Bonzer Kneeboards
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gogglefog
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Bonzer Kneeboards
Just read the latest Surfer's Journal article on bonzers. Anyone ever ridden a kb with a bonzer bottom? Any shapers care to fill me in on why this bottom would or wouldn't work on a kb?
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Beeline2.0
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Big Smokey
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Mike Eaton-
Mike Eaton (www.eatonsurf.com) has shaped many Bonzer Kneeboards as well as his stand-up boards and claims to have many satisfied kneeboard customers... I have owned and ridden his Bonzer Longboards and mid-length shapes and really like the turning and drive characteristics that a bonzer has to offer... I am considereing having one built by Eaton....
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Beeline2.0
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Big Smokey
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Beeline,
I agree with your comments about a stand-up shaper not being the right choice to shape an up-to-date kneeboard. I was only repeating what Eaton told me on an Inquiry that I made. His stand-up bonzer boards are top notch and fetch top dollar. I would definitely spend my hard-won scratch with a shaper who knows Kneeboards. However, I would love to try a bonzer kneeboard and he was the only resource that I was familiar with on the subject of bonzers... And I have been very happy with. the longboard that he has shaped for me, hence my giving him consideration on shaping a kneeboard....
Anyway, does anyone know of any kneeboard shapers who has experimented with the bonzer design??
I agree with your comments about a stand-up shaper not being the right choice to shape an up-to-date kneeboard. I was only repeating what Eaton told me on an Inquiry that I made. His stand-up bonzer boards are top notch and fetch top dollar. I would definitely spend my hard-won scratch with a shaper who knows Kneeboards. However, I would love to try a bonzer kneeboard and he was the only resource that I was familiar with on the subject of bonzers... And I have been very happy with. the longboard that he has shaped for me, hence my giving him consideration on shaping a kneeboard....
Anyway, does anyone know of any kneeboard shapers who has experimented with the bonzer design??
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K-man
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BONZER
smokey,
He[eaton] has shaped over 15k boards.If you have a KB shape you like,then all that needs to be considered is the bottom config,fitting that particular shape.As far as standup shapers making kneeboards-Once again if you understand the how and why any board works,then It's simply a matter of telling that to the shaper and having him execute that into foam.Copying a board is no biggie for these guys with that kind of expertise.
GO FOR IT
He[eaton] has shaped over 15k boards.If you have a KB shape you like,then all that needs to be considered is the bottom config,fitting that particular shape.As far as standup shapers making kneeboards-Once again if you understand the how and why any board works,then It's simply a matter of telling that to the shaper and having him execute that into foam.Copying a board is no biggie for these guys with that kind of expertise.
GO FOR IT
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hart
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Bonzers
The first Bonzer surfboards I ever saw looked absolutely awesome..so long ago now..and yet they toyed with the multi (triple) fin configuration long before the Thruster.
I reckon there is no reason that a Bonzer style bottom wouldn't 'work' on a modern Kneeboard..and if the Standup shaper cares enough..he should be capable of doing it. You know what I mean..as long as he 'wants' to do it.
The last Bonzers I shaped predated my now (almost exclusive) concave / spiral bottom shape. Would've been '90 - 91. Interesting to note..the Bonzers I shaped all those years ago really pointed me to the bottoms I do today.
I'm not sure how other guys did them but mine were essentially two curved channels about 3" either side of the stringer that ran thru the back 1/3 of the bottom. The channel effect gave a pronounced vee type shape to the stringer line..and sometimes I took the stringer DEEPER than the bottom elsewhere..kind of a primitive double conc.
They really taught you to consider the notion of the direction of water flow over your bottomshape..like you were telling the water where to go..and you had to make sure you got it right.
Novakov surfed a couple..but he pushed so hard off the bottom..the curved shape of the channel actually made him 'oversteer' and so he flicked the idea.
In my view..a modern bottom contour which is developed with a combination of single and 'double' concs..or a spiral or flatter vee..will give the same dynamic as the bonzer..it just does it more subtley.
And like most channel type bottoms..Bonzers hated the onshore beachy and would always want to misbehave!!
hart.
I reckon there is no reason that a Bonzer style bottom wouldn't 'work' on a modern Kneeboard..and if the Standup shaper cares enough..he should be capable of doing it. You know what I mean..as long as he 'wants' to do it.
The last Bonzers I shaped predated my now (almost exclusive) concave / spiral bottom shape. Would've been '90 - 91. Interesting to note..the Bonzers I shaped all those years ago really pointed me to the bottoms I do today.
I'm not sure how other guys did them but mine were essentially two curved channels about 3" either side of the stringer that ran thru the back 1/3 of the bottom. The channel effect gave a pronounced vee type shape to the stringer line..and sometimes I took the stringer DEEPER than the bottom elsewhere..kind of a primitive double conc.
They really taught you to consider the notion of the direction of water flow over your bottomshape..like you were telling the water where to go..and you had to make sure you got it right.
Novakov surfed a couple..but he pushed so hard off the bottom..the curved shape of the channel actually made him 'oversteer' and so he flicked the idea.
In my view..a modern bottom contour which is developed with a combination of single and 'double' concs..or a spiral or flatter vee..will give the same dynamic as the bonzer..it just does it more subtley.
And like most channel type bottoms..Bonzers hated the onshore beachy and would always want to misbehave!!
hart.
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Steve Neal
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The year was 1974. I was all of 12 years old but it was the most influential day of my life. I'd been standup surfing for 2 years. I arrived at the beach in the morning (Silver Strand this is where the Bonzer originated)it was pumping, triple overhead. There were 3 guys in the water 2 were kneelo's and they both were tearing it up, on bonzers. From that day on I knew what I wanted to do. The design does work I have ridin a few in my day. And shaped a few with bonzer channels incorperated into a fish shaped long fin twin fin.
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MWROBERTSON
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Bonzers
There is a great and complete article in the current issue of The Surfers' Journal on the Campbell Brothers and their development of the Bonzer.
Again, there is mention of how standups wanted to turn and power like KB'ers i.e. Greenough. The short board revolution began but some went so short that the boards did not function. The Campell Bros, wanted a board that was short and maneverable but powered and held in the grinding surf of their home break.
Their early boards looked a lot like KB designs with the early Bonzer configurations.
Anyone interested in this topic should read the article as well as check out their website. www.bonzer5.com
Again, there is mention of how standups wanted to turn and power like KB'ers i.e. Greenough. The short board revolution began but some went so short that the boards did not function. The Campell Bros, wanted a board that was short and maneverable but powered and held in the grinding surf of their home break.
Their early boards looked a lot like KB designs with the early Bonzer configurations.
Anyone interested in this topic should read the article as well as check out their website. www.bonzer5.com