SURFTECH
Price: $865
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SURFTECH
Surftech founder Randy French has been working with and advancing
expanded poly styrene (EPS) and epoxy technology for over thirty years.
Surftech's vision is grounded in the belief that because it is impossible
to completely replicate a shape over and over, shapers and surfers can
benefit greatly from the consistent, precise process in which Tuflite
surfboards are built.
WHAT IS TUFLITE TECHNOLOGY?
Tuflite is the actual board by Surftech. It's name explains it best:
it's a board that is tuff and light. The building process begins with a
the creation of a plug (the form that is used to make a mold for each
board), which is tediously recreated from an original shape provided by
the shaper. Then:
- An EPS blank is created, or what we like to call "blown",
in the high tolerance mold.
- A PVC sheet is heated and molded to fit around the EPS blank, void
of any seams.
- The PVC shell is pressed and laminated to the EPS blank with a layer
of fiberglass resin.
- Fin boxes and leash plug are installed and then the blank is sealed.
- The bottom, rails and deck are all hard laminated then vacuum sealed
for curing. This creates the smooth, seamless look and feel of the
final product.
- A very thin sand coat is applied to the board. Then it is sanded,
painted and polished.
Check out Surftech's Technology
page for a more in-depth production process and to read up on their latest
ground-breaking design, the virtually waterproof Techlite Core EPS
blank.
WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE A TUFLITE IN YOUR QUIVER?
Although Tuflite's "feel" different from a standard
Polyurethane (PU) blank surfboard, they are lively under your feet. Not to
mention, they're incredibly durable and will remain in great condition for
years.
HOW SHOULD YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR TUFLITE?
Just like any other surfboard, a Tuflite is not a speed bump, table,
soccer ball or dart board, so don't treat it as such. However, with their
new, waterproof Techlite blanks, you no longer have to worry about their
EPS foam sucking in water. In fact, you can almost crush your Tuflite and
keep right on surfing as long as you'd like. You shouldn't, however, keep
it locked in the car on hot days and if you do ding it good, you can get
Tuflite and epoxy repair kits at most surf shops. Check out Surftech's Repair
page for a list of dealers where you can pick up the materials you'll need
and also for directions on how to properly fix your stick.
RUSTY MODELS OFFERED BY SURFTECH:
