A person posted a board online and believes it was made in the 70s. Shaped by Slingerland.
But, it has a leash loop hole drilled through the box instead of a plug.
Did Mike shape more SA boards in later years? StokedNBoard says he shaped for them from 1971 to 1978.
Also, I do not recall the loop through the box method being used until the 90s. Can anyone state the approximate time frame when those were first done instead of a plug
?
So this is a single fin with a Bahne/Fins Unlimited box? Can’t say when someone first started doing “drill thrus”. Like you I had not seen it done until the 90’s. Before that it was leash plugs, on deck leash loops and holes drilled in the fin. One thing for certain is that Slingerland was a master shaper. He never got the credit or fame but he was as good as anyone. I can say proudly that I owned a nice Thruster that he shaped. Glass-on fins and leash plug, mid 80’s. I was living in Ocean Beach for a year or two raising two kids under 5 years old single handed. I got a couple of outstanding days at Coronado/North Island during a pumping South on that board. Pipeline lefts with a sand bottom. That board ripped. Had it to my self one day and then a couple of other guys showed up the next day. No cameras and surprising how so few people even thought of that place on a big South. They were probably up at Big Rock and Windansea, hasslin’ for waves and yelling at each other.
Yup. Never saw the hole thru box until the 90s. But, a skilled person can add one and make it look clean. I did a few myself over the years. not claiming any special skillls, mind you
Yes they are an excellent alternative to a plug. Too bad Slingerland didn’t get the rights to “Surfboards Hawaii”. His shaping abilities could have made the brand successful again and made him some $$.
