After building a board similar to the webers ski (http://www.swaylocks.com/node/1029108?page=122#comment-1485311) now I want to start with my first longboard in wood/eps…
And it shall become someting like the performer in 9’6.
I’ve read a lot about it, but never have seen on in real life, so my questions:
does anyone can give me a hint towards the rocker, rails and bottom shape?
best regards from germany,
Andi
Here’s some info from boardworks on the Weber Performer:
Dewey Weber PERFORMER 9’6" Epoxy by Boardworks
The Performer is the most popular longboard of all time. We’ve used
Dewey’s wide template to make an exact replica of the 1967 design. Dewey
designed this board to meet the needs of every surfer in all surf
conditions. It’s easy to paddle and catch waves on and it turns on a
dime. It’s the world’s best noserider and with the refined rail line and
bottom rocker, it will enhance your riding experience.A transition
shape designed by Dewey and Nat Young in the early 70’s, the Feather
Fastback is a single fin pintail built for speed in the pocket and large
carving cutbacks. This shape offers the versatility and maneuverability
of a shortboard with the trim, glide and paddle speed of a longboard. A
great board for long hollow point breaks and reef passes.
Here are the Dimensions of PERFORMER:
Model Height Nose Width Tail Thickness Fin Setup
Performer 9’0" 20" 23 5/8" 16 1/2" 3 7/16" 10" Hatchet
Performer 9’6" 20" 24" 16 1/2" 3 1/2" 10" Hatchet
Performer 10’0" 20 3/8" 24 1/4" 16 7/16" 3 7/8" 13" Hatchet
Thanks for posting these informations, but this is exactly what I already know…
I’m looking for more detailed informations regarding rocker, rails and bottom shape.
I would contact Steve Albin at Aloha Glassing. He’s been glassing the Weber boards for years and Mike Minchinton shapes all of the old Robert August replicas. Between the two you’ll get some great info.
thanks for the hint!
wrote an email to Steve…
AndiHL. I want to know about the rocker and rail shape too. Did you find out anything?
Dewey made three differant models of the Performer. The rail could be anything from a fairly full 50/50 to a thinned out “knifey” 50/50. The primary differance in the three was the width and fullness of the template. You’ll be making one from pictures unless you know of someone in Germany that may let you take a look at one. Yes Steve has glassed many Weber blanks over the years. The primary shaper and finisher for Weber over the last ten years or so has been O’Keefe. P.S. Didn’t mean to leave out the great and honorable shaper Harold Iggy; who worked with and shaped for Dewey thru the glory years. I was told that Harold heped the Webers start things up after Dewey’s passing and shaped a few “Iggy” Performers as well. Sammy A has access to good media referance. Maybe he will see this thread and post up some pics. of Weber Performer adds from that time period. I remember one that featured all three Performers.
I have a friend that has an original Iggy-shaped Perfomer from the 60’s but it’s a distance from me so it may be a while. Let me know the specific dimensions you want.
hey petec,
I’m interested in the following informations:
how much nose rocker?
how much rail rocker?
what kind of rail in nose-, middle, tail-section
bottom shape: any concave? concave to flat to vee?
you need not measure exactly the whole stuff, but the more information I can get, the closer I get to the original.
Didn’t get informations from Steve so far…
I had an Iggy Shaped 9-6 in mid 1967 . I actually ordered one shaped by Harold just before Christmas in 1966 and it was deliverd to me 1st week of august 1967 and 2 weeks laiter I had to leave for the military. I thought it was the coolest board in the world and want to make a 10 ft out of balsa wood just for old times !
My scanner is down right now, so I can’t provide any images.
But, I know this. The early Performers were quite different from later batches that preceded the reduction in length below 9’. First iterations were less refined and had softer, fuller rails with a narrower outline. In very short succession, there came a new configuration with more width, thinner nose, and knifier rails. During the evolution of the design, they were offered in three widths. Even the skinniest one was pretty wide. From what I can tell the same template was used for all variations and the width changed by adding a wider stringer. The most extreme being a colored foam t-band option that was easily 2" wide. My best friend in high school had a later one, and I recall it this way. Wide thin nose with a bit of scoop. Almost a stepdeck, but not quite. Rails were pretty much 50/50 and fairly thinned out. Plenty of belly in the nose starting about a foot back. Transitioned to a near flat, soft belly. Significant kick in both nose and tail. This is all from memory. I’m talking about 45 years ago, at least. If I can get this damn contraption (scanner) resurrected I’ll try to post scans of ads.
I’ve got an Older Performer. Been a while since I put a tape on it. I believe it is 9’3 or 4, and over 24" wide. I can barely get it under my arm. Weighs about 28 lbs. 2 inch wide balsa stringer. Flowers and giant red WEBER letters on the hull. Got it at a yard sale in NJ for 90$
It does not have much rocker. Belly nose to tail. 50/50 rails but perhaps 60 /40 in the middle to 2/3’s up. Came without a fin, I glassed in a F/U hatchet back when I was no good at working with fiberglass, but overkill kept it in place.
I surfed the shit out of it for years in the early to mid 90’s and take it out a few times a year now and it earns me enemies better than my other traditional longboards.
Surfed it once at terramar with DT in 96 or 97, he said there was a good chance he shaped it.
I had a longer performer too that had the original fin. I think about 9’10" 23 wide range with an exaggerated flip in the nose. Board always slowed down when within 2 feet of the tip. Didn’t ride that one much as the other one rode better and the 9’10" was in really good condition. Sold than one in Santa Cruz a decade or so ago for a healthy profit.
reccollections of a 9’8 three stringer Performer with hatchet fin, that I rode for 4 months, 66’ I think, while it’s owner was laid up from a motorcycle accident and I 'was taking care of it"…almost 24" wide, low nose rocker, thin nose to what I would call medium full 50/50 rails, flat up front to moderate belly, moderate tail kick with fairly wide square tail…could stand on the nose and have lunch, maybe take a nap…
another guy in the gang had a 9’8 Performer as well, year newer if I recall, had much more rocker, when we traded rides in the water thought it was a dog, much less glide and way too much push when on the tip…