Well, here is my next project, a G and S Skip Frye model longboard-type gun that I picked up a while back. Unfortunately, It sat bottom-up in a fellow’s backyard for about twenty years… a shame as the deck is quite clean. Looking to get her back in riding shape for some Fall Guethary sessions down Balsa’s way.
The restore is no real worry but I’d like to get a bit more information about the board if possible. The seller said it was shaped for mainland Mexico and by the looks of it it could be. Comes in at 9’ x 21" x 3.25" - be happy to give more precise measurements if anyone is interested. Fin appears to be the original volan in green.
Having major problems inserting photos at a dectent size! Love to send the bottom and profile to shots ot someone competent to have them on the thread… I do need computer help!
I’m guessing earlier seventies based on the foil and the lack of a leash plug - but any further info is of course more than welcome. The fin box is loose, the fin itself glassed into the box, about four score and seven years of various dings to fix on the bottom in addition to the stress cracks. I’m thinking that it’ll get patched and sanded on the bottom, the box replaced, and then either a 2oz or 4oz (depending on how bad it is once I get it all patched and fared-in) cutlaped lamination over the bottom to consolidate things.
Originally I thought that I’d tint the lamination, but now I’m leaning towards leaving the battle scars…
A few things to look for on early Frye boards. If no G&S logos but a
Frye wing lam ck. for a R circled between the wings AKA registered
trademark,. If not there it’s probably a pre 76 vintage and a single fin
with no deck plug. May or may not have the penciled wings on it. Older
ones could possibly be just the wing lam with no Skip Frye name below
them. Rare but possible. There were times when he had no lams so thin
paper copies were used. Obviously any thing with multiple fins on it
will be in the early 80’s. If only Jim 05874 is on it with no initials
it would mostly likely be an earlier board too. Make sure he ck.'s for
ANY other writings or numbers on the board. If the board is more of a
full pintail than that would make it an earlier board shape as well. 4
pictures e mailed would help. Full top and bottom shots, close up of
laminate and a final tight shot of the writing on the board is golden. Left in the 73-74 time frame then returned from approx
76-77 time frame as I recall.
I’ll forward a few shots as requested and see what we can come up with. This one is definitely a rider and I’m happy to be getting around to this project at last.
Sorry to jump in here but i have a Frye with the initials P. B.E 69 on it, i had a look here http://stokednboard.surfingheritage.org/pdf/Skip_Frye_Ca_SD.pdf and it would seem the P is Pacific from the Pacific Beach shop and then the B is for Bird and then the E is for Ernie. Just wondered if anyone had more info on what it all means, i assume the B is for Bird Huffman as in your post but i know nothing about who or why on the 2 initials (I am in the UK so i am not excatly at the sharp end of Surf history).
Any info would be great?
I was told the board was a nose rider, it has a full colour Skip Frye laminate with the r in it, and pencil wings. Glassed n Moonlight glassing, its a 2 (glassed) plus one pintail.
Thanks for your help and Jeffrey sorry to interupt your post
I will get some pics as soon as i can. I was just intrigued as to what the initials meant, on the stoked-n-surf site it says Bird and Ernie That just got me curious as to who they were.
In regards to the pictures posted, here are some facts. The board was shaped at Skips shaping booth at my shop.The letters P.BE. stand for Pacific Beach with the BE being used as a combo of Bird and Ernie who was my life long friend and partner at the time. The number 69 means it was the 69th board to be shaped out of that location. This would place the boards build year at around 85-86. Could have been glassed up at Diamond or Moonlight but if no laminate is on it whose to say.
Shortly after this board was built Mike Hynson started shaping out of the second room at the shop. Talk about Ying and Yang right! Hynson had just come back from the Country Club so his brother, John Wilson and myself pooled resources and knowledge to start up Hynson & Company to keep him active and focused on shaping once again.
Thanks for sorting out the picture, i should have previewed it before i posted. The B does look a bit like an 8 in the pics, in the flesh though it is more like a B.
At least the guys in Oz had it the right way round.
Thanks for the great info. Perfect. The board was glassed at moonlight but the logo is not in the pics. I apprieciate your post as i have been really curious about those letters and the year.
Old boards especialy built or based out of the San Diego area are my passion. I currently have around 440 of them starting with a 50’s Simmons and carrying through to a board that Bob Mitsven is shaping for me as we speak. I probably have around 25 Frye’s plus Skip’s shaping bay is just a block or so away from my Museum.
