The shape is based on a Tom Blake design. The deck and bottom are constructed of marine ply with mahogany rails and countersunk brass screws. The complexity of this board is demonstrated in the slightly convex bottom and the counter sunk plughole system. In almost perfect condition, a testament to the care and reverence that the previous owners held this board in. A worthy addition to any surf collection. Price available upon request. |
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| THE HOLLOW PADDLEBOARD For centuries the Hawaiian Royals surfed huge (up to 18’) solid wood boards. Lesser mortals were allowed much smaller craft. Surfing and paddleboard competitions occurred between rivaling islands and villages. When the Haoles (Whites) started to surf they continued these paddleboard competitions. Paddleboards sometimes weighed as much as 150 pounds and competitors would go to great lengths to lighten their craft. (Drilling out areas of the board and inserting balsa wood was one technique used.) It took the genius of a man named Thomas Blake to change the face of paddleboards forever. In the 1930’s he arrived for the annual Catalina Paddleboard Race with his unbeknown hollow paddleboard. This was a board made of marine ply stretched over a hardwood frame, rather like a canoe. It was 100 pounds lighter then the traditional craft. No one could match Tom Blake and his new invention. He destroyed the competition, won the trophy and the rest is history. It is without a doubt that Tom Blake and his invention pioneered modern day surfing. Templates for wooden paddleboards were later published in Popular Mechanics magazines and wood worker surfers and fathers of young surfers took up their saws and created reproductions of the Tom Blake design; customizing their boards and making attempts at improvements during the building process. Needless to say not too many of these boards have survived. As the boards were made of wood they took quite a beating over the years of use and many splintered or disintegrated when stored under houses over the years. It’s also important to note that back in more honest days surfers used to leave their paddleboards at the beach, rather then cart them back and forth to home so they had additional weathering that comes from ocean air and extra use that may have come from sharing a board amongst friends. We at Surfing Cowboys are honored to be able to offer paddleboards for sale when they become available to us. They are true relics of the soul surfers. |