Hi all! I’m here chasing the dream of makin a living being a surfboardshaper.
I haven’t posted much but i’ve learnt so much from reading the archives and “lurking around”
and I hope one day that I can proudly tell my customers or anybody that i learnt shaping and glassing from Swaylock’s
I really want to participate more but I’m one of those who doesn’t talk too much…but I’ll do my best in the future.
a BIG THANKS to mike and everybody paricipating!
Jimmy Yoshio Shibata.
I got turned on to this forum by Drew. This site has been a great resource, a great inspiration, and has allowed me to give tips, wherever appropriate, to other budding shapers.
Does anyone know how I could donate a few bucks to Swaylocks via Paypal? Everyone should throw in at least a few bucks!
Hey Joshmosh - there is a big button at the bottom of the page that says “KEEP SWAYLOCKS ALIVE” – that’s the Paypal link!! Maybe it’s not obvious enough…
I usually don’t scroll down that far, but it’s good to know. Thanks!
OH! that’s what its for. i’d suggest that for the more computer illiterate, such as myself, you might want to put underneath what i thought was a logo of some sort, the phrase: " PAYPAL LINK".
because i certainly don’t mind dropping a few dimes in the drawer to keep this site going.
and i’m here because i’ve been building my own boards on and off since the late 60’s but not with any formal sort of technical framework. just doing and learning after a minimal introduction in '68 by some very minimal (i.e.: inexperienced) board builders.
i confess to having used a power sander to turn rail bands. its quick, but not too accurate. i’m in remission from that now, thanks to swaylocks.
Hey Ambrose was that the same Yater that was one of 3 that came here for you,Don Moses and Bill Hillard in 76’ that you sold to Andy Melamed and he then sold it to me for $65. After changing the fin it was one of the best boards I ever owned and it now resides in my personal museum. I can’t remeber how I came upon Swaylocks but as soon as I did I knew I had found a home away from home. I saw that I had some experience that could help others in our business or ones desiring to get into it. I have also learned things here because of all the knowledge available from all over the world. When I first started glassing boards a new guy did an apprenticeship under a vet and you learned what he knew and if you moved on to learn more from the next vet. After that you start the live and learn, hit and miss process of advancing your knowledge which was how it was done back then. Swaylocks makes it possible to learn from people that you would never in a million years get to meet in person. The archives are like the most extensive manual of surfboard building, and it’s available to any one who has the itch to build boards. If we as independent back yard buiders are the enemy then we are becoming a bigger army all the time because of this site and will continue to grow as the thorn in the big guys necks. Who knows, we may even be teaching the big guys some tricks of the trade because of our massive brain trust. Just remember that every board built because of this site is a board with more soul than what comes out of the big factories and when you think about it we are an educational site also. Aloha,Kokua
I remember the first time I was first aquainted with Swaylocks. It was a cool Summer day in August, my friend Boone and I had just gotten back from a surf at Sawyers Beach in Rye, NH. It was a goodd surf. The off-shore winds made some of the waves hollow. Anyways, Boone sat down at his computer desk and went to www.swaylocks.com . I remember him showing me the fascinating surfboards that were located in the Photo Archives. I was amazed by the website. When I got home the following day, I immediately ran to my computer and became a member. The kind people that are a part of the Swaylocks Community were more than happy to answer some of the questions I posted as a thread in the forums. Being a newbie to the website and at making surfnoards, the people here greatly helped me out and have helped me to better improve my skills at the craft. I feel very lucky to have come in contact with Swaylocks, and you should be too!