My buddie is going through a move and he recently re-discovered this old hollow longboard. He said the board bellonged to his wifes father and after he passed years ago the board was given to him. My friend just stuffed it up into his attic. He now wants to semi-restore the board and hang it on his wall.
So the question is...who shaped this thing? The only logo is the little fish and the logo on the tail. I kinda think the logo on the tail was added when there was some ding repair done. The old wooden fin was replaced with what looks to be a homemade fiberglass version at some point. Actually all I can say for sure is the fiberglass fin doesn't appear to be original, I can't say for sure if the original one was wooden or not.
I have to think the board is hollow as it only weighs fifty or so pounds and sounds hollow. I'm no expert on old boards so maybe I'm all wet.
Any information would be appreciated...hope the pics come out...
Man, it really sounds hollow. I have to say I really am kinda ashamed I can't say for sure. It just has a hollow sound to it. I guess it could be solid balsa.
Also, the decal on the tail is obviously not OG. And my buddie said that the father-in-law said he had it since the '40s. I'd really love to find out who shaped it or any other info. It's a really pretty board.
put it this way… Id keep it. Some may even guard their life with it. Get to know the mother in law if she is still around. Do your research. Love those knifey rails. Give us a close up of the nose where the finish is worn and a bottom shot, look for a concave in the back. Solid balsa boards aren&t that difficult to find. I like the looks of this one though.
It is unlikely it is from the 40’s, most likely mid 50’s, maybe early 50’s at tops, the logo is a tip off, anything earlier did not have logos, especially screened logo’s
I’ll add a third on Jim’s assessment. Solid balsa board. Maybe 54 to 57 vintage. The logo and fin are probably original to the board. Both items tended toward the ‘crude’ in those days. Not unusual to see a glass fin on a balsa board.
Hey guys thanks for the help! So you gys think the board is shaped by "Islander Custom Boards"? I was told that that logo was not original to the board...and the placement seems odd. Especially since the logo is directly under an area that looks like it ha some sort of repair done.
So back to my question...how rare are these? Is this one in good shape for one of its kind?
The decal placement on the subject board, is ''normal'' for the era, up until about 1960. Check out photos of early 50's Hobie, or Velzy/Jacobs boards.
Thanks everyone for the help! I was kinda hoping somebody out the knew who the shaper may have been or where it was shaped, but oh well...it is a really nice board and my friend is pretty excited about it!
