Kinda a while ago, and they didn’t really stand out in bigger OB waves, was fall/winter and most points were backside (boohoo) so no memorable impression, other than I sold them as a set for more than I paid.
I added a 70’s style bonzer concave into the bottom of a 7 foot hybrid I shaped in '92 using a thruster fin set up. This board ended up being one of my all time favorites. Looking at it now, it looks a bit crude, it was one of my earlier shapes, but it was everything I look for in a board, fast, loose, positive. The measurements were length 7’0", width 20 1/2", nose 15 1/2", tail 14 1/2" (5" square), thickness 2 1/2". The concaves were about 1/4 and extended the last third of the bottom along with a fairly moderate vee. I’ll try posting a pic of it as soon as I take a digital photo of it. Not to change the subject, but I just got a copy of “The Fantastic Plastic Machine”. It’s one of those films that I had been keeping my eye out for and was quite surprised to see it sitting in the showcase of a shop I frequent. Filmed shortly after the 1966 World Contest (1967-68) for a more commercial audience, it documents the upcoming shortboard revolution as it happened Down Under. To me the footage of Bob McTavish and Nat Young riding those wide tailed, deep vee bottoms was quite impressive. I had always seen pics in the magazines of them riding those boards at Honolua Bay and some Aussie point breaks, but seeing it on film really was another story. There was also a segment on George Greenough doing his thing on his spoon. Good viewing…
Here you have my 8’ Eaton bonzer. A really nice board with an amazing glassing job.
It shines on point breaks and for me is the closest thing to a single, but with better lift and aceleration. I don’t really like it on beach breaks.
Anyway this fin doesn’t fit the board as i spect , so i’ll buy a fin with the original Bonzer template. I tried this board with an Halcyon’s fin and it really makes a difference both in holding and a celertion.
What is the difference between 3-fin bonzers and 5-fin bonzers (other than the number of fins)? How do they feel different? What are the pros/cons of the 3-finner and pros/cons of the 5-finner?
I have a 5’11" x 20 x 2 5/8 egg-like bonzer (for me it’s an egg since I’m 5’10" 140). It’s really fast and smooth. Awesome board, I’ll post pics soon.
my fish is flat bottomed, and the F.C.S have no cant… so it’s just a three or five fin setup fish, really, as opposed to the DEEP double concave in the original three fin BONZERS I’ve seen mag photos of.
Would I be right in thinking now boards are thinner , the FIVE fin bonzers don’t have radical deep concave any more ?
The fin cant , I assume, is still the same degree[s] as the originals…or, has that reduced too ?
O.T. ? do you post here ?
Has ANYONE here ridden both designs / still have both in their quiver ? [ because I’D also be keen to hear your experiences and comparisons of BOTH designs…]