Hi. These hae been in my wifes family as long as anyone can remember. I recently dug them out of the old collapsed boathouse based on the legend of their existence. The plywood, seam to seam is 11’4"- not standarardized size. They have been repainted at least twice. I’ve sanded ine back to plwood but have seen no evidence of a makers mark. The plywood is in rough but servicicable shape. Im thinking about glassing them to preserve the original materials while making them useful again for the next gen of kids. Does anyone have thoughts on this idea and these boards in general?
Fun stuff! Glad to see you wearing your personal protective equipment when dealing with old paint.
On the new Wooden Board Forum https://www.woodboardforum.com/ there is a Blake thread.
Here is a link to an older thread on an older forum that contains several sets of plans.
For the next generation of kids to do what with?
I would talk to an auction house that specializes in surf memorabilia before I did anything else. You may have already seriously devalued one.
Get the kids a foam and fiberglass board.
Thier value to us is in the continued memories, not so much the resale value. If i can refinsish and preserve them it will be 4 generations of the family that have enjoyed these boards, and hopefully more.
Hi -
Check carefully for a drain plug of some sort. If you are able to find a threaded metal plug that looks like the one in image below, you’ve found a real gem. I’ve heard of counterfeit plugs being made and used on counterfeit reproductions,so it’s not really the ‘final word’. Since you know where those boards have been for such a long time, they are undoubtedly NOT bogus counterfeits.
The ‘Tom Blake/Catalina’ plugs were installed in some of the older boards and if authentic, represent what could be valuable collectables. The valuable ones are likely going to be finished with varnished Mahogany ply and have one of those plugs.
Before you get your hopes up, be advised that MANY boards exactly like yours were made in home workshops, high school woodshops, and in people’s backyards. The plans were widely available and featured in a 1938 Popular Mechanics issue. I would advise you to look them over carefully just in case.
As far as true collectables… Huck has a point about removing original paint but since they’ve already been repainted twice, don’t worry about ‘destroying the patina’ or whatever.
The value to you is obvious and totally valid in my opinion.
PS - the plug shown is likely counterfeit.
I would not have touched them in terms of any attempt to make them usable. A mild cleaning at most. The beauty is in the petina. I wouldn’t have disturbed that. Like stated above these would be varnished.
the nicest one is still untouched but there isnt a trace of varnish on either. I’m sure they were only painted. There is a gap all along the joints between the top and sides where the nail joint has opened up. If i nail these back down will varnish alone keep the water out?
If you are determined to put them back in the water I guess you should use epoxy, filler and possibly glass then a marine paint.
If you are going to re-nail, then get some copper ring barb nails. A boating, or marine supply source should have them. Those things really hold well.
Just found this old post from 6 ago. I’m on key peninsula right near Tacoma. I wonder if these could be McGowan enterprise boards as well. They are awfully similar save for the vent plug. Fun research.
http://www.swaylocks.com/forums/paddle-board-barn-find
In 1937 Popular Mechanics and The Home Workshop magazines published plans to make those very boards. People across the country were making them in their garages based on these plans and taking them to the local lake. If you watch eBay you will see that they come up fairly regularly and in some pretty off places. There was one listing in the upper penincula of Mischigan that was up for ages and the guy set a crazy opening bid of $25,000. I messaged back and forth with the guy and he really thought he had the holy grail. Surf Shop around the corner from my house has one that originally belonged to Grace Kelly the actress who went on to become princess of Monaco.
Somewhere I have a copy of the plans.
In the mid and late 1950’s, when I was in high school, the wood shop had a project book with those plans in it. Several students did build paddleboards from those plans, during my three years in school. As I recall, they were all pretty well built, by the standards then in place. At the time, I did not pay attention to how the vents were handled. I do remember that they had a ‘‘drain plug.’’
Terry Martin mentions in one of his boardroom interviews that he had one and had to go buy a box of corks because his would need drained every 4 waves.
What a great interview! Thanks for pointing it out.
There is a whole series of interviews on Vimeo from the making of the Boardroom movie. If you haven’t seen it I suggest you buy the movie. Its not expensive. I feel it is important on this one to reward the guys who did such a great job of putting it together.
https://vimeo.com/fivesix/videos/page:3/sort:date