Redirect

click here

resin is fun...

well, this has been a tough one. I mean, blogging is fun, and free. You can say whatever you want, and deal with the consequences. It's the ultimate freedom of the press, in some ways.

But, how many blogs are acceptable? I mean, in this age of cutting back, and being responsible, surely multiple blogs is just a bit silly, right? I mean, who do I think I am to be spouting nonsense on two, or three blogs anyway? I'm just some goon who likes making weird and wonderful surfboards, what do I know?

So, in the interest of streamlining, and keeping the content fresh, I've decided to disontinue this particular blog and focus on the Royal blog. It makes sense anyway since my biggest rants are about boards any way...or at least it does at the moment...bah....

Thanks to everyone who checks in, and has encouraged me over the years(yeah i said it YEARS! I can't believe that).

Please tune in to the Royal blog for more of the same junk that I've been posting here, without all the linky stuff...

The Big Myth

F-ing surf industry....what a joke. I mean, since when did we start surfing to be industrious anyway?! I can hear the rants of Dora now...

Look hear, if you are trying to break into the surf industrial complex, be warned. You are going to probably work for a huge conglomerate, that may or most likely not have any ethical sense. Not to mention working a 'job' no different than any other professional. We all have our commitments, and responsibilities and therefore need to work in some way to fulfill them. Just don't think going to work for Brand Xtreme is going to be the cool job you expect it to be.

It is an incestuous, back stabbing, and greedy industry driven by ego and profit. No different than the banking sector that could be blamed for the mess we're all in now.

This is a genralisation of course, and there are still a few small innovative companies around, but as the recession deepens they may not last much longer. They don't get the coverage deserved because the bigger guys buy up all the advertising, and then claim these ideas as their own.

It is all a joke. Why would you want to be a part of that? Do you want someone to tell you how, where, and when to surf? Soul? Give me a break. That has long been sold to the Devil for chump change, bro....

incut numero 2

firing on all cylinders....6'2"x 20 3/4" incut number 2 in the works...

the great cheap board debate

It's no secret that I love making surfboards. It is also no secret that my boards aren't cheap, and that it is how I attempt to support myself, and family. And, everyone knows that cheaply produced boards are flooding the market and making this difficult for some. Some boards are garbage, some are actually well made. Hard to tell if you're learning, or new to the surfing craze.

What bothers me most about all this is what happens to all the used, second hand boards that people have moved on from, or are damaged and just left to rot. There are no environmentally friendly boards made cheaply, especially when mass produced. So, all these toxic, used boards end up where?

When I learned to surf, you bought second hand. Why would you buy a new board, when you're only going to smash it up? After getting a homemade board from a neighbor - who was going to throw it out - I worked around the house, earned my allowance and bought my 1st real board used from a real surfshop. I loved it, and when I was ready, I moved on to another board, also used. I never had much money as a kid, due to the surfing lifestyle and my loathsome attitude towards work. So all my boards were usedm got damaged, repaired and ridden over and over before being given/sold to another beginner to use. Who then progressed and traded it in for a newer board down the road.

The second hand market is busting at the seams with gems at the moment, and they're loads cheaper than if bought new. It is a great way to try out new shapes before spending loads of money on that shiny new custom shape. Plus, they don't depreciate any more.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, in this age of being green, and everyone trying to save the planet, why are we mass producing toxic equipment destined/designed to fall apart and pollute the ocean, or landfills?

in the words of a poster on MSW, if you're after a cheap board:

Buy second hand and repair and reuse, because you can't recycle....

getting there....

trying to get it done along with all the other stuff to do in the factory....

what a pig!

10'0" Pig for me, and long term summer testing, of course.

Dedicated reconstruction of a mid-60s board I have at home in the Bahamas, with a few minor tweaks.

More pics here.

mini madness

5'3" Simzer for Tom in Bude, and a 6'2" for Rich in Westward Ho!.

Thanks you guys, and happy surfing

Lemon Lime Twinzer

6'0" HP Twinzer for sale at the Fluid Concept shop in Scarborough. Full resin work and polish, with Lokbox Twinzer fin set.

more pics

Take me with you

Jake, the quality control cat takes his job very seriously.

"Dude, is that a scratch?"

glassing the pig

my new summer ride..10' OH! of pure pigginess...

I apologize for the lack of material recently, but am working in the Laminations shop in Cornwall.

More new stuff coming soon....

Trippin...

Off to the wilds of Cornwall for a week to work, and hopefully surf....

Tristan's 510 tradzer

all done, and in the water...
thanks tristan!

less blurry ones here

two for the road

A 6'0" HP Twinzer soon to be for sale in the Fluid Concept shop...

And a rare clear one for Steve in Tynemouth.

Thanks!

Blogger stoke

I love finding new blogs that are still dripping from stoked out surf sessions....

these two just really fire me up.

Surf a Pig

all about pig style logs, and a bit of history thrown in...

Adventures in Trim

This one is all about the UK glide experience and has loads of great pictures from the eyes of Chris Preston.

Thanks for the stoke!

Salt water taffy blank

Was trying out a new - to me - foam the other day, and glued it up using a perimeter glue line stringer. I shaped it, didn't like the outcome, and was trying to snap it to put in the recycling bin....

Now that's some flex! Will be making some more of these soon...

If you're not disgusted enough....

Some of you may have seen this a while back, but it is worth watching to remind ourselves to watch how we live, and to tread lightly.

quite graphic, be warned...

Grassroots Momentum

The super duper blokes at Fluid Concept in Scarborough have launched a new site. Loaded with info, pictures, and lovely boards. They are committed to supporting small local producers, and take the green oath very seriously. Be sure to chack it out....

Fluid Concept

frisbee(Seabiscuit) in the water

foiled these keels just for me, but will have some for sale to fit Lokbox soon...

sorry for the crappy pics, but the mrs is away with the camera, so i just waxed it up and paddled out...

5'8" Incut complete

As usual, all this color is in the lamination, no paint was hurt in this build...

girly-wood

made these pink tinted wood cutaway keels the other day....

5'10" Trad-zer for Tristan in progress

EPS/Epoxy with seablue pigment, and resin stripes/splashes, all in the lam.

More to come soon....

The Frisbee

Another re-work in progress....extruded poly styrene and epoxy...

Incut fish no.1

Well, here we go...almost ready to ride. Just need to fin it, and finish glassing...

Where women go to ....

Lucky 13

13th wedding anniversary present for Niall.

Thanks, and congratulations!

Monsieur Alex AKA Barrel

I'm lucky to have friends like these...

Another stunner coming from the Barrel Surfboards new stable in France.

Great work as always Alex!

8'2" Mini Log

Designed around some strict guidelines : has to fit in the van behind the seats and still have room to camp, must noseride, and still turn well, anti theft/look at me colors mandatory...

More pics here

Vices

Two things that are hard to give up, custom surfboards, and good rum....

7'0" mini log for Leeds fan Paul B. with yellow and blue abstract bottom, clear deck and acrylic pinlines.

Thanks!

Fishy smishy...

Been making a lot of fish lately, and am stoked on it, really. But, what ever happened to the egg? I mean, really? Seems to me that before Sprout, and the fish revolution, that I admittedly got caught up in, eggs were the go to board when it was less than perfect. It makes sense, nice curvy outline - much like my favourite women.  And, forgiving in less than perfect condtions, again like...hmmm...ha,...yeah! 

Bring on the new model called the "tea biscuit"....take this one from almost 4 years ago....

"Back to the Future"...

ooof, ok, that's enough Chateu Neuf da Pap for you Mr Lion, put the key board down and step away from the computer....

The Incut

Been kicking this around for a while, but never willing to commit...

The 1st in a long line of incut fish tests...

Droog - big up, big up

Fellow fish fan and creative wanderer Droog has been featured in Soulface magazine.

Check the link below for the magazine in english:

Link

Good job!

Irmao da Alma

My friend, and mentor of all things glide Paulo Jacinto in Portugal is putting out some truly amazing boards. If you haven't heard of him, or seen his sites, SHAME ON YOU!

He and his humble partner Sergio do it all from start to brilliant finish all under one roof. Check him out, and support a true craftsman.

Paulo's blog