Hoping you guys might be able to help me understand something I observed in my last couple sessions. Still pretty new to the shortboarding scene, and I had to chance to ride two different boards the past few days. One was a 6'2" Firewire Quadfish with 46L volume, the other was a 6'2" Lost RV 45L volume. Both with quad setups. Although I only rode each one for about 30 minutes, and was mostly paddling around, the Quadfish seemed to paddle better and have easier entry into waves. I'm curious if the epoxy/EPS technology of the Firewire would be a reason for this? I've never surfed an epoxy board before, trying to understand how/if it would perform differently as I'm looking around for a new board. Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer
They say eps, even tho same liter, adds to more float then pu. Other things can have a factor. Lower entry rocker, more volume in nose area, and width of the nose can play a role as well. Not familiar with the quad fish.
Of course the Firewire floats mo' betta. And why shouldn't it?? After all its a coffee cup styrofoam garbage product enveloped in fiberglass. Have you ever seen a styrofoam coffee cup float down a stream or river?? The entire piece is OUT of the water.......that's a Firewire, or a Coil, or a Pizel. I think soon you will be able to buy them at Starbucks.
Interesting statement Barry, I like your insight. I wonder if Jon Jon didn't ride a pixel just how popular they would be based on the coffee cup analogy?
6'2" and 45 liters? Man thats a lot of float for a shorty. I have a 6'0" that is 28.5 liters. How the hell are you getting 45?
Width and thickness, full noses and tails. So is it commonly accepted that EPS/epoxy boards have more buoyancy and therefore paddle easier?
Seems possible, would imagine it's wide and thick...maybe wide nose and tail too. I have a 5'4" fishcuit that's almost 35l. 2 3/4 thick but less then 20" wide
Nah bro they are eps not styrofoam.. Expanded Polystyrene, often referred to as EPS in short, is a rigid, closed cell foam plastic. EPS properties have a low thermal conductivity, high compressive strength, is light weight, inert, has no food value, and does not promote mold growth, making it an ideal substrate for tile and stone. Styrofoam is an extruded board which requires HCFC's to produce. A common misunderstanding about Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is that it is referred to by many people as styrofoam. Styrofoam is actually a trademark for a product that is manufactured by Dow Chemical Company.The most notable difference is that EPS does not, and never has used CFC's or HCFC's, which are harmful to the ozone layer. Styrofoam is an extruded board, whereas Expanded Polystyrene is a molded cellular block...copy and pasted all that. lol
Barry, this is the most insightful response to the forum to date. Thank you for being Barry. lol...Starbucks
But I enjoy harming the ozone layer. We get better sun tans and raise our Vitamin D with holes in the sky. And check your armpits--see the mold??
The core material would be one of the least important aspects of the OP's original question. The difference in buoyancy would be minuscule in his example. Paddling speed in this example comes down to rocker, outline and where the volume is placed.
