Tom Blake Hollow Surfboard

General Discussion
1

Does anyone of plans and dimensions for a Tom Blake Hollow Surfboard. (Water Sled)

Thanks

Dennis

2

The plans were published in Popular Mechanics way back when. I don’t have the plans. But, I’ve got one from the 40’s hanging here in my office. Here’s a link for dimensions.

http://www.surfresearch.com.au/00000315.html

3

Thanks

I have all that information. What I am looking for is actual plans and dimensions that you can build from.

Dennis

4

Dennis Tom Blakes Hollow Surfboard plan was published in Popular Mechanics July 1937. Check out millionmagazines.com or google Popular Mechanics back issues.

5

This is about as close as you’ll get, unless you can get your hands on the PM issue

6

this is very timely…I think I’m going to sell my 16’ Bark and build myself a blake-style

hollow paddleboard.

something nasty and bastardized between a SUP and the unlimited class knife shapes.

7

Thanks everyone for your help. I found what I was looking for at surfresearch.com.au and The United States Patent Office.

If you google water sled that will take you to surfresearch.com.au, Gartner: water sled 1933.

Dennis

8

i wrote to popular mechanics and they sent me a photocopy of all the goods,the board is under way after looking at the plans for 5 years

9

I just ran across these images of the 1937 PM article at Wetsand.

http://www.wetsand.com/article.asp?locationid=1&resourceid=6809&ProdId=0&CatId=117&TabID=0&SubTabID=0

10

here is a paddle I made in plywood thanks mr blake to show us the way

11

12

i have the issue of the popular mechanics if youd like a copy of it.

13

been away from sways for a while, but real keen to explore interpretations of t.blake’s paddleboards. just dropping in to keep this thread alive.

14

So in light of keeping the thread going… I wanted to share the recent restoration project I took on. A friend found this old Catalina that was really beat up over the years, including being fiberglassed and having multiple layers of paint applied… As you can see by the pics, the board was not in the best of shape so I decided it would not hurt to go ahead and see what I could do to restore the board. I am pleased with the results and feel the board came out better than I had expected.

The following link takes you some photos and a brief description of what I did to restore.

http://www.cyclonesurfboards.com/blake.html

15

makes me wanna make a model.

just to warm up.

scrap balsa would

be easy to make a 6’er.

rip scraps to like 31/16

or less and just glue

fk the screws

it could weigh in

like a feather.

ohhhh the imagination unleashed in procrraaaassssssssssstinaaaaation

heck I could stall ten other jobs…

…ambrose…

16

…very cool

in which place your friend found that board? seems very difficult to find one…

keep it

17

hey nev- post some pictures!

18

Howzit Brose, Richard Gomez did an exact copy of the Tom Blake hollow for one of my clients and it is a hanger. One of the most beautiful boards I’ve seen. I will try and get some pics to post since it’s so nice.Finished a 12’ epod wood board ( member of the monkey pod family) yesterday.Aloha,Kokua

19

Kokua,

“Finished a 12’ epod wood board ( member of the monkey pod family) yesterday.”

What is MONKEY POD? Please please please post some pics of this!

Peace!

20

a handful or so years ago a friends’ dad built each of the boys a blake replica.the ride was fun, the project intruigiing. thus, a few more were built by friends.what ened up happening is each spring, when the sun is out but water and wind are still brisk, we have the annual “kook box classic”. no wetsuits, wax, leashes,etc, allowed. go out and get as many rides as you can during your heat. winner is determined by total time spent riding the board.(not the easiest bords to ride)my hats off to the wtaermen who ripped on these things back in the day…