Paige McCoskey has ridden my boards for years. She asked me to design a line of 70's inspired boards for her stores located in Venice, SF, Manahttan Beach and across from the Malibu Pier. I dialed up a v machine, longboard, funshape, twinny & stinger for her and she did all the graphic art work on her own. They are some very pretty colorful eclectic shapes to have fun on.
Shawn Tracht rips. on the rebound from a serious knee injury, he was forced to drydock himself doing physical therapy for a few months..... not fun, but absolutely necessary. On the mend now, and after some easier sessions on a longboard and his V8, he finally got to stuff himself into a barrel riding his BF 5'5" Convertible.
The inspiration for my "V8 V Bottom" Midget Farrelly has passed on, he was the first world surfing champion and an Australian surfing legend. He had "asked permission" thru a Swaylocks PM to call me a couple years ago, (what an honor) and we talked for about an hour about "stuff"..... he was a gracious guy, and will be sorely missed! http://forum.surfermag.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2531691
Quote:The epigraph for Midget Farrelly’s 1965 autobiography This Surfing Life is brief. “When you’re comfortable, you’re dead.” The man was 21 years old, reigning world champ, and the toast of Australian sporting—yet he chose to introduce his book with that little nugget of gloom. Here’s what I’m getting at: The bitterness that would come to at least partly define Midget Farrelly in years to come—that was inborn. Some of it, anyway.
And some of it was forced down his throat. For almost 50 years now, Midget has been surfing’s most ill-treated figure. Most surf media tastemakers lost interest in Farrelly not long after This Surfing Life was published because, A) he didn’t get stoned, and B) he was roughly 85 percent less charismatic than his protege-turned-rival Nat Young.
"Farrelly was made to pay for these crimes. Young, the 1966 world champ, cast some kind of surf media voodoo that made everyone ignore the fact that Farrelly was actually the better contest surfer during the shortboard revolution. (Midget was runner-up in both the ’68 and ’70 world titles; Nat placed 4th and 6th, respectively.) Farrelly’s treatment as a boardmaker has been even shoddier. Who knows what was happening at Palm Beach in ’67, when Farrelly and Bob McTavish were riding side-by-side during the birth of the deep-vee. Twist my arm, and I’ll say McTavish (with Greenough as his muse) got the jump on Farrelly. But if Midget didn’t make the world’s first shortboard, I would argue that he did, consistently, over the next four years, make the world’s best shortboards. There’s footage out there from the ’67 Bells contest, and the ’68 and ’70 world championships, and Midget always has the fastest, smoothest, most user-friendly equipment under his feet, by miles in some cases.
Still, year after year, decade after decade, Midget’s star continued to fade. How far? In a 1992 Australia’s Surfing Life list of the “The Top 16 Shapers of All Time,” McTavish is on top, while Midget didn’t even make the cut. SURFER’s 2009 “Fifty Greatest Surfers of All Time” issue found room for Christian Fletcher, Mike Stewart, and Taj Burrow, but not Midget.
Bob McTavish talks about the Midget he knew in the early ’60s as being almost a different person than what came later: laughing easily, borrowing riffs from his favorite comics, pub-hopping, double-dating. Farrelly later developed a kind of grimace, which he seemed to use as a kind of protective shield. But in the early day, McTavish says, Midget had a quick, easy, unaffected smile. I kept that smile in mind while making this video." - Matt Warshaw
Let's see if this works. If the link doesn't work let me know. I'll get some more pix when I go into Hawk's while it is getting glassed.
The pix included here are shots of Tim's MC 6'10" which was too much board for him, and the shape that I have done which is a 6'6" with my "Winter Foil" for easier duck diving and maintaining a higher line on long wave faces. "Winter Foil" has reduced volume in the rail and deck both fore 'n aft of the rider's stance, making for less resistance aka easier turning.
A slightly curvier planshape in the tail section coupled with a modified rocker from the PJ/SVM's makes for an easier board to get vertical while still retaining a lot of glide, early entry and paddling ease.
I gave props & acknowledgement to MC for all his fine shaping work for many years noting that the request was to honor his design but put my own spin on what I do, so this shape is by no means a replica of Tim's 6'10".
Added note: The board has the "E Wing" aka Elevated Wing and is now finished, I will take pix of it when I get in the factory Monday.
Fin configs. The bottom pic from Tim depicts his 6'10" as having a fin cant at 15 or 16 degrees. In studying many Bonzers, it seems that a lot of them have a fin cant of about 25 degrees. In fact, there isn't any hard fast rules on Bonzers in many respects. Hawk set the fin cants using FCS Fusion 5 degree boxes flush to the bottom that I shaped into the board. The True Ames quad set FCS Compatible fins are pre angled at 19 degrees. Hawk has a device that runs across the bottom of boards rail to rail allowing him to set fin cants on single concaved boards and other varying bottom configurations. As I said before, this board is NOT a replica board.
I will take pix Monday when I get in the factory as previously mentioned.
Typically less fin cant produces more drive while more cant produces easier maneuverability thru turns and cutbacks. It can also be debated how much a large area of fin(s) at extreme cant produces, or lends to, hydroplaning of the tail section.
"Mega MiniMAX" became an evolution from the MiniMAX - a wider floatier reincarnation of the V Machine aka Plain Janes. The original request was from guys wanting to ride a shorter board but not give up their foam. Liters for MiniMAX were calculated accordingly for sub 6 ft lengths up thru 6'6" maximum length.
It didn't take long for guys to request this design, which comes standard as a five fin configuration, to offer them in longer lengths. I responded by increasing the M/MAX's thru a length of 7'4" which carries as much floatation as an 8 ft. PJ/VM. I informally refer to these as "Mega MiniMAX's".
The model is enjoying a lot of popularity, most recently thru the demo program at "Hawaiian Southshore Surf Boutique" 320 Ward Ave. in Honolulu where there are 8 demos including a good mix of M/MAX's and "V8's".
Here's a pic of Geoff Shidler enjoying his 7'2" Mega MiniMAX the other morning.
A lot of my customers are 'quiver builders' of models I'm currently doing and as I add new stuff. This is one of Geoff's other boards we call an "FFF". It's 7'4" and has proven to be pretty versatile in Cali and his trips to Mex. It goes well with the Greenough Stage IV-A fins I commonly offer on my "V8" V Bottoms.
Major props to Malcolm Campbell for all his fine design and shaping for many years. Here is my version of his design per the request of Timothy Hogan. It took a bit of time for me to study the design and its many nuances, then put my BF spin per Timothy's request.
Nice looking Bonzer or should we call it Fowzer? No Matter what it is called looks like another superb piece of work. When you get the feed back please post up a ride report. I been a fan of Bonzers for sometime.
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According to Mikki Dora Malibu went to the Dogs in 1964. The Chumash Indians will tell you it was 1664.
Ah, on to the next project. This is the beginnings of a 9'6" for Puerto Rico's Tres Palmas. I will be adding pictures over this week making the journey from Concept to Completion. Blank is a 10'0" USB that gives me emough room to move for the outline I'm after. This is one hunk of foam.
Carlos Cabrero is the guy riding the big maxing out wave seen here.
1st off, both boards are gr8 paddlers offering early wave entry.... that's just how I prefer to design the boards I offer. To some people "PJ's" aka V Machines under the FOY label, are higher volumed, even bulky type boards. To that I say, "yes this is true for many of the stock ones made, which appeal to a very diverse group of surfers from all skill sets.... however, you can easily customize them by ordering "Winter Foil"- which is a thinner more streamlined version with less deck & rail volume fore 'n aft of the rider's stance. (You can even order these with a Tri Plane Hull bottom if you like!)
When it comes to the new "Standard Model", this design came from requests for a more streamlined foil that is vertically inclined, hence a bit more rocker at each end coupled with advancing the panel vee, and increasing the tail section planshape curve while reducing the overall width. Reducing area in both outline & foil thickness reduces the amount of "resistance" the rider experiences while executing turns & cutbacks. Other options are a Merrick inspired subliminal bump for easier turning and either flat with vee bottom or single to double concaves. I shape a variety of stockers with bump & curvy non-bump outlines, very slight concaves and no concaves because I have an aversion to making countless "cookie cutter" boards like one might do in mass production. I would rather have a customer come into a shop, feel the boards, and decide "ahhh, this is the one for me!.
All that being said, the foil of "The Standard" is innately thinner overall than its predecessor thereby inherently shining in high lined traverses along longer lined up waves commonly found at points and reefs. "The Standard" is more of a 'flyer' - a high lift, low drag, more sensitive step up from the stock "PJ/Machine". Note how the tail foil pic shows vastly different rail lines - the PJ/VM has the panel vee 'progressing' thru to the end of the tail showing a distinctly different rail line than the Std. below it..... that's becuz the Std. has an 'advanced vee' where there is deeper vee forward and less vee out the tail. This allows rail to rail transitions while producing more speed & drive out the 2nd half of turns & cutbacks.
Here are some quickie pix attempting to illustrate some key differences between the two. The 5'4" with the red arch is a new stick we whipped out in 3 days start to finish for Central Coast ripper Riley Cabenero to ride in the "Still Frothy" contest at Pismo. Riley is killing it in the NSSA. She came down Friday eve with her parents and its gr8 to see such supportive parents for a young mover & shaker. Earlier in the day Riley was giving a presentation regarding the environment to PG&E. I checked toward the end of the day Saturday and noted she was already into the finals. Her old board is a beaten up v machine I made 7 years ago that she found used in a surf shop, bought it and loved it. It's old & waterlogged now, so the Standard is a nice upgrade from what she's learned on. Girl power!
I've got boards to pack & ship today and by 11 it was 96 degrees & climbing..... damn, pack tonight - headed to shaping room with A/C blasting on full throttle... who said summer is over?!!
Cesar has a solid quiver of my boards. At last count I think it is around 7 maybe 8. He contacted me recently asking if I'd make him a fish, so we knocked that around and he said he'd like more of a classic, Lis type fish versus anything too modern. Here's the result.
I have been meaning to get in touch with you.
The board absolutely flies. I don’t think I have ever had a board that is as explosive out of a bottom turn. The projection out of the turn is huge.
I have never had a board this short so it is quite an adjustment paddling, but I think in the right waves it is going to be great.
Thanks.
Cesar
David Conner ordered up yesterday to add to his BF Quiv......... this one is the new BF "Standard" at 6'4"x20-3/8"x2-11/16" with my "Magic Box Theory" of foil distribution. She has iincreased bottom curve and straight deck rocker. A down the line flyer that can also get more vert.
Should be into glass today and thru within one week.
Winter is on our threshold once we get past these Indian Summer days.....
Ugh, the heat wave was beating me down, but finally back on the TP Gun. It goes into glassing Monday, then we will get to see some real progress! Planning to ship it east end of next week. I'm "advancing the vee" in this board, meaning more vee around the back foot and less vee out the tail = produces rail to rail transitions with increased speed & drive coming out of the turn.
Board netted out at 9'6" x 22-3/8" x 3-5/8" with 12-5/8" Nose x 13-1/4" Tail.
Tail has an advanced vee meaning more over back foot with less vee ay yail block. Beaked Nose entry has vee for chop and improved drop ins.
Patick Werzel's Puerto Rican gun is taking on a life. Seen here hot coated and awaiting a 10" center fin box. In the not too distant future this baby will be riding a truck packed for bear then, when the time is right, she'll board a plane and make tracks for her debut in some big. heaving, Puerto Rican beasties.
Glassing schedule is full length double 6 oz. deck with 4 oz. tail patch. Bottom is 6 oz. with 4 oz. tail patch. 3/8" basswppd stringer. Patrick is 56, and the float in this board is very realistic and 'age appropriate'.
I'm sure there will be some "Puerto Rican girls just dyin' to meet chu!"
It's not always huge (thank god) but when it does max out, you need to step up with the right stick or maybe just hang on the beach with the gf or take pix.
I wonder how the Carribbean will fare from Hurricane Matthew?
This is the 6'8" Fountain of Youth that I've been riding for nearly a year in all sorts of different conditions. This board is FUN. It paddles like a beast, catches everything, holds a rail and can turn on a dime. This board has made what would have been countless small and lackluster conditioned sessions into full on fun filled surfathons. I recently took it on a trip to Cardon which is a left hand point set-up on mainland Mexico. The surf was pretty flat faced but pumping from Hurricane Blanca. I brought several boards but this was the goto ride for the entire week. Carves and cutbacks, carves and cutbacks this board felt SO good. Thank you Bruce for sharing your magic!! — with I Am Torquato
It's been eight years ago that started my whole design jag toward vee bottoms. Up to that time, it seemed that everything had gone the way of single and single to double concaves....... the new norm.
But I have to say, as I was reading one of the many surf rags out there, they hit a nerve when the self proclaimed expert, busy with all his pontificating declared "v bottoms are slow....... a design of the past that we are better off without ever having gone there".
I was somewhat shocked to read this, not even sure which rag mag it was, but I had to wonder if the author was past puberty or has ever even ridden a board with vee in it. Let's face it, how many 6'4"x18-1/4x2-1/8" pro glass slippers do you expect me to shape in my lifetime as a career shaper?
Well, I think this thread that Huck originally threw out a cosmic worm to see if I would bite, has proven that I'm not a 'one trick pony'. And as time goes by, that will probably become more n more evident. At the time of this writing, we are heading into another winter, full of hopeful expectations for plentiful quality surf. It's also an election year that has defied what any sentient human being wants to endure as American politics hits a new all time low...... we have witnessed one smug candidate acting as tho' she is already elected who can't wait to plug in all her brilliant ideas like a "death tax"...... and a rich outsider with a mouth that roars and resembles Howard Stern at the height of his shock jock fame.
Who will win?
Anybody's guess when it comes to the popular vote..... but that is really all it is - a popularity contest - there is no way the career politicians will ever vote 'the Donald' into office because, after all, he is an outsider.
TheElectoral College Vote determines the presidency, it has happened a few times in our history and may possibly happen again in this election. Although the EC-Vote is comprised of representatives based upon each state's popualtion, it isn't mandated that the vote coincide with the popular vote. Little Bush actually received less of the popular vote than Al Gore, but Gore conceded rather than putting it to the courts..... Florida was the issue on that one.
It's possible for either Hitlary or The Donald to carry around 11 of 12 key states and end up winning the presidency. That being said, you have to wonder how this example is representative of all Americans? I've also witnessed some of the debate mediators starting to debate the debators with opinions that are not the once hallmark of objective news correspondents. The news agencies are just corporate owned entities with their own special interests & agendas & brand. Maybe PBS is the most objective domestic news reporting entity we have on television unless you look to a few foreign based agencies?
At the end of the day, regardless of who gets elected, the middle class will still foot the bill in our oligarchy. My son told me he voted for Bernie Sanders as did a lot of his millennial friends. It's too bad Bernie isn't still in there as a viable option, and I think it is unfortunate he caved and is in the democratic Hilary fold. We need more varied choices, and as much as some people can't stand Trump's mouth, as one woman told me "they didn't particularly like Winston Churchill in England during WWII, but many agreed he was the right man for the time". Her sentiment seems to ring true with the many people I've talked to that intend on voting for Trump; they do not like him, but they feel political correctness isn't what we need right now, and they seem to have an extreme distrust for Clinton. I personally find it amazing that Trump beat out ALL the career Republicans and is still standing in the face of SO MANY entities that have tried to take him down. In that sense, something is truly going on in this country and a signal is being sent to Washington: it really sounds as though people are fed up!
We even have a new tv show out there where JACK BAUER has been reincarnated into the "Designated Survivor" - something that really exists in Washington. It's an interesting show along the lines of "Scandal" or the older "West Wing" but with a twist. I think the show's debut was well timed being it an election year.
In the meantime, one Brit girl once wrote a song that was "all about the bass"...... she offered it to fellow Brit singing star Leona Lewis, who quickly rejected it. That prompted the authoress to release it herself, and well...... it went worldwide as a hit in a New York minute and the rest is history.
Given this example, maybe just maybe V bottoms aren't slow, even if no one in the Electoral College rides one.
Phil Ward,, the former CEO of FCS Oz was heading stateside and we managed to whip out a 7'6" "V8" for him in 3 days start to finish. Jeffy spaced & installed the Std. Futures 4+1 set up in it, but Phil said no biggie as he has full fin quivers of both FCS & Futures. Phil opted to keep it wide at about 23-1/2" but thinned out to 2-5/8". He weighs about 190 and is trimmed & fit for his age.
We met up, he was very appreciative & took off down south b4 heading back to Oz. Here's his inital ride report:
"The board is a blast! I surfed it in weak, waist high Del Mar that had some wall on it and it was super fun.
I had an expectation of out of the gates speed looking at the rail line and it sure didn't disappoint. I used a wonder bolt in the centre fin so that i could make some adjustments as I went and ended up with the fin around 3/4 of the way forward. Consciously, I surfed the board from the centre from the very first wave and when i stepped back, it really came around fast. I am looking forward to getting it in some fun surf here at home like Bells with those fatter open faces. The bottom turn on it on my forehand was such a beautiful full rail feeling. Loved it Bruce.
I'm tempted to order myself a short version for travel in the next few months and pick it up when I am back in January. I could envisage it being a great mush crusher at around 6'2 or so for me.
Once again, thanks for rushing it through. It was a pleasure to meet you and the boards is a gem."
Randy, owner at Wave Front Ventura had a pro foto friend take some shots of the PJ's he carries along with the "V8's" and new "Standards". Some new demos will be making their way to WF soon.
Fountain of Youth Surfboards
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Ride report for David C.'s new 6'4" Standard: Hey Bruce,
I picked up my new board at Wave Front yesterday. I paddled out late afternoon at Ventura Point in decent sized waves. There was a hungry and competitive crowd, but I caught a few. The board works great and feels familiar to the SVM, but yet different. It was easy to paddle, predictable on the overhead plus drops, smooth bottom turns, easy rail to rail transitions, etc. Can’t wait to put it through it’s paces this winter. I’m going to enjoy it!
Here's a flashback to when the late Bob Krause aka "BK" & I spent one week long swell @ Rincon building one day boards while exploring every fin option for surfboards from single to his "Deca-Fin" stick seen here...... by the way, they were all glass ons and catalyzed resin back then!
Well now. maybe I'll just have to have the "nads" to do up a V8 DEMO "twingle" set up with the abilty for it to be ridden as a quad to boot. Then people can jump on that puppy for themselves.
Today is 4th of July. Enjoy your day! Here's Shawn Tracht on his 5'5" Convertible feeling a bit partriotic.
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Pierre Lespes is stoked in Bordeaux France!
Nous vous remercions de votre entreprise !
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Sand Bar aka Santa Barbara Harbor Sandspit. In 1959 I got my first right slide here and was hooked forevermore.
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Paige McCoskey has ridden my boards for years. She asked me to design a line of 70's inspired boards for her stores located in Venice, SF, Manahttan Beach and across from the Malibu Pier. I dialed up a v machine, longboard, funshape, twinny & stinger for her and she did all the graphic art work on her own. They are some very pretty colorful eclectic shapes to have fun on.
http://www.californiayesterday.com/blog/2015/5/22/gear-aviator-nation-la...
Shawn Tracht rips. on the rebound from a serious knee injury, he was forced to drydock himself doing physical therapy for a few months..... not fun, but absolutely necessary. On the mend now, and after some easier sessions on a longboard and his V8, he finally got to stuff himself into a barrel riding his BF 5'5" Convertible.
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Shawn continued.... 5'5" Convertible.
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Anatomy of a Plain Jane aka V Machine.
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Form follows Function.
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https://www.facebook.com/Fountain-of-Youth-Surfboards-317597478257790/
https://www.facebook.com/Deadshaper
http://www.goletasurfing.com/fowler.html
The inspiration for my "V8 V Bottom" Midget Farrelly has passed on, he was the first world surfing champion and an Australian surfing legend. He had "asked permission" thru a Swaylocks PM to call me a couple years ago, (what an honor) and we talked for about an hour about "stuff"..... he was a gracious guy, and will be sorely missed! http://forum.surfermag.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2531691
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And some of it was forced down his throat. For almost 50 years now, Midget has been surfing’s most ill-treated figure. Most surf media tastemakers lost interest in Farrelly not long after This Surfing Life was published because, A) he didn’t get stoned, and B) he was roughly 85 percent less charismatic than his protege-turned-rival Nat Young.
"Farrelly was made to pay for these crimes. Young, the 1966 world champ, cast some kind of surf media voodoo that made everyone ignore the fact that Farrelly was actually the better contest surfer during the shortboard revolution. (Midget was runner-up in both the ’68 and ’70 world titles; Nat placed 4th and 6th, respectively.) Farrelly’s treatment as a boardmaker has been even shoddier. Who knows what was happening at Palm Beach in ’67, when Farrelly and Bob McTavish were riding side-by-side during the birth of the deep-vee. Twist my arm, and I’ll say McTavish (with Greenough as his muse) got the jump on Farrelly. But if Midget didn’t make the world’s first shortboard, I would argue that he did, consistently, over the next four years, make the world’s best shortboards. There’s footage out there from the ’67 Bells contest, and the ’68 and ’70 world championships, and Midget always has the fastest, smoothest, most user-friendly equipment under his feet, by miles in some cases.
Still, year after year, decade after decade, Midget’s star continued to fade. How far? In a 1992 Australia’s Surfing Life list of the “The Top 16 Shapers of All Time,” McTavish is on top, while Midget didn’t even make the cut. SURFER’s 2009 “Fifty Greatest Surfers of All Time” issue found room for Christian Fletcher, Mike Stewart, and Taj Burrow, but not Midget.
Bob McTavish talks about the Midget he knew in the early ’60s as being almost a different person than what came later: laughing easily, borrowing riffs from his favorite comics, pub-hopping, double-dating. Farrelly later developed a kind of grimace, which he seemed to use as a kind of protective shield. But in the early day, McTavish says, Midget had a quick, easy, unaffected smile. I kept that smile in mind while making this video." - Matt Warshaw
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Abstract moments in creating.
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Everything begins with good rocker!
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Bruce post up some photos of the V Bonzer you just shaped.
According to Mikki Dora Malibu went to the Dogs in 1964. The Chumash Indians will tell you it was 1664.
Let's see if this works. If the link doesn't work let me know. I'll get some more pix when I go into Hawk's while it is getting glassed.
The pix included here are shots of Tim's MC 6'10" which was too much board for him, and the shape that I have done which is a 6'6" with my "Winter Foil" for easier duck diving and maintaining a higher line on long wave faces. "Winter Foil" has reduced volume in the rail and deck both fore 'n aft of the rider's stance, making for less resistance aka easier turning.
A slightly curvier planshape in the tail section coupled with a modified rocker from the PJ/SVM's makes for an easier board to get vertical while still retaining a lot of glide, early entry and paddling ease.
I gave props & acknowledgement to MC for all his fine shaping work for many years noting that the request was to honor his design but put my own spin on what I do, so this shape is by no means a replica of Tim's 6'10".
Added note: The board has the "E Wing" aka Elevated Wing and is now finished, I will take pix of it when I get in the factory Monday.
https://www.facebook.com/317597478257790/photos/ms.c.eJw9zlsSwCAIQ9EddQg...
Fin configs. The bottom pic from Tim depicts his 6'10" as having a fin cant at 15 or 16 degrees. In studying many Bonzers, it seems that a lot of them have a fin cant of about 25 degrees. In fact, there isn't any hard fast rules on Bonzers in many respects. Hawk set the fin cants using FCS Fusion 5 degree boxes flush to the bottom that I shaped into the board. The True Ames quad set FCS Compatible fins are pre angled at 19 degrees. Hawk has a device that runs across the bottom of boards rail to rail allowing him to set fin cants on single concaved boards and other varying bottom configurations. As I said before, this board is NOT a replica board.
I will take pix Monday when I get in the factory as previously mentioned.
Typically less fin cant produces more drive while more cant produces easier maneuverability thru turns and cutbacks. It can also be debated how much a large area of fin(s) at extreme cant produces, or lends to, hydroplaning of the tail section.
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"Mega MiniMAX" became an evolution from the MiniMAX - a wider floatier reincarnation of the V Machine aka Plain Janes. The original request was from guys wanting to ride a shorter board but not give up their foam. Liters for MiniMAX were calculated accordingly for sub 6 ft lengths up thru 6'6" maximum length.
It didn't take long for guys to request this design, which comes standard as a five fin configuration, to offer them in longer lengths. I responded by increasing the M/MAX's thru a length of 7'4" which carries as much floatation as an 8 ft. PJ/VM. I informally refer to these as "Mega MiniMAX's".
The model is enjoying a lot of popularity, most recently thru the demo program at "Hawaiian Southshore Surf Boutique" 320 Ward Ave. in Honolulu where there are 8 demos including a good mix of M/MAX's and "V8's".
Here's a pic of Geoff Shidler enjoying his 7'2" Mega MiniMAX the other morning.
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A lot of my customers are 'quiver builders' of models I'm currently doing and as I add new stuff. This is one of Geoff's other boards we call an "FFF". It's 7'4" and has proven to be pretty versatile in Cali and his trips to Mex. It goes well with the Greenough Stage IV-A fins I commonly offer on my "V8" V Bottoms.
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Major props to Malcolm Campbell for all his fine design and shaping for many years. Here is my version of his design per the request of Timothy Hogan. It took a bit of time for me to study the design and its many nuances, then put my BF spin per Timothy's request.
As always, the proof will be in the ride!
Note: "E Wing" = Elevated Wing.
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Nice looking Bonzer or should we call it Fowzer? No Matter what it is called looks like another superb piece of work. When you get the feed back please post up a ride report. I been a fan of Bonzers for sometime.
According to Mikki Dora Malibu went to the Dogs in 1964. The Chumash Indians will tell you it was 1664.
If you look carefully in the 3rd foto down, I wrotw "Bonza" after my signature.
This seems appropriate, as I have NO right to use MC's design name unless it is in reference to his design.
Ah, on to the next project. This is the beginnings of a 9'6" for Puerto Rico's Tres Palmas. I will be adding pictures over this week making the journey from Concept to Completion. Blank is a 10'0" USB that gives me emough room to move for the outline I'm after. This is one hunk of foam.
Carlos Cabrero is the guy riding the big maxing out wave seen here.
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Stan the Man gets caught sanding one of my new "Standard Models".
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1st off, both boards are gr8 paddlers offering early wave entry.... that's just how I prefer to design the boards I offer. To some people "PJ's" aka V Machines under the FOY label, are higher volumed, even bulky type boards. To that I say, "yes this is true for many of the stock ones made, which appeal to a very diverse group of surfers from all skill sets.... however, you can easily customize them by ordering "Winter Foil"- which is a thinner more streamlined version with less deck & rail volume fore 'n aft of the rider's stance. (You can even order these with a Tri Plane Hull bottom if you like!)
When it comes to the new "Standard Model", this design came from requests for a more streamlined foil that is vertically inclined, hence a bit more rocker at each end coupled with advancing the panel vee, and increasing the tail section planshape curve while reducing the overall width. Reducing area in both outline & foil thickness reduces the amount of "resistance" the rider experiences while executing turns & cutbacks. Other options are a Merrick inspired subliminal bump for easier turning and either flat with vee bottom or single to double concaves. I shape a variety of stockers with bump & curvy non-bump outlines, very slight concaves and no concaves because I have an aversion to making countless "cookie cutter" boards like one might do in mass production. I would rather have a customer come into a shop, feel the boards, and decide "ahhh, this is the one for me!.
All that being said, the foil of "The Standard" is innately thinner overall than its predecessor thereby inherently shining in high lined traverses along longer lined up waves commonly found at points and reefs. "The Standard" is more of a 'flyer' - a high lift, low drag, more sensitive step up from the stock "PJ/Machine". Note how the tail foil pic shows vastly different rail lines - the PJ/VM has the panel vee 'progressing' thru to the end of the tail showing a distinctly different rail line than the Std. below it..... that's becuz the Std. has an 'advanced vee' where there is deeper vee forward and less vee out the tail. This allows rail to rail transitions while producing more speed & drive out the 2nd half of turns & cutbacks.
Here are some quickie pix attempting to illustrate some key differences between the two. The 5'4" with the red arch is a new stick we whipped out in 3 days start to finish for Central Coast ripper Riley Cabenero to ride in the "Still Frothy" contest at Pismo. Riley is killing it in the NSSA. She came down Friday eve with her parents and its gr8 to see such supportive parents for a young mover & shaker. Earlier in the day Riley was giving a presentation regarding the environment to PG&E. I checked toward the end of the day Saturday and noted she was already into the finals. Her old board is a beaten up v machine I made 7 years ago that she found used in a surf shop, bought it and loved it. It's old & waterlogged now, so the Standard is a nice upgrade from what she's learned on. Girl power!
I've got boards to pack & ship today and by 11 it was 96 degrees & climbing..... damn, pack tonight - headed to shaping room with A/C blasting on full throttle... who said summer is over?!!
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Cesar has a solid quiver of my boards. At last count I think it is around 7 maybe 8. He contacted me recently asking if I'd make him a fish, so we knocked that around and he said he'd like more of a classic, Lis type fish versus anything too modern. Here's the result.
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Hi Bruce,
I have been meaning to get in touch with you. The board absolutely flies. I don’t think I have ever had a board that is as explosive out of a bottom turn. The projection out of the turn is huge. I have never had a board this short so it is quite an adjustment paddling, but I think in the right waves it is going to be great. Thanks. Cesardsc_0666_edit.jpg
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David Conner ordered up yesterday to add to his BF Quiv......... this one is the new BF "Standard" at 6'4"x20-3/8"x2-11/16" with my "Magic Box Theory" of foil distribution. She has iincreased bottom curve and straight deck rocker. A down the line flyer that can also get more vert.
Should be into glass today and thru within one week.
Winter is on our threshold once we get past these Indian Summer days.....
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Ugh, the heat wave was beating me down, but finally back on the TP Gun. It goes into glassing Monday, then we will get to see some real progress! Planning to ship it east end of next week. I'm "advancing the vee" in this board, meaning more vee around the back foot and less vee out the tail = produces rail to rail transitions with increased speed & drive coming out of the turn.
Board netted out at 9'6" x 22-3/8" x 3-5/8" with 12-5/8" Nose x 13-1/4" Tail.
Tail has an advanced vee meaning more over back foot with less vee ay yail block. Beaked Nose entry has vee for chop and improved drop ins.
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BF shaping - circa 1970's fish eye lenswork by Steve Bissell. Courtesy BF Archives.
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More fun pix from Geoff Shidler on his Mega MiniMAX.
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Patick Werzel's Puerto Rican gun is taking on a life. Seen here hot coated and awaiting a 10" center fin box. In the not too distant future this baby will be riding a truck packed for bear then, when the time is right, she'll board a plane and make tracks for her debut in some big. heaving, Puerto Rican beasties.
Glassing schedule is full length double 6 oz. deck with 4 oz. tail patch. Bottom is 6 oz. with 4 oz. tail patch. 3/8" basswppd stringer. Patrick is 56, and the float in this board is very realistic and 'age appropriate'.
I'm sure there will be some "Puerto Rican girls just dyin' to meet chu!"
Life is short, enjoy the ride!
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Those are some epic shots of TresPalmas. Just imagining the conditions that thing is made for makes me want to piss my pants.
Beautiful work, as always.
Here's some more to get you moving.
It's not always huge (thank god) but when it does max out, you need to step up with the right stick or maybe just hang on the beach with the gf or take pix.
I wonder how the Carribbean will fare from Hurricane Matthew?
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P.R. Gun got packed up & shipped to Patrick Wetzel in Montauk yesterday. Can't wait for him to launch her into some big Tres Palmas skyscrapers.
Ride report when available.
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This is the 6'8" Fountain of Youth that I've been riding for nearly a year in all sorts of different conditions. This board is FUN. It paddles like a beast, catches everything, holds a rail and can turn on a dime. This board has made what would have been countless small and lackluster conditioned sessions into full on fun filled surfathons. I recently took it on a trip to Cardon which is a left hand point set-up on mainland Mexico. The surf was pretty flat faced but pumping from Hurricane Blanca. I brought several boards but this was the goto ride for the entire week. Carves and cutbacks, carves and cutbacks this board felt SO good. Thank you Bruce for sharing your magic!! — with I Am Torquato
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It's been eight years ago that started my whole design jag toward vee bottoms. Up to that time, it seemed that everything had gone the way of single and single to double concaves....... the new norm.
But I have to say, as I was reading one of the many surf rags out there, they hit a nerve when the self proclaimed expert, busy with all his pontificating declared "v bottoms are slow....... a design of the past that we are better off without ever having gone there".
I was somewhat shocked to read this, not even sure which rag mag it was, but I had to wonder if the author was past puberty or has ever even ridden a board with vee in it. Let's face it, how many 6'4"x18-1/4x2-1/8" pro glass slippers do you expect me to shape in my lifetime as a career shaper?
Well, I think this thread that Huck originally threw out a cosmic worm to see if I would bite, has proven that I'm not a 'one trick pony'. And as time goes by, that will probably become more n more evident. At the time of this writing, we are heading into another winter, full of hopeful expectations for plentiful quality surf. It's also an election year that has defied what any sentient human being wants to endure as American politics hits a new all time low...... we have witnessed one smug candidate acting as tho' she is already elected who can't wait to plug in all her brilliant ideas like a "death tax"...... and a rich outsider with a mouth that roars and resembles Howard Stern at the height of his shock jock fame.
Who will win?
Anybody's guess when it comes to the popular vote..... but that is really all it is - a popularity contest - there is no way the career politicians will ever vote 'the Donald' into office because, after all, he is an outsider.
The Electoral College Vote determines the presidency, it has happened a few times in our history and may possibly happen again in this election. Although the EC-Vote is comprised of representatives based upon each state's popualtion, it isn't mandated that the vote coincide with the popular vote. Little Bush actually received less of the popular vote than Al Gore, but Gore conceded rather than putting it to the courts..... Florida was the issue on that one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9H3gvnN468
It's possible for either Hitlary or The Donald to carry around 11 of 12 key states and end up winning the presidency. That being said, you have to wonder how this example is representative of all Americans? I've also witnessed some of the debate mediators starting to debate the debators with opinions that are not the once hallmark of objective news correspondents. The news agencies are just corporate owned entities with their own special interests & agendas & brand. Maybe PBS is the most objective domestic news reporting entity we have on television unless you look to a few foreign based agencies?
At the end of the day, regardless of who gets elected, the middle class will still foot the bill in our oligarchy. My son told me he voted for Bernie Sanders as did a lot of his millennial friends. It's too bad Bernie isn't still in there as a viable option, and I think it is unfortunate he caved and is in the democratic Hilary fold. We need more varied choices, and as much as some people can't stand Trump's mouth, as one woman told me "they didn't particularly like Winston Churchill in England during WWII, but many agreed he was the right man for the time". Her sentiment seems to ring true with the many people I've talked to that intend on voting for Trump; they do not like him, but they feel political correctness isn't what we need right now, and they seem to have an extreme distrust for Clinton. I personally find it amazing that Trump beat out ALL the career Republicans and is still standing in the face of SO MANY entities that have tried to take him down. In that sense, something is truly going on in this country and a signal is being sent to Washington: it really sounds as though people are fed up!
We even have a new tv show out there where JACK BAUER has been reincarnated into the "Designated Survivor" - something that really exists in Washington. It's an interesting show along the lines of "Scandal" or the older "West Wing" but with a twist. I think the show's debut was well timed being it an election year.
In the meantime, one Brit girl once wrote a song that was "all about the bass"...... she offered it to fellow Brit singing star Leona Lewis, who quickly rejected it. That prompted the authoress to release it herself, and well...... it went worldwide as a hit in a New York minute and the rest is history.
Given this example, maybe just maybe V bottoms aren't slow, even if no one in the Electoral College rides one.
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Alright, let's see if this works.
https://www.facebook.com/Deadshaper/media_set?set=a.1193537334018510.107...
It opened for me, but then I have a Facebook account...... if it doesn't work for you, let me know.
Until then, Hasta la Pasta amigos.
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Phil Ward,, the former CEO of FCS Oz was heading stateside and we managed to whip out a 7'6" "V8" for him in 3 days start to finish. Jeffy spaced & installed the Std. Futures 4+1 set up in it, but Phil said no biggie as he has full fin quivers of both FCS & Futures. Phil opted to keep it wide at about 23-1/2" but thinned out to 2-5/8". He weighs about 190 and is trimmed & fit for his age.
We met up, he was very appreciative & took off down south b4 heading back to Oz. Here's his inital ride report:
"The board is a blast! I surfed it in weak, waist high Del Mar that had some wall on it and it was super fun.
I had an expectation of out of the gates speed looking at the rail line and it sure didn't disappoint. I used a wonder bolt in the centre fin so that i could make some adjustments as I went and ended up with the fin around 3/4 of the way forward. Consciously, I surfed the board from the centre from the very first wave and when i stepped back, it really came around fast. I am looking forward to getting it in some fun surf here at home like Bells with those fatter open faces. The bottom turn on it on my forehand was such a beautiful full rail feeling. Loved it Bruce.
I'm tempted to order myself a short version for travel in the next few months and pick it up when I am back in January. I could envisage it being a great mush crusher at around 6'2 or so for me.
Once again, thanks for rushing it through. It was a pleasure to meet you and the boards is a gem."
Phil
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Randy, owner at Wave Front Ventura had a pro foto friend take some shots of the PJ's he carries along with the "V8's" and new "Standards". Some new demos will be making their way to WF soon.
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Patrick Wetzel took delivery of his new 9'6" Tres Palmas Gun...... here's his email while I was in Cabo. Check out the Baja surf shop foto
PATRICK GOT HIS DELIVERY & UNPACKED IT. Here's his reaction: patrick wetzel
Oct 28 (2 days ago)
to me
Holy snikes!!! You crushed it!!
Omg! I can't wait to try this thing!! Damn!!!
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I picked up my new board at Wave Front yesterday. I paddled out late afternoon at Ventura Point in decent sized waves. There was a hungry and competitive crowd, but I caught a few. The board works great and feels familiar to the SVM, but yet different. It was easy to paddle, predictable on the overhead plus drops, smooth bottom turns, easy rail to rail transitions, etc. Can’t wait to put it through it’s paces this winter. I’m going to enjoy it!
Thanks again,
Dave
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Fabric Inlay.
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Buddy system.
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Here's a flashback to when the late Bob Krause aka "BK" & I spent one week long swell @ Rincon building one day boards while exploring every fin option for surfboards from single to his "Deca-Fin" stick seen here...... by the way, they were all glass ons and catalyzed resin back then!
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Assorted Eye Candy including BF Diamond Tails, Round Tail Double Enders, Single & Double Winged Convertible Swallow Tails, V8's, Pigs, Stings, V Machines, Plain Janes and other stuff....
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I'm just waiting for the day someone has the nads to order a V8 with the Thrailkill twingle arrangement.
Well now. maybe I'll just have to have the "nads" to do up a V8 DEMO "twingle" set up with the abilty for it to be ridden as a quad to boot. Then people can jump on that puppy for themselves.
How does that sound?
The other thing on the drawing board is a V8 Pig.
That sounds to me like a marriage of designs that's just plain meant to be.
Now if only I didn't live in Florida . . .
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