I’ve got a 7’6" Lightning Bolt that I picked up at a garage sale a few years ago, and I’m trying to determine if it’s a real Bolt. It’s all black, so there is no signature of the shaper. It has a yellow bolt and pinline that are too perfect not to be factory. Also has a nicely foiled wood/glass fin with some red/white and blue in it. I don’t have an image file at a url but can e-mail a picture if someone can help me verify if it’s authentic.
There was a time when almost every board manufacturer, surf shop and backyard builder was putting lightning bolts on their surfboards. The same thing happened with the yingyang symbol. Without a signature, it’s hard to say who shaped your board. Sadly, on a recent trip to the Kmart, I saw a quiver of 2003 Bolts complete with crushed noses and shattered tails sitting in between the kitchenware department and sporting goods.
?..!..Holy Crap!!! Did you say you saw them at KMART?! Sad day! (if so). There’s your excuse for people not putting their faith in an abstract symbol or label (in and of itself). The lightning bolt is just artwork. So are big R’s, dolphins chasing their tails, and various other “hex” signs. Once upon a time, a board’s logo actually meant something. (provenance!).
Is it pigment? Frequented the Kapiolani shop many a time when I was back home on O’ahu in the '70’s. Know that Gerry and the guys didn’t favor all black boards - heat issues. No one really did for that matter. Perhaps, and its a big maybe, the board’s was in bad condition and someone attempted a restoration. There may be a signature hidden under that black pigment.
Hobie made a bunch of opaque boards in the 70’s. I had a white swallow tail. Single box. Is lopez name on it?
On 10-2-2003 I was in Solano Beach, CA at a surf shop And saw Joel Tudor Longboards for sale for $950.00.
1100 bucks over here. ridiculous.