HOLIDAY PROJECT

My partner Kay recons I need a Christmas Holiday project.

So here is this years project.

Back in 2004 I downloaded a PDF via Swaylocks.

It was an out of print book called

Surfboard Design and Construction.

http://jfmillbiz.home.comcast.net/swaylocks/Surfboard_Design_and_Construction_1977.pdf

It has some good info on surfboard evolution,

surfboard dynamics, design etc.

It also has some designs to build.

This is the third board I have build

 from the designs in this book.

It is a bit of a hybrid of two of the designs

and a curve from a Keyo Plastic Machine

I restored last year.

The nose to the wide point was taken from the

6'6" Teardrop in the 2nd image.

The tail was taken from the 6'8" egg.

Unfortunately I could not get the two templates to blend.

So I had to use a longer curve which I found in the Keyo.

The blank was salvaged from an 80's McTavish mal 

that was found on a tip on the far north coast by a friend of ours.

It was beyond restoration. Most of the glass had delamed

and the foam had shrunken between the outer stringers.

So it measures in at 6'6"

20.72" wide @ 2'6" from nose.

The nose is 17.60"

The tail is 15.10"

Not sure what the thickness is.

It is about 2.5"

It has a slightly cambered bottom

with a tucked under edge

blending just forward of the fin.

With a subtle S deck and a flat rocker.

This book is American.

The measurements are a bit confusing.

It uses inches and decimal inches.

So if you want to use the numbers you will need to convert the

decimals to mm or the nearest 16th or 8th etc.

Most of the decimal fractions convert to 64ths"

A bit of colour.

Some glass.

Double 4oz on the deck.

Single 4oz on the bottom. 

10" box.

Glossed.

Gloss sanded to 600 wet and dry.

Waxed and ready to go.

THE SPIDER AND THE WASP

I've seen these guys flying off

with a live spider in their grasps.

But I think this guy may have bitten off

more than it could chew.

The spider was dead when I found them.

All of its eight legs had been removed.

By the wasp I expect.

I think the spider was to heavy

for the wasp to take flight.

So it was walking around on the deck

with the spider in its grasp.

ALMOST FINISHED

Five days to go.

This image was taken at the end of last week,

so some of these boards are now gone.

But there is still a bit to get through.

Then its three weeks of surfing, sleeping in,eating,

and maybe the odd trip to the dark side.

SUP  OSITORY

I'll say no more.

That's if my hands last the distance.

A BOARD WITH A LIGHTNING BOLT ON IT

I've been working on this board

for a while now.

But I have neglected to post any images.

The deck is in pretty good condition,

apart from a dodgy leg rope plug instalation.

The bottom and rails haven't been so lucky.

So the first thing to do was to sand

and glass the rails.

Now the dings and lows can be repaired

without worrying about sanding through.

The original pinlines on the deck are now protected.

Cutting the lap.

The deck lap.

HARTLEY HI- RIDER UPDATE

A new fin has been made and set.

The bottom has been sanded ready for glossing.

TWO MORE

Two more to restore.

A Bluebird built at Bennetts.

And a Piping Hot twin fin.

REALLY COOL LAMS

If your are into a bit of colour in your lams.

Have a lookhere.

They are works of art.

For hanging on the nose.

Not the wall.

MC COY TWIN FIN

Just in for a restoration.

Those fins look like walrus tusks.

A bit of lateral thinking here.

Leg ropes have come along way

since this prototype.

HARTLEY HI-RIDER

The nose and tail on this board were in bad shape.

Rather than try and repair them.

It was easier to cut them off and replace them

with cedar blocks.

Primed and ready to glass.

SHAVINGS

I've been making some cedar

nose and tail blocks

for a board that I am restoring.

It is a special a sound, a razor sharp plane makes,

when cutting through soft timber.

BACK TO FRONT

I've retired on of my logs.

I'm not quite sure what to do with it.

My options are.

Sell it.

Strip it and shape another.

Or do nothing and have it getting in the way.

While it was getting in the way the other day,

I was looking at it and I had a light bulb moment.

What if I stick a fin on the nose I thought!

Rocker looks ok.

Not sure if I can be bothered.

At the end of the day

there is still no camber in the bottom

and it is back to front.

Might be easier to sell it 

or just let it get in the way. 

A COUPLE OF OLD LOGS

STEVE CORE SURF

The G&S production team during the twin-fin era in Floyd's original Taren Point Road factory:

 Standing LtoR; Paul Cole [shaper], Terry Hammil [owner/polisher], Steve Core [pinlines & finish coater], middle; Colin Eagle [shaper], floor left; the late Greg 'Kirby' Kerr [sander]

 floor right; Dave Wilson [glasser].

   I recently received an email from Steve Core

promoting his new blog. Have a look here.

Steve worked for many of  Sydney's South side name surfboard manufactures during the 60's.

Steve had his on factory building Steve Core Surfboards in the late 60's early 70's

Steve's new blog is a history of Cronulla Surfboard Makers, Shapers and Surf Shops.

Steve also is blogging about stuff that is going on around the traps. Auctions, swap meets and exhibitions etc.

Well worth a look particularly if you are into the history of Sydney's South side surfboard manufactures.

                      

                                              
                                                

EXTREME GARDENING

No surf today. The wind was up early.

What to do?

Lets get stuck into a section

of the front yard that needs some attention.

Gardening in our neck of the woods can be a life and death pastime.

As Jimmy Buffett sings in his song,

"Peanut Butter Conspiracy"

It was a two man operation

Had it all down on a note

Ricky would watch the big round mirror

And I'd fill up my coat 

Gardening around here is a two man operation.

One of us digs and the other

looks out for our gardening nemesis.

The deadly Funnel Web spider.

The one we dug up today would easily

reach from one side of the palm of your hand to the other.

We have picked these spiders up on a spade

and heard them striking the metal with there fangs.

At the other extreme in our garden is this fella.

Again it would stretch from one side of my palm

to the other.

You don't need to be a rocket scientist

to work out which creature one would prefer

to have sitting in ones hand.  

LESLEY'S SHED

Lesley Adamski is a extremely talented crafts person.

Far more talented than she gives herself credit for.

Lesley builds surfboards from recycled and plantation grown timber.

And endeavours to keep the finishes as green as possible.

Lesley's talents aren't restricted to only surfboards.

She has built a gaff rigged, clinker sailing dinghy.

As well as one off pieces of furniture.

Lesley also owns the odd plane.

SYDNEY SURF AUCTION

Lots of very nice boards were up for auction this year.

The three at bottom right are. 

A Greg Noll 'Fains Formula'.

A Dewey Webber with a hatchet fin.

And a restored Bing 'Nuuhiwa Noserider'.

Three balsa pigs were also up for grabs.

As were many imaculate 70's single fins.

THE EYES HAVE IT

Ever feel like you are being watched.

Every day when I sit out on the deck having my lunch

these guys show up.

Mind you the chooks spend most their time there.

WOOD IS GOOD

 Bill Cilia, a mate of mine and surfboard builder (nirvana surfboards )

 has been restoring a balsa pig.

   The photos show Bill and the board through various stages of the restoration.

Unfortunately it is a no name, but the blank glue up and construction

was done by someone with a fair bit of skill for the time.

The timber fin was left intact, cleaned up and re glassed.

The board is 9ft long by 20 inches wide.

Viva the pig.

LESLEY ADAMSKI

I've posted this image before.

Have a look here 

There is a feature on Lesley Adamski at left, and her wooden surfboards.

Well worth a look.

WOOD IS GOOD

 A bit of a teaser.

Stay tuned.