well here it is thrill seekers...finished and humming...wish they were as easy to build as they have looked on this post...I must admit, I have at times thought I have bitten off more than I can chew...the build was not a problem, I could do it in my sleep...the documenting of the whole affair has been a chore to say the least with my poor computer skills...spellcheck not working and one finger typing, I need a break


hope you all have learnt something from it...even if only...you now know were your hard earnt dollars are going when you order a custom built surfboard





maybe now you will understand why your local shaper gets a little grumpy at the sight of your new chopstick



some entrepeneur has gone to china and shown them what I have shown you over the last week or two....all to make some bucks...I now have emails from manufactures in china telling me they can manufacture my boards for less than what I can build them for myself...is it sustainable?...we will just have to wait and see...but I will be retired by then...going to the beach trying new toys every day so I dont really give a toss


old timers like me have whittled away over the years tweeking designs till they are right...now with the aid of CNC machines complete non surfers can produce boards by the container load...riding on the backs of all the old designers....one of my favourite quotes, and I cant remember who said it...."surf design is from a long line of beggars and theives"






non surfers finishing off a rail!...what do they feel when they cup their hand over it?


will there allways be a little niche for guys like me...its getting harder all the time...and there are some beautifull boards being made...people doing great stuff


but I'm afraid its the power of the dollar....that board from china could go in the back of your car and you would have enough left over to buy a few cartons....hey that sounds good to me....just ask yourself first though...is it a contemporary design with soul built in...or a cheap popout



"I may not know art...............but I know what I like and I love building boards

RG I am sold !!!! I shall be coming for one of your eggs one day soon - just need to get one other purchase past the eyes of the Minister of War and Finance undetected.

Thanks so much for one of the best threads to ever hit the Grrenroom in my humble opinion - I have absolutely loved it.

Please keep up the good work

swalkington said...

can we see a pic of the old pin tail as it is now RG?

35 years later...was a filthy favourite...ahead of its time...no one was using 5" of nose lift...you could not buy a blank with that much lift so I would get them glued up with 2 stringers 11" apart and bend it in

62mac said...

Ron for what its worth,this thread is the best in the history of this forum by a country mile.
Your craftsmanship is something to be very proud of and no, China will and could never make such a high quality board such as yours.

I forgive for not documenting The Pups new board but could you post progress photos .

Unreal stuff

Mac

pups will be more concise but informative just the same.

Look Ronnie , I'll say on behalf of the Greenroom here , Thankyou so much for the education of Passion you've shown us in this brilliant thread ... as the Prez said above me here , it's right up there with the best threads ever imho .... resist the hordes mate , I'll be ordering a Traditional Log after mine is completed , as you say this type of hand crafted love may not be around forever .... Taz's LadyHawk is magnificent mate , sweet sweet girl!
Thanks mate - speak over the weekend if not before , I'm on nightshifts is all mate!

I am loving the look of that pin tail - it just seems to float effortlessly - a special board thats for sure

What a great thread. That board has turned out very nice and the whole story with the process and pics were great. Enjoyed that heaps. Now for Pups stick.

swalkington said...

What would you charge for a custom 9 foot mal RG?
My guess is you may get a few new customers. That board looks sick!
Wish I was a craftsman like yourself.

Swalkington I will leave it to Ronnie to give you a price but I will say for the amount of work that has gone into that board and the quality of it IMO it is an absolute bargain

62mac said...

Looking forward to that one,when are you starting

So you have made another amazing HAND MADE board,so how will this be freighted to Tassie

Mac Ron has gone to the trouble of packing the Nimbus and the egg for the young fellow , and getting one of his mates to deliver it for me . Could not ask for a better service .

A question maybe the maestro can answer tonight Taz ..... hope you enjoy mate , she looks wicked AND also hope the lad is stoked too , he'll be washing Dad's car and cleaning the surf gear up for a while I'm thinking

62mac said...

Tassiedevel said...
one of his mates to deliver it for me . Could not ask for a better service .

How good is that

How good could it be for you

BulldogPup said...

A question maybe the maestro can answer tonight Taz ..... hope you enjoy mate , she looks wicked AND also hope the lad is stoked too , he'll be washing Dad's car and cleaning the surf gear up for a while I'm thinking

I am pretty lucky Pup he is a great kid helps me at work so has earnt the board . Has saved his pocket money to pay for his own fins . Funny little bugger took out a school book called " how to make money " to try and make enough to pay for it himself , had to laugh . Future entrepreneur

Tassiedevel said...

BulldogPup said...

A question maybe the maestro can answer tonight Taz ..... hope you enjoy mate , she looks wicked AND also hope the lad is stoked too , he'll be washing Dad's car and cleaning the surf gear up for a while I'm thinking

I am pretty lucky Pup he is a great kid helps me at work so has earnt the board . Has saved his pocket money to pay for his own fins . Funny little bugger took out a school book called " how to make money " to try and make enough to pay for it himself , had to laugh . Future entrepreneur

thats great stuff mate , nice to hear , love those coulours heaps on the egg

BulldogPup said...
I'll buy that McT you're trying to offload ... what are the dims again

I'm sure Lacey wants it

BulldogPup said...

ah the master of avoiding the question thats our leader

Are we referring to our dear prime minister Julier