Need help identifying ! I'm surf-ignorant :(

[surfconfused]

Hi -
I found this forum while trying to figure out "what I have". I did computer work for a neighbor
awhile back and in exchange he gave me a bicycle and a surfboard. He told me "its old but people who surf would know what it is and it worth a decent amount" - He didn't have the money to pay me, and I was trying to be 'friendly' so I said 'sure' . Well my wife says 'enough already' find out what it is and sell it.

the only info was that he said it was from the 1970s he believed and he thought it was worth at least 300 - which is why he gave it to me in trade for computer work.

It is covered in filth as you can see - because I was afraid to use any cleaning supplies on it - I didn't know if that could damage a board. Or is it ok?

It says "Infinity" in big letters in the middle and on the top right it says " Black Flag "
and in the middle it says " Powder i Sun" or that is work it looks like it says. He assured
me this board was "old" but could be restored and somebody might love it

a) What in the world do I have ? Did I win the surfboard lottery or did I get screwed ? ( I did several 100 dollars worth of work for the guy )

b) Should I clean it ? or sell it as is ? and what in the world do I ask for it ?

I just wanted to say thanks in advance to anyone who takes a min to comment/reply - I just have no idea what its worth or what kind of board it is - and my wife said its time for me to 'get paid' for al the computer work I did for the guy - so she wants me to sell it.

[tony g]

I would clean it up and see how it looks with the wax off. You can pour some hot water on it to soften the wax and then scrape the wax off with a soft plastic scraper. The remaining wax can be taken off with hot soapy water and some elbow grease, or some some citrus based wax remover from your local surf shop. Take a soft towel after it is dry and buff off any remaining wax.I would guess it is a single fin mid 70s era surfboard, but I could be wrong. Infinity is a name brand board so could be worth something to a collector. If it is not collectable I bet you could get $175- $200. and possibly more if it cleans up nice and does not have any major damage. I would also check with Infinity Surfboards and see what they say about it. I think it is a cool old board. Good Luck!

[Toj]

My only addition to Toy g's comment would be to go to a surf shop and get some wax remover from there, just because thats what its designed for, hot water and soapy water would work, but on an older board, you don't want to get it wrong. Ebay is a good place to start selling.

[surf patrol]

Hi surfconfused, welcome to Surfing Waves!

I think Tony's right about the brand, it 's Infinity Surfboards. Ignore the Black Flag logo, they're a 70's punk band.
On the underside of the board you should find the shaper's name and the board measurements. This might tell you a little more about it.

Anyway, why not forget about selling it and start surfing it

[kitesurfer]

Ignore what your wife says. Keep the board and surf it, it's a great looking shape.

KS

[surfconfused]

thank you for helping me so far - i will try the suggestion of writing Infinity .. if its a nearly 40 year old board maybe they can tell me more - and i am SO GLAD I didn't use windex and spray cleaner on that board - i was so tempted to. I had paper towels and rags and at the last minute i though "ya know... i better go online and ask someone who knows before i do this and possibly ruin it"....so thank you for keeping me from ruining it.

i wil check the bottom of the board today too and see if there is any writing like you suggest
never would have known black flag was a 70s punk band..well certainly goes in line with what the guy said..that its from the 70s.

[surfconfused]

I turned the board over per your suggestion..there is no writing whatsoever.. nothing...

just on the lower part there is about a foot long indent into the board looks metal lined with a screw of some sort.. s houldn't there be a 'fin' there ? i can take a pic if you want

[tony g]

Yes, that is your fin box? Is the Infinity name a decal, or is it a laminate under the fiberglass? Check the deck for writing along the stringer as well. You may have to look close as it is sometimes written in pencil really small along the wood stringer in the middle of the board.

[surfconfused]

I added the rear photo TonyG - so you can see for yourself... oh shoot. okay i just got back from taking the backside ph oto.. i'll go out later and look for small print - i was looking for like a big sticker or something lol

[IB_Surfer]

Well, it is the infinity logo, but the shape looks like an Aipa stinger, and his vintage boards sometimes had saying on them.

So, either an infinity board shaped using an Aipa design, or an actual Aipa that he painted an infinity emblem just to make it look cool.

[surfconfused]

Update:
I actually wrote the owner of Infinity - and to my surprise he wrote back twice. I figured if anyone would know, they would, so I asked if anyone was available that had worked there since the 70s and ... well.. I got the owner.

He said that it is a "Very early 1970s Infinity board of his Stinger design" and that using a "citrus wax remover" I could very easily remove all the dirty and filth and restore it back to its original condition - and remove the decals that were added in the last nearly 40 years.

His personal suggestion was to clean it up and hang it on the wall as its nearly 40 years old - he said it would be too 'stiff' now to be used for a complete novice like me.

I asked him if it was possible that he shaped the board himself - his reply was that at the time that board was made, he would have him and 3 others - so I guess its a 1 in 4 shot that the owner did the board himself - he said he would have no way of knowing.

I thanked him for his time and was VERY surprised that the owner of a successful surf company would take the time to reply personally.

I told him it ws missing the 'fin' and he said really - not really necessary as a collectors piece on the wall - well thats paraphrased from what I believe he meant.

So.. I guess. I have a nearly 40 year old collectors piece -now what do i do ? lol

[IB_Surfer]

To take off the wax I use a hair dryier, as the wax melts I use a paper towel. Once all the wax is off I would just clean it with soap and water, or any other household plastic cleaner.

You gonna sell it or keep it? If you sell it keep in mind that infintiy is not collector's brand, it's just an old surfboard. For example, if it was an original Aipa it woudl be worth a bunch.

The design is cool, it's for a big guy, and unless you buy it in hawaii only the boardworks epoxy are available worldwide, so you might get a decent offer for it. Take a tape measure to it, find it's length along the stringer, the widht at its' widest and the thickness as best as possible. Should be around 7'10" x 3" x 21"

If it cleans up pretty I would ask $300 and settle for $250. If once you clean it you find repairs and breaks ask less.

Good luck

[surfconfused]

Hi... thank you to everyone.. I was away for the holidays.. but I took the measurements... and posted 3 more pics.. it is 79" to the point between the tail.. and looks like 20" side to side width.. i think i have to try to clean this wax a bit - going to try the hair dryer technique if that really is the best way .. i think i'm going to try to ask for 325 for it - i saw a cleaned up one for 1000 and another one for 450 and 550 .. all the same board.. so i thought 325 dirty ( lol) sounded fair and cheap - do you measure to the point between the tail like i did.. or do i carry it to the very tip ? which obviously would make it several inches longer than 79"?

[jaffa1949]

I'd call the board 6'8" as you measure the full length tail to nose and call it a single fin stinger swallow tail shape!They were god shapes for their time. You should be able to pick up a fin that could fit that fin box and it would complete.
I is not a beginner's board though!, good luck on the sale or keep

[surfconfused]

I listened to everyone's responses and I put the board in the sun today ( it was over 100 ) and heated the wax up - and I spent 3 straight hours cleaning, scraping - used flour as well ( great idea using flour worked awesome ) the old decals came off, the black flag logo cam eoff.. and 40 years of dirt and grime -- I am AMAZED how clean it is underneath - looks awesome - had at least 6 different people stop by while i was on the driveway telling me it looked cool.

I posted some pics to see the finished product of 3 1/2 hours of manual labor lol.

[surf patrol]

That looks really good, it's come up so well. 3 1/2 hours well spent!

[jaffa1949]

I wanna look, I wanna look, where are the pictures huh, huh,

[surf patrol]

They're at the top of his first post.

[jaffa1949]

Thank you I hadn't thought to look there

[surfconfused]

yes... just go back to my first post..i left a couple of the old and a couple of the new so you can compare... amazing. I was told it was garaged for 28 years !!!!!!!!!!! so that's nearly 3 decades of "FILTH" and grime.... .. well 3 1/2.. 1 hour per decade to remove.

I never would have done it if not for everyones advice - I truly had ZERO clue how to clean it - never would have thought to use an old credit card and hot heat... and flour ... the flour made it shine... what an amazing 'trick'. i was so reluctant to put the flour on... I thought it would stick to the hot wax and i would have a cake instead of a surfboard - but it just stuck to whatever ri missed and just more and more and more scraping. The Blag Flag logo from the early 70s of the punk band was the worst.. I didn't think it would ever come out.. it was magic m raker or sharpie or something similar.

I told my wife if nobody buys it - not the end of the world - I'll save it for the day I have space for it - now I'm proud of it. Before.. not so much... but now seeing it shine.. and all the neighbors going "damn".

In fact not 2 hours ago.. I had the garage open and a neighbor walked by who is about 55 years old and said " OMFG, that is AWESOME.. is that a Shortboard ?? I haven't seen one that looked like that since I was 16 years old down in San Diego... wow ! it looked like xxxxx last time.. but now.. wow.. awesome short board due".... that made me smile.

so... is this "in fact" what you call a short board... I never asked.but I am guessing from the neighbor it must be.