. It is used to coat fiberglass.
If you want to know the background story of a fiberglass surfboard, it is also known as PU or polyurethane foam. It has been in the market for over 50 years. These are considered the traditional surfboard. These traditional fiberglass surfboards are made from a polyurethane core. That’s the reason it is named fiberglass.
Best Fiberglass Surfboard for Beginners
If you are looking for the best surfboards for beginners, you can go with epoxy surfboards. There are also some fiberglass surfboards as well for beginner surfers. Let’s check the list of fiberglass boards for beginners to know better.
This surfboard has better flex in the waves than an epoxy surfboard. If you want better performance, a fiberglass surfboard is better for sure.
The Pros And Cons of Fiberglass Surfboards
Talking about fiberglass boards, you need to learn a lot about them. Let’s see the pros and cons of knowing more about a fiberglass board.
Epoxy vs Fiberglass Surfboard: Which One is for You?
You have already known about the features of epoxy vs foam surfboards. It will help you to figure out which one is better for you. Both epoxy and fiberglass are better. If you are a beginner surfer, your epoxy one is better for you.
On the other hand, for experienced surfers who want better features, fiberglass ones are better. All you need is to figure out your comfort. It should fit your personal preference. But the resin from which the epoxy boards are made is 35% stronger than fiberglass material. Moreover, if you want to make easy paddling, the epoxy board is a wonderful choice for you. It helps you catch the wave more easily than a fiberglass surfboard.
Both epoxy and fiberglass are good. You can find both in the surf shop. They have their pros and cons. But when you are a new surfer, an epoxy surfboard can be a good choice for you rather than taking fiberglass. If you are a professional surfer who can surf in perfect waves, you can take a fiberglass board if it’s going to your personal taste.
Can I Use Epoxy Resin on a Polyester Surfboard?
You can find two types of constructions of an epoxy board. One is a traditional polyester resin and the other is epoxy. It’s important to know the difference. You should remember that the polystyrene core of an epoxy board and polyester resin should not mix. If it is mixed, the polyester resin will eat away at the polystyrene core. In this case, you need to find out the best resin for surfboard repair.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you repair fiberglass with epoxy?
Epoxy is a great adhesive to repair several things. It is also useful for fiberglass. You can use it to repair fiberglass as well. It can create a resilient bond to cure the damages and repair them effectively.
How do you know if your surfboard is waterlogged?
If you see that the foam of the surfboard becomes yellow or brown spots are appearing then there is a possibility of waterlogging. You should repair it as soon as possible otherwise it will be so damaged that you cannot even use it.
Do epoxy surfboards float better?
Surfboards started to float better when it’s lightweight and in good shape. The epoxy surfboard is a lightweight board that floats better in waves. Not just that, it is easier to paddle and catch waves as well.
Do epoxy surfboards yellow?
Yes, epoxy surfboards can turn yellow. It doesn’t look as white as it was before. So, what you need to do is cure it. Maintain taking care of epoxy boards and you will get better results.
Do pro surfers use epoxy boards?
Epoxy boards are more suitable for beginner surfers. However, some advanced surfers also use epoxy boards. The reason is it is easy to handle and lightweight. If you want a lightweight surfboard, an epoxy board is suitable for you to use.
Is my board PU or epoxy?
To know whether your board is PU or epoxy, you need to sand the ding a little. After that give a sniff test. If it smells like some chemical then it’s PU. And if it doesn’t smell much then it’s epoxy.
Wrap Up
Now that you know almost all about epoxy and fiberglass surfboards, you can use the information to get the better one for yourself. Both epoxy and fiberglass surfboards are equally good. You just figure out what type is your need.
Check out the details of the features before buying any one of them. And How to tell the difference between epoxy and fiberglass surfboards? You can check the features that we share with you.
If you search well, you will surely get the right one for you. Keep surfing and be sure you are enjoying it.
Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
