Carson, Weber, Jacobs, Takayama, Velzy, Hobie, or Harbour? Who do I choose? I am narrowing it down. As you friends know, I am going to buy something name brand and new. I have never done it before. Every single board I ever owned (except my first, a Morey-Doyle) was custom made. Every single board, and by local shapers (or myself). This time I am going to buy off the rack, just this once. I want a solid old-school noserider. I would prefer 60-40 rails, but I’ll consider 50-50. I have narrowed it down to the following shapers: Carson, Weber, Jacobs, Takayama, Velzy, Hobie, and Harbour. Only the Takayamas are for sure shaped by Donald. The Velzy’s are done by computer, and I’m okay with that, since they are exact duplications of his work. Carson will shape a board, but he also has other people doing work for him. How would I know?. Many people are telling me to go with him. Who shapes the Webers, Jacobs, Hobies, Harbours? I have no idea. Are they plugs? Beats me. But I do know this: I will pay about 700 for a Carson, Jacobs, Hobie, or Harbour. I’ll pay about 800 for Velzy, and the Takayama I want (a hand shaped 10,0 Model T) is $1036 out the door, from HIS shop in Oceanside. That’s a HELL of a lot of money. I have lots of local shapers that can make me the same thing for about 500, give or take 50 bucks, but I have never owned a name brand board, and at 34, I deserve it. I work hard, and I am going to get one. Oh, and this aint no wall hanger either. I can’t stand that crap. I’m riding it, no leash, sand bottom beach break or rocks, I don’t care. This thing is to be surfed (along with the other seven boards my wife says I don’t need). Keep in mind I want to noseride 1-6 foot surf at Cardiff, Trestles, and (for the first time) Malibu. Turning isn’t an issue. I weigh 205 and I’m strong. (but speed is important to me; that’s why I am leaning toward 60-40 rails). I like concave noses, but it isn’t a must…is it? So, out of those shapers, what’s it going to be? Swaylock’s crew means a lot to me. The advice is always great, so I’ll listen. What would you do?
i am pretty sure that DooDoo’s duaghter shapes for him since he is dead.
Dewey Weber is no longer with us.
Me me me me me me me me me me me me me – only in aMErica
There are a lot of good noseriders out there, including the ones you listed. You might also consider a Cooperfish Nosedevil. They’re beautiful boards and lots of guys swear by them. Look at Cooperfish.com. They sell them at Leucadia Surfboards. Maybe I’ll see you out at Cardiff. Doug Schuch
Go talk to Hap.
This question cracks me up. Look at this list of guys. DT is the only one who has surfed in the last 35 years. Weber is dead, until recently Jacobs was out of the industry since the 60’s, Velsy didn’t even make it to the noseride era, and Carson is a Malibu burnout. The only ones who actually shape are DT and Harbour. Above someone mentioned the name Steve Seabold. Here’s a guy that’s been shaping for 40 years and has shaped more boards and shaped for more years running than all those guys combined. He’s not a drunk, he hasn’t been in jail and he didn’t quit surfing to bust bronks. And surfs a hell of a lot better than any of them. There are lots of quality craftsmen around that are far better than the name brands. Find one of them.
Mercedes, Ford? Nah. Buy a Fiat or Citroën.
You say speed is important to you and you would like to pose on the nose? Seems like an oxymoron to me. Roger
From what I’ve heard not too many of the masters shape. Most have a stable of qualified ghost shapers. If I were to go looking for a name brand board, I’d just go by instinct. For me, if the board feels good, holding it, sighting it down, weight,etc. it usually works. That’s how i would do it. Check out the shops, when you get to the one thats for you you’ll know it.
d.t.'s are machine shaped for the most part.handshaped d.t. up’s the price. harbour doesn’t shape much anymore,except for special orders. what about dick brewer? same deal as above.
Yeah, I know, I know. The board I really want is a Takayama. Yeah, he got in trouble a couple times, but he never stopped shaping. The board I like feels perfect in every way, and looks perfect too. They won’t even take a deposit. He told me that I just had to buy it or not. The only problem is the price of his boards. They are ungodly expensive, but I guess that’s what happens when you want an original. The board I want is, like 975. With tax it will be exactly $1036. Holy Ship that’s a lot of money! But, hey, it comes with the fin. AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! The Velzy’s are exact duplicates of his shape, run through the KKL machine, which is appealing to me (sorry purists). The Carson boards are really good, and he is a real noserider, so he knows what they should be like. He may have burned out, but I don’t care. His boards are good.
dude that list is way too long, way to many designs to go through there and they are all different. go the takayama, it will noseride and paddle, and the model T will still turn.
Velsy? You’ve said it all. Check your facts. Check yourself. With all due respect to Steve Seabold, my favorite of the modern day G&S shapers, here’s my take…actually it’s not my take it’s the take of a few guys that you might have heard of from the opening pages of Tales of the Hawk out of volume three, number three of the Surfer’s Journal: “Velzy…you know he always was a little whippy. I asked a bunch of stuff a couple of years ago. I said, Dale your the genius, you did all these Al Merrick boards way before Merrick, and he just shrugged and said, ‘Who me?’” Joe Quigg “Without Velzy there wouldn’t be a modern day long board. Basically what the shortboard people are making with the wider tails and the abruptly pulled in noses are just a takeoff on Dale’s bump boards.” Donald Takayama “Only a few guys ever produce a single masterpiece in their career. Dale’s been turning them out for decades.” Skip Engblom Fairmont, Listen to guys like Foamdust - Go grab a rail and see what feels best to you.
At your age you should be beginning to appreciate true custom quality, and be willing to pay a fair price for it. About DT: if you stop and consider who he is and what his years of surfing and craftsmanship represent, his boards are actually worth MORE than hes asking for them. So what if someone else can copy them for less? If thats all that really matters, then go for the lowest no-name price possible. You may get lucky and end up with more than you paid for, too. But youll still regret not buying the DT. From my point of view, good surfboards are currently under-priced, and the best ones are dirt cheap. "... I have never owned a name brand board, and at 34, I deserve it. I work hard, and I am going to get one." Rule #1: you dont deserve anything. You could have just as easily been born with AIDS in some dogcrap 3rd world shithole excuse for a country. The asking price for a DT may seem like a lot, but thats only because of your twisted idea of what fine surfboard prices should be. So what if DTs price stings a little in the short term? If its the right design for you, youll never regret purchasing that board in the long run. If you dont like it and take good care of it, the DTs resale value will only increase. Either way, its a win-win situation. You also get to learn a few of lifes little important lessons along the way. Rule #2: money talks, and bullshit walks. You already know the right choice. Just buy it and go have some fun.
DT does not hand shape his boards. bobby Sakota does most of the work after the machine [kkl].I know, I use to be his sanderfor many years. But DT’s designs are the best out of all the above mentioned shapers. aloha weez…
I asked DT to make me a board, I wanted a 11 foot nose rider. He lafted at me. Velzy made me 3 boards, as I was trying to work my way down to just what I was after. I called him up for the next board and he told me he was not interested in making me another 11 footer. Hap made me a great board I loved that board but I lost it and many others in a fire at my place. Lance Carson has worked with me and made me some great boards. He has a new line out that sounds just like what you are after. I bought a Weber and sold it in the first year. It did not have the nose ride that I was hoping and my son said it was a slug. Like I said I have Velzys, Haps, Eatons, and Lance Carsons. When I go out I grab my Lance Carsons. Yes Hap quit shaping, when every tom dick and harry could make a short board. So did Velzy. Hap still surfs, Velzy can just berrly stand up on the ground. Velzy has some real Problems with his back, and feet. Harbour, has two knees that are made of steel. Harbour surfs but only in warm water,(good chose) Rich will make you a board but you have to pay the price. Lance Carson quit surfing when a kid at the Bu. Called him a old fart and told him to get off his wave. Most of these guys use the machine to ruff out there boards, but it is still there shapes. I’m 56 years old. I can not shape a board but I do know what I like. I have them all and my number 1 is Lance Carson classic 60s model.(Hap and Lance worked this one out in the 60’s so it is the best of both of there minds) Price’ie but well worth the cost.
I have a Model T which I keep at my Bro’s over in Oz and it’s peachy!! I’m pretty sure it wasn’t shaped by DT as I picked it up in Byron in OZ, and I think one of the local guys shape for him. But, so what? The quality of the board is knock out (I would have still bought the thing without the DT lams on it)and it rides really well. It’s just a really nice board that does the job. But, then so does my 9’6 Blacker (Top local shaper) for half the price. Get off the fence and get in the water Regards Peaman
get a Harbour “19”…or a Banana.
You’re messed up dude!