Anyone have any experience with 270 Board Co especially with regard to build quality and durability?
I picked up a used FFB when I was first starting and got burned. I think that board was assembled with paper mache. I don’t know a lot about board construction, so any help is much appreciated. Don’t wanna relive that experience…
I had a custom made. I’LL be honest that board wasn’t the best quality built board. It was soft considering it was 1lb foam and 1 layer of carbon. The rails started cracking and the whole deck caved in after couple sessions…probably close to the FFB original builds. Luckily, Grant the owner realizes that and did me a solid and is replacing it. The new boards being built are all vacuum bag and i requested heavy glassing on the deck, and insert areas. So, i think hes got the boards being built and glassed properly now.
That’s enough warning that I’ll probably stay away for now. Thanks. Seems like plenty of boards are being made that don’t hold up to the demands of this sport for very long.
270 (Grant) Is a freat guy as I’m designing a foil drive specific board with him now. His attention to detail and knowledge of lamination is amazing. I’ll never buy another board off the rack again.
Looks like standard construction with the tracks dropped into EPS on the stringers. These boards are priced at a premium but the construction leaves more to be desired.
Hey guys! Grant with 270 here. I’ll give you the down and dirty as I have nothing to hide. I’m just a waterman doing what I love and do it all from surf, tow, Kitesurf, wing, prone, sup, downwind, etc.
Long story short, I started this as a side business because I was not happy with the builds and shapes of other brands out there. I too was snapping boxes and breaking boards right and left. Construction was falling apart. I live in Oceanside in the mecca of board building. I’ve met a few good souls over the years and had my laminator, Joe Roque (Bionic Surfboards) start to laminate with carbon. He used to run the Hydroflex factory in town before she burned down, so he has a lot of experience with vacuum which is the direction as of late.
I started with self teaching myself Shape 3D and slowly developed my skills. I have a pretty decent grasp on the program now and I believe I can typically put any idea to plan. The Appletree boards you see at The Foil Shop are my design I collaborated with the boys there.
Construction is a challenge learning what’s best. Any board builder will agree. From foam density, to boxes not breaking, to carbon lamination (hand lam vs vacuum), finish sanding, etc.
This started in September of 2023. We started with hand laminations and for the most part out of 76 builds in 8 months….I had 4 legitimate failures. Yes, I keep track! I believe this was a combination of issues from 1 lb foam density combined with hand lamination, stringer length issues, etc.
One issue at a time, I dealt with it, resolved it, and improved the design. If a board had an issue such as Saltybuns above, I work with the customer and come up with a solution, in this case, a rebuild on my dime.
Bottom line, I stand by my boards and work as well as my glasser. I will take care of you and make it right if you are my customer. I won’t make you go through hoops and fill out some claim form, etc.
Ultimately, I can’t make everyone happy.
If you work with me you will find it’s a one on one experience in the design build process. I won’t ghost you and I’ll keep you posted and involved in the entire design and build process.
The place where we are at now - Full vacuum construction, working on strong layups, and trying to make these boards last longer and longer. We use PVC stringers (plastic) and mount our boxes right on top and I’ve never had a broken box. Being a large rider at 230 lbs and 6’4”/athletic, a strong board is of utmost importance.
I believe I am priced fair and competitive.
If you want a good build experience, shoot me a note on IG @270boardco
Side note - I would hope most know, but carbon will delam with EPS in a matter of minutes and actually burn foam under a lamination without you being aware. Keep the damn boards out of the sun. No finger pointing, just a reminder 
Yes we use EPS and PVC stringers mounting them directly on top. Never had a broken box or leak around a box.
Thanks for the detailed response! I really appreciate the transparency.
Absolutely. If I am not having fun doing this, it’s not worth it. My goal is to stoke people out with amazing rides and if I am not happy with them, I need to make them better.
Good on you bro. I’ve started a year ago making my own boards (up to number 3) & really appreciate the effort, patience & skills to create a smooth good looking board worthy enough to sell. Mine aren’t there yet but board building is nearly as addictive as foiling.
Can you elaborate what you mean about the delam under the carbon? Are you talking only about heat swelling the EPS?
Yes, eps foam will off gas, even in a white surfboard if you leave it locked up in a hot area, car, the beach.
Carbon fiber on the other hand being black (even if painted) will heat up like a furnace within minutes and start the off gas process again and will separate the lamination from the foam. It can get so hot you can actually see foam which melted underneath in exposed areas.
So, long story short, unless it’s a nice cold wind keeping your gear cool, don’t leave boards laminated with carbon fiber over eps exposed to the sun.
Plan on shipping her next week my man!
I live on Oahu. We have some great shapers here. Majek, Amundson, Robin Johnston, Underground boardworks…etc. i had customs made from Appletree (they had issues such air bubbles and delam also), i had Majeks, Amundson and those were great boards. The Majek didnt last long though, maybe 1 season and i didnt want to drop more money on a custom Majek. The Amundson though, never had issues. JOHN Amundson has been builing SUP boards and using vacuumed bag for a long time and he’s mastered it and none of his customs ever gave me issues, even his production boards were bomb proof. Amos was also bomb proof and i never had issues with their boards.
Im not sponsored by 270 or anyone, i could of gotten a custom from Majek, Amundson, Amos, KT but their customs are over 1500+. 270’s designs are pretty epic from prone to wingboards to downwind boards, his designs are really good. I got a lemon and he’s the only shaper that has ever replaced a lemon board for me. NONE of my other custom boards that had issues were ever replaced for me. So, thats my take. Grant at 270 could of said “go pound rocks” but he didnt and that to me is how a relationship forms. Great customer service in my book.
I had a custom 270 made as well. Board skin was very soft to the touch all over.
Attention to details and finish level were underwhelming. Details like hard rails or pin tail were left out.
Unlike you unfortunately, Grant did not stand by his product, in fact he told me that he was not in charge of the lamination and I should talk to the company that he outsourced his work to for a refund.
Full disclosure, I did not pay full price and I don’t think he made much money off this board but he could have handled it differently.
Sorry to hear that, he took care of me very professionally. But as i stated even my appletrees had issues and delaminated carbon. Getting a custom is a risk or even buy stock boards can be a gamble unfortunately
What’s the general consensus on stock vs. custom. My friends tell me Amundson’s stock boards are fragile but his customs are great. Are there any brands that are known for being bomber without going custom?
Bomber is just another word for heavy.
Light is just another word for fragile.
Appletree uses a closed cell foam, so on the larger volume boards the boards are heavier, But the foam won’t suck water when you ding it.
Production boards use lots of paint to hide flaws in the production process. Paint is heavy, but makes a pretty board and hides things.
Getting boards is really annoying and it sucks, because the board is almost more important than the foil at this point.
Well, you can’t have lightweight boards and expect it to be bombproof and you cant have 3 layers of carbon on the deck, track boxes and over inserts and expect a light weight boards. We each have our own requirements, if im spending $1200+ on a custom board. I want at least 2+seasons out of it. I have a trip to Indo for surfing this December and just ordered a custom surfboard. 6+6oz on top deck and 6 oz on bottom. Will it be heavier than a ultralight glassing board…for sure. But it will handle the abuse of airline baggage handlers, ferryboat crossings and daily riding. My heavy glassing boards that are 5+years old still have zero dents on them. The Appletree boards were heavier than my otherboards but they jump and rode waves just the same as a lightweight board. Only time i felt it was carrying it to and out of the water.
Good luck on your board search.
