I have just purchased a G&S longboard. It is 9’ with a triple balsa stringer (center 1/2" outside 1"), blue fin with glassed in box, multiple logos and serial number “0062” on deck side. I would like to know any info on it. (year, model, shaper etc) Thanks in advance!
More pictures.
Probably 1965-66 vintage. Looks like a custom order with that stringer arrangement and pinline, plus the extra lams.
It is not a “model”. If it was one of their models it would be labelled as such.
The serial number is irrelevant as they periodically re-started the number sequence and did not retain records. With no other markings except for a random serial number there is no way to know who shaped it.
It’s a really nice example of a board from that era. You need to fix that ding in the tail, (and any other dings) if you plan to use it.
Also, that’s not really a finbox. They routed a slot into the board, lined it with fiberglass, and did a compression fit to install the fin. When this board was built G and S wasn’t using boxes, yet.
Topping this, just to help bury more Asian spam
Sammy thanks for the info. The approx year made is very helpful!
Vince
…as I told you when you texted the pics to me. Wow. Great example.
Looking through my file of old G&S invoices to Keller’s Surf Shop I came up with Invoice # 0065 dated 11/30/67. It has two SS models both 9’10. One has serial # 0563 and the other 11265 which would indicate a new stack of order cards from Palm Printing in P.B. had been started.
A good guess would be that your board was made in the fall of '67. The #'s on succeeding invoices go on up numerically into 1968.
I always look for multiple clues when dating boards. Especially in a case like this where, as Sammy say’s. it’s likely a custom order. Maybe even a “personal” so the shaper could have written anything as a serial#.
The other clue to '67 as the date would be the deckpatch indicating a single glass job. Although I do remember some single glass jobs in later '66 they were prevalent in '67, era of Midget’s Stringerless and Skip’s models.
I sent a photo to Jim Phillips and he had seen this post. He called me to talk about the board (and some other stuff). He had done some boards for me with offset balsa stringers. We talked about how not many shapers today like offset stringers, especially out wide.
Believe me I know ever since I did the balsa with the offset red stringers (video on youtube). Took me several re outlines to get that one right. A microscopic sized dip in the red foam stood out like a sore thumb because of the contrast.
Anyway Jimmy and I were guessing who might have shaped it and since this was just before my time at G&S I couldn’t give a good answer. I know Paul Bordieri was there then and Hovde (sp?).
Maybe one of the old G&S guys could let us know.
Hey Balsa,
Any tips on shaping boards with offset stringers? I have had difficulty in the past when shaping boards with these types of stringer configurations because I also tend to get dips in the foam near the offset stringers.
Maybe Jim Phillips or someone knowledgeable in this are will chime in and help or perhaps start a new thread. It would be an interesting and worthwhile subject.
In my case it was a balsa board with cedar and red foam t band sandwich off sets. So I was getting the dip in the red on the last pass of sandpaper. After a few re outlines where my 10’7 became a 10’5 I learned to quit sanding just before it dipped rather that just after. But I’ve learned with balsa that you have to do as much with the planer as possible because you get the waves and dips once you start sanding anyway. The nature of wood. Hard areas and soft areas. You can find the video of the board on youtube. Just google my name and building a balsa board.
If I were doing offset stringers I would be using a block plane and razor plane to do most of the work near those stringers rather than sanding, screening or surf forming.
Balso Bill, I have watched that video. That is one good lookin board! Amazing work man
Block plane, mini plane, razor plane. Exactly right, Mako.
Hi Bill,
I checked out your video, awesome job!!! I sent you a PM.
Still looking for any info on the board.
Thanks, Vince