Surfboard Restoration.

Restoring old surfboards is important for many reasons . It's history, and an invaluable link to another time when things were different , and simple. Old designs are constantly revisited and its surprising how many surfboard designers lose sight of the fundamentals that have been around for so long , and still have so much influence on the performance of a good surfboard. This old board was made around 1958 , from solid balsa logs. Its a Bill Wallace 10 ft Hawaian pintail gun. The restoration has begun, but its a big job !....the front 1/3 of the wood has dissintegrated due to dry rot. Luckily, the glass job is holding it together enough to get an accurate set of foil templates to start the job.

Some Joe Larkins.

10ft balsa-redwood gun.

...10 ft Wakiki -Balsa and red cedar..........design circa 1931 . A heavy board that takes skill and patience to ride well....this is an extreme retrospective of a true classic surfboard.....

...This board was designed in '66 . The more things change the more they stay the same . It's hard to find a real malibu . Joe Larkin still makes them the same --maybe a bit lighter these days , but still glassed the old way , full trim-lapped volan , red cedar stringers with traditional nose and tail-blocks . They ride like a real surfboard should ride.....smooth

9' - 2' by 23' by 3''...................................gently rolled bottom contour , with soft rails , slightly down-railed through the fin and no edge , so the tail hangs in when your up on the nose .........

Traditional 3 stringer glue-up in red cedar .
joelarkinsurf@yahoo.com

....nose and tail blocks are practical and usefull . they protect your board from dings.....sadly most board builders don't bother these days....

.....the first place you get a ding on your new board , always seems to be on the tip of the nose !....

This board was first built around the late 50's . It was made by Joe and Barry Bennett , for Dave Jackman ,a guy small in stature, but big in heart.........a noted big wave surfer from a time when surfers just rode waves---not for money or contest wins........they just went surfing....

THE FACTORY

.....the factory is not so big , but we make do .It has an old wooden bandsaw , a small thicknesser (donated by Joe ) ,an accurate profiling machine , various electric hand tools (ie routers ,planes , jigsaw , drill , sanders etc ) and the rest is all handwork with planes ,chisels and custom made tools for special jobs. It has 4 rooms. Main storage (with office and 1 workbench ) , profiling room ,shaping bay , backroom ( GP workbench , template storage ,general storeroom ) and kitchen (double sink , kettle , tea-pot ,wine rack , fridge with cold beer ). There are 2 mezzanines - one above the main storage (also used as accomodation when I work late and don't want to drive home ) and one above the back storage room . There are many racks full of timber and boards . New boards , old boards , boards for restoration , experimental boards , half finished boards and replicas of 50's and 60's boards and custom made blanks for various Australian shapers who like thier wood. I've been here for 7 years now. I could do with more space , but I've kinda gotten used to it here ..........................................the best thing is , I can grab a board and walk to the beach.........................

9ft-4in balsa malibu

Shaped and sanded
Ready for Glass

.Sendy......Island girl .

Sendy......island girl .

Sendy is from the southern islands of the Philippines . She didn't surf when she was little kid . She swam a lot and collected shells with her Mama and played in the clear waters of Batasan Island. Her playground was the ocean , the rich mangroves and the white sand of the island ............no cars.... no trains or buses...
She rides traditional longboards now . We connected about a year ago. She told me of her love for surfing , and we've been close ever since . She doesn't live on the island now , but she goes back every chance she gets , to see her brothers and all the kids . I am really happy to make this board for Sendy , and you know what she told me?...........she said the first place she's taking it to is Batasan Island ! Is there waves on the island ? hahaha! (she knows )......I just hope the kids get into surfing........

.. Soft egg rails ,with some edge running into the tail.

....Full balsa deck for impact strength and durability.

.....An experiment......this board has an EPS core , 6mm centre stringer , solid balsa nose and tail blocks and a 5mm balsa perimeter stringer. It also has a 5mm thick balsa deck for impact strength and durability. the glassing is epoxy - 6oz bottom ,10oz deck. It hasnt been ridden at time of print, but it has a nice balanced feel about it , and its not made too light like some epoxy boards.