Does anybody know what companies glass for channel islands?? I know that moonlight does some glassing for them... but thats only a fraction of the boards.... furthermore, is there any way to tell where a board has been glassed, besides a simple company logo on the tail? I'm asking cause im waiting for my custom to come in, and my curiosity is growing about its glass job...
A lot of CI boards are glassed at Northwind Glassing. There's a third shop that also does glassing for them but I forget the name. Northwind does a good job. In fact, Brian Wynn used to glass there. Outstanding Jersey shaper/glasser, if you've never heard of him. The only thing I would be worried about with the Merricks is that the UL (ultra light) glassed boards ding easily. I know. I've become an expert at ding repair because of my UL Flyer.
Did you specify how you wanted it glassed? I wudn't spend the bucks for a custom CI and not have them use S cloth.
"The Lab" and "Global Glassing" also glass for Merrick as do others. I've not seen a bad glass job from any of them. You can get your board glassed anyway you want when ordering a custom. The UL's are exactly that "ultra Light" they are not entended to be strong, they are entended to be light and high performance. I usually order mine with a 6 & 4 on top and a 4 on the bottom. They hold up very well. My kids all prefer the UL's and I fix them all the time, but they are the highest performance. For the average surfer I would not recommend the UL's only because they are not as durable as a slightly heavier glass job and those boards ain't cheep. If your board doesn't have a UL label it is probably a 6/4 top & 4 bottom which will hold up as well as any PU board on the market. If you want a really strong board try the Volan "S" glass, I believe it is a 7oz weight.
Global Glassing was the other one I was thinking of. Don't recall hearing about The Lab. I really do like the feel of my UL Flyer, but it's just too frustrating how easily it dings. I can't justify them for myself and probably wouldn't buy another CI in UL. Chances are if you ordered through a shop they usually have a convention by which they order all their custom boards. Just ask at the shop. Most order 6/4 top and 4 bottom. If you ordered direct then they should have asked when taking the order.
I have a Merrick V thats really old, it was global glassing and i was never particularly happy with the glass. That being said i have 2 boards from Lost that have been my go to boards this winter, and the Merrick V was infinity better than those, you might as well have just wrapped them in saran wrap for how easily they get pressure dents. So anyway.... i wasn't really thinking about glass for whatever reason when i ordered it, and it is going to be an all out performance board for the best days, its a 6'1'' MBM2, real rockered out and thinned down, so im guessing it will probably be from UL ?? i ordered from Chauncey's, and they didn't ask me what kinda glass i wanted, i'll shoot them an email and see if they do have a standard like you said, Thanks everybody! Also... i have a black beauty from Bob Haakkenson Glassing, and its super tough, ive had it for 2 years and never dinged it : )...... even put holes in other ppl's boards with it by accident a few times.... probably alot thicker glass than ur average pro board tho, it definatly feels it compared w/ the ...Lost
i had a flyer and it broke the first day i surfed it. board rocked but i could just about put my fingers through it. unless you do mondo airs, u should use 6 on the bottom and s on top with 4 on the deck patches. it will hold up a lot longer...esp on the custom shapes!
