Bonzer gun

General Discussion
1

Hi all,
A bonzer set up on a gun has been alluded to in a few threads I found but I could do with some help on the specifics... if any of you generous people have the time to spare?
Looking to make myself a board around 8 and a half feet, 20-22 wide depending on how the curves look, 3 thick. To surf a solid down-the-line wave, steep, pitching, v.fast wave that's close to a close out, seems to me the acceleration of a bonzer could really work in this environment, agree/disagree?
Appreciate that a bonzer gun is a fairly specialised application and that not everyone may want to share out all the valuable info and experience they've spent their time accumulating but any tidbits you can throw my way I'd be grateful for. Should I be looking at a slightly wider pintail to accomodate all 5 fins? On a twinzer I'm making at the moment, the front fins have twice as much toe as the rear and 15 cant front to 5 rear, is it similar on a bonzer when applied to a gun? What kind of bottom shape should I be aiming at to get a functional bonzer gun as opposed to a single fin with 4 little fins stuck infront of it? If anyone has any fin placement numbers that would be great but a few clues would be just as excellent. In fact as it's still in the planning stage, any info at all anyone has on any aspect of bonzer guns would be really useful to me, esp. inspiring photos.

2

8’ and 8’6" bonzer guns, both glassed by the fine fellows at moonlight…

 

http://newmoonlightboards.blogspot.com/2010/08/80-bonzer-gun.html

 

http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2973238870044127493UquGms

3

Thanks Keith, a picture tells a thousand words. Love the 8'0, if I was in the US, that would be one of the wisest 700 bucks I ever invested

4

Just worked out which button to press to view the whole album in the sports.webshot link, 58 high def pictures of a board really similar to what I was envisioning. Sheesh, even I should be able to learn summat from that, big thank you

5

Robb email Moonlight Glassing, they should have info on how you could get in touch with Malcom Cambell. He is very open to giving out info on how and whys of the Bonzer. For him it is not about ego but simpley passing on The knowlage and his almost 40 year passion for the Bonzer.  Just be sure to give credit to the master as sign of respect and pass on Malcom's possitive energy and stock to the next guy down the line.

6

I’ll second the the comment to contact Moonlight Glassing.  Check out their website if you haven’t already-   Surfy Surfy: bonzer

This may be the same board Keith posted.  I saved it a couple of years ago, just because I love the look of bonzer guns and the coke bottle green in particular.

 

Also,  you’ve probably seen this well worn diagram. Be warned that according to the info I got from Moonlight the runners overlap 1/2" which is not shown here-

7

Hello Robb ,

Ben Shipman was really into the Bonzer thing.....

Ben's gone but he left some really good stuff in the Resources section.........Do a search...,,,,

...Last time I checked the family was keeping his web page up....

Moonlight glassing on this one...

http://www.swaylocks.com/resources/detail_page.cgi?ID=1011

 

Ray

8

Thanks for the responses,
I've been looking through Ben Shipman's posts and pictures on Bonzers. Reaidng through all his informative and passionate posts 3 years after his passing and being touched by his infectious stoke for the craft was an inspiring and humbling experience.
I will definitely get in touch with Malcolm.
That is a beautiful board llilibel!!! How did you find surfing it in comparison to a more standard gun? I came across a thread from last year in the archives where you were looking into a bonzer set up for a longboard gun, I'd be really interested to hear how that turned out.
Moonlight's glassing is pretty awe-inspiring stuff