Dimensions: 6′1″ x 2″ 1/4 x 19″ 1/4

Bought this board a while ago during the first epoxy hype. Purchased it brand new for over $600 because it sounded like it was really gonna perform well. Probably the worst board I have ever ridden. The board paddled extremely well and very floaty, but it was just way too light to have any kind of performance on the wave. From my experience, most epoxy boards only work well in clean conditions but this particular M10 did not work in any condition. It almost seemed like you were literally surfing a plastic toy instead of a high performance surfboard. I gave this board more than a few months to live up to my expectations but it disappointed. My criticism for this board is that it never felt like the rail engaged in the wave…almost as though it was skimming the surface the whole time. I went back to my PU board after the M10’s trial run and felt such a huge difference. The PU board felt so much more responsive and solid in the wave. I hear that Surftech has a new type of skin now called the SL2 which is supposed to have better flex patterns. We’ll see if those boards are any good. This one certainly wasn’t.

Pros: Extremely light and very good paddling power

Cons: Bland paint job. Board felt too light…almost skimming the water and I never felt like I could bury the rail on my turns. These Surftech boards are extremely expensive. The one thing that really pissed me off was the fact that these boards weren’t as durable as they claimed. About a month after I bought the M10, I dropped it by accident about a foot off the ground while trying to put the board into its board bag. The paint on the rail chipped off and after that day, the paint continued to slowly chip off.

I would like to try some other models and see if I can provide positive feedback. Stay tuned…

Dimensions: 5′9 x 20 x 2″ 3/8

Twin fin fish shaped by Dave Parmenter (Makaha), wood veneer glassed with epoxy resin by Surfgear Hawaii. Originally tried this board with triple plug FCS wood keel fins. The board ended up being very unresponsive and slow. In an experiment, I installed a small trailer plug and tried the FCS MR twin fins instead. Performance changed dramatically and I could actually pump down the line with speed and turns felt loose but in control. Also tried the trailer fin (comes with MR’s) and made the board feel for like a thruster. I liked the trailer fin for slightly larger and punchy surf. In small surf, the twin fins were exceptional.

Pros: The epoxy glass job by Surfgear Hawaii makes this board nearly indestructible. I dropped this board by accident onto contrete while showering after a surf and no major damage done. I may have scratched it a bit but these boards are rock steady. These type of epoxy boards may be best for surfers who want their boards to last a long time and those that are very careless with their equipment (always banging it around). The other good thing about epoxy is that beacuse they float extremely well, you can get a slightly smaller board than what you normally ride (smaller board means better turning/maneuvering).

Cons: My experience with epoxy boards is that they work well in clean conditions. However, in choppier/windy surf, the board seems to skip on the surface and I feel less in control. I’ve yet to find an epoxy board that has worked well in windy/choppy surf. Epoxy works well in glassy conditions which don’t come often in Hawaii. You should also keep your epoxy board out of cars and in direct sunlight. Exposure to sun will delaminate and kill your board.