So since someone decided it's fair game to complain about Severne I thought I'd throw it open to other brands too. What current product (has to be currently in production or available new from windsurfing stores i.e. 2020 or 2021) should the industry be ashamed about?
Any sail designed to be used in punishing conditions that has a fair amount of monofilm, i.e. in wave/freestyle/high wind freeride sails where it's a certainty that they'll often cop a good deal of punishment!
Long live X-ply sails!!!
Any board made 100g lighter as its (apparently) what the consumer wants and they ignore that it breaks where they removed that 100g of cloth..... cos it only has to make it past the 12mths warranty point for an average guy (30 or 40 uses....?)
But really, I can't think of any standout product that doesn't work or is weak.
Many years ago you'd see stuff that clearly would break, or just silly like my North boom I love as they're strong but the head is ridiculously unnecessarily complex with 10 parts instead of 3 or 4 .....
Closest is maybe that uni joint posted a few days ago - why use Torx that will be hard to find in the desert? Typical euro design.
The Formuline rope wears off visibly, and snapped after 6 months. Isn't that supposed to be "the best of the best"?
The outhaul rope supplied with NP carbon boom snapped after 4 months of use. This one is not the Formuline though, so OK to last 2 months less. 
Select to expand quoteObelix said..
The Formuline rope wears off visibly, and snapped after 6 months. Isn't that supposed to be "the best of the best"?
The outhaul rope supplied with NP carbon boom snapped after 4 months of use. This one is not the Formuline though, so OK to last 2 months less.
I rinse my formuline ropes every time and they are still there (working) since 300/350 sessions!
Select to expand quoteObelix said..
The Formuline rope wears off visibly, and snapped after 6 months. Isn't that supposed to be "the best of the best"?
The outhaul rope supplied with NP carbon boom snapped after 4 months of use. This one is not the Formuline though, so OK to last 2 months less.
Do your extensions have stainless steel cleats? Stainless steel cleats eat all rope including formuline.
Aluminium extensions with alu cleats.
I rinse all my stuff after each use too (not so much the boards and sails).
Both ropes snapped at the starting knot, but the Formuline is visibly wearing off.
I also have some older ropes which seem to be in a better shape after years of abuse.
I wonder if they changed the place of manufacture and don't have the same QC.
Downhaul rope is a consumable item, it's not a permanent fixture. I replace mine regularly along with uni joint tendons. The cost is minor in comparison to the inconvenience of having **** break out on the water
Its still more than likely the cleat, regardless of what its made of.
i had an aeron extension that chewed through 2 pieces of formuline in the space of two months. I figure sometimes they just make the teeth too sharp.
Starboard Ultra Kode 2019 Flax Balsa, faulty construction. Not sure is it the same with 2020.
Had 93 and still have 86. Both broke on the deck, next to the mast track in about 3 sessions, to the point that laminate started through. Got one warranted (took 2.5 month! thanks to a certain web shop). 86 got fixed as it was in the middle of the season and didn't bother.
And it's one of the heavies wave boards you can find.
But to be fair for me it's one of the best shapes I have ever ridden.
That 86 is just perfect on 3.0 to 4.7, at least for a heavy person it is :)
Just keep away from Flax Balsa construction.
Here's a little talk about it (on 55:50), I wonder why don't they pull it from the retailers.
Don't know if it's been fixed but my pet hate is the the cleats on NP boom clamp levers. They corrode badly around the rope and you have to replace the lever and rooe. This is probably a $2 part that is engineered to be a consumable.
On the other hand I have a 14 you no name brand boom where the cleat looks good as new.
The current booms from all brands are substandard designs.
Length adjusters that break/fall off
Mast clamps that break, rotate, fall off
Footstraps that desintegrate after one season in the sun.
4 frigging types of different fin boxes
Extensive use of monofilm in wave sails
Pretty shait also is the current wetsuits, my first one lasted 20 yrs... now they go for 2/3 years until everything unglues apart.
From a good mate inside the industry once said that only NP and Severne makes profit from windsurf sail manufacturing, the others still only carry in their portfolio afraid of hurting the brand if they pull out...
Select to expand quoteTanel said..
Starboard Ultra Kode 2019 Flax Balsa, faulty construction. Not sure is it the same with 2020.
Had 93 and still have 86. Both broke on the deck, next to the mast track in about 3 sessions, to the point that laminate started through. Got one warranted (took 2.5 month! thanks to a certain web shop). 86 got fixed as it was in the middle of the season and didn't bother.
And it's one of the heavies wave boards you can find.
But to be fair for me it's one of the best shapes I have ever ridden.
That 86 is just perfect on 3.0 to 4.7, at least for a heavy person it is :)
Just keep away from Flax Balsa construction.
Here's a little talk about it (on 55:50), I wonder why don't they pull it from the retailers.
?t=3351
At the end of that piece about flax balsa boards falling apart he said he takes all the responsibilities. Ha f'kin ha, he didn't refund everyone did he. Just past the year's warranty and tough.
^^^ end grain balsa always was a dumb idea idea anyway. Strong in the wrong direction and sucks water so a minor ding always was going to be a disaster.
Select to expand quoteObelix said..
The Formuline rope wears off visibly, and snapped after 6 months. Isn't that supposed to be "the best of the best"?
The outhaul rope supplied with NP carbon boom snapped after 4 months of use. This one is not the Formuline though, so OK to last 2 months less.
Surely that is because you fell in the pot of magic potion when you were a baby?
I think the boards could all use a layer of kevlar covering at least the complete top and sides/rails. have a kayak made with a kevlar and carbon sandwich (kevlar on outside), light and incredibly durable, it has taken some hits but never got damaged. Maybe that is what Witchcraft boards are made with. Now the Bic boards with the plastic shell are very durable too, but heavy, at least the Bic Nova 189 L I got used, from the early 2000's, was heavy at 13.6 kilos!
