where's the "Q" in starboard's "IQ" gone

[hiwindjunkie]

i've bought 2 new starboards in the last two years (a 2004 FF138 and recently a 2005 ST115).  i must say that i really love these boards on the whole.

my gripe comes mainly from the poor quality of the 'extras':

1)  the footstraps on the FF138 are appalling.  mine were torn to shreds within 6 months of use and had to be replaced.

2)  the deckpads on the 115 are even worse!  i had a small tear at the edge of one which eventually became a large flap flying in the wind.  apparently, starboard (or cobra or whoever) only glues the OUTER EDGE of the deckpad!!!

3)  the grey finishing on the drake 32 that comes with the ST115.  just a scrape through sand and it comes clean off.  ok, granted this may be just aesthetics and unjustified ...

anyway, these are, in my opinion, minor gripes but they detract from all the innovation that goes into the shapes of the boards.  one of the things i like to look for when buying a board are the 'little things'.  i may not jump off the starboard bandwagon just yet but it's got me thinking that maybe starboard needs to re-look at some of the things that helped make them so successful - attention to details, quality, quality and quality!!!

[sukhdev]

hw, call me re the straps; i hear you on this one (see our blog). rest i'll forward to starboard.

[hiwindjunkie]

that's reassuring ... tks sukhdev.

[<ed sinofsky>]

I have a new Stype 115.  Is there anything you can think of to do pro-actively before the pads peel up?

I cant wait to use mine, but we have snow now in the northeast US

good winds

ed

[<Tiesda>]

Hi,

You are right to gripe about such details and if no one did, we wouldn't be able to move forward every year.

Last year, we worked on the pad texture, softness and grip, other details like the safety washer and clipperboxes.

The peeling pad problem happens only on some of the very first boards we made this year, but we identified the problem early on so they are now all glued on under vacuum pressue and over their entire surface.

For the straps, your comments are well noted, and we are currently in them middle of some serious strap testings. We will improve every year, promise!

Tiesda