Who knows Old Surfboards?

[mikeferg75]

Bought a really cool 74 Ford Surf Van... went over like a lead balloon at home so I sold it to a good buddy who just had to have it after he laid eyes on it.

I did keep the long board that came with it.

Can anybody shed some info as to what I have here? It's 9 Foot 6 inches and I'm guessing 80's but I know zero... I googled Bill Stewart and looked online for similar pics but found none. I was going to hang it on a wall, but it's really to big...

Van


Board

[tweezers74]

That is the coolest surfboard! I love the nicks and worn look it has. I don't know too much about surfboards. I am a grom. Post this in the surfing thread.

[deanp]

I know nothing about them but found this, so your guess about the '80's should be close since the design came about in '84. You could always email them and ask -

Contact | Stewart Surfboards


For over four decades Bill Stewart has been creating one of a kind custom surfboards. An early backer of the longboard resurrection, Bill is the inventor of the 2+1 fin configuration and Hydro Hull beveled rail, as well as co-inventor of the Future Fins System box.

Born in 1951 in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Stewart grew up in Hollywood, Florida where he began surfing in 1963. He quickly realized that he could combine his passion for surfing with his artistic talents and started shaping boards in 1967.

In search of better waves, Bill moved to Southern California in 1971 and started working for Hobie, Rick James and South Shore. After gaining some much-needed knowledge and experience behind a planer, Bill opened Stewart Surfboards in Laguna Beach in 1978.

Bill was the second person to ever airbrush on a surfboard and was voted Best Airbrusher by Surfer Magazine in 1980.

In 1984, Stewart developed the Hydro Hull, a double concave design he used on longboards and shortboards. The same year he invented the 2+1 tri-fin configuration, the standard in performance longboards.

[tweezers74]

My Own Surfing Thread!

Post here

[ossiblue]

Old Stewart model, maybe around 1994 (because of the last two digits in the number) but I don't know how he does his serial numbers so it's just a guess. Nothing especially special about that particular board as it looks like a shop/inventory board, but you never know.

The hydro-hull is still made and is characterized by the bevel along the lower rails--some like it, others don't. All the basic info (dimensions) is written on the stringer, so Stewart can't offer much more beyond the original purchaser and the year of the board, if he's kept the records (he's probably the largest producer of boards in San Clemente so he may have a complete history of his business--this isn't a garage manufacturer.) No harm in contacting him, he's a very friendly and helpful guy, local to San Clemente and long time supporter of the surf scene down here. Can't hurt to give the shop a call and give them the serial number.

[mikeferg75]

Thanks for the info. That is good enough for me.

Not many places in Boulder to use it . Maybe I'll try to trade it on Clist for a paddle board

Ferg

[Bill Douglas]

Hard to say.

It's not a 1960's board having the thruster fins. Unless the thruster fins (the two outside fins) have been stuck on at a later date.

But it looks cool. and 9'6" is a good size for a mal'.

[Tobra]

I had some friends that really liked Stewart boards, and one guy that hated them. They turn pretty nicely, if memory serves.

[Cajundaddy]

I remember seeing those around but never owned a Stewart. Looks like she has a few miles on her and probably a lot of stories as well.

[sammyg2]

That looks like a good board for the rollers at sanna gopher (that's what we called San Onofre about 200 years ago).

[ckissick]

Dude. You're in Colorado.

[Baz]

L.J.

FYI: most shapers just use a sequential serial number - no relation to dates. However they usually keep a log of their boards and who they are sold to and the date so contacting Bill wouldn't hurt as he may have that info available.

I had a couple boards stolen out of my garage and my shaper here had the serial numbers written down for the police report - not that it did any good - never got the boards back.

I would have kept the van and sold the board! ;-)

[Baz]

BTW - I understand that Crocs were invented in Boulder. A client mentioned that to me today, oddly enough.

[mikeferg75]

Originally Posted by ckissick

Dude. You're in Colorado.

Yeah no kidding, I can surf, but sorta out of the question here.