As anyone who's read my previous posts will know, I've 'scored' a number of obsolete 1980's fibreglass windsurfer boards, a gaudy Farrelly and a beautifully finished Wind Action being the main players in my little recycling project.
I took the WA out into the surf for just the 3rd time on Monday, and a younger bloke than me on a Malibu said...
"That's the biggest surfboard I've ever seen! Just how long is it?"
So I explained that it was 9'4", it was formerly a windsurfer, and that only a matter of a few weeks ago it had been sitting on a pile of rubbish waiting to go out in the upcoming council junk collection, until I 'rescued' it that was.
So I've created a Facebook page that follows the boards, and my, journey back into the water. I also haven't surfed for many years, so the boards and I are both learning...
Please feel free to come along and have a look, and post a comment if you like...
www.facebook.com/winsurfer2longboard
Cheers, Glen.
I saw one up at Port Sorrell today ("Island Energy" high volume wave board). Beautiful thing.
Back in the late 80s a good fibreglass board was 30% lighter than most off-the-shelf production boards.
How quickly we forget.
Clarence
Nothing wrong with it Sean 
. It's a bit like people who restore old trucks and motorcycles. I don't use or restore vintage stuff, but I respect people's passion who do. When the odd person rocks up at my local with vintage gear, they turn more heads out of awe than people with new gear. Keep up the good work Glen
Select to expand quotejn1 said..
Nothing wrong with it Sean .
That's why I was asking, the original post was bravely red thumbed....
About ten years ago I found an old twin fin swallow tail surfboard. Found it worked beautifully in small, mushy waves (surfing, not windsurfing). Everyone laughed at it, but I enjoyed my surfing so much more. Ten years on this style of surfboard is all the rage again, as people find they really work in less than perfect conditions.
95% of sailors still couldn't acheive what Robby, Dave Kalama and Mark Angulo could on their fibreglass boards 20 years ago.
It takes a brave person to do something a little different.
I don't care what gear people sail, paddle, surf on. Better they're on the water on a board than a jet-ski or at home playing x-box.
Clarence
Hi Glen I have liked you FB page like what you are doing , bellow is my old girl a late 80's slalom board 9ft and skinny . dusted the cobwebs of her last weekend was so nice to get her on the water again . If you find any info on Sirocco boards let me know would you .
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while we're bringing out the dead. I posted this in the speed section. got it out of the garage last week. last time it was used was about 4 years ago when a mate and I went speed sailing. from caloundra also. 1990 build. I had a couple of pre 90 speed boards also. of course they were state of the art when I got them.
Th
anks for all the positive replies people! And for the facebook page likes too!
The other old boards you've posted pics of are awesome, if I find any info on Sirocco's I'll pass it on for sure.
I'm having fun, I'm getting fit, I'm out in the fresh air, sunshine and surf, and loving it!
Deb and I both work tomorrow, and our normal Sunday routine is sleep in for a bit, struggle out of bed about 7.30, and leave the house about 9.45m to get to work on time. I've just changed the routine, I'm getting up at 6.15, doing all my 'chores' and leaving the house by 8am. I've just put the wind action board on the car, boardshorts and rashie on the front seat, and I'm heading for the beach! I'll get a good hour in the surf before I have to be back to pick Deb up at 9.45 to go to work. I haven't been for a surf before work for about 30 years!
Here's my latest image...
I used to sail glass boards in the 80's , they were better than the "plastic fantastic" production boards . Not to good on landing , I snapped a few . I'm still using sails from 80's including a wild winds wave sail that must be 28 years old - I think I'll get 1 more blast out of it before blows out .
I took her for a wave this morning before work, and another old surfer around my age stopped me to take a look at it, wanting to know how thick it was. (31/2" I believe) and amazed that it was about to be tossed away as worthless.
Oh yeah, and there's a brown beauty on ebay down in Melbourne for $80, what a pity it's not up here on the Gold Coast! (My IE8 has just updated nd conveniently decided to block all attempts to upload pictures.... Grrr...) http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/WIND-SURFER-HOWARD-HUGHES-MASTER-BLASTER-/271294968187?pt=AU_Sport_Surfing&hash=item3f2a70b17b
I just put my 1988 Island Energy slalom shaped by Shane O'Callaghan in the hard collect, some one took in the night so I hope it went to a good home. memories !!!
Select to expand quoteMistral Nick said..
I just put my 1988 Island Energy slalom shaped by Shane O'Callaghan in the hard collect, some one took in the night so I hope it went to a good home. memories !!!
Well if I'd known it was there it would have had a good home with me!
I pick up my early 80's Farrelly next weekend from a board restorer who offered to 'tidy it up a bit' for me before I took it in the water, I can hardly wait to see it!
Cheers, Glen.
I seem to have solved the image posting problem, here's that beautiful brown one in Melbourne...
Select to expand quoteMistral Nick said...
I just put my 1988 Island Energy slalom shaped by Shane O'Callaghan in the hard collect, some one took in the night so I hope it went to a good home. memories !!!
Shane is working at Binks Marine in Somerton park in Adelaide these days, more into the SUP world i think.
I've got an old fibreglass Santosha kicking around in my shed.
Dont think it would even hold me up anymore, must have been about 30kgs lighter back when this was in use :)
Select to expand quotegrumplestiltskin said..
I've got an old fibreglass Santosha kicking around in my shed.
Dont think it would even hold me up anymore, must have been about 30kgs lighter back when this was in use :)
That's a really nice looking board, pity you're not nearby or I'd 'recycle' it for you!
And that goes for anyone else, especially here on the Coast, if you've got an old glass board you're going to put out in the council cleanup or take to the tip, PM me first, please!
There is an old 1991 Kevlar / Carbon epoxy board under a house in Akoni Place, Paia.
Made from the same weave that was used in bullet proof vests and experimental jet turbine blades - not available to the public, very hard to get hold of, but luckily just enough was found on the jet turbine laboratory floor to make one board.
Probably the first and only 100% Kevlar / Carbon cloth weave board ever made
Select to expand quoteCarantoc said..
There is an old 1991 Kevlar / Carbon epoxy board under a house in Akoni Place, Paia.
Made from the same weave that was used in bullet proof vests and experimental jet turbine blades - not available to the public, very hard to get hold of, but luckily just enough was found on the jet turbine laboratory floor to make one board.
Probably the first and only 100% Kevlar / Carbon cloth weave board ever made
Sounds like it belongs in a museum!
(But I'm happy with my 'obsolete' fibreglass ones...)
That Margaret Rive board is beautiful! Is it a more 90's board, it's shape looks like the 2nd Wing Action I've got, the vacuum moulded one, rather than the fibreglass boards I've got from the 80's.
I got the Farrelly back today, Goran at Koma Surfboards here in Southport coloured it for me, it doesn't look like a windsurfer any more!
Stany, they're both great looking boards!
Looks like they're still 'out there' alright, are they all still being used?
Cheers, Glen.
Select to expand quoteAncientglen said..
Stany, they're both great looking boards!
Looks like they're still 'out there' alright, are they all still being used?
Cheers, Glen.
Sold the Strapper a few years ago so I hope it's still being used.
Still have the wave scalpel - used it last a couple of years ago and would still make a good high wind board. It used to be be my single board solution back in the day (when I weighed 20-30kg's less). Will probably mount it on the wall in the pool room once the kids leave home and get some space back..LOL
Here's some more;
My late 80's Watercooled 8'10 (still in the garage) and my brothers old Tyronsea 295 I picked up from him to teach the kids on. Miss those long tails - made waterstarting a lot easier by pushing them under the boom.
