"The Boat" Part 1: Background

First, I would like to provide some background for this project. Here goes. In my youth, I had become keenly interested in a particular visionary/designer's work and approach to surfboard design, boats, photography, etc. After observing his work of designing and building custom adaptations for a 16' Boston Whaler, a 37' Santana sailboat, a "gondola"( a hand powered launch for said Santana), and a 16' stitch and glue skiff, I had decided I wanted to build a copy of his 16’ stitch and glue plywood skiff.

Sometime in the mid-1970s after being given a set of plans (original drawings of which I still have a copy) from said visionary/designer, I set out to build my first boat. It seemed simple enough: a set of lines, sheets of plywood, fiberglass and resin, and a few tools. Well, to make a long story short, I never did finish the project, but I did learn some things that proved to be invaluable later. I learned how to execute a marine plywood scarf joint, how to loft a set of lines to full scale, and, that building a proper boat was a lot of work and required a lot of planning!

After some 40 plus years, I still consider this particular design to be of superior seaworthiness for a small boat. And, after decades of building and modifying boats and designing and fabricating equipment and machinery for California and Alaskan commercial fisheries, I decided once again to build myself a "version” of what I’ll refer to heretofore as “The Boat".

If you happen to be a surfing history buff, you probably already know that the above mentioned visionary/designer is George Greenough. I recently contacted him through a mutual friend to ask permission to mention him in this story. George agreed and I am honored that he will be following.

In the process of deciding to move forward with the project, I contacted a longtime acquaintance, Bill Anderson, a Santa Barbara boat builder who has commercially built many of George's designs in the 17' to 21' length range. Bill gave me a set of drawings of his molded hull to study so that I could determine if one of his hulls could be modified within a comfortable design parameter to fit my intended use. I considered building a one-off hull constructed of plywood or foam sandwich panels, but decided I did not want a plywood/glass hull or all the fairing involved with a total one-off (a non-molded one of a kind part). After due consideration, I contracted Bill Anderson to layup a 21' hull for me and I began work on the project.

While doing this build I will be changing some of the proportional relationships of the original design, while still staying well within norms of naval architecture and yet remaining complimentary to its intended function and performance requirements for the resident seaway. So at the outset, let it be known that there will be a George Greenough hull design buried inside of this vessel. Thanks to George for the inspiration!

In the next episode we'll begin the process.

So sit back and enjoy the voyage…

Projects “The Boat” and “The Board”

Greetings, I've been working on two projects that might be of interest to readers. The first is a surfboard design concept that I have decided to resurrect from my youth and the second is a boat project. Both of the projects have connections to surf history and both include, as do all surfboards and boats, hull forms. My intent is to post picture and story in installments over a period of time. I hope this will be interesting and informative. In future posts I will just refer to each project respectively as "The Boat" and "The Board". Check back often.... Enjoy! TB

http://www.shapesandhulls.com/

Hieme Propinquante MMXIV

Well, as the northern hemisphere has already begun to stir for 2014/2015 winter my quiver is ready. I hope you enjoy this sampling.This shape features 1 flowing into 2 concave bottom contour, tucked edge rail, natural rocker and TB/Flex Keel fin arrangement. You can view some of my other shapes at http://www.shapesandhulls.com/surfboards/. As always your inquires are invited. Enjoy!

Greatly Honored

A couple of weeks ago I met Wayne Rich and he gave me this board which he had as part of his personal collection. I am so honored that he would consider me in this way. Thank you Wayne!!! The board is one that I originally built for friend Mike Thomson in around 1975. It is just under 9'0" on the bottom length and 20 1/4" in width. The board is in very good condition after approximately 38 years. I am in the process of repairing some storage damage on the bottom and when finished I will post more pictures. Also I am starting to work on some contemporary winter boards so stay tuned. Thanks for looking, TJB

Tells

Vintage Shapes and Hulls

Vintage Shapes and Hulls

                              Photo: Esteban Bojorquez / ca. 1974

Edge Board 1974!

Edge Board 1974!

Greetings Friends!

So since I have been chasing surf and didn't post a featured board for June I thought this would make up for two months. No secret that Greenough's influence felt its way into my work. This photo taken at the Quarantina Street shop in 1974  is worth a thousand words. The cast of characters know who they are. The man behind the camera Steve Krajewski AKA Esteban Bojorquez, my friend since high school days sent me this photo a couple of years ago. The "Grey and White" board is as Greenough as it gets.  A stand up version of the "Black and White" George was riding at that time (minus the spooned out deck), this board was 6'6" in length (I don't remember other dimensions) however I'm thinking 19" in width. The bottom contour in the center plane ( the white section of the bottom) had a single concave forward into two in the tail. The rails were separated from the center plane by a hard edge and neutral through the middle of the board and transitioning to hard down rails in the tail. This was the only flex-tail of the many I have made that didn't have a full glass tail. The parts that were flexible solid glass were only in the last twelve inches of rail with the center part of the tail being  made of hypalon (Zodiac rubber). The white and grey sections were separated by a hard edge, truly a tri-plane hull. The fin was pulled off of a tuna picture that I scaled out of a book in my library about fisheries of the north pacific.  The fin had a full foil (no flat spots), made of pure roving strands that followed the contours of the rake. I didn't know about removing the atmosphere at that time (vacuum bagging) so I laminated the fin panel between two wax paper lined pieces of plywood under a bottle jack and a Volkswagen. I know I rode this board for a while but after nearly 40 years I only recall one session...... at Rincon, a solid 8' swell. Until recently I thought that there was only one other board made like this, one that George made for Chris Brock in 1972 (orange and blue) but in a recent article in SJ about Michael Cundith there was a tail shot picture of another. I wish the other board in this picture wasn't blocked out but it was a board dubbed the "Twisto Flex". The tail twisted terribly while being glassed but turned out to be one of the  best riding boards I ever had.

Just a reminder my current shapes and custom orders are available at Shapes and  Hulls LLC  / 11 South Kellogg Ave. / Goleta, CA  / Shop A

PS If anyone knows the whereabouts of  the "Gray and White"  board  please let me know!  TB

ROUND PIN-TAIL MINI GUN / 6'6"

Hello friends! I hope you are finding some quality waves. I thought I would share a shape which is a departure from the hulls and long boards that I have been featuring over the last few weeks.  For those who are new here I wanted to introduce you to some of the boards I have shaped and ridden successfully over the years. I hope you enjoy this round pin-tail single fin. As of late there has been quite a bit of renewed  interest in this design. Thanks for looking! T

Round Pin-tail Mini Gun / 6'6"

HULL BROS. / 7'0" STUBBY FLEX, 6'10" NN FLEX

While some might call one a hull and the other something else, both of these boards have more similarities than differences. Bottom, rail contour, tail and fin characteristics define those similarities. The plan shapes are obviously different, but then the boards are designed uniquely for different types of waves. As a side note, I'll  mention that the fins are hand laid with particular materials and shaped and foiled to specific dimensions and are an  integral part of the dynamic performance of this type of  wave interface. At some point I will publish a diatribe on my fins. Thanks for looking! TB

Featured Design For May - LB Variations - "Trimmer" and "High Plane Drifter"

Greetings! This month I decided to feature my long-board work. The blue square tail (TRIMMER / 9'0") is my  interpretation of a true classic. The green pin tail ("HIGH PLANE DRIFTER" / 9'3") is a variation of the same theme. I have balanced the design by incorporating thinly foiled rails, natural rocker and light overall weight. My choice of the fin would be a 9"-9.5" "TB Full Flex". In summary I consider these shapes to be of classic mid 1960's. design and feel. Please drop a line if you have any questions. Thanks! Tim PS Our web site to launch soon!

"TRIMMER" / 9'0"

9'0" "TRIMMER"
9'0" "TRIMMER"

"HIGH PLANE DRIFTER" / 9'3"