I just got back into surfing after laying off for 8 years. Wow did I miss it! I’m 64 and having a ball riding again. I’m an accomplished shaper and laminator and have been around surfing since I was 12. I started shaping in 1966 and have shaped just about everything. My favorite board is a 1966 Bing David Nuuiwha Noseriding Model which I still own (serial # 6638). I’m back shapping again and currently making myself a 9’6" noserider 19" nose, 23 wide, 15 1/2" tail and 3 1/4 inches thick. I’m here to share my knowledge, learn something new and have fun.
So this guy is looking at my 10 foot longboard on Sunday…He likes the board and wants to known how wide the tail is…I say I don’t know…does it matter ? He picks up his Surftech and walks away…
63 and still shaping. Can’t wait until I retire from my main gig and make some boards without orders! Started in 1968 by making a Velo Spoon. Turned out pretty good, sold it for what I had invested in materials. Surfed my “secret spot” with only 20 guys/gals out on Sunday and caught my share and had lots of fun. It’s all about the turn,trim, glide, etc…, whatever floats your boat. Help out the newbies and keep the skills alive…Just my 2c!
Welcome back! I to took yrs off but got back up and moving down the line…arms just need more strength
! Maybe a bit more,stamina… I’m planning a 6’10" or a 7’2" in the 21"- 22 1/2" wide range to build up speed and power again. my first wave was sweet! Although my board is slightly hard to control. Will be designing another board soon. Have fun!
Yeah I can relate to that. I’ve been back several months and my shoulders (rotator cuffs) have been killing me. The doctor says ICE them as soon as you get out of the water. So I am and it is helping. Getting much stronger. I’m retireing In March moving to Huntington and going back to making longboards and doing surfing & Boudoir photography.
Very Cool Mike. Great to have you here. I’m 66. Had a little back trouble lately which keeps me outta the water at times, Got back into shaping and glassing in the "90"s. Love it. If you are moving to Hunington: I highly reccomend hooking up with Steve Albin at Aloha Glassing in Westminster. If you need a shaping room for free and a Master Glasser; He’s the guy. Minchton does all of Robert August’s boards outta that shop, Great guys. They are next door to Foam EZ… Shoot me a PM if you need more info. Welcome bradda. Lowel
Thanks that’s great advise. I’ve been talking to Moonlight glassing so far. I liked what I saw. I’ll finish my rocker jigs and a few other fixtures tomorrow and then hope to shape my board Thrusday after I get done surfing Doheny. I can’t wait. I’m still haven’t made up my mind if I’m going to ad V to the tail or not. I’m clear on deminsions and widths but have a few ideas I may implement. I’m using a US Blanks 9’8" Yater and I’m going to ad tail rocker and take out some of the nose rocker. I’m also having my logo’s made and a floral T-Band to ad to the glass job. I call my boards Surf Boards by Hart. So far I’m having fun reliving all this. I’M BACK!
Welcome aboard, Capt Mike. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Please try not to get offended by the “know nothing no it alls.” Most of us are just hobby shapers. Mike
I was there once too. You can’t grow and get better if you don’t try and keep doing it. I had a lot of fun growing up during the Hey day of surfing. I feel like it was a preveledge! I have gotten to do things that you can’t do today, Surfed places that are gone today and watched the industry go from Longboards to Short boards. I opened my little shop in Torrance in 1969 and made shortboards and had so much fun. What upsets me is how the modern surf culture has forgotten its roots. If we fail to remember our history and the mistakes we made we’re doomed to repeat it. I’m glad I got back into it and I will preserve as much of the old culture as I can.
Capt Mike - I just had a crazy change of plans as to a build idea. I
Like how a short wide board almost hover through the slop…or bowly mushburgers!.. I wasn’t crazy how they look, but I started thinking boards aren’t always pretty that work well… so I decided to scrap my other plans and go full bore w mini simmons offshoot thing! But a slightly narrow r diamond tail. Not my idea of a slightly pulled in tail. Tyler Warren does it on his - that’s how I got the idea! I’m not copying his neat little plank. But I’m taking a few concepts, and changing to long board nose in the 19" wide range… maybe 18 1/2" tail …I think wp at center? Pls if anyone could help out w the basic ingredients I’d be Stoked!if you really and can use one yourself - id be be delighted to carve you one out if you supply a blank.so far I went to two blank suppliers look n for a second quality blank for s simmons board but no luck. Might have to chop down a longer blank?
Welcome capt Mike. Is Captain a Military rank, Sea Captain or fund memories of Capt Kangaroo?
63 years young here.using
here.Usein a lot more sunscreen on top my head now. Got a bad shoulder and a great attitude. looking for the day when I can make that move to Costa Rica or some other tropical location with good surf , Cerveza and cheap living. Welcome great place to learn a few things and spead the love and some BS.
Read again! It’s ME who’s asking if anyone could give me some specs to a sims design…I got a few last night, but not sure if its traditional? The plans to build a offshoot sims thing. Anyway, id just like a few guidelines in design. Namely the planshape, bottom & rails…heard they don’t have any tail rocker, and just 3" of flip n nose…I’m a wonderin about bottom design? I’ll try utube…
Well the name Capt Mike came from an old surf buddy of mine Doug Wright that use to work for me. He would always get pissed when I had him do things exactly like I wanted. So it became a joke when the other emplyees would ask Doug how to do something, he’d say, “well go ask Capt Mike!”
He passed a way a few years ago so it kinda stuck. Keeps his memories alive.