Surfing Waves

Hey guys. Found this board selling online for a very reasonable price. What do you guys think? Should I go see what condition the glass is in?

It looks like it could be a really fun board, but does anyone have experience riding old pigs like this? Or experience owning them? It looks pretty slim, appears stringerless, it's 8'9", and in decent shape but I'll have to inspect the glass and see if it's holding up. It would be half of my quiver, and my other board may not be around much longer, so I'd be riding it a lot. I guess I'm wondering if it's a good investment or if I'd be better off buying that 9'6" Hank Warner for double the price. Like if the glass doesn't show signs of too much UV damage and the like, is there any reason the thing will fall apart on me? Are they more susceptible to dings and such?

Also, think I'd be able to knee paddle it? I can paddle my current 9'0 from my knees, so I'm hoping it will be possible on this one, having the extra volume in back as compared to my modern "nose rider" shape.

Thanks guys!

I grew up riding the balsa pigs that were models before this one.
I don’t think it’s a bargain, paint over, possibly covering defects, different cover colours in the paint or glass job, again possible defects, looks like a fin chop repair on one of the rails.
Is the board heavier than you expected? If so waterlogged!
Then a D fin, are you up for riding the performance level or lack there of, that the fin gives.
Full tail,turns and backfoot pressure and then the stepping forward to trim.

Hope that helps

jaffa1949 wrote:Hope that helps

Awesome, yeah that helps a lot. Probably won't buy it, but I'd still be super curious to see it and pick it up in person.

Yeah I didn't think about that stuff before. So you don't think that paint is original? You're saying the glass was painted over completely with that blue? So I wouldn't be able to see previous repairs, water and delam, all that fun stuff?

Idk about those turns, but that gas pedal trim doesn't sound half bad Course the turns can't be worse than my 9'0 "nose rider" shape. Still have to lean back and yank that thing around.

Board is $300

Oh, and Jaffa, while we're here, I've been curious.

What do you think about kneel paddling something like this? I'm a smaller guy and don't have much trouble paddling that 9' I mentioned from my knees. Are these older boards any easier to paddle than newer ones because of their unique volume distribution?

Probably won't get the board, just entertaining fantasies at this point!

Thanks!

Here's a closer look at the paint and the fin.

I am very suspicious of the paint job, looks poor around the logo and fin, the foam in the clear spot near the logo looks yellow, a sure sign of water damage, feel for squashy areas along where the stringer goes or along the rails.

Remember that this type of board became obsolete and other fins added to performance.
The board is a nice wall piece, but really I wouldn’t buy it as a board to surf.
It will knee paddle, but if the glass job is aged you will severely knee dent it!

Your call, emotional attachment or usability?

Yeah you're right, it seems sketchy at best. Too bad.