I got out of the water this morning after getting some knee high, glassy peelers. As I was having a snack this guy comes up the beach carrying something that looks like a fish, but not quite. I asked to have a closer look. Turns out it’s a Simfish by Joe Bauguess, and it apparently came out Mike Eaton’s shop. The guy bought it on Long Island and paid $1000 US.
I'm happy that a surfboard sold for $1000. Joe B claims to be the "inventor" of the Mini Simmons. I do not wish to dispute that claim. Joe B went on to get a trademark or something on his design. I do not wish to dispute that claim...
The day the "mini simmons" hit Swaylock's people all over the world started making fish versions of the board....fact or fiction? you decide........
My surf buddy owns a real Mini Simmons shaped by Joe B. Nice work Joe. I love the board.
Who copied Who......What came first...the Fish or the Egg?
I say the SimFish came from Sway's.............I'm nobody.............Stingray
variations of this board are being made all over southern california and have been for quite some time, they seem popular and look like a lot of fun; Swift just happens to recruit top names and has good marketing imo, good for them for getting top dollar; there are many other shapers I could post variations they are doing, but Larry Mabile’s shapes get a lot of attention, and I think it is warranted; his white pony and ghostbuster are all over the internet with people raving about them
I’d love to try the board Sammy posted in waist high waves, bet it lights boring stuff up and with the round nose and belly it may not exactly “outrun” the wave as a standad keel fish seems to be good at doing
John Cherry took his Simm-21 and carved a fish tail in it and made it a quad, seems to be a good variation on the Simmons themed boards
I have one of his Simm-21’s and the thing is more fun than one could imagine
these boards make small waves a lot of fun, and no need for 9+ ft of board, my 7’2 Simm 21 picks up ripples and trims beautifully, and you can jam it in heavier surf too
just commenting on this post, no horse in the race, just sharing
Funny. People argue constantly on here board builders are under paid. Then a board builder gets paid a premium price and people say the guy charged too much.
Not responding to reverb’s argument. I get what he’s saying.
The value of an object is what someone is willing to pay for the object.
The fins are nice. Could be Gephart’s.
Cool board, Sammy, thanks for showing it. It looks like a fun board for summer surf. A great alternative to a 9’6" . I doubt there are very many Sway backyarders that could duplicate that shape or foil fins like Gephart.
When you reply to a post, the poster you are replying to is shown above your post. If you fill in the blank box at the end of a thread, it will show up as a reply to the original post. If there is a specific post you are replying to, then you click the reply link at the bottom of that post, and your comment will show as directed to that person.
But not everyone is aware of that, or cares, LOL. Sometimes I remember to pay attention to who I am replying to, and sometimes I just post without thinking about it.
I thought the original post was about the board, but for some reason its become about the price. I figure if the buyer was happy with his board, and the seller was happy with his check, then it was a good deal for them. Shoot, some people pay $1000 for two tickets to a Madonna concert that they can only use one time! I guess its all relative.
I've spent way too many late nights on Swaylock's.com. Backyard hacks have been building this type of fish for years. Spooned out nose...basic wood fins....hey,,,maybe a concave deck??? Neat board...nothing new...not worth $1000. Yes,,,I live in San Diego County.
Ray
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Not sure why this message was directed to me? - its not my board.
I've spent way too many late nights on Swaylock's.com. Backyard hacks have been building this type of fish for years. Spooned out nose...basic wood fins....hey,,,maybe a concave deck??? Neat board...nothing new...not worth $1000. Yes,,,I live in San Diego County.
To each their own, you are entitled to your opinion. You can call this a backyard look, but I prefer the "done by hand" look over slick computer-produced logos which are everywhere.
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and regarding the fins: you can tell me these are foiled asymetrically, and maybe they are, but my eyes tell me otherwise. I'm not a great fin foiler, but I'm good enough to know the plywood layers tell the story. If the fin is foiled differently inside than outside, then the plywood layers will not appear identical.
I guess if I look hard enough, I can see a slight difference in the glue line around the exterior layer, like maybe he flattened out the center a bit more on the inside? From the glue line back they look identical, to me.
also, Im not base the board quality on the shaper s name, not at all.
The shaper is only the shaper and normally he do not rely more on the board than just that
letting all other in other hands.
For example, if I was him, I really care about the logotype quality, only to name some important stuff.
The shape is good you can say; alright, possibly, but in the last 25 years I have been checking many boards that are not so right like the shapers name or the marketing branding that they have.
Im not new in this industry and try my best always; that s pictures do not show any best
…I consider important all the package; my customers pay for a complete board; of course, the design is the deal, but I d not know how an outdated design is the real deal…+ those materials + not have the control of final product or do not mind about it.
this is my point of view and is not a p—ing match; hope you understand my point
The yellow tinge is a result of early morning light and my polarizing filter. The board looked rather pristine in person.
If you base a board’s lineage and quality on how the lam was done, you are on the wrong wavelength and frequency. It has an Eaton lam between the fins. The pedigree is not up for dispute.
Swift is one of those super-groovy hipster things, and the fins have to be plywood, double-foiled, and set dead straight so you can do a proper of job of pretending it's 1971 and you're too cool for school.
…I see about the price but check those yellowing spots everywhere, bad quality foam, not older or abused board. Where the polished gloss coat? Fiber not so translucent on the stringer and those pale-Black-without-White-base-low-quality-paper-water-tinted logos (pro logotypes are not done with those tints and papers)
so, too much money for that “hype-for hipsters” board, even 250 less