Why does it surf so well?

What is my board made of?

What is important about flex?

Why is there a vent plug?

How do I fix a ding?

What happens if water gets in my board?

Question 2: What is my board made of?
Answer: Hydro Epic surfboards are made from an array of aerospace composite materials including, but not limited to:

* Kevlar by Dupont (polyphenylene terephthalamide)
* Carbon fiber, carbon reinforced glass, pure carbon
* UV inhibited Mil-spec epoxy resin
* Aluminum, aluminum honeycomb, aluminum coated fabric
* Air

Question 3: What is important about flex?
Answer: Flex is one of the most subtle and influential features of a surfboard. Torsional flex (twisting) hinders performance and should be minimized. A proper longitudinal flex pattern (bending properties along length of the board) will make a board feel lively and super-responsive. Flex can be measured by stiffness or frequency, where stiffness is a factor of frequency. Ultimately, flex determines the ratio and timing of unloaded accelerating forces during a maneuver as compared to the original force applied by the surfer. This means that a proper flex pattern will help generate speed by loading, storing, and unloading the maximum amount of force at the right time [see "technology page for more tech info].

Question 4: Why is there a vent plug?
Answer: A vent plug is necessary to equalize pressures between the hollow core and the outside atmosphere. Early models had a plug that was manually loosened and tightened to relieve pressure. In 2006, Hydro Epic began shipping boards with their unique "maintenance free plug", an anodized aluminum drain plug fitted with a semi-permeable membrane and sealed with a butyl rubber o-ring. A tiny hole in the plug allows air to flow in and out, but the membrane inhibits water from doing so. The flush mounted stainless steel pin is your leash anchor. You don't need to loosen, tighten or remove this plug. Just an occasional poke with a paperclip to be sure the breather hole is clear is all you need to do.

If you do open it just to take a peek (and we know you will), be sure to put the fabric back with the white side down (facing the board), and the rubber ring on top of it. Clean the threads on the male plug (NO sand), smear a touch of Vaseline or similar on the threads and snug it up, but do not over tighten. Now go surf and quit fooling with the plug!

Question 5: How do I fix a ding?
Answer: USE ONLY EPOXY RESINS! Remove any loose material and be sure ding is free of water, sand, and wax. Prep a three-inch perimeter surrounding ding using 150 grit sandpaper and clean with acetone or alcohol. Patch cracks and fractures using fiberglass cloth or carbon fiber cloth, wetted with epoxy. Cure according to epoxy manufacturer's spec. When fully cured, sand with 220, 400, 800 and buff or paint as desired.

If there is a complete puncture of the outer skin (hole or tear), you must first rinse away all salt water from the area and dry it thoroughly in the sun. Do not pick or peel the laminate back. Fill holes using a mixture of chopped carbon or glass fibers with epoxy resin. Cover with glass or carbon cloth as above. Sand and paint as desired. If the damage appears unmanageable (or for more info), contact Hydro Epic at 800-667-9558 - ask for technical assistance.

Hydro Epic can also ship you a complete repair kit containing enough carbon/Kevlar cloth, epoxy, sandpaper and filler to do several small repairs for $29.95 plus shipping. Payment by credit card only. No C.O.D.

Question 6: What happens if water gets in my board?
Answer: If your board is damaged, or if the plug is left open, water can get inside. In the event that water enters the board, remove the vent plug and drain as much water as possible. Rinse the inside of the board using a gallon of fresh water and drain again. Leave plug off, and allow all remaining water to evaporate before replacing the vent plug. Be sure to put the fabric back with the white side down (facing the board) and the rubber ring on top of it. Clean the threads on the male plug (NO sand), smear a touch of Vaseline or similar on the threads and snug it up, but do not over tighten. If you have an earlier model, be sure to check that the black rubber o-ring is seated in the vent plug!

Do you have any questions? Write us at info@hydroepic.com.