Aloha Matt,
The Hansen ‘‘Lopez’’ is NOT relevent. In 1971 everyone was into hard down railed boards with beaked noses. As I recall, those first 18 boards were pretty much in that ballpark. A mixture of diamond tails, pintails and a few odd sq tails. Mostly diamond tails, which had recently come into vogue. The board I’m building will have the same outline, same general rocker, with softer down rails, and a more refined slightly beaked nose. Single thick foiled fin.
Well, the first stage, of the shaping process, is completed. The board is presently 3 1/8th inches thick, so another 1/16th will come off each side to get down to the finished thickness of three inches. The foil, thickness flow, and final rocker is all dailed in. I’ve set the board aside now, and will come back to it in a day or two, and turn the rails and do the final sanding. Then the board will be glassed single 6 bottom, and 6+4 on the deck, and finished with gloss&polish. The foam, US Blanks, was about as good a quality as I’ve ever worked on. Very crisp, no tearing, very uniform cell structure. It was a real pleasure to work with.
I finished the board today. Really enjoyed using my hand planes. Especially the small curved, wood bodied, Japanese plane. My final trim of the stringer, produced shavings finer than tissue paper. That wood bodied plane is a little over 100 yrs old. It is an amazing tool, given its history. Original owner was a boat builder, on Okinawa, at the turn of the last century. The subject surfboard is at the glasser, as I type this. Some photo’s of it may be available either here, or on the website for Bird’s Surf Shed.
on here i hope
and…?
Someone in SD go to Bill’s house get the photos, upload them on this thread. I’ll wait here. This board needs to be memorialized.
All the best
The resin graphic ‘‘Bolt’’ was done incorrectly, so the board was re- sanded. Meanwhile, Bird left for Fiji, before the board was done. He got there just in time for the big storm. He bailed out to OZ, and will be back in San Diego some time in mid March. I have not seen the finished board myself. I’ll be sure to have him take some photos, and have them posted. Thank you for the continued interest.
I seem to remember that you offered to build a gun for Reainhead?? Was wondering what happened?? Did you get it done?? Or-- I’m thinking that was a differant thread.?? Lowel
You remember correctly. No, the gun has not been built. A new board was/is a low priority, at this time in his life. I’m still available, and still game. It’s his call.
The owner of the board, will return from a prolonged surf trip, on March 15th. I’m told that photos will be posted, of the subject pintail ‘‘mini gun.’’ ( a term from the past, eh?)
I’m hoping to get the owner to post up some photo’s of the finished surfboard. I had seen it in the glossed, unpolished stage, and it was looking good. I’m sure it’s finished now.
The finished board can be seen at BIRD’S SURF SHED, in San Diego. Even I was impressed with the finished quality of the board. The glassing quality easily met my standards. Other patrons in the shop were drawn to the board. Lots of favorable comments. A few of the folks there had past North Shore experience, and expressed a real appreciation for the board design. It will be a week or so before Bird can get the board inthe water, due to a recent hand injury. He’ll also display the board at the up coming Boardroom Show, in Del Mar, next month.
But I can’t see shit!! Tunnel vision…
fuel the jet.
That’s badass! Mike
The surfboard, pictured above, will be on display on May 15th and 16th @ The Boardroom show in Del Mar. This show will be featureing Gerry Lopez, as well as have an emphasis on big wave guns. I believe there will be a Hansen gun on display, that I shaped 51 years ago. My, how the time does fly! I’ll be spending some time in the Bird’s Surf Shed booth, to answer any questions about any of the boards on display. Drop by and say hello.
That this is very very nice
