Have any of you forum members had any experience using S-glass surf blanks? If so, how would you rate this material for heavy surf casting? On paper S-glass looks like an admirable compromise between graphite and E-glass, yet blank rollers seem to ignore it?

Seeker uses it extensively in their Super Series line up. I'm not going to pretend I know the ins and outs of hte material, as there are several types of S Glass (E Glass and graphite as well), I do not know the specific properties of each type.

It is a higher modulus glass fiber that offers better performance, albeit at just a bit less durability, than E-glass. It does not really compare to similar graphite models, falling a fair bit shy of that kind of stiffness to weight ratio.

Manufacturers have generally not pursued it heavily in the past few years due to the greater demand for either high performance graphite or super durable and inexpensive glass (E-glass). For a time in the 1970's and early 1980's, however, it was quite popular and offered by more than a few rod manufacturers.

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They work great for "8 & bait" and plugging. Strong and forgiving.

For jigging, graphite is the way to go.

We use a fair amount of S-Glass in some of our blanks. Very durable fibers and are typically lighter than E-Glass if used in a unidirectional prepreg. I don't really see using it in a surf blank as being very efficient from an engineering standpoint. Glass is much lower modulus than carbon and would require a bunch of material to achieve the stiffness you need in a surf blank making for a very heavy rod. We most often use carbon in our surf rods, but do incorporate some glass in certain models that need a more moderate action.........like a popping rod. I would be careful in using a 100% glass surf rod, it might wear the heck of you and won't cast up to the standards of a carbon or carbon/glass composite rod. Just some thoughts you might want to consider.

Take Care,
Jason @ St. Croix

I'm not too good at explaining. I am looking for a blank to chuck live and dead bait and let it sit, not to toss tin or plugs repeatedly. The gentler action of a glass blank would hopefully keep bait and hook together, and glass is more durable than graphite. S-glass is reputedly somewhat lighter and quicker than E-glass. This is the compromise I hope an S-glass blank would provide, and about which I am seeking information.

Phil, Lami has been usign S Glass forever in their surfrods, and TONS of fishermen use them on a nightly basis. IMO, the weight of the finished rod between E and S glass is really splitting hairs. Yes S Glass is lighter, but when you are tossing I dunno, 4, 6, 8oz + bait that minute difference in weight makes absolutely no difference whatsoever.

Seeker is making blanks designed specifically for what you are looking to do. THey are graphite & S Glass, with that soft feel you are looking for, but with a LOT of backbone. One of the lighter surf blanks they are making is the Baby ulua, a friend bought one from me a month ago and came over last week with teh finished rod - 13.5oz withcord grips. HEre is the review of the rod: [stripersonline.com]