Here is the prototype to the new Fish design. This is the same board that was featured in a previous blog “hand shapes still available”. Still playing with a few more ideas to realize my vision for this design. Powder blue pigment rough sanded for gloss.
Here is a couple pictures of the Twinkie 4 model. 5′10″.21.2″.2.63″ quad fin setup.
Here’s the new extra-long board model “SLICK”. Shaped out of a 11′3″D USBLANK with +1/4″N and +1/2″T rocker added glued up with 1/8″ redwood 1″ apart. This board is made to glide the outer reefs in Waikiki. A round pin and a foiled tail will give you more control of a board with so much overall volume. Glassing schedule is: Twilight Blue tint 6oz. bottom with 6+6oz. top with a Volan deck patch, black pinline, gloss wet sand finish.
Here’s a fine example of the beautiful color work that was done by Otis at The Factory. A curry yellow tint with tail and deck patches added for strength and contrast. Gloss and polished by Joel, one if the finest polish guys here on the island. Color work is such a delicate process that if any one factor is off then the whole tone of the board can change. Cut laps need to be in balance with the shape and style of the board, foam needs to be flawless so that no scratched show up in the tint, sand job needs to be flat and chatter free, and polish needs to smooth and burn free. This is why there is justice in the high prices for these hand made surfboards.
Final Dimensions: 10′1″.22″.28.5″.20″.12.5″.4″ fin setup: keel twin fin with rear stabalizers
After many month of playing with different design ideas in my head, I finally shaped myself a stand up paddle board. I used a 10′3″ Kingmac stand up blank which i had sitting outside of my shaping room for over 4 months. Since I shaped a few customs SUP surfing boards for my friends, i have been getting many request for “custom” SUP surfing boards. Sure the market is flooded with a ton of leisure and pop out surfing type boards but not much in the way of true customs catered to a surfers specific needs. Soon US BLANKS will be coming out with a few new molds for the SUP boards so look for the surfing level to be elevated. The real problem now is getting a blank that has the correct rocker glued up and not having to cut down12″-15″ from a blank to get the desired length.
Yesterday this was one of the the hand shapes i completed. From a USBLANKS 93Y natural I shaped this 9′3″.18.5″.22.5″.14.5″.2.9″. Similar to the old AA model but this one has a bit wider nose area about 36″ back. Overall same rocker and bottom contours. I’m currently working un updating all models and also adding a few new ones so stay tuned… In that last photo you see that ugly sunburned blank on the ground?? Well that was the next board in line for hand shaping which was a 10′3″ Kingmac standup blank. I have been getting so many request for custom standup boards that I finally made one for myself. I will post info soon.
with the correct tools you can shape anything. soft lead pencil, thickness caliper, sanding block, skil 100 planer, mini spokeshave, razor sharp hand plane, surform, tape measure and a center finder. these tools have not changed much over the the past 15 years, i’ve tried some new tools over the years but always seem to come back to what works best. one thing i have changed for the better was my mask. used to use a vented dust mask for about 10 years before switching to a respirator style mask. less hucking up foam mucus after work.
Kimo’s Surf Hut in Kailua has a new grander location on the corner of Kailua Rd. and Hamakua Dr. over 900 boards to choose from. He has many vintage one of kind boards as well as used and new boards. If you are shopping for a new or used board this a great place to start. just checking out all the boards from thae past inspires me as a shaper and a surfer. He has not had the official grand opening yet as he is still waiting for more racks to display all his inventory but you can probabally catch him at the store Tue-Sat.
Here’s Yasu 5′6″ Twinkie 5 fin. green/yellow marble pigment bottom with black deck pinline. Gloss/Polish of course! As you can see from my previous post the difference in the outline of the new 5′8″ fish and the Twinkie model. By far this model has been the most popular of all the shortboard models i offer from the Square Label. I wanted to keep the same dynamics as far as surfablity but wanted to add a new look to the lineup. keep an eye out for the new 5′8″. Have not come up with a model name yet so any suggestions will be considered.
today i shaped i 5′8″ keel twin fin which may be added to the Square Lable lineup in the near future. i added more width in the nose with a less drawn tail outline. widened the buttcrack swallow tail to 10.5 inches. the finish dimensions are 5′8″.18″.21″.16 7/8″.10 1/2″.2 1/2″. i love my 5′6″ Twinkie but i wanted a board that will flow and carry more for the even smaller days. rather than ride i bigger Twinkie, i wanted to increase board volume in the nose and tail outline. not as steep rails as the Twinkie but a more rounder rail to maximize forgiveness while on rail in small/weak surf. keep an eye out for finished pictures when i get it back from the glassing.
