Board getting ready to break in half, again!

[beaglebuddy]

Perhaps you may recall the drama of my 11'8" Windsup that cracked in half.
Well this is probably going to get me an ear full of private messages from Jingbritsen but so be it.
Exocet did come thru for me eventually and refunded all my money, the local board repair guy was able to put it back together with a couple of stringers for $200, the already heavy board became heavier but I love this board, it's so easy to sail.
So about a year or so later now after riding it a few dozen times perhaps I've noticed it's doing the same thing again, only about one foot in front of where it cracked in half before, GRRRR.
Probably right in front of the stringers that were put in.
I'm not sure if it's worth fixing if it's gonna do this again somewhere else and get even heavier. It was ridden pretty fast in the foot straps but in flat water with a big sail and fin and apparently it can't take the slapping. I think this board is a lemon, a dud, defective. Should I get it put back together, again?

[isobars]

I'd ask (if it's not obvious) whether the shop fixed it with several new layers of cloth all ending in a common straight line (the new fracture line) rather than feathered to spread the load. If so, there's probably no point in having them repair it again because it implies they don't know what they're doing.

If they fixed it right and it still broke again, there's probably no point in having them fix it again because it implies Exocet didn't know what they were doing.

Or if the board was THAT great, you COULD keep paying $200 a pop to fix it until it gets too heavy. Or you could switch board brands or repair shops.

I've "chased failures" on two boards. One was a local custom board under warranty so the repairs were free and made by the guys who built the board. Both they and I gave up on it after it became obvious they couldn't build a board that would stay together for two sessions. I virtually gave it away to a lightweight, less aggressive sailor. Maybe that's where you are now.

The other was a high-end custom well used by a wild and crazy looper. I had a premier Gorge repair guy try localized, piecemeal repairs of broken spots, to no avail. We finally had to rebuild the board to make it sound again, costing dollars, weight, and graphics. I now have more in repairs than I can sell the board for, and probably should just ride it into the ground. Maybe that's where you are now.

That, or sell it and move on. That's another option for you or me.

[beaglebuddy]

The new crack is about one foot in front of the old crack, just in front of the feathered area where the repair ended.
From the new paint and finish it looks like the repair area is about two feet long, one foot on either side of the old crack.

[pete1111]

[nw30]

Really long boards for windsurfing are inherently weaker just due to their length, the vibrations from the surface of the water are magnified. Simple physics.
I'd say get a different wind/SUP that is shorter and wider, you could get close to the same flotation but with improved maneuverability and strength.

[QueNeo]

They refunded all your money, and you're still riding it?

Did I get that right?

So, what's the problem?

[outhaul]

I think that by refunding your money Exocet implied
that the board was indeed defective. They agreed with you.
I don't think it's fair to complain about the board anymore, Exocet took care of you!
What more could you ask for?

The repair was your choice, it's totally unfair to drag Exocet into this again.
I agree with you one one thing however: It is a great board.

[beaglebuddy]

[beaglebuddy]

[beaglebuddy]

I think what Pete said about the stringer needing to go all the way thru has a lot of merit. Well for now it's back to the Starboard 198L free formula, no more gliding, it's either planing or schlogging no in between.