Is it technora or wood for dedicated (non-professional) windsurfers?

northeast · 9th January 2008, 04:41 PM

Hi everybody,

Is the advantage in "weight-to-strength and impact-resistance ratio" -
that wood technology offers compared to technora -
as important to professional windsurfers as to non-professional
ones (dedicated sailors, sailing as much as work permits)?

Or is it the price of the boards (technology) that is
the only important difference in deciding technora or wood?

Thank you all!

9th January 2008, 10:41 PM

wood does feel a bit nicer and is a bit lighter but wider boards breaks quite easy (>70 cm on, smaller boards don't break easy though) and is very difficult/expensive to repair. Another thing is that wood boards suffer more during daily temperature changes (day/night) than technora which automatically spells out a shorter lifespan.

If you need the utmost performance and are willing to sacrifice durability -> wood
If you want peace of mind and a "don't bother just fix it and get back on the water" life -> technora

Wood is very nice but it comes at a cost

Phill104 · 9th January 2008, 11:39 PM

Who says wood is less durable to temperature changes. I'm sure a 200yr old pine tree would disagree if it could talk.

10th January 2008, 03:21 PM

sure if it were still alive!
boards widen and narrow during temperature changes, not somethign thats really good. There is a reason they say wood "works".
technora just is'nt affected as much (ask it

).

Randy · 10th January 2008, 06:42 PM

I've got a wood Hypersonic 105 with close to 150 sessions on it. Its one of the most durable boards I've ever owned and I don't think its hard to repair. Sure, to replace the wood would be hard, but for the few dings I've had marine tex and a layer of glass or two and a nice sticker makes it look fine.

carvesalot · 10th January 2008, 09:04 PM

For the sailor you describe the money difference is probably not worth it, the wood version will be lighter, so plane sooner. Lots of time we dont have the luxury to pick either one or the other, unless its a new 2008 board, and if you are considering a 2008 you can probably afford either. I have felt that my lightweight boards are more fragile, only to be told that the material used is stronger and light weight as well, hence the additional cost. I dont think repair would be more difficult 1 VS the other, unless its a limited production, like they made some hollow *Boards.

northeast · 11th January 2008, 12:43 AM

Thank you all for your replies.

9th January 2008, 04:41 PM	#1
northeast New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2	Is it technora or wood for dedicated (non-professional) windsurfers? Hi everybody, Is the advantage in "weight-to-strength and impact-resistance ratio" - that wood technology offers compared to technora - as important to professional windsurfers as to non-professional ones (dedicated sailors, sailing as much as work permits)? Or is it the price of the boards (technology) that is the only important difference in deciding technora or wood? Thank you all!

9th January 2008, 11:39 PM	#3
Phill104 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 295	Who says wood is less durable to temperature changes. I'm sure a 200yr old pine tree would disagree if it could talk. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. All the latest windsurfing news in one place.

10th January 2008, 09:04 PM	#6
carvesalot Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Niobrara Posts: 102	For the sailor you describe the money difference is probably not worth it, the wood version will be lighter, so plane sooner. Lots of time we dont have the luxury to pick either one or the other, unless its a new 2008 board, and if you are considering a 2008 you can probably afford either. I have felt that my lightweight boards are more fragile, only to be told that the material used is stronger and light weight as well, hence the additional cost. I dont think repair would be more difficult 1 VS the other, unless its a limited production, like they made some hollow *Boards. __________________ good winds

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9th January 2008, 10:41 PM	#2
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	wood does feel a bit nicer and is a bit lighter but wider boards breaks quite easy (>70 cm on, smaller boards don't break easy though) and is very difficult/expensive to repair. Another thing is that wood boards suffer more during daily temperature changes (day/night) than technora which automatically spells out a shorter lifespan. If you need the utmost performance and are willing to sacrifice durability -> wood If you want peace of mind and a "don't bother just fix it and get back on the water" life -> technora Wood is very nice but it comes at a cost

10th January 2008, 03:21 PM	#4
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	sure if it were still alive! boards widen and narrow during temperature changes, not somethign thats really good. There is a reason they say wood "works". technora just is'nt affected as much (ask it ).

10th January 2008, 06:42 PM	#5
Randy Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 55	I've got a wood Hypersonic 105 with close to 150 sessions on it. Its one of the most durable boards I've ever owned and I don't think its hard to repair. Sure, to replace the wood would be hard, but for the few dings I've had marine tex and a layer of glass or two and a nice sticker makes it look fine.

11th January 2008, 12:43 AM	#7
northeast New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2	Thank you all for your replies.