Starboard DRAM Vs. Technora

mamero · Joined: 25 Aug 2013 Posts: 380 Location: Vancouver, Canada

Is there a difference between Starboard's older DRAM construction versus the newer Technora that replaced it? If so, could someone kindly explain the differences and advantages/disadvantages?

Thanks in advance for explaining!

U2U2U2 · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2016 6:26 pm Post subject:

Starboard does disclose details, well some details on construction, more than others.
They have a past or archive site that you can go to.
Starboard also have a forum where you can ask the experts..so to speak about the construction.. Answers .. May be factual. May not be.

The precise construction is propritarity , and perhaps you have some agenda that it's necessary to digest the public version..
The real world one is probably not disclosed.

FWIW THIS my opinion does not apply alone to starboard, they do have some help in this area.

Bottom line from me is does it really matter

mamero · Joined: 25 Aug 2013 Posts: 380 Location: Vancouver, Canada

wynsurfer · Joined: 24 Aug 2007 Posts: 940

http://2007.star-board.com/viewpage.php?page_id=16 This is from 2007. Just go to the archive at the bottom of the windsurfing page at star-board.com and click on model year they explain all the construction methods and materials in great detail. I have Starboard, Tabou, and JP-Australia boards. Starboard seems to be the most rugged. My JP FSW dings rather easily.http://2002.star-board.com/tech.asp This is from 2002

bamer · Joined: 16 Nov 2016 Posts: 98

The differences between the constructions are likely small and not worth worrying about.

Foam difference: Airex which is the 'A' in DRAM is a bit more resilient to crushing and has better memory than Divinycell (the PVC foam they are likely using in the newer construction). Dents in Airex can often be fully or partially removed with the careful use of a hairdryer. Some builders will use blended skins putting the Airex in high traffic areas and Divinycell everywhere else.

Fiber difference: Dyneema, which is similar to Spectra, is an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene while Technora is an aramid similar to Kevlar. Dyneema is superior in strength to weight ratio and bulk to strength ratio. The UHMWPE fabric likely bonds better to other materials when put in a laminate so there is likely less chance of delamination.

The Dyneema or Technora are used only in specific areas to spread impact and compression loads over a larger area.

The changes may have been made because of cost or availability, because in both cases a slightly inferior product was used.

Having that said, the newer boards could easily be stronger overall and/ or have a better strength to weight ratio. The cell size of the PVC core can alter the overall weight by a decent amount, with bigger cells sucking up more (heavy) resin and not contributing to strength. So if the Divinycell sucks up less resin than the Airex, it may allow for more reinforcement to be placed in the board for the same or even less weight.

The fibers are also woven into fabrics that have different properties. It could be that the Technora is available in a more desirable cloth than Dyneema for Starboard's needs. If this is the case, the more ideal weave would save weight and or allow for better adhesion between layers.

U2U2U2 · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 3:48 pm Post subject:

Some of the answers above is very good, other parts are entirely too generalized.

Without comparing the year of A board . RX 2002 for DRAM AND RX 2008 for TECHNORA, the results could be very misleading. The construction details could change from year to year, or stay the same with now a new name.

2002 DRAM ..EPS WOOD GLASS DYNEEMA

2008 TECHNORA..EPS PVC GLASS CARBON KEVLAR TECHNORA.

USING THE suggested Starboard archive site, bottom of home page, set the year, look for technology , under a drop down menu, to find the diagram which show the various constructions and materials. Roughly this shows where carbon..etc is placed, not the amount.

Who this would relate to real word useable data is beyond me.

http://www.star-board.com/2009/pages/products/technology.php

May help, or the Internet search device GOOGLE

The discussion on the strongest board , is vague, lame, some years 3 constructions were offered, one would need to compare apples to apples.
Carve 111, formula , formula, Acid, Quad, we're all mine.