New Wakeboard normal wear?

nwjetboater · Newbie Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 3 City: Bremerton

I just bought a Hyperlight Motive board from a local sports shop. I took a quick trip to the lake to try it out. All went well, nice board for my beginner skills. I noticed when I got home the bottom of the board seemed beat up for only one run. The molded fins are scratched up and the entire bottom of the board is scratched enough to dull the surface. I only road for about 20 min. in fresh clean water. Is this normal? I took it back to the shop I bought it from and they said it was normal. I don’t know if I am buying it?

JeffreyCH · Posted: Jun 12, 2009 10:27 am Post subject:

That's weird, and defiantly not normal unless you were hitting rails or kickers, or logs in the lake? I've had my '07 HL premier since last year, and bought it used, doesn't have a scratch one on it, no dings in the molded fins, nothing, still looks new. I would contact HL directly.

taitrt · Soul Rider Joined: 11 May 2009 Posts: 413

Just so you don't make an ass out of yourself... are you sure there's not a protective coating on it (like one of those adhesive clear plastic sheets)?

My friend tried to return his iPhone because he said the screen scratched really easily... moron never took the protective plastic off out of the box.

Chad H · Posted: Jun 12, 2009 11:15 am Post subject:

Where did you put the board when you weren't riding? Concrete and other surfaces can scratch one up pretty good.

flixmaster · Site Owner Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 7488

That is a good point from Chad H. Did you transport the board from the lake in the back of a truck or other area that could cause the scratching? Maybe the floor of your boat if it is not carpet?

I do not see how water could cause any damage unless your lake is full of floating junk.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Jun 12, 2009 5:10 pm Post subject:

Guarantee it wasn't the water. It was the swim deck, dock, or wherever else you put your board on (if you were standing when you put it on). Boards aren't that fragile, they only get scratched when you scrape them across harder surfaces than themselves..

Sliding is the worst. Even if you slide it across carpet, if the carpet has sand or little pieces of gravel you might as well be sliding it against some 80 grit sandpaper.

scott a · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 9810

nwjetboater · Newbie Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 3 City: Bremerton

EDIT: Sorry had to fix the link to my pics.

Thanks for all the input. And I wish it was some shipping plastic still on it, even though I would feel like a dumy.

Here are some pics...

I understand why you would think I wakeboarded with it on the sand but I assure you this board went from the store to the back seat of my truck to the boat where I adjusted the boots and put it in the water. The lake does not have any sand bars and I saw no debris while on the board. The shallowest water was at least 15 feet. I have a cheap no name brand board I learned on which is two years old and it has no such scratches. I think this has to be a manufacturer’s defect. I am going to contact Hyperlight and see what they say. I will keep you posted.

Chad H · Posted: Jun 12, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject:

nwjetboater,
That doesn't look too fatal. I'd just ride it. The most hyperlite will do is replace it with another motive, which in this case would just make it prettier and make you lose some time on the water. It'll get scratched sooner or later.

ronix_brendo · Posted: Jun 12, 2009 11:39 pm Post subject:

yer man, scratches arent goona effect ur riding. and they are gonna happen eventuly whether u like it or not. so jus go out there andenjoy ur new board ! Very Happy

taitrt · Soul Rider Joined: 11 May 2009 Posts: 413

That looks like unbuffed wax... can you scratch a filmy layer off with your thumbnail?

flixmaster · Site Owner Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 7488

Some of the pro boards from HL will have marks on the board from finish sanding around the edges. I am not sure what those are from. You can always bring it back to the place where you bought it but there is really nothing wrong with your board.

Was the board in plastic when you bought it? If not then maybe it happened at the shop before they sold it to you. Did they maybe sell you a demo board?

I have seen returns for all kinds of reasons. 99% of the time the board is fine. Like others say. Your board is only going to get worse the more you ride and move it between your car and boat.

Riddick · Outlaw Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 212 City: Knoxville

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Jun 14, 2009 3:16 pm Post subject:

I say ride it some more. Those scratches arent bad at all. If the bottom starts to really decompose after some more wear, then think about bringing it back as there may be something wrong it. I used to be really into keeping my gear look great, then someone stole it - and I never went back. Ride the crap out of it and enjoy it while you have it.

pet575 · Posted: Jun 14, 2009 7:13 pm Post subject:

Looks cosmetic. Ride it. If it starts to delaminate or something like that by the end of the summer then take it back. Otherwise, it won't change the riding a bit.

And GOOD GOD MAN, that middle fin is ginormous! Maybe just the camera angle, but that think looks like it came off of Jaws' back. Get it out of there and learn to ride without it!

ctgretzky99 · Posted: Jun 15, 2009 6:17 am Post subject:

I agree with the "ride it" sentiment. I tried keeping my board all pretty nad nice in the beginning, and it took about 2 weeks to get it scratched up. Now it looks like Freddy Krueger raped it.

I have only improved with my scratched up board.

nwjetboater · Newbie Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 3 City: Bremerton

Thanks for all the feed back. I will continue to ride the board and if it gets a lot worse or delams I will take it back.

And yes the fin is big. It came with the board and I am a newer rider so I figured I needed it? for now.

ctgretzky99 · Posted: Jun 16, 2009 6:10 am Post subject:

xjsnxillusion · Newbie Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Posts: 26

so is it bad to have bottom fins? -im a beginner as well

ctgretzky99 · Posted: Jun 16, 2009 11:34 am Post subject:

Stephan · Guest

ctgretzky99, the problem with what you are saying is that your board has large molded fins that allow it to have plenty of traction "finless". If you were to completely remove the center fin on this guys Motive it would be a lot more slippery than your Byerly. I'd agree that his board has too large a fin on it, but going to completely finless would be too much for a beginner.

As per the original issue, just ride it! Wakeboards aren't supposed to look nice. Even if it has cracked rails and busted molded fins it will ride well.

Chocoholic · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Feb 2009 Posts: 363 City: Dubai

Well I'm going to go against the grain here and say take the board back. A defect is a defect which ever way you look at it, and if you say you're just going from your back seat to boat to water, and not going across any rough or hard surfaces then this shouldn't happen at all. By accepting the 'defect' you're basically sending the message to the supplier that it's okay to sell boards which as substandard. I know our Hyperlite dealers here certainly wouldn't accpet that.

With regard to the large fins, I'd ride them for a while till you're confident with balance and edging, then change them out for smaller ones. They're damn big though! If you remove them straight off, it will be like starting over as your board will go fast and squirly.

Personally I ditch the central fins altogether, but that's just the way I like to ride. But also backing up what Stephan has said, I ride a Blur which has similar large moulded in fins, so they track better than smaller ones. You might want to try just getting rid of the big fins altogether.

Christobull · Addict Joined: 29 Jun 2009 Posts: 898 City: Tulsa

I agree with everyone in some ways. No, it's not going to effect your riding, but yes, at the end of the season, get it replaced. You won't lose any time on the water and you and you will probably get the current year's model of that same board. As for the fins, I went from... get ready for this, 3" center fins on my first board with no molded fins and a continuous rocker. I thought all boards were hard to break the fins loose and it slowed my progression. Now I have an Apex with molded fins and 1" center fins. I barely notice the difference whether they're on or off, but I prefer to have them on when I'm riding on glass because it's pretty rare to not have a little chop being a weekend rider. I don't know why, but I just can't adjust to it. So, I put them on when I can see undistorted reflections in the water, but they are off otherwise. I think the guys are dead on when they say it makes you learn right the first time without them.