Swerve tail...

Don · Post by **Don** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:01 pm

Just by chance I went out to ebay and saw a circa '85 Parkes swerve tail slab. I brought home a similar board from my trip in '84 and rode the rails off of it. Even surfed big Ulu on it!

Years later I had Schoelkopf shape a board based on the design and it was so un-california... had to have Clark do a special glue-up with an extra inch of foam to get the width puffed out to 24". For some reason I ripped the boxes and fins out of my original Parkes quad diamond tail(believe me I had a good reason for doing it at the time but for the life of me I don't know what that was

) I rode the Schoelkopf for awhile and it worked. But you know what happens when you try to duplicate a magic board...

Well, for $77 (US) I won the ebay auction and contacted Headwax who is picking up the board for me. I'll take possession on my trip to Aus in Nov. I can't wait to give it a go as I'm sure it's going to bring back a lot of memories that's for sure.

I saw someone at the Q'land WT's with one of Parksey's Friar Tucks and was glad to see their still around.

Anyone ridden one lately?

Anyone know who's board this was originally?

Cheers,

Don

albert · Post by **albert** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:25 pm

Damn... I nearly got that one in one of my ebay adventures...
I actually tried to bid on it but somewhere something went wrong on that one.

I got a similar one not too long ago. Ill have to show you when you come through here!

lowrider · Post by **lowrider** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:26 pm

Hi Don,
I have 2 of those...have ridden one a couple of times on the point waves here at Noosa and remember the first occasion, trying to drive down the line and just spinning out; there is a lot of vee in the tail & the fins way forward... Once I got used to it, it was quite good although I was only ever half in control. And being quite heavy, it carried its speed well; god help anyone in the way....

lowrider · Post by **lowrider** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:03 pm

john - · Post by **john -** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:06 pm

a side issue related to these boards

if one decided to recondition such a board so as the depressions were removed would this add an unhelpful weight to the board?

Without understanding the process Im assuming that the depressions remain in the foam but the new layer of glass provides the smoothness

Ive got a magic board here thats got a full life of depressions on the top and bottom and I am wondering would a recon zap its magical qualities?

cheers

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 9:38 am

I had a similar Freeline in 1984-85- as far as fin placement went. Template was more refined.

Headwax. · Post by **Headwax.** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:47 pm

Friend of mine scored one almost exactly the same a few years ago - and left it at my place

. I've only ridden it once in about 24 inch surf

- so I didn't really give it a good workout.

I found the large tail vee very "interesting" while I was riding it.

The only difference with the board I have is that there is no reverse curve at the tail (does it still qualify???). I showed it to David Parkes proudly a few years ago as the pizza d'resistance in 'my' board collection.

Turned out the 'dp' signature on the board actually reffered to "Dale Ponsford"

Which I suppose explains the Rodney Ball screwdriver tail planshape references in your board.

Will post pics when I get a chance.
And the number - mayl be interesting to compare the relative shaping numbers as far as evolution.

Don

Talked to John finally. ETA for board pickup this friday at 6.oo

He is a nice guy, an artist, ex standup, and a board collector who lets them go when he needs the cash. Interestingly he started shaping backyard jobs in the old days with a guy called Greg Webber.

Will let you know when the stick is in my grubby little hands.

cheers

john - · Post by **john -** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:57 pm

mmmme

none in kneelo land seems to ride a recon board

must be a local custom...but hard to tell from a longboarders experience

shall save the coins towards a newie

Headwax. · Post by **Headwax.** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 1:28 am

Hi John

sorry

I imagine you could fill the bumps with resin and micropsheres to smooth it out, but that would look not good.

anything is going to make the board heavier.

maybe - sometimes the bumps make it go faster

Fitz had a theory that putting a dimple in certain parts of the bottom of the board would either introduce air or break up the meniscus tension of the water - either resulting in a looser board or a faster board

my old boards used to get better the more the bottom sank and formed a double concave around the stringer

cheers

john - · Post by **john -** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 2:18 am

Andrew

I think your right...let an board be an old board rather than mutton done up as lamb

it still works fine...Im impatient

got a head of ideas and a good spray job in mind

happily time moves faster as your older so it should come around fast enough

cheers for the reply....your too kind

Bells on a building swell at dawn tomorrow unless its got big quicker than expected in which case a slightly lower key reef

Headwax. · Post by **Headwax.** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 10:02 pm

Hya John

give Stoney a PM, he's had a few done up and could give advice.

Picture from Sydney site retro comp (if you haven't visited the site for a while, it's a crack up

looks like a swerve tail?

http://www.sydneykneeboardclub.com/

Headwax. · Post by **Headwax.** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 2:10 am

Don

I have the board in my hot little hands.
I must say, it's a beauty!
Excellent condition, extremely ridable.
99 percent of dings water tight.
The board is better than the photographs you posted

The sellers backyard is like a surfboard graveyard.
Reminscent of the robot tinkerer in "Bladerunner" - if you ever saw it.
He even has a very early Farrely gun - extreme narrow drawn out tail with very very small swallow. Pre leg rope plugs.

You scored an excellent bargain.
Some of the guys here in OZ will be extremely jealous.