Besides the obvious floatation requirement the rc Surfer dude needs, for the purpose of self righting - there are a number of other critical factors that need to be considered, to create a lasting - well performance capable - rc surfer dude....as important as every other aspect of the board.
Most all rc surfer dudes are made of rigid foam / covered with light glass fibre / wetted out with either polyester or epoxy resin....resulting in a 'rigid' figure that has absolutely no flex ....to absorb any impact. ... many breaking rather easily and regularly, mostly at the head and arms, when experiencing any severe impact.....limiting the performance level and reliability of the board.
If more required strength is to be built into the figure, by way of adding more layers of cloth /resin etc .... the figure simply becomes 'heavier' requiring more counter weight to be added to the low CG point of the board, making the overall board heavier..(less efficient)....as well as..due to the added weight of the surfer dude... producing more outward centrifugal forces in the sharp turns...upsetting the balance of the boards performance......resulting in the outer rail tripping/digging.....board flapping over.
The goal is to create a surfer dude that is: very durable - has sufficient floatation - flexibility to absorb impact - as light as possible to minimise counter weight and outward centrifugal forces.....once those factors are covered.....the ascetics can be dialled in to personal preference.
IMO - some make far more of the detailed ascetics of the surfer dude, than what it is worth - ( some call it playing with dolls)- at 30 plus yards in the surf, all one is left 'seaing' is the dimensional silhouette of the surfer dude. The bigger the stance of the surfer dude, the better the presence of the surfer dude, at a distance. Bright colours and black work well against the colour of the ocean and white water..to be able to quickly identify the surfer dude.
The YPC Bro surfer dude - is unique- has come a long way since its initial design - well proving to be : very durable - buoyant - flexible - lightweight - and - in the eyes of the beholder - looks rather realistic in the surf...
Bro's structural make up consists of a moulded flexible 3D stanced silhouette core (made up of fibre glass and carbon fibre / wetted out with epoxy) - then laminated with closed cell neoprene on either side - its head is moulded using 2 part polyester closed cell foam ( very light 8 grams)
The complete finished Bro Surfer Dude product - including an authentic Lycra rash vest - weighs in around 140 grams...
flexible 3D silhouette core laid up and curing in the mould - to be trimmed to outline once cured.
Carbon fibre layers for added strength in strategic areas.
