It’s been some time but here’s the most recent news on my 1962 Hobie. After receiving a copy of the template for the original fin from Danny Brawner and then buying a nice piece of Red Oak I took everything down to JR and pal Dougs shop. He removed the fin box, created a small piece of stringer which was glassed back into place then created the fin and attached it to the board. Here he is busily sanding away.
http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y374/Hump_photos/033%20-%20Copy_zpswup59y6t.jpg
And here’s what the new fin looks like on the board. I didn’t take these pics and can’t seem to get them to load directly for some reason, but click the link then come back to the thread etc. as required.
Here’s the board overall. It’s currently on display at the Storm surf shop at Tofino and may be ridden soon if things go ok.
And finally, here’s the late Don Van Dame on left with the also late Jim Van Dame on the right. The Paul Newman board was shaped in a lean-to shaping bay attached to the old barn behind Jim’s place and designed specifically for the right hand point break at JR. Note also the early “hipster” look from Jim, with the socks and sandals, the fixie bike, the hat and the long-coat he was ahead of his time. We spread his ashes off the point after one last ride on the Hobie in a plastic bag back in 2010, which was the last time the board was wet.
http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y374/Hump_photos/photo_zpss1s6vnnz.jpg
Take care.