What is better and more ommon, epoxy or PU?

Question

What is better and more ommon, epoxy or PU?

Answer 1

epoxy

Answer 2

If I had a nickel...

Ever since the end of Clark Foam in 2005, the surf market has been flooded with new technology, and its not just epoxy and PU anymore.To break it down:

P/U: 70%

Epoxy (Individually shaped, EPS or XTR constrution) 6%

Sandwhich Molded (aka Surftech, Placebo, NSP) 22%

High-End Composite (Firewire, Aviso, TL2) 2%

Clark Foam pretty much provided 90% (I'm guessing) of all PU blanks. No one company can match Clark's (rumored) 1000 blanks a day, and most shapers are buying from at least two different shapers. Don't get me wrong, there's no shortage of foam, just not a supreme king company like Clark. PU boards, in my opinion, have better flex than epoxy boards, though they are a lot less durable. You'll get a lot more pressure dents and dings with a PU than an epoxy. Rely on your PU, use your epoxy for fun.

But with Clark's closing, there's probably been about a ten percent increase in all other technologies. Most increased would be sandwhich molded, where the market has always been reliable just not big enough, until late 2005. These boards, like Tuflite etc, are reliable and durable, and therefore their long life makes them popular among beginners, and some are priced accordingly.

Epoxy is tricky. A lot of surfers are reluctant to switch from PU to epoxy (EPS, XTR), even with Preisendorfer pushing 40% in his EPS production, and others like ...Lost and Channel Islands making a big switch. In addition, the majority of epoxy boards post-Clark have been custom orders, there's just not a huge market out for it. In general, epoxy boards are stiffer (absence of a stringer) and more durable. Also, a bunch have Future Fins, which allow for less flex in the tail.

High-End composites such as Firewire, etc, are pretty expensive, and with Soloman gone, Firewire, Aviso, and TL2 are fighting to be top. At least in the US. Australian imports like DHD, JS and Chilli are a cheaper alternative. I don't know much about how they ride though.

So while the majority of boards are still PU, theres new technology out there and things are going to get exciting the next decade or so with what can be done with a surfboard. You have Jordy and Slater redifining what you can do ON a board, and Rusty redifining the board.

As a side note about Clark Foam. Gordon Clark, founder, apparently shut down claiming there was too much hassle from gov. agencies, like the EPA and AEHS, of which there was some stuff pending but nothing in the works yet.

And in response to epoxy being more environmentally friendly (hollywood), haha hardly. Even boards with hemp cloth, etc by companies like Green Light Surf Supply, which is probably the most "environmentally friendly" board out there, are not that great. Because what it comes down to is that the boards are not just going to biodegrade, and thats what will make the board better for the environment. Go ahead, bury your epoxy board in the ground, and in a couple hundred years, it'll still be there, it ain't going anywhere.

Answer 3

Epoxy is lighter and stronger and more environmentally friendly. The fact that it is less hazardous to the environment is the best reason to use it.  But in terms of performance, most won't even know the difference. I have both and prefer my epoxy boards.

Answer 4

pu is still the choice of most pros

Answer 5

Epoxy is my favorite, and most pros do not choose PU, pro boards vary greatly.  The more common board is probobly an epoxy, epoxy is very light, durable, looks good, doesn't fade, will last for about 7 years.