Imagine makes boards for both river waves and ocean waves. In each case, the designs are optimised for the environment, as are the exact construction methods used (fiberglass weight, board flex pattern, fin set-upetc). This is because while a river board can be used in the ocean, and an ocean board can be used on the river, it is far from optional. Imagine powder skiing with race skis made for groomed ice, or vice versa. The same applies to river and ocean boarding.
Riding pleasure and satisfaction is what is the most important thing. Choosing a board that delivers that is paramount. If the environment where you ride most often is river waves, you need a board that will maximise your fun and performance. And if you're riding in ocean waves, the same applies.
In the last 2 years, sales of epoxy boards have gone from under 5% of the total international sales to over 30%. This is because epoxy boards offer greater strength and performance than the old polyester technology.
Resistance: The resistance to change to epoxy has mainly been that the surf industry is conservative. Polyester technology has been around since the 1950's and is "accepted". Until recently the aesthetic properties of Epoxy was not as good as polyester, and the cost of epoxy resins is nearly 10x that of polyester, making a more expensive board. However, the overwhelming proof that epoxy boards are stronger, more resistant to wear, and maintain their performance and board life for more than twice that of conventional boards has lead to the recent market shift.
Core: Polyester boards are made from a urethane foam. This foam is heavy (just the foam is heavier than many epoxy boards are finished), dents, absorbs water, and is inconsistent in its density through the core. Epoxy boards use either extruded or expanded polystyrene foam which is resistant to denting, waterproof, perfectly consistent in density throughout the core, and lighter. This makes it possible to make a board that resists pressure dings from hands, knees and feet, and make the board stronger by making the external shell thicker and stronger.
Laminate: Most polyester boards are made using a 4oz/sq foot fiberglass roving. This is because the core is heavy, and so to make a light board a thin shell is all that is possible. The light polystyrene core of Epoxy boards allows for the use of 10oz/sq foot fiberglass to be used, making the outer shell more than 2x as strong, and the rails 4x as strong as a polyester board.
Resin: Epoxy resin is what is used in the aerospace industry because of its superior bonding abilities, natural flex, and resistance to breakage when in compression and tension. Most epoxy resins can flex up to 6x what polyester resins can before breaking, and take impacts in excess of 4 times higher than polyester.
The Board: The combination of the lighter, consistent density, waterproof core, outer laminate that is more than 2x stronger, and resin that resists impacts up to 4x more means that an epoxy board can be made nearly 30% lighter and more than 200% stronger than the equivalent polyester board.
2 Imagine makes both Polyester and Epoxy boards, but we recommend the Epoxy boards over the polyester ones 100% of the time
The Standard Price for all Imagine boards is $600, except the Longboard which is $700. This is about the same price as a stock, fragile polyester board. All Imagine Boards come in natural, with the logo and fins as standard. Over the standard price, we offer several options.
Printed Artwork: Your artwork of choice is printed onto a thin rice paper which is laminated under the fiberglass shell. This allows you to choose, within reason, a wide variety of subjects you want on the board. A slight increase in weight is to be expected, but this is nominal. You can either request an artwork concept, or provide a high resolution (300dpi in the size wanted) graphic. There is a $100 charge for this. ($120 for the Longboard).
Retro Artwork: This is the technique of using colouring in the resin to give the board a cool look. Stronger than paint on the foam (which creates a light barrier between the epoxy and the foam bond), but less adapted to doing really intricate art, the retro look is a great compromise of a strong board without paint, but not a dull plain white one either. The cost varies from $50 to $100 depending on the work.
Extra Strong: our boards are already twice as strong as a standard board, and much lighter. This significently increases performance. But some people would prefer the board to just be super tough. Increasing the laminate thickness, especially on the rails - the weak point of all boards - allows us to more than double the strength of our own boards (making them 4x stronger than the industry standard) with a final weight that is still much lighter to a stock polyester board. A 18oz, biased weeve band is wrapped around the entire rail of the board, making the rail 38oz thick (as opposed to normal boards which have a 8oz rail). Cost is $50 ($75 for the Longboard).
Ready-to-Ride: If you want your board ready to ride right out the door, we'll set it up for you. Traction Pad and leash included and installed, and the board prepped and waxed for you to go straight down to the wave for your first surf. Cost is $66 ($80 longboard).
Board Care: Its important to read this simple leaflet on taking care of your board.
