Does anyone glass on the center fin? If so, what fin do you use. I have seen the cambell brothers fin and it looks a little too fat based for what i am trying to do. I have seen a couple fins that FCS offers that look like they would do the trick but do they come sanded and flat bottomed? Could you grind off the bottom and just sand the fin with some 80 grit? I will take a couple picture of my board that I just finished laminating. I really dont want to put a box in. Just wanted to know what you guys thought.
Here are a couple pictures of the board. I just finished laminating it yesterday. This is my second board.
Looking good! One of the first boards I ever surfed on regularly was a bonzer. It was about the first time I learned to go left or right…not straight! Then all my buddies pointed out my obvious disability! They all tried to convince me I was standing on the board backwards…turns out I’m just a Goofy Foot!
Good luck with the board!
make it a bonzer 3
NICE!
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I started making Bonzers back in the early 80s When Malcolm let me sit in on a shaping session with him in his backyard shaping bay. He showed me how he shaped the bonzer bottom contours and how he installed the and glassed in the runners. We used to glass all the Bonzer fins on back then. I didn't really take to his center fin design. So I designed my own and perfected it over time. PM me with your address and I'll send you a template of my glass on center fin, it works for both the B-3 and the B-5. These days I use a medium fin box for the center fin and FCS B-5 fin sets for the four runner fins. Here are some photos of a couple late model B-5 bonzers.
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I started making Bonzers back in the early 80s When Malcolm let me sit in on a shaping session with him in his backyard shaping bay. He showed me how he shaped the bonzer bottom contours and how he installed the and glassed in the runners. We used to glass all the Bonzer fins on back then. I didn't really take to his center fin design. So I designed my own and perfected it over time. PM me with your address and I'll send you a template of my glass on center fin, it works for both the B-3 and the B-5. These days I use a medium fin box for the center fin and FCS B-5 fin sets for the four runner fins. Here are some photos of a couple late model B-5 bonzers.
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Mitch, speaking of those runners and how they used to be done. Were there slots cut in the lam for those? They always looked that way to me for some reason.
Yeah, im pretty sure im going with the b3 set up. Especially since it is my first one.
Knowaloha, did you make those runners or did you purchase them from somewhere? Good cutback too. Also, do you ever have any delam problems using black pigment on the bottom?
Woody, that story is classic about your stance. During the summers here, I help out with a surf camp and sometimes kids swear they are a certain stance when you can tell they are struggling because it isnt natural. I had a kid crying one time because i called him “goofy” and his dad was going to be mad because he wouldnt surf like him. I couldnt help but to just smile.
Woody; in the beginning of the five fin stage (early 80s) we would router a quarter inch wide slot about a half inch deep. The runners had a half inch extra depth at the base.Then the slot would be filled with resin, a patch of fiberglass cloth was then placed over the slot. Then the fin would be inserted and secured at the correct angle with masking tape. At that point, when it was well gelled, the excess would be trimmed off with a razor blade. But I stopped doing it this way because if the fins were bumped hard enough or another board was on top of it during transport or on the surf racks or something, it would brake the seal at the base of the fin and crush the foam inside. So I started glassing them on the conventional way although it was a little tricky hand sanding them at the base. Regardless if in transport, make sure the bonzer board is on the top to avoid fin damage.The FCS system is much stronger, not to mention the fins can be removed for travel. So this early problem has been all most eliminated. FCS makes B-5 runners. But they come at a high price. Anywhere from 75 to 95 dollars a set depending were you get them. Lower if you have a friend that can order them directly and get them for you at cost. About $45.00 I’ll post a couple of photos of a board I made for myself, I think in about 93 or 94. I think you guys will like it. It has a cool African tribal themed paint job. All the fins are glassed on in the conventional way over the lam coat.
Thanks Mitch!
**Xander,Woody,** check it. Head Hunter spears. The center fin was my third and last revision for the five fin glass on type. Runners are original Campbell Brothers. Now I ether have True Ames make a box fin for me from that template or just use a True Ames 6.5 inch California Classic box fin. Which is close to the same, a little more upright with a shorter base, which loosens these boards up even a little more. This board was one of my personals 6'8"X19.1/8X2.1/2 with a 4" Pulled in square tail (Magic board I never let go) According to the code system I use this is #93018 (the 18th board shaped in 1993).
Hey Mitch,
Wow! That baby is awesome! I dig everything about that board…no wonder you’re proud of that one. I have a board (gun) that my friend Bernie Crouch made for me like 8 years ago that I would never…ever part with…surfed everything from 2 foot mush to double overhead hurricane swell and that freakin thing is just all around awesome. For some reason I can’t bring myself to even copy it!
Seems you are the go to guy for bonzer info…so whats the biggest bonzer you ever made or help make? I’m just thinkin about it…scaled up say to 8’7" - 9’2" …Kinda my goal in shaping to take some really traditional shapes (I hate the word retro) and scale em up for big guys like me. I am also daydreaming about bonzer LB…
Woody, I have seen a bonzer longboard over on the Surfy Surfy website. Check out the archive over there. It was somewhere between 8’6" and 9’0".
I thought bonzers didn't work in small waves!? I want to hear more!!
the pic i posted was from surfysurfy :-)
but sure they work in small waves , i have an bonza egg from a local Newport shaper that works very well in small waves . will get some pics up soon because it has homemade runners and the fin cluster is moved forward .
also from all the bonzer boards i have tried i think the 3 fin versions work best in smaller waves and are not so back foot dominate .
wavecraft ,
awesome boards
Xander ,
fins unlimited or true ames can make you the fins or marlin bacon for bamboo or pulwonia .
Thanks guys for the complements — Ya woody you can shape any kind of board with the Bonzer fin configuration and they all work great in a verity of wave conditions depending on the hull design. Some hull designs are better for smaller mushier conditions and other for for larger faster steeper waves. Point breaks beach breaks what ever. I’ve made everything from 5’10 fish and egg types to high performance short boards like the ones in the pics, 7’ range fun boards, 8’ range mini LBs. I shaped a 9’6 Bonzer LB for a guy a couple months ago, they make great nose riders. Ive even shaped 8’6 to 9’6 guns that have been use at Todos and Mavs. So go for it. They are different than Thrusters they have a different feel. But If a guy is looking for an all around board to surf in a verity of wave conditions a tri fin is probably a better option. Here’s an old promo pic taken at Sharky’s in Oxnard of me and a bud back in 1989 with the old logos. I’m on the left.
this little thing goes mad in small waves , as you can see it is a bit different than a cambell bros .
I like the smooth contours of the double concave hull on that one. Looks great. Also the runners with a more vertical back edge.