that is one from the day.
many just like it shipped by the container full, to US military bases world wide!
Check out show "china Beach’ all Dextra boards, just like your Gem 
designed by my Pop, for mass production, marketing and sales.
that being said, he popped them out for all the ‘majors’, …
used to say: “I don’t care who’s decal is on them, as long as I build & ship them”.
bottom line: Dad was the first and best in licensing!
- Given your father wasn’t a surfer where did the idea come from to make surfboards, including bellyboards?
engineer who developed injection molding when he saw opportunity by purchasing dying Bohemian surf boards. created a profitable process and marketed the heck out of it. - Where did your father work before getting into making surfboards? Mattress factory
- When were the boards first made and how many bellyboards were made? Dad designed for us kids so we would have something to ride which we could carry
- How many people were employed making surfboards and bellyboards? What was the assembly process? lights were on 24/7. shipping containers being loaded out back and boards being built from start to finish. he used to let us kids come in to get resin and glass to take in to class for ‘show and tell’ day. I remember all the guys with full body suites & masks, covered in glass. and the resin room was a menagerie of color
- Did the design of the bellyboards change much over time or was there just the one model? once things trended toward custom, Dad got out, couldn’t mass produce ‘custom’
- Did Velzy design the shape of the bellyboards? maybe, but doubt it as Dad built the business on licensing for all the majors. he built them, and stuck others labels on them. used to say: I don’t care whos names on it, as long as I build it. FYI: somewhere there is a pic of Dad in front of the Vesley in the HI surf museum (he actually laughed when he saw, what he built was in a museum
- What was the story behind the psychedelic ad in Surfer mag? AWESOME STORY! turns out the 4 color process got jumbled, so TOTAL mistake! But the phones didn’t stop ringing for a year! Cochrane Chase was the ad agent, he ended up opening his own company due the notoriety of the one add (mistake)!!! (I remember wanting to go into marketing / advertising after school, Dad set up appointment for me with Cochrane. walking into the penthouse offices with ocean view, waiting room coved in graffiti art. greeted by Cochran who personally showed me around like a dignitary vs potential employee. even taking me to the archive closet, saying: “my best and most fun work with your Dad and Dextra is all here.” wish I had asked to take some home
- What were some of the brand names for the boards sold to the military and what decals would be put on them? Military purchased Dextra. He licensed for others which typically were boutique surf shop stuff.
- When Accurate Systems was sold in 1973/74 were they still making surfboards and bellyboards? not as much as the market started demanding more ‘custom’ stuff. he transitioned into boats, and military floating stuff (like tsunami buoy’s)
- What ventures did your father engage in after Accurate Systems? oh dear… there are a lot, some very successful, some not: car lots, speck home builder, liquor store chain, private lending, title company, always while active investor in the stock market.
have to say, wish I had half the energy and foresight as Dad, he really knew how to adapt to the times.
red head was hired
skegs were made In TJ mex remember, when shipment hadn’t arrived, one weekend, us kids being loaded in Fred’s car (friend with largest car) for TJ run. Hilarious when the customs agent noticed the tail dragging Cadillac, with kids in the back, and all they find is skegs in the trunk. agents were laughing so really not sure if they were paid off or just thought it was funny no illegals were in the trunk?
Now I’m going to have to think about that whenever I listen to Herb Alpert.
Lovely comment. Your dads name full name was ?
Do you have a picture of your dad with a Dexter longboard like mine. Love to see one. Is there a site that tells the history of your dads story with pictures somewhere . I’m sure people would live to read about him
Wow, questions that were asked 4 years ago are finally getting answered? Love it! Only on swaylocks…
Dextra used typical industrial grade poly resin. There should be no issues of adhesion when doing a repair. That repair person did something wrong if they had trouble getting fresh resin to bond.
They were mass produced inexpensive department store boards when new. They have no real collectible value and are not worth fussing over. Slightly better quality than some other boards of similar origin, but still just a 60s popout. Fix it, and ride it if you want to find out why popouts were looked down upon back then.