I recently found this G&S Skip Frye on craigslist, and would love any info about the board and some suggestions on the needed repairs. As you can see from the pics, it has the “factory error” wings with the “Skip Frye” below the wings, dating it between 1981 and 1983. Its a single fin, 7’8" x 20" x 3", and has the numbers 562 and 78 written on the deck above the stringer. I assume that the “78” is there because it is 7’8" long. It has two major repairs that I want to redo - the busted tail piece and the fin gouge to the side. It looks like the fin gouge was repaired by pouring resin into the gouge to fill it up. The yellow color is a resin tint. Given the size and shape, my guess is that it was designed as a step-up/mini gun for steeper/hollow waves.
My tentative plans for repairs are as follows: get some color matched latex paint, sand down the tail piece and paint it to match, and then glass it clear over the top. It will not look perfect, but it will be better than it is now. I think trying to match the resin tint will be nearly impossible, but I am willing to try if the consensus is that it is the way to go. I have no experience with resin tints. With regard to the fin gouge, I’m torn between trying to pull out the big hunk of resin and just leaving it there, color-match painting over the top of it, and then wrapping it with cloth. If i pull it out, I’d glue new foam in with polyurethane glue (gorilla glue), color-match paint it, and wrap with glass.
it is definitely different. the only other similar board i’ve been able to find online is this one. i was thinking '81-'83 because it is a G&S board, Skip returned to G&S in 1981 (not sure when he left though), and the only wings logo with the “Skip Fry” written below the wings was in use from '81-'83, during the time he was at G&S. i don’t think the stoked 'n board link only applied to his non-G&S time, as it notes that some of his boards “may have G&S numbering without any letters” it is hard to believe it would be from the '80s though, as when the thruster came on the scene the single fins disappeared for the most part pretty quickly. fwiw, the leash cup appears to be original, so it probably is at least post 1975 or so.
edit:
i just noticed that the wings do not have the registered trademark symbol, so according to this post by Bird, that would make this a pre-1976 board. i’m going to see if i can bring it by the shed for Bird to check out. Artz, it looks like you nailed it.
I’ve repaired boards with those issues and always tinted the resin to match. If you paint and glass, it won’t look nearly as good. My advice: repair the foam, dig out any dirt, mix up some resin samples and play around with the tints until it is close. Generally the tints dry a little darker than they look as wet resin. I got resin tints at Benjamin Moore Paints, but if you look on older threads here, you can find other coloring agents that can work well with resin. Good luck. That board is definitely worth the effort to restore the best you are able.
If The letters in your user name" LJ" are for La Jolla you can go right to the source and et info on that Board. Also some of the best of the best in Surfboard restoration work in San Diego.
artz, i am in la jolla, and i exchanged email with Bird and am going to bring it by the shed. from the pics, he said at least 1975, maybe older. since i will be in the area, i’ll take a shot and see if Skip is around his shop.
Cool looking board. Every once in a while Larry would revive the old red rectangle logo and the dealers would complain about it. (I’m the guy who would hear the complaints).
I would think it’s a custom order for someone who was riding the reef breaks around San Diego. Skip would get custom orders like that because you could stand there while he shaped it. He would often write the customer’s name or nickname and maybe even a message or name the board if it was for one of the “bros”. It would be written on the stringer and would be hard to read after all these years. Look close.
Thanks Bill! Definitely a cool looking board. All I’ve found written on the board is the number 562 on the deck above the stringer, and following a space and the number 78. The guy I bought it from thought that the “78” may indicate it was made in 1978, but I’m not convinced of that. The wings do not have the copyright mark, which I’ve read generally indicates pre-1976. I emailed pics to Bird Huffman, and he thought 1975, possibly older. I’m going to bring it to the Shed for him to check out when I get some time. I think rather than the year, “78” may be shorthand for the fact that the board is 7’8" long (which it is). I have a G&S Modern Machine that also has a “78” on it, and is also 7’8" long. However, I’m not sure when that one was made either. It too has the old red rectangle logo. I’ll post back when I get any more info.
Skip and Bird are good friends. Drive two miles from La Jolla to the Shed and drop off the board. Why are you e-mailing photos when you live right down the street? I'm stoked on your vintage find........Go down and talk with Skip and Bird...... Heck....I'm headed down to the Surf Shed on Monday afternoon......hope to see your board there so I can get a history lesson................Stingray
I’m thinking the 78 may be the size too now that you mention it. I’ll bet there’s a ’ between the 7 and 8 that is just invisible after all these years. It seems to me that they did write the size after the serial #. I don’t think it would have occured to anyone to write the year.
Funny how things work in this surfing life.....A friend of mine just scored some Aloha Racks from Bird....old and rusty...go perfect with his old VW.
Today I went on the Bird's surf shed web site and there's a little video about the Shed....and some footage of Bird loading a yellow board just like yours into his car....cooool stuff......might even be the same board..........For this project I say pay the money and keep it in the family.....Have Joe Roper fix it right. The board is a classic. Have fun! Surf more.....Stingray.........
i took it to Bird the other day, and he was in agreement with the things stated here - it is ~ circa 1975, the “78” is because it is 7’8". he said the swallow tail was a little unusual, but not that rare. he said he had one in the rafters of the shed. i’ll probably end up taking it to ropers for a going over.
