Bonzer Bottom

Can anyone out there share some info about shaping bonzers? Advantages/disadvantages of this design? What about concave and fin placement? I’ve seen a few bonzers with different types of outboard fins but never understood the relationship between the fins and concaves. Let me know if this has already been covered in the archives. I found a few posts about bonzers but nothing really detailed. Thanks.

Ajl, I’ve got a bonzer if you need measurements. Can’t explain the entire concept too clearly but the concaves are the more important aspect of the bonzer as justified by the bottom being shown to work well with different fin setups including the traditional 5 fin, the original bonzer 3 fin, the eaton twinzer (or zinger??) setup, and the traditional thruster setup. I grew up very near where Duncan shapes and have had several custom shapes from him, they all performed very well but the best one I ever had was the full bonzer bottom with deep outer rail concaves on a regular squash tail thruster setup??? Sounds weird I know but that board is one of the best boards i’ve ever owned, too bad I snapped that sucker in half.>>> Can anyone out there share some info about shaping bonzers? > Advantages/disadvantages of this design? What about concave and fin > placement? I’ve seen a few bonzers with different types of outboard fins > but never understood the relationship between the fins and concaves. Let > me know if this has already been covered in the archives. I found a few > posts about bonzers but nothing really detailed. Thanks.

Hey g30. Nice quiver! In your opinon, what’s the difference between your bonzer boards and a standard tri-fin? I’ve been riding singles lately and was curious if the bonzer feels more like a tri? or single? I checked out the Eaton bonzer (zinger) on his website. Looks pretty wild!

Hey g30. Nice quiver! In your opinon, what’s the difference between your > bonzer boards and a standard tri-fin? I’ve been riding singles lately and > was curious if the bonzer feels more like a tri? or single? I checked out > the Eaton bonzer (zinger) on his website. Looks pretty wild! carefull fellas its like crack one turn and you maybe hooked.

i know bonzers try to take advantage of the Venturi principle… i have heard they ride more like a souped up single than a thruster. i would like to ride one someday, but i’m thinking you can get most ofthe benefit with good dbl. cocncaves…anyone?

I hear that they are having a strong resurgence in North L.A. county. Aside from Eaton and the Willis Bro.s, Casey McCrystal is also shaping some that Tim Curran and Rob Machado just love. True Aimes is working on some custom laminated Red X fins that will work with the setup. I just ordered one to determine whether it might be worth making a molded version.

I reside on the East Coast-Mt. Pleasant SC of all places and I have three Bonzer five fins by Malcolm in my board rack. These boards 6’3" fish, a 6’7" squaretail and a 6’7" rounded pin all work fantastic. The use of the “venturi effect” creates drive and stability. Very user friendly in the tube and in thick situations. Having all this fin area does not allow you to go up and down as easily as a twinzer or C-5 but the flow is sooo good. Go to the masters of Bonzer boards and order one as Malcolm and his brother have been involved in this concept for over thirty years. They have a web site-type in Campbell Brothers Surfboards and search. Give them a call. When we get some tropical punch or a strong southerly swell here I bring a Five Fin Bonzer along always so I can enjoy hauling ass and making good solid turns!!! Tell Malcolm Peter sez “ALOHA”.

Ajl, I’ve got a bonzer if you need measurements. Can’t explain the entire > concept too clearly but the concaves are the more important aspect of the > bonzer as justified by the bottom being shown to work well with different > fin setups including the traditional 5 fin, the original bonzer 3 fin, the > eaton twinzer (or zinger??) setup, and the traditional thruster setup. I > grew up very near where Duncan shapes and have had several custom shapes > from him, they all performed very well but the best one I ever had was the > full bonzer bottom with deep outer rail concaves on a regular squash tail > thruster setup??? Sounds weird I know but that board is one of the best > boards i’ve ever owned, too bad I snapped that sucker in half. There was a period in the early nineties when the bonzer enjoyed a renewed interest. I think this led to the present day concave bottoms. During this period (1992), I shaped a 7’0" mini tank with double concaves 1/4" deep which was my interpretatin of the bonzer bottm. I incorporated a deeper than normal “v” into this bottom, and used a standard thruster set. The concaves ran between the forward fins and ran off the side of the rails. Not knowing what to expect, the board turned out to be one of the better boards I’ve ever owned/shaped. I still have it and although I don’t use it too often now, for a period of a few years this was my one and only ride. It worked great in almost any conditions, mushy, juicy, etc. To me it is a valid design.

I’m celebrating my ten year anniversary of discovering five fin Bonzers. I’ve ridden the fin/concave setup on a variety of shortboards and longboards in all kinds of surf. The Bonzer improved my surfing which in turn, improved the quality of my life. The side fins act as little jets that boost you past sections. I’ve found the smooth carvey feeling to be unique and addictive while the normal tri fin setup leaves a void. I’ve ridden tri fins with the Bonzer concaves, but it just isn’t the same. As for vertical surfing, I think the performances of Donavon and Taylor Knox in the film Shelter do plenty to shed light on that myth. You may not become a full on cult member like me, but everyone should have at least one Bonzer in the quiver. I think Mr. Swaylock’s does. http://www.bonzer5.com

I have an OLD mike eaton bonzer…twenty-something year-old job, and it is one of my favorite boards! I will ALWAYS own one of mike’s bonzers. It rides like a beautiful dream!