How long should a carbon hull last?

[97superjet]

I know there will be tons of variables to this, layup, infusion, different builders, sun exposure, ridden hard or not etc....I'm just looking for an average what everyone thinks, and maybe have some people chime in. My superfreak is built by thrust from 2016, feels very solid, no cracks I can see....what is everyone else's thoughts on these aftermarket hulls, how long on average should they last with "normal" wear and tear? Does the carbon loose its strength and flexibility after 5-10 years of normal use vs fiberglass? Just looking for everyone's thoughts and opinions, thanks guys!

 

[G-Body]

12 years on my Tem built freak. I am the 3rd owner. There is some cracking on the hood liner and I had the driveshaft tube start to pull away from the bulkhead. Its solid otherwise I haven`t ever flipped it successfully, but I know it spent time in the surf with the first owner. I have a tendency to ride WOT across closely spaced waves in a lake at WOT so it hasn`t been an easy life.

 

[Quinc]

Not as long if you lay the carbon without epoxy. Much lighter though!

 

[Baja 252]

Our 2016 XFS looks just as good and feels just as solid now as it was when new.
I think a lot of it has to do with how you take care of it. We never beach ours and it never sits out in the sun all day long while it’s not being used.

 

[DylanS]

I expect to see about 4-5 months out of my superfreak now that my hands have been on it

 

[TheBuzzard]

Superfreaks were poorly constructed and if it was a light layup, even worse. Carbon hulls are suposed to be epoxy and glass hulls usually aren't. All depends on the builder. Most AM hulls were and are crap constructed out of the cheapest junk materials the builder could get his grubby hands on.

 

[kevbo]

Any composite structure will last a very long time provided it was built properly and not overloaded. Any cracking shows weakness in that area. Knowing how to layup a hull and using quality material is the biggest problem with ski mfg. Plus riders never know the limits of how high they can go, or how they must land a particular hull. This forces manufacturer to make skis very heavy. Extra weight in a ski is okay until you start doing flatwater flips. Then everything needs to be figured carefully.

 

[97superjet]

Superfreaks were poorly constructed and if it was a light layup, even worse. Carbon hulls are suposed to be epoxy and glass hulls usually aren't. All depends on the builder. Most AM hulls were and are crap constructed out of the cheapest junk materials the builder could get his grubby hands on.

Superfreaks from Tem or thrust? I have no idea who was building the Superfreaks for thrust but mine seems solid, it’s been ridden for sure lol I guess I didn’t know the Superfreaks had issues besides rear bond line

 

[long beach local]

Superfreaks were poorly constructed and if it was a light layup, even worse. Carbon hulls are suposed to be epoxy and glass hulls usually aren't. All depends on the builder. Most AM hulls were and are crap constructed out of the cheapest junk materials the builder could get his grubby hands on.

My Tem built 14 badass hull has zero cracks except for the hood although I just surf ride. But a gorilla smasher that hucks his boat mercilessly off every wave could break anything Mark Just sayin especially with a light layup. Freaks don’t land well anyways and my old bones would snap long before my freak lol.

 

[sturat]

Superfreaks were poorly constructed and if it was a light layup, even worse. Carbon hulls are suposed to be epoxy and glass hulls usually aren't. All depends on the builder. Most AM hulls were and are crap constructed out of the cheapest junk materials the builder could get his grubby hands on.

It's because most small time guys can't get a hold of the good stuff that you need to make a good composite layup. Specifically the spicy stuff like MEK and MPK, and the right vac setup

 

[kevbo]

Few riders, if any, are making demands on hull makers. What gets produced will always be some large compromise in strength and weight and cost. I think hull builders could benefit a lot from some education of composite structure design. There is indeed a lot of crap hulls out there.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

FOREVER

 

[generaldisarray]

Is prepreg CF still a thing? Any AM hulls that use it?

 

[97superjet]

FOREVER

Like the sandlot

 

[Yami-Rider]

All depends on how it was laid up. Superfreaks aren't known for there fit/finish and quailty is just so so, some worse then others.

If you know how or know someone that can fix carbon properly, ie vac bag or infusion, then anything can be repaired to stronger then new.

I've fixed a lot of new and newish carbon dvx, helium, tigercraft, rickters, non of them have failed again in the areas I fixed. Layup too thin and or abuse = broken ski.