Got any stories about the old days? ( I do). Is there anyone around here old enough to remember how it was in the 50’s 60’s 70’s??
Surfboard factorys had an endless supply of eclectic characters. Some of the best craftsmen I ever met didn’t even surf.
Hey that’s my pic Herb! I took that back on Kaui when visiting Tom. What a great dude he was. He taught me everythign I know about board building.
Take care-
Brad
I worked at Channin in Encinitas in early 70’s polishing. Took over for a guy who had broken his hand breaking boards or bricks in a karate class. I was more reliable worker turned out so got to keep the job. Best job I ever had; work your own hours, well paid, working w/ a crew of amazing craftsmen. My name is Geoff. There was already a Jeff working there (the sander) so I was soon called Radar (think M.A.S.H.) as I was short, had short hair and wire rimmed glasses, and was the “straightest” one there (way into meditation so did not even smoke da kine, vegetarian, the works). Then a 3rd Jeff started there as ding repair and miscellaneous. He wore tight shorts and so was tagged ever after as “Buns”. HAH! Too bad for him. Turns out he was/is Jeff Alexander of Pickle Fork fame. He was mad scientist experimenter even then. Early adopter of side bites. Think he independently came up with the idea and despite scorn and ridicule for it, stuck them on his rails to see what they’d do and found the set up to be a keeper.
Not even close to the real story. Made my first 3 fin board in Sept. 1964. In Oct. 1970, did my removable prototype, and by Feb. 1971 was marketing the injection molded ‘‘Tri Fins’’ to other manufacturers. (Weber, G&S, Hobie, etc.) Also used them at Surf Systems, and Surfboards Hawaii, at the same time.
Bill
Wasn’t meant ot be the “real” story. Only a story about a then obscure guy messing around in the shop… People simultaneously or at least independently come up with almost or exact same idea all the time. It is the one who runs w/ it and follows up on the R&D that gets the fame. Or not
Well,since I sold thousands of units, do you think that qualifies as run w/ it, and follow up? I do.
Of course. Not at all trying to take away from that. Not really sure why you would think so?
I don’t. Interesting thing is that the ‘‘fame’’ (credit) never really came. Someone found a small mention, in a late 1971 surfer magazine, about the PressLock fin system awhile back. But nothing else, after that. I know that in mid to late 1970, guys in Hawaii were glassing on ‘‘tri fin’’ rail fins.
It is strange you have not received more credit for all your contributions! But that’s how it goes in our culture,; just the right blend of superficial marketing and glitter, the right “charismatic” winning team rider(s) and the media flock. Otherwise, you hear crickets…
I created the first 16ounce budweiser fin. This was back in the early 70;s when a can was a can and not one of the wimpy ass aluminum one hand crushers we see nowadays.
So anyway…I lost my glass on fin to a submerged jetty. The waves were good so I ran top speed back to the factory to do a quick repair job. There were no fins around but plenty of 16 ounce beer cans. I had consumed several of the beers myself and in a stroke of pure genius decided to glass one on the board.
I stuck it to the board using five minute epoxy and ran back to the break. I was laughed at and harrased to no end but the damn can fin worked and it worked good. I rode it for a couple of hours and lent it to one of the wise ass team surfers to try out. He and I were stoked as hell and figured we would get rich.
Nothing ever came of it because 1) It didn’t look like the dorsal fin of a marine creature 2) We were not businessmen.
To this day I am still waiting for someone to design a fin the doesn’t look like a fin. Until then I just shake my head and laugh.
Ummmm?
Yea I saw a variation of those in Surfer Mag ads years ago.
I was just trying to make a point about fin design. In my opinion there has to be something out there that would actually be revolutionary. I am thinking it will not resemble the dorsal fin of a marine creature. Fin design has been stalled for 30 years. Greenough would be a zillionare if he got a nickel for every fin made that is based on his designs.
Huck I just had one of those brilliant
or wtf were you thinking Ideas! Take the pvc pipe fin and make a twin fin Board.
bet you could repurpose a fiberglass marine exhaust pipe instead of PVC and have something stronger and that would be easier to glass to a board.
yup brad i pirated it from fb…tom came to me in his senior year of high school and wanted to learn glassing so i taught him what i knew …then introduced him to rick mchale and les proiner…the rest is history…now…he is a part of tunnels…a grand spirit…love you tom…you take care brad.
ps. taught tom about skated pools as well.
herb
I do believe that the “tunnel” fin came from South Bay surfboards. I know for a fact that they produced a model called the “tunnel husler” with a “wishbone” or tunnel fin…
Eh sammyA callin’ ya for help!
The Tunnel Fin was the work of one Richard Deese. South Bay Surfboards, as I recall
Bill
not Bob Bollan ?
