Does anyone remember the Hansen Strato-Glas boards…all the talk re: Helium, gas, too much flotation etc. reminded me of these unique contributions to trial and ERROR attempts. I had a 5’6" Hansen Strato-Glas twinny in 1969. It was soooooooooo boyant I couldn’t set the rail and turn the board. (of course I probably only weighed 90 lbs.) It was hollow in the center with an air plug in the nose. It was guaranteed not to break. I hated that board so much I jumped up and down on the deck until it caved in and took it back to the shop to get my money back ( hey I was only twelve then and didn’t know any better) I still have a little belly board version of the Stato-Glas. It’s almost as good as the day we bought it! JC
About that same time '68-69, there was a manufacturer in San Francisco that was making hollow boards with Hexcel fabric/mat (Aqua-something as I recall). They also had a nose plug (to keep pressure from building up from heat). They were a bitch to duck-dive. They had a real unique feel, very damped. The best thing about them was they would bounce off the rocks at the Lane (this was just before the wide use of leashes). They leaked at the rail seams and the fin box. They were too expensive as I remember and only a few guys rode 'em. A lot of old timers were riding the hollow long board models. I’ll bet there’s still a few lumbering through the Cowell’s line-up today.
About that same time '68-69, there was a manufacturer in San Francisco > that was making hollow boards with Hexcel fabric/mat (Aqua-something as I > recall). They also had a nose plug (to keep pressure from building up from > heat). They were a bitch to duck-dive. They had a real unique feel, very > damped. The best thing about them was they would bounce off the rocks at > the Lane (this was just before the wide use of leashes). They leaked at > the rail seams and the fin box. They were too expensive as I remember and > only a few guys rode 'em. A lot of old timers were riding the hollow long > board models. I’ll bet there’s still a few lumbering through the Cowell’s > line-up today. Aquajet Honeycomb- the plugs were shaped by Mike Croteau. jim dunlop
Is he still around? I loved his French Air Force logo. His stuff was the kine for the Westsiders in the '70’s. Newbs
Aquajet Honeycomb- the plugs were shaped by Mike Croteau.>>> jim dunlop Jimbo…you are the surf trivia King! JC
Mike shapes at M10 on the westside(or at least did last time I saw him)
Jimbo…you are the surf trivia King! JC nah. i just cherry pick the ones i’m sure of. i defer to herb in that dept. cheers. jim dunlop