Gettin' back into shaping

General Discussion
1

The other night, after watching “The Endless Summer” on TV, nostalgia got the best of me and I

typed “Degroot & Mason surfboards” into Google (that was the name of the boards I used to make back

in the mid 60’s in Point Pleasant,NJ). I couldn’t believe it but I got a hit. It was a thread on

this site from last December. A guy named Rascoe, who is a collector of old boards,was thinking of

buying one and wondered if anybody had any information about them. One of the people that responded

was Jim Phillips. He told Rascoe where and when they were made and that I was the shaper and

partner in the company. I still remember the first time I met Jim. I was glassing and glossing for

“Surfboards East” and was trying to learn how to shape when Jim walked in. He was shaping for

“Tinker” West at Challenger East at the time. He saw me struggling along not really knowing what I

was doing and said “no, no, no,… let me show you”. He took my planner and proceeded to

demonstrate his skill and technique. I will always be in his debt. It was a life changing

experience. For the next 10 years or so, besides having my own small shop for awhile, I shaped for

several shops up and down the east coast from Rhode Island to Florida (even shaped a few for some

friends while living in Encinitas,CA). What a life!!! It’s been awhile since I shaped my last board

but just last fall my brother and I started talking about making a couple for ourselves and getting

back into the water. Finding this site has really fired me up so I’m ready to get started. Things

have changed a bit in the last 20 years so I hope some of you guys will jump in here and give me

some advice. I assume from the chatter in this forum that Clark is still the foam of choice? If not, what are you using? For myself, I’m going to make 7’6" rounded pintail, 22" wide with 17" nose and 16" hips. It’s a

template I used in Florida and it was a lot of fun in the average, small surf. In the Clark catalog

I’ve been looking at the 7’11"R with natural rocker. What do you think? Would this be a good blank

for a board like this? My brother wants something about 9’2" in a geriatric shape (you know

something easy to knee paddle and very stable). The 9’4"B or the 9’5"S would seem to fit the bill.

Have any of you shaped one of these? And what kind of resin are you using these days? I’ve seen

#249 mentioned but I’m not familiar with that. If that’s what you’re using, who is that

manufacturer and where can you get it on the east coast? Sorry to put you through the ramblings of an oldtimer, but I’ve still got my eye, I’ve still got my hands and I’ve still got my planner (Skil 100). Can’t wait to get started…

2

Hey Gene

Good on ya for getting the stoke again.

I’m in a similar boat, shaped back in the '60’s and early '70’s, about 600 total, but haven’t touched a planer since (have Skil and Craftsmen from old days, Bosch in the garage).

Those were the blanks of choice, but nowadays, a thinner blank needing less skinning makes for stronger boards. Resin and glass appears to be unchanging, except for the laws against shipping volatile chemicals thru mail.

Hope you recapture the stoke, I’m heading in the same direction.

3

Where are you on the east coast?

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Gene, I’ve only shaped a few boards for myself and some friends, so I don’t consider myself anywhere near being a journeyman shaper. But in answer to your questions, the 7’11"R sounds like a good blank for your board. As for the 9’2" the only thing you might want to consider is whether the blank will be thick enough for your final shape. The 9’5"S is rather thin @ a little under 3". It’s more suited for thin high performance longboards. The 9’4"B might suit your needs better if you need a thicker bland. I like my boards to be durable so I usually use the Clark Green weight instead of the lighter Blue weight. I send my boards out for glassing so I really can’t comment on resins and glass. Good to hear you’re getting back into it, I’m sure there are things you can contribute here from your experiences. Jim Phillips has contributed a lot here in the past, I havent seen him here lately but yeah he is a genius.

5

I’m in the mountains of western North Carolina. The outer banks, which is where I’ll probably do most of my surfing, is a full days drive from here, but once I get my board built it won’t seem like much of a trip…

6

Thanks for your reply foamdust, I really apprecitate the input. Any idea where the nearest Clark dealer is to the Outer Banks of NC? I’m going there for a week the 1st of May and would like to come home with some blanks…

7

Where’d you do your work back in the 60’s? And where are you now? Are ya itchin’ to hear the whine of that planner again? I am…

8

Hey Gene, as well as the 7’11’‘A check out the 7’10’'R, it has a fuller foil and a little more old style rocker.

9

Here’s one in NC, maybe some better I don’t know.

http://www.geocities.com/Pipeline/Halfpipe/9483/

10

Thanks for the link. I don’t know where Pt. Harbour is, but I’ll find it. What ever the drive, it’s better than shipping. Looking at their site, they’ve got everthing I need. One stop shopping.

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Thanks, the place in Pt. Harbor has both. I’ll check them out when I get over there

12

Hey Gene

I lived in SanFrancisco, shaped a hundred at home at 45th and Santiago, then the rest out in the projects at 3rd and Underwood for the local shop. I glassed all the ones from home, but they had two glassers, PeeWee and Ralph Ehni, who were excellent craftsmen who care about details. Ralph moved on in '72 to Loco Motion, in Oahu, and became quite famous for his pychomodelic spray jobs.

I’m thinking of going down to SCruz, Doug Haut’s, and borrow his shaping room for a couple of hours. Haven’t figured out the glassing yet, since I live in an apartment with no extra room. He should let me use it, as I’ve ordered over 200 boards from him in the '80’s.

Still have to make my 6’4" template and one for a 8’ gun.

13

Go for the 7’10"R. You have more choices than you would with the 7’11"R.

14

Gene,

The Clark factory is in Melbourne, Fla. You can order blanks from them direct or through Surfsource.net. I use Surfsource and have had absolutely no problems. The guys (and girls) there are great and knowledgable. Resin of choice is Silmar brand although I use an Eastman brand that is readily available in my area. Good hunting!

Krokus

15

Gene-

Check out www.foamez.com for all your board building needs. We ship blanks to the East Coast (NC) all the time, shipping to a business for up to 12 blanks is $85.00 http://www.foamez.com/cf/shippingInfo.cfm. We can get the blanks to you within 5-7 business days of when you place your order. Give us a call or email for further information. Good luck with your re-entry!

16

When things like this happen, I think the whole surfing community owes a big debt of gratitude to Mike Paler for putting Swaylocks up and keeping it running! Great Stuff!

17

Oh my God! Gene Cottrell. You shaped me a board when I was about 18 at Oceanside Surfboards. I didn’t know you were still alive. Board was great, by the way. Got me lots on photos in the mags at the time including the centerfold of the 1971 Surfer Photo Annual. Nice to hear your still with us.

18

Howdy Gene…small world.I remember Degroot and Mason.Jim Phillips taught me to shape in Rhode Island.I went down to Oceanside in the mid sixties with California Shaper Wayne Land,when we both quit Glass Research in Jacksonville.I was a beginner in the industry (18 years old).I had become Wayne Land’s “gofer” and he was going to apprentice me in the shaping bay.I was told to hit the road by Bill Feinberg ( I almost cried).Later on I got with Jim Philllips.Jim and I grew up in Hawaii building backyard boards before he went pro with Tinker.As for shaping…do it.I quit after 25 plus years and went right back at it.The new close tolerance blanks will throw you off.One Skin Pass per side and you turn the rails.Back when we started you had to mow 10 pounds of foam off the old blanks before starting.Welcome back…you will get lots of help around here.I got a lot of help from Guys that have factories…the young guys seem to be happy to have us old Dinosours around.You will be amazed at the reception you get if you knock on the door with hat in hand.I have a standing invitation to shape a few in 5 different places and I ain’t that good anymore.Retro is popular in some circles, and they like retro boards shaped by us Retro Geezers.Don’t trip on that Planer Cord.

19

Howzit Mr. Clean, You were friends with Wayne, I met him thru my mentor Gary Thernagle(spelling) who owned PLastic Fantastic. Wayne used to take care of delinquent accounts receivable for us if you know what I mean.Aloha, Kokua

20

Hi Gene,

Pt Harbor is about 10 minutes north (and west) of the northern part of the Outer Banks, on the main highway heading toward the bridge over the Currituck Sound. Depending on your route in from the mountains, you may end up driving right past it.

Good luck

JN