I saw the DVD “Glass Love” and have been researching the Bonzer and loving them. I also Donavon Frankenreiter and Taylor Knox riding one in the movie “Shelter” (and ripping big time “better or as good as I’ve seen Donavon surf” IMHO). Its my next mission to try shape one as close to the “Campbell Bro’s” as I can…They are very complex I know and Its not going to be a walk in the park, I really am excited about them.
Yeah True those first thrusters you see that Simon had were pretty spot on…
I have a question.
You know how the double concave in the Campbell bonzer runs out off the tail. Well my question is (I hope I can word it correctly)
Does the consistancy of the double concave (around the back fin) hold true/consistant out off the Rail/Tail, there for change the rail line rocker IN A SMOOTH STEP LIKE FASSION when it breaks out off the rail line rocker. (This way makes sence to me as it would release pressure in the tail, but may slow it down some… )
Or
Would the rail line tail rocker hold true and the double feed “tighter” into a vee out the back (As they seem to me to always have some vee off the tail)
?
It just seems like a really heavy double concave to just start and stop, especially when there are so many tail shapes in play.
My question relates to Campbell Bro’s “Contempory” Model design 5 fin
I read the article, you're right, it was an interesting read. One thing stands out in my mind - the article leads one to believe that the Campbell bros. have been very open and forthcoming in sharing the bonzer design. But I was always under the impression they held the design details pretty close to the vest.
I was living and surfing in Ventura when the Campbell bros. were just down the coast in Oxnard, developing their Bonzer designs. The Oxnard area was heavily localized, and the secrecy surrounding the bonzer design seemed to feed into the isolationist mentality of the area. Just my impression.
I have seen the bonzer defended and promoted publicly, and the design discussed in general terms - but I have never seen the design publicly explained, diagrammed, and documented in any kind of detail. Maybe its just my impression, but it always seemed like 'there is a delicate balance of bottom shape, fin placement, etc. etc. that make it work', but you're left feeling that this esoteric understanding is possessed only by them that know.
Is there an article or book that lays it all out in the open? I'd love to read it.
Malcom does a vee out the tail on all the 5 fin bonzers now. I just spent a few days over at moonlight harassing them so I can get a better idea. I am still on the road back to Canada but will be shaping 3 5 fin bonzer eggs and a couple of mini eggs, I am hooked and drank the koolaid! I rode a 6’8 egg with a E wing in a few feet over head rincon then sunset cliffs and was in aww. I was suspicous of the E wing I don’t even like bumps but it made the board ride way shorter without giving up that solid carve you get from bonzers.
I have a 3 fin Campbell bumblebee (6' 3")I have been waiting for for several (3) months, should see it soon as I heard it was at moonlight getting glassed, really looking forward to trying it out on the Washington coast. Maybe you saw mine there, transluscent coke bottle green?
I must of looked at about 20 while I was there but it rings a bell. The bee looks like a great alternative to a fish I can’t wait to try my hand at a 5’4. The tail blocks are huge on them.
Do a search here - there’s scads of threads going back years on the boards.There’s a fin placement diagram supplied by tom@ and another recent one posted by Burnsie and tons of discussion on bottom shape, plus I think Burnsie posted a diagram of the concaves.You’ll be reading for hours : )
And Yorky - Steve aka lennox76 owns an MC bonzer or two, if you havn’t already seen them.