Stand Up Paddle Boards ConstructionPosted by rosiejoy on January 3rd, 2021 The materials used to make a sup boards determine its life expectancy, performance, and price. Some of the materials that make up a sup board are fiberglass, carbon fiber, plastics, and wood. Let’s delve further into the construction of a sup board for a better and informed decision while choosing one. Paddle Board Design 3D Sup Designs Thanks to technology, most sup boards are now being designed using 3D technology the same way as surfboards. This technology allows for testing of the board’s buoyancy and performance before it is even constructed. It is also very efficient and precise. This technology allows manufacturers to:
SUP Materials Solid paddle boards are commonly made of fiberglass or wood. Inflatables Sups are made of tough PVC plastic. Most paddle boards are made of one of these materials:
Solid Paddle Boards Construction Most solid paddle boards use expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam as a core. The foam core is then covered with different materials such as PVC Veneer, epoxy materials, and fiberglass for strength and long life. The less the density of the foam core, the lighter the board. Plastic Sup Construction A plastic paddle board is rotomolded where a piece of solid Polyethylene plastic is rotated and molded into a paddle board shape. Advantages of these constructions are:
Foam Construction Foam sups boards are constructed from a foam-based EPS core. They are also called soft top paddle boards. Pros and cons are:
Fiberglass Sup Construction Fiberglass paddle boards are made of Expanded Polystyrene- core foam blank. Fiberglass SUP construction pros and cons are:
Carbon Construction Carbon paddle boards use foam cores and carbon layering. Some carbon boards have a fiberglass layer on top of the carbon fiber. Pros and cons for carbon paddle boards are:
Inflatable Paddle Construction These are made using drop stitch technology, where two layers of polyester fabric and polyester threads are stitched together. An air-tight coating is made outside the surfaces of both sides of the materials. To ensure the board is airtight, seam tape is glued over each seam. Pros and cons are:
Conclusion Knowledge of paddle board construction will greatly help choose the right sup board for your outdoor water activities. Like it? Share it!More by this author |