All our high-end boards are now built using the industry’s highest standard Fusion material. It is created by fusing a layer of solid polymer to the dropstitch material as it is being made. This allows for a stiffer, more durable material that saves about 2 kg per board while ensuring they are as rigid as possible.
*Fusion Dropstitch is used on all Glides, Malikos, the Crossover and the Alana 11’6”
NEW X-weave Dropstitch* – This year, our single layer boards use a new “X-weave” Dropstitch material. The dropstitch is positioned in an X-pattern, which evenly distributes tension throughout the board and pressure on the skin of the board. This provides a high stiffness-to-weight ratio.
*X-weave Dropstitch is used on all Nalus, ONEs and the Alana 10’6”
Assuming that the pressure applied is high enough—when a board bends, it acts similarly to an I-Beam, in which the top skin compresses or extends (along the axis of the board) while the bottom skin does the opposite (see illustration). A stiffer board moves more efficiently, when you paddle, as more of the energy you spend propels you forward rather than bending the board.
This is why we use fusion material and carbon stringers on our high-end boards: to achieve the stiffest top and bottom skin possible in compression and extension. This year, all boards are rated with a stiffness value; the higher the number, the stiffer the board. For reference, the new Maliko Inflatable 14’0” X25 Fusion Carbon (constructed with Fusion Dropstitch and double carbon stringers) has a stiffness rating of 9.31. Compared to last year’s Maliko 14’0” X26 Inflatable, which has a 4.73 rating, the new model is much stiffer.
Stringers are mainly added to the tops and bottoms of boards to improve stiffness*.
This is achieved by reducing the elongation and compression of the top and bottom skins of the board. *They also help controlling the twist of the board.
or example, one central stringer that is 30 cm wide directly stiffens the 30 cm area it
occupies in the center of the board. Then by propagation, the area surrounding the stringer is also stiffened with the area closely surrounding the stringer experiencing the greatest effect and gradually decreasing as you move further away.
In this example, stiffness extends roughly 25 cm both both edges, resulting in an overall increased stiffness that runs about 80 cm of the board.
Now, if you have two 15 cm wide stringers (at 22.5 cm apart), 30 cm of the board where the stringers are placed experience the greatest stiffness. In addition, each side of the stringers also receive increased stiffness (radiating out 25 cm on each side) through propagation.
This produces a much wider stiffened area: 15 cm + 15 cm + 22.5 cm + 25(x2) cm = 102.5 cm.
Most notably, the skin in between the two stringers is highly stiffened—almost as much as if a stringer was placed in between them. Naturally, this double stringer effect produces a much stiffer board than an old single stringer produces.