I have owned this board for 25+ years and only dared take it out on smallest days better than 15 years back , due to its weight and my lack of talent and helmet. Not much paddling these days due to neck injury of 8 years back.
Anyways, I once tried to chase down info on this awhile back as I have not seen many of this era with multi-stringers. I think someone once said that the two outside stringers are some type of higher-density foam (appears a bit lighter in color) that shaper was perhaps experimenting with (perhap for bigger days?). Outer stringers appears to have wood on either side of the two high density, lighter colored stringers for a total of five wood stringers (I’m good at maths, haha).
Board has obviously seen a lot of action/repairs in its lifetime and was gifted me by someone on Central Coast of CA; I don’t immediately find a number as I see on other boards, but perhaps someone can tip me off on how to most easily do so. Would also appreciate knowing more history on year shaped / shaper and more on the stringer design!
Actually 3 Stringer HD Hansens are more common than you think. Do a search of the Swaylock Archives for “Hansen Surfboard” and you will find quite a bit of info on Hansen and his operation. A fair bit of info divulged by one of Hansen’s original shapers Bill Thrillkill. I am surprised that there is no pencil mark of some kind on the board. The shapers marks and numbers were explained by Bill in the Archives. 3 stringer Hansens were as common as 3 stringer boards were from other Manufacturers of the era. The only manufacturers that did more than the average builder were Hobie, Gordon and Smith and Harbour. High density foam was used for stringers and tail bocks.
I would say take a really hard look at the stringer. A flashlight and a magnifying glass. The stringer may have darkened over time and obscured the pencil mark. Unusual that a Hansen of that era would not have a # and identifying initial.
Much appreciated, OSS, I will for sure have a look through the archives once i’m able to plop down on my PC. New to this site and thankful for the depth of knowledge here.
Looking at the Red fin and the outline makes me think 1965 or a year or two older. Previous to that date most fins on Hansen boards were what was called the “747” fin. Which was a fin that consisted of a Mahogany center with white opaque fiberglass on both sides glassed on. I am thinking this board may have been ordered by someone who was a loyal Hansen rider who wanted a Hynson “Red Fin” style board of the era, but didn’t want to buy such a board from Hansen’s main competitor Gordon and Smith. The high density foam stringers and tail block are a one up from a Hynson board. Even the outline is almost Hynson.
yep, thanks, OSS1, I just watched a cool YouTube of Joel Tudor riding and commenting on a couple Ref Fins and towards they end he mentioned Doyle - Hansen (https://youtu.be/goHRNPejIeo?si=tx38jT2_blWOL7wJ). This board is shaped dang close to those in his video, but managed to stay on West Coast, ending up in Central Coast (and now home in north SD).
Yeah it has come full circle. I lived in Pismo for many years. Wouldn’t be surprised if I knew who gave it to you. That board was pretty special to whoever shelled out serious $$ to custom order it. It’s always been my view that Hansen’s crew churned out a lot of boards. In the “Collector Scene” you run across a lot of Hansens. I never set out to own any originally, but wound up with three at one time. Still own one.
Had a Hynson “Red Fin” just like the one in the video. Rode it too. Good rider. Heavy. You could get a blank from Millennium with the right thickness in it to shape one. When I hear comments made by great surfers like Tudor about how he doesn’t know where you could ever find a blank thick enough to shape a Red Fin these days. Or; That you could probably get a block of “Styrofoam “ and make one out of that. I cringe. What statements like that tell me is that Tudor is a dumb f—#. In that entire video he didn’t make one correct statement about those boards. He did surf it though. And in waves that it was Not designed for. I have changed my mind about Tudor and his abilities. I don’t think he could ride anything including an ironing board. I think he can only ride Noseriders with all the bells and whistles. The same kind of board that any fair ability surfer could ride. Oh yeah! And you need that professional well paid photographer to be their in just the right spot.
Having ridden this board in no more than waist high surf, I agree with your and Tudor’s assessment of the weight and speed of this style board. It was a pleasure to ride in mellow conditions and from its shape I never expected it to be a nose rider. Sorry if his comments sent you over the falls, OSS1, but i did appreciate the comment that if you wanted to impress him, go out and catch some waves on this and proceeded to say that he also had his kids ride similar boards to appreciate what they have. Lastly, the name of the guy I was gifted this board by was Jim Hall; I understand he has since passed away, and had been living in Santa Maria and had stopped surfing some years prior due to a bad knee!
Jim Hall; who at one time was partner and owner of the original Central Coast Surf Shop? No Tudor didn’t send me over the edge. But since he has a company that manufactures Surfboards under his name; you’d think he would know a little about the whole process. What blanks are available? EPS (styro-foam)would never make a board of that weight using normal production methods. You’d think he’d know that?
Hynson’s original Red Fin was designed for at least shoulder high hollow waves. I took mine out at Pismo Pier and rode 3–4’ waves. It backside turned pretty easy and I was able to walk it up. But it was no tip rider. I also rode a Pismo Beach Surf Shop 3 stringer there too. It was a better rider. Sold them To Pancho. They both hung in the ceiling of the Surf Shop for quite awhile.
There’s a YouTube video of Hynson discussing the Red Fin. There is a brand new one in the video. Sure is pretty and White! Clark foam never looked as white as Arctic, U S Blanks or Millennium. Even right out of the mold. And Marko(the best EPS foam) isn’t heavy and dense enough to build a board with that kind of drive.
I’m sure this is a different Jim Hall, but will ask my bro-in-law, who was good friends with him. The Jim Hall I find connected to the old CCS appears to still be around on Facebook.
