DT 7.5's For Takayama and Larry fuller

Donald Takayama and Larry Fuller brought to me one of Donald's 7.5" Fiberglass Fin Co, glass, box fins (lower right) and asked me to do (5) glass-on wood fins from the same template for some wooden boards he and Larry are doing.  I did (3) in figured zebrawood and (2) in redwood burl.  Donald asked me to do a 1/2" bead on top of the 7.5 template for the zebrawoods, slightly less on the redwoods.  Here they are.  These are laminated, ready to glass-on.  Finished height; 8.0"

 Redwood burl

 Figured zebrawood

Like all of Donald's stuff, and previous boards I have done with Larry, I'm sure these will turn out insane looking.    Stay tuned.

Italy~ Secret Point~ Francesco Di Tommaso on his "Tube Machine"

January, 2011, Francesco Di Tommaso

Northern Mediterranean, Southern Italy

When Storms in the Mediterranean kick up a long enough fetch for swells to hit Italy.....This happens.

Frigid winter air and Santa Cruz winter water temp's Don't keep Francesco out of the water.

Back in 2007, Francesco told me, "I'd like you to shape me a gun.....disguised as a longboard".

This is what I shaped for him.   This 9-0, pulled-in double ender, with low relaxed rocker, subtle single-into-double bottom contour and a set of reverse-D-template quads that I designed for it....... is deceivingly fast.  This is what he is riding in these photos.

Dimensions:

Francesco and his wife Manuela both have an impressive command of the English language, but I still find myself doing this sometimes......trying to interpret his exact meaning.

in Italian this means, "I'm cool with it".

After riding it, he has named it,  "Tube Machine" or T.M. for short.

Thanks for the photos.  Aloha Bro.

JC

Finland Ply Glass-ons for T.Martin Longboards

 10.0 pivot fin and 10.0 raked, flex fin. ready to laminate.

The pivot fin will go on a Terry Martin Shapes, 10'0", square-tail noserider.

The Raker fin will be going on a Terry Martin, 10'0"  One-Fin-Pin.

 The raker fin is laminated with 3 layers of 6oz cloth, both sides, with a healthy bead, to stiffen it's flex-release properties.

 The pivot fin is laminated with 2 layers of 6 oz, fitted with a similar bead.

(2) Ready to glass-on and headed to Moonlight Glassing.              www.moonlightglassingsurfboards.com
These two boards will be an addition to "Big Steve's" already-amazing quiver.

(2) really "Choice" 11'-0" Gliders

Steven Schirmacher with his (2) new, 11'0", fish-Simmons style gliders by Rich Pavel
Glassing:  Michael Miller http://www.mmillersurfboards.com/
Fins: J. Cherry

 I was truly stoked when Big Steve brought these by for me to have a look.   Photos don't do these incredible boards justice.  Like all of Rich's boards,  the shapes on these are true perfection of form and function.  The pale-yellow board has very subtle concave under the forward trim position, transitioning into a flatter mid-section, with flat "v" through the tail.  it is fitted with a single box.  Nose to tail it has a general down-railer profile.  The lime green one has very subtle, single-into-double bottom, with a sleek, more-neutral rail  profile and is fitted with a glass-on tri-fin set that I had the pleasure of making.

 Michael Millers glass jobs on these are beautiful, sturdy and flawless.....as usual.

 I made the tri-fins of solid flame maple, simple and elegant by the natural beauty of the wood.  The lime green Steven chose makes any wood look great, especially the lighter maple.

 No logo lams on these two customs, just Rich's artful signatures on the blanks.

My thanks to Big Steve and Rich for inviting me ho have a small hand in the creation of these superb boards.

Aloha Guys,       JC

African Mahogany Wall Racks for Big Steve

I just finished these African mahogany wall racks for "Big Steve" Schirmacher to hang one of his big gliders in the house.......where it can be appreciated 24/7.

as shown:  $295

New Life for an Old 9'6" Hobie

Many are the debates over whether or how much to restore an old board to it's former glory.

In the case of my '62 Hobie it was an easy decision.  This board was super solid, i.e. no delam, solid foam everywhere under the double-10oz or 12oz glass, and after a few repairs, water-tight all around, with a fin, stringer and logo all in superb shape, but......UGLY AS SHIT with discoloration.

I decided to go for it.  I sanded off the gloss coat and most of the sanding coat, filled minor defects in the surface and then block sanded it for straight-as-new surface.  I applied a new surface-coat, pigmented to achieve the color panels, pin lined it with resin and gloss-coated it....just like it would have been done at the factory.

Is it worth more.......or less than if I had left it alone?  I don't really care.  It's beautiful (to me) and it's good to go for 50 more seasons.  Check it out.

This began as a humble, 1962 Hobie, 9'-6" x 22" x 3-1/2", standard shop model. 
Below are some "before" photos.



Taped off - ready to color coat

The weight change resulting from the restoration seems to be about zero.  It's still as heavy as boards were back in the day.

Great Gliders!

 "Big Steve" Schirmacher with his 12' 2" Skip Frye and his 12' 0"  Marc Andreini

 Great templates on both of these superb boards, but quite different.

 The Frye is a classic, Southern California glider, the Andreini; shaped for Santa Cruz and parts north.

 10 years ago, this 12' Andreini spear wouldn't be called anything but a gun.  Steve is no stranger to big surf, but says he gets tons of enjoyment, ripping on this and a few of  his other similar gliders in medium sized San Diego surf and even on smaller days when a little extra board comes in handy.

L-R, Tim Elsner, Marc Andreini and Steve Schirmacher.

Last year Tim scored two 12'+ Clark Foam Blanks that Marc used to shape these for Tim and Steve.