Anyone know when Phil Edwards stopped shaping? Someone is trying to sell me a 9’6" Hobie Edwards model, that he’s claiming was shaped by Edwards. He’s claiming that it is about 5 years old and in good condition. could this be the real thing? Any way to tell? I’ve seen pictures that show it’s clean except for a ding in the nose. Triple stringer. Single fin. What are my chances that this is a real Edwards shape? Thanks, Eric
For what it’s worth, I was leafing through a Surfer Mag from about 1987-1990. I had to toss it, all that neon was giving me a headache. And the spandex guys boardshorts made me want to vomit. In the back I noticed a small ad placed by Mr. Edwards for classic shapes. These were not Hobies (but who cares), but done in the same 5 stick -glassed on fin style as the 60’s. All for about $400! If I were into surfing back then I would have jumped all over it. I’ve ridden a clean Edwards 5 stringer in overhead winter Rhode Island; they weigh a metric ton, and turn like a school bus. Sweet boards all the same. In '89 longboarding was only starting to come back, and judging from the other ads in that issue, puke green & pink wetsuits and boards were still the rage. It was like ‘the Breakfast Club’ goes surfing. A total old school volan board would have only had somewhat limited appeal then. Or would it? This might be one of those boards. If so, don’t hesitate! My 2 cents.
Thanks J max. If it’s a real Edwards - it’s a good deal. Otherwise it’s nothing special. Apparently this guy has a friend on the east end of LI who had ordered this from Hobie/Edwards and sold it to him cheap. If it’s only 5 years old, that puts it about 5 years later than the ad you saw. I have my doubts - but if it’s real …? Truly if there is anyone who knows a way to tell if this is a genuine Edwards-shaped board I’d appreciate any help. E>>> For what it’s worth, I was leafing through a Surfer Mag from about > 1987-1990. I had to toss it, all that neon was giving me a headache. And > the spandex guys boardshorts made me want to vomit.>>> In the back I noticed a small ad placed by Mr. Edwards for classic shapes. > These were not Hobies (but who cares), but done in the same 5 stick > -glassed on fin style as the 60’s. All for about $400!>>> If I were into surfing back then I would have jumped all over it. I’ve > ridden a clean Edwards 5 stringer in overhead winter Rhode Island; they > weigh a metric ton, and turn like a school bus. Sweet boards all the same.>>> In '89 longboarding was only starting to come back, and judging from the > other ads in that issue, puke green & pink wetsuits and boards were > still the rage. It was like ‘the Breakfast Club’ goes surfing. A total old > school volan board would have only had somewhat limited appeal then. Or > would it?>>> This might be one of those boards. If so, don’t hesitate!>>> My 2 cents.
Anyone know when Phil Edwards stopped shaping? Someone is trying to sell > me a 9’6" Hobie Edwards model, that he’s claiming was shaped by > Edwards. He’s claiming that it is about 5 years old and in good condition. > could this be the real thing? Any way to tell? I’ve seen pictures that > show it’s clean except for a ding in the nose. Triple stringer. Single > fin. What are my chances that this is a real Edwards shape? Thanks, Eric Eric, I have a similar 9’6" board to what you’re talking about. It’s the 5-stringer classic model with a super heavy, wide center stringer. It’s a great board. A friend gave it to me. I first thought it was a 60’s model because of all the battle wounds, but hesitated because mine has a fin box. So that told me it was shaped later, closer to the 90s. I later confirmed this with my friend, who then told me he bought it either in '92 or '93. It was his first board and he basically pulverized it on the Malibu rocks. Anyway, here’s how I can tell mine is a genuine, Phil-shaped plank: He signed it on the center stringer, deck-side, towards the tail, just below the Hobie logo. Ask the seller if his board has Phil’s signature anywhere on it. If it doesn’t, there’s still a chance it’s the real model. Your discovery has confirmed my earlier guesses that the model was, in fact, re-issued in the early ‘90s in a limited quantity. There’s the possibility that someone else may have helped out on the shaping too. At any rate, if it’s a fat-railed, heavy-looking plank that has the Hobie logo on it, I would venture to say it’s worth the money. Mine is a freakin’ great-riding board! But definitely try to find a signature on it first. Hope this helps, deeb
Thanks deeb. I figured that I’d either have to take it on faith or call Hobie with the # (assuming there is one). I’d be buying it to ride too, so as much as having an Edwards shape would be great, investment wise, this might also give me a welcome change from my other boards. If I buy it, I’ll post back. Thanks again. Eric>>> Eric, I have a similar 9’6" board to what you’re talking about. It’s > the 5-stringer classic model with a super heavy, wide center stringer. > It’s a great board. A friend gave it to me. I first thought it was a 60’s > model because of all the battle wounds, but hesitated because mine has a > fin box. So that told me it was shaped later, closer to the 90s. I later > confirmed this with my friend, who then told me he bought it either in '92 > or '93. It was his first board and he basically pulverized it on the > Malibu rocks.>>> Anyway, here’s how I can tell mine is a genuine, Phil-shaped plank: He > signed it on the center stringer, deck-side, towards the tail, just below > the Hobie logo. Ask the seller if his board has Phil’s signature anywhere > on it. If it doesn’t, there’s still a chance it’s the real model.>>> Your discovery has confirmed my earlier guesses that the model was, in > fact, re-issued in the early ‘90s in a limited quantity. There’s the > possibility that someone else may have helped out on the shaping too. At > any rate, if it’s a fat-railed, heavy-looking plank that has the Hobie > logo on it, I would venture to say it’s worth the money. Mine is a > freakin’ great-riding board!>>> But definitely try to find a signature on it first.>>> Hope this helps,>>> deeb
Eric: If you end up getting in touch with anyone at Hobie, let me know how you did it. I have an older late '60’s/early '70’s longboad I would really like to know about. I’ve got the serial no. but never a reply from three e-mails to Hobie. Thanks! Tom Sterne>>> Thanks deeb. I figured that I’d either have to take it on faith or call > Hobie with the # (assuming there is one). I’d be buying it to ride too, so > as much as having an Edwards shape would be great, investment wise, this > might also give me a welcome change from my other boards. If I buy it, > I’ll post back. Thanks again. Eric
Try getting in touch with Stewart (SP?) If I recall correctly, they re issued this through their line right at the beginning of the resurgance in long boards, early 90’s, They were also pushing the boards with the Hobie lable at the time. There were a series of ads, similar to the ones by Robert August where the shapers were there with there models. You may be able to find these ads in …er and …ing of the period, or some of the first issues of long boarder. This model did exist, I heard good things, but could not afford one at the time. Also, if I am not mistaken I think I saw one of these at the Longboard Grotto a coupe of weeks ago when I was there. Good luck with your hunt for, info. If the board looks and rides well does it really matter who shapped it?
Only reasons I’d like to verify the shaper is that a real Edwards would be worth more than a ‘model’ shaped by someone else for resale. If this is a real Edwards and is in very good shape, it is a good deal (I’m also wondering if it could be hot…). If it’s a ‘model’ board I should get it for a little less $. If I get it, I do plan on riding it. My other boards (an unsigned 6’10" Channin, and a 9’6" Bunger) are not big ‘name’ boards. When purchasing the 9’6" from Bunger a few years back, they had an Edwards-Hobie that Charlie Bunger said was not for sale. If I could have, I would have bought that one, a truly beautiful board.>>> Try getting in touch with Stewart (SP?) If I recall correctly, they re > issued this through their line right at the beginning of the resurgance in > long boards, early 90’s, They were also pushing the boards with the Hobie > lable at the time. There were a series of ads, similar to the ones by > Robert August where the shapers were there with there models. You may be > able to find these ads in …er and …ing of the period, or some of the > first issues of long boarder. This model did exist, I heard good things, > but could not afford one at the time. Also, if I am not mistaken I think I > saw one of these at the Longboard Grotto a coupe of weeks ago when I was > there. Good luck with your hunt for, info.>>> If the board looks and rides well does it really matter who shapped it?
So find out if it has a number and call Hobie. They may also be able to tell you if it’s hot (If I had something like that ripped off I’d probably put the word out.) Besides, it’s kind of cool to trace it back. I have a Doug Haut step deck - #239 - and called them to find out when it was made (7/3/66). They really got a kick out of hearing about it and told me who bought it in the first place. I love the history and lore of surfing…>>> Only reasons I’d like to verify the shaper is that a real Edwards would be > worth more than a ‘model’ shaped by someone else for resale. If this is a > real Edwards and is in very good shape, it is a good deal (I’m also > wondering if it could be hot…). If it’s a ‘model’ board I should get it > for a little less $.>>> If I get it, I do plan on riding it. My other boards (an unsigned > 6’10" Channin, and a 9’6" Bunger) are not big ‘name’ boards. > When purchasing the 9’6" from Bunger a few years back, they had an > Edwards-Hobie that Charlie Bunger said was not for sale. If I could have, > I would have bought that one, a truly beautiful board.