I need some help...firstly I know ZERO about surfing so please be gentle...
I just purchased a board for my 8 year old son to learn on. I wanted something cheap as he has a tendancy to lose interest in stuff quickly. Board was purchased off eBay and described as 7'1" longboard. It has a few small dings and the front has a little damage.
On collecting, the board appeared to be longer. Once home, I measured it at 9 foot plus a bit.. Large single fin
The hand writing (very faint) on the underside reads " Bob Hunt - 7'1" - 22 1/2 - 17 1/2 - 14 - Steve O'Donnell
The logo on the top middle is that of Gordon Woods - Custom Surfboards, Brookvale Australia
There is a small logo on the top rear near legrope strap "SOD" Steve O'Donnell
It also has a logo top front "Ratpac Australia"
So what have I actually pruchased....is it too big for my young bloke. Is it any good...??
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Colonel
Those details sound weird but a couple of those names were and are very highly respected.
gordon Woods was a pioneer of the industry in Brooky and many famous surfers were associated with the brand.
www.surfresearch.com.au/mWoods.html
Steve O'Donnell was and is a highly regarded shaper and still works out of a small shaping booth in Harbourd road and sells his boards under his own name. Bennett's just down the road a bit also stock many of Steve's boards.
And steve did often sign with S.O.D but I don't recall him doing that in the last 5 years.
The problem I have with the board you've got there is that if it's a very early one, I don't know how Steve's name could be on it because I thought he was associated with "Dale" boards in the very early 70s and was at the forefront of the Vee tail design era along with Bob mac
See second frame down.
www.surfresearch.com.au/md.html
Thanks guys...interesting info.
I was lazy this morning and couldnt be bothered with pics, but given you very informative responses, I took some to see if they help.
I have a 7'2" Byron Bay Sick Puppy that the young bloke learned on, but it is at our Holiday house near Coffs. Getting ths one was to have another cheap one here in Sydney for him to use.
I have never surfed myself so I am happy to keep this for me to try and learn if it suits.
I am not too concenred about being scammed, as the board was not expensive.
Hope the pics helps.
Cheers and thanks for your help.
Matt
It's a modern Mal Matt, a lot of the old names were resurrected when longboards came back into fashion. Some have a very tenuous relationship with the original makers.
For many years SOD was a gun for hire so I can understand his name being on it, I think until very recently most "Bear" boards down this way had his name on them.
He does not have to do that these days because his name sells so well, only this morning I was in a lineup at Collaroy and his name was by far the dominant make,
That one looks like it may be a half decent nose rider.
If it owes you nothing, keep it and if you're under 100kgs, you'll probably be able to ride it reasonably easily yourself.
BTW, just one more thing, I think that 7'1" is actually a poorly written 9'1".
Foam is not the easiest thing to write on, if you push too hard you can root it up for the glasser.
All good...thanks heaps for the responses guys.
On much closer inspection, I think you are correct and the 7 is a faint 9.
Looks like it may be OK for me to finally try surfing. At 43 years old it would be about time. I am about 88kg's so it sounds like it may be suitable. It only cost $100 so I am happy to hang onto it.
I'll take it up to Corindi and try it out next holidays, or maybe I can slot in at a Kiddies Corner somewhere..!!
Back to eBay to try and find a smaller one for the young bloke...
Cheers all and Happy Australia Day
Matt
If it's blowing a southerly, take a look at Emerald on the way to Corindi, I've always considered that to be a good wave because you can get a right off the point and a left and right just a bit further along and it's a well protected headland.
Best of all, it's really close to the highway.
I could also mention one other spot but BB would kill me.
Ps. If bob hunt has his name on the blank then he's probably the shaper so I'm guessing that he was using a SOD template and design.
Get into it Matt. You will never look back mate. That feeling of your first cruise along a wave will have you getting up before light in winter, finding new destinations for the family holiday, looking up Seabreeze a few times a day and wondering why you didn't give it a crack thirty years earlier. Keep us posted on your how your first session goes down. Enjoy 
Does anyone else think that the board may have been an ex comp board?
Some of the depressions underneath tend to indicate that it's been very lightly glassed and I can't think of any other reason for so many decals.
If that's the case Matt then there's no real problem with the board other than it may be a little less durable than a standard board and if you only paid a century for it then you still got a red hot bargain.
Just ride it like you stole it and don't give a rats arse about hurting it.
I have been to Emerald, but only for a swim and the great restaurant right on the beach..
I have to be honest...my only ever attempt at surfing was circa 1986 and resulted in a broken nose from a face plant with the bottom..
That was at Boambee Beach just South of Coffs.
I'll patch the board up and give it a go. It cost me $102.50...what have I got to lose.
I already visit Seabreeze enough as I do a bit of game fishing. It is a great site.
I cannot thank you guys enough for the help. I may even try it out one weekend here in Sydney. I live in The Eastern Suburbs...where do you recommend....
Cheers
Matt
Sorry Matt, I'm a north shore boy, actually I'm a transplanted westy but that's another story.
I don't envy you looking for a break down there, I was at Bondi in October and I though to myself at the time "how the hell do you ever get a surf here, all the parking is like 30 mins?".
My only advice would be to stay away from points to start with and just find a long open beach and a wave a bit away from everyone. Even if it's just a white water close out.
Maroubra is a bit like that and Cronulla if you want to go that far south.
Lfish is an ex Cronulla boy, he may have a tip if he's around.
One last tip, if you're anywhere near an SUP and the pilot has an enormous gut and keeps wobbling and then going plop in the water, find somewheres else to surf. The fat turd is there to attempt to kill you with either that ridiculous thing he's trying to stand up on or that ridiculous thing he has in his hand.
