I'd like to gather some information about the middle fin in the old 1970's bonzers. It was kind of a half round, about 4 inches deep, and it was adjustable, foe and aft in a fin box. It was pretty odd looking but it worked good. From what I have learned, placement is very critical, so what I would like to know is what was the theory behind the shape of theses fins and where is the best placerment in relation to the side fins? Also,can these fins still be purchaced and if so, where?
“Bonzers were invented in San Diego…”
NO
yep
"I would bet that he has made more bonzers than the Malcom Cambell, because while Malcom was making burgers and fish sandwiches in Hawaii, ACE never let up on the gas"
You can't be serious.
"My comments on the post were more to be in tune with "Bonzers were invented in San Diego..."
WTF?
- Just another example of the legion of the uninformed that is Sways. It's comical in a way.
“I would bet that he has made more bonzers than the Malcom Cambell,
because while Malcom was making burgers and fish sandwiches in Hawaii,
ACE never let up on the gas”
You can’t be serious.
"My comments on the post were more to be in tune with “Bonzers were invented in San Diego…”
WTF?
the image of a powered rolling pin just fuzzes my brain! must have been neat to see.
i get the bonzers suck all the time, from folks who have never tried one, the nature of the sport i suppose.
ole guys (i’m 64) paddlin’ out on boards that suck it really gets them going dosn’t it?
I lamed some new bonzer type fins on a 9-6 I made with a drewen out type 62 fin and Babe it rocked ...I have ben surf ing Oahu for 45 years and still rool most every day
[quote="$1"]
Oh well I am still in the water, gonna turn 62 pretty soon, having a really good time on boards that "suck" and do not work.
[/quote]
I want a squish and a 6-fin fish!
We had a rolling pin with ball bearing handle on one end and a engine Valve welded to a piece of metal with holes in it to attach it to the pin. The special attachment was made at Schnider racing cams. It had to be perfect or the pin would wobble all over the place. We used some really coarse floor sanding paper glued to the pin. The pin was attached to a heavy duty drill motor. It was quite a weapon. Close to 3ft long. I do not have any pictures. That was over 17 yrs ago.
Bonzers were a funny board. I would get flak all the time from people that would say how poorly they worked. I would then ask if they had ever ridden one and the answer was almost always “no”.
Things have not changed too much I still get negative feedback about my Six-shooter’s and my thick stubbie “Squish” type boards. Never rode one but I am sure they suck.
Oh well I am still in the water, gonna turn 62 pretty soon, having a really good time on boards that “suck” and do not work.
.
[quote="$1"]
This is not thrown at you or any single person, just the forum in general: Guys can bag on me all they want, that's ok, I'm used to it and I have super thick skin. It's just I don't want our brain trust getting pissed off and leaving over any form of disrespect. We have had way too many guys leave over that issue. If guys like Ace, Jim P, Cleanlines, Mike D, Surfding, etc. ever leaves Swaylocks without giving every ounce of their knowledge away, then shame on us for not asking.
This site is something special, and some guys don't even realize that. I mean where else can a guy in Kansas learn to build a surfboard from some of the best guys in the industry......fricking unheard of!! And some of the best in the indusrty lurk here to learn from us. (I know this for a fact cause I have had discussion with one of the top guys in the board world)....they lurk and listen.
Ok i'm off my soap box, you can throw the stones now.
[/quote]
I love it. When a guy who says stuff like "Bonzers suck in general. Adding the Pud fins will also make it suck and swallow" can, in the same thread, get up on a soapbox and chastise others for alleged disrespect to industry pro's, well, its the internet after all. Anyone wonder why Malcolm and Duncan don't hang out here LOL.
BTW, Ace didn't say the pud fin sucks, he said it was quirky and some guys could really make 'em work. Close enough hahaha.
[quote="$1"]
The boards I shaped for Eaton, 13yrs riding the electric rolling pin, were different from what i see being made today. [/quote]
Ace - I only shaped one bonzer, and yeah, I did those channels by hand. But I kept thinking that a rolling pin with sandpaper glued to it would be soooo handy. Didn't even know you guys had it all figured out. Love to see a pic of that "electric rolling pin"!!
ACE; don’t leave the bonzer side of the forum, you have too much to give. that said, my question is how was the electric rolling pin used? i have heard about it several times, but most guys that i know making bonzer concaves do it by hand?! IMHO, a poorly riding bonzer is A) poorly made by someone who dosn’t know how or B) not the right ride for that surfer… I have been using the 101 bamboo center fin in my bonzer for three years now and it really makes a difference, once the correct placement is determined
Maka,
Thanks for setting me straight. I get the Cambell brothers confused. water in SD finally warmed up for winter, we have had a good run of balmy warm 65-68 degree water the past few weeks and almost have had waves too.
My comments on the post were more to be in tune with "Bonzers were invented in San Diego, Bing ran with the name/design. Eaton was shaping them. Ace was right there with that crew in OB the whole time. Ace, he's in the know on the bonzer thing, and he helps out guys on this website........absolutely invaluable to the backyard hack.
This is not thrown at you or any single person, just the forum in general: Guys can bag on me all they want, that's ok, I'm used to it and I have super thick skin. It's just I don't want our brain trust getting pissed off and leaving over any form of disrespect. We have had way too many guys leave over that issue. If guys like Ace, Jim P, Cleanlines, Mike D, Surfding, etc. ever leaves Swaylocks without giving every ounce of their knowledge away, then shame on us for not asking.
This site is something special, and some guys don't even realize that. I mean where else can a guy in Kansas learn to build a surfboard from some of the best guys in the industry......fricking unheard of!! And some of the best in the indusrty lurk here to learn from us. (I know this for a fact cause I have had discussion with one of the top guys in the board world)....they lurk and listen.
Ok i'm off my soap box, you can throw the stones now.
Resinhead, Very well said. I hope the pros realize that their advice is deeply appreciated, because it is!
Thanks ace for posting the picture, looks like the front of the middle fin is in front of the back of the side fins by about an inch. Also, the board looks a little like the one I owned back in '77. There was something special about that board, maybe it was the fin placement. late
The boards I shaped for Eaton, 13yrs riding the electric rolling pin, were different from what i see being made today. The fins were further from the tail and we used much smaller center fins aligned with the center of the center fin almost even with the back of the “runners”. I designed a Boomerang type fin, “Black jack”, that replaced the Pud. I do not know or care who shaped more Bonzers, Malcolm Cambell or myself. We have met they seem like nice guys. It seems there is always way to much controversy about Bonzers in these discussion groups. I think I will just stay out of anymore Bonzer stuff.
I don't like the bonzer ride but many do. Just wanted to set something straight: Malcom Campbell still shapes every day, has been for years except when he got sick. Duncan Campbell runs the restaurant in Haleiwa. Has A.C.E. shaped more bonzers than Malcom? Probably not. Heard Mike Eaton has shaped a couple.
Did the water ever warm up in CA. this past summer? I was in San Diego early Sept. and it was balls cold. Hope you all get great waves this winter. Adios
I have sorted this out with"Dansan" I was just being my surlrey sarcastic self. Sorry if I took this in a wrong direction. I really was just trying to be funny. Guess this why i have no freinds.
last time i looked Ventura was a bit up the road fro san diego. more interest by san diego builders when the brothers went looking for some one to build the bonzers for the general public. most of the other guys wouldn’t talk to them, because as we know garage builder never know anything!