Con Surfboard
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Con Surfboard
I have a Con surfboard fom the early to mid sixties hanging in my garage. It is eight feet eight inches long and weighs about thirty pounds.
I did a search at your site, but couldn't find any info on Con boards. The board is in good shape for its age with only a small scarf along one rail.
I'd be interested in any feedback as to its value.
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Re: [Painter] Con Surfboard
Without photos you are not going to get much info. If the board is 8'8" it is probably from the late 60s. If it really is 8'8" it should NOT weigh 30 lbs. 22 would be more like it.
I don't understand how you were unable to find anything about Cons on this site. There have been many posts about them lately. Try learning how to use the search function here.
Again, no photos = no info.
Provide clear pictures of top, bottom, nose, tail, label, and especially the fin box if the board has one. Fin boxes changed a lot in the late 60s and can help determine a board's age. Within reason.
Re: [SammyA] Con Surfboard
Sammy,
The picture is up there now....
Mike
Re: [Painter] Con Surfboard
If that's an 8'8", it is really short for the era. It looks like it might be early or mid 60s.
But, the one picture doesn't help, at all. Please re-read my previous post.
Re: [SammyA] Con Surfboard
Re: [Painter] Con Surfboard
In 1959, and 1960, groms at La Jolla Shores were showing up with 8'6'' and 8'0'' Velzy balsas and foamies. I made and rode an 8'8'' balsa then too. Boards started getting longer again in 1961.
Bill Thrailkill
Shaper since 1958
Re: [Thrailkill] Con Surfboard
Well, yeah. I'm just saying that an 8'8" is a bit rare for the period. Of course, I'm just guesstimating the age of that board because the one photo posted is almost useless in making any assessment of its vintage. The fin would indicate that it pre-dates 1966, in all probability. That's about all I can surmise.
Boards under 9' were atypical by the mid 60s. Though some folks did prefer shorter.
Such as LJ Richards and Linda Benson.
Early 1963 ad featuring Hobie riders.
Re: [Painter] Con Surfboard
Thank you Sammy A and Thrailkill for your comments. I don't have a digital camera, but I'll take some
more detailed photos of the Con board and post them when I get them developed. I'll also remeasure
and reweigh the board for more accuracy. Thanks for your suggestions.
Re: [Painter] Con Surfboard
In the early sixties most manufacturer's weight charts started at 8'6.
I remember a hot surfer named Wayne Spencer who had moved from California to the Lavallette, Seaside, Toms River area in the early sixties. He had a really nice 8'6 Jacobs.
Boards between 8'6 and 9' were used primarily by kids, girls.and lightweight guys. They weren't uncommon in the very early sixties although there weren't a lot of them either.
The photo above gives a few more clues upon detailed inspection.
The laminated wood sunrise fin, solid pigment job, the size, and the overall shape all taken together would put the board no later than '63 and probably earlier in my opinion.
I don't know when Con started making boards but this is a pretty early one.
"Wooden Boards for Iron Men"
Re: [BalsaBill] Con Surfboard
Under the Con label? 1959
Re: [Painter] Con Surfboard
Hey Painter,
This site has some of the history: http://www.consurfboards.com/history.html
May contact this guy: http://lisurfingmuseum.com/Surfboards.html scroll down to his Con collection-resembles second from the right.(though very very hard to tell with that one picture)
perhaps look further into the "Ugly" and the "Super Ugly"
Pictures showing the deck, rails, tail and fin may be useful- I'm sure one of the many seasoned surf gurus on swaylocks can tell you exact model with some better pictures.
If it is an original - the one picture shows remarkable shape.
I take it your not the original owner?
Good luck finding more information
"more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than that in the name of rebellion"--C.P. Snow
Re: [Painter] Con Surfboard
I had a 7′ Con Crystal Butterfly board that I bought from Pete Smith’s Surf Shop in the late 1960’s in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was 23″ wide with a kick in the nose and a diamond tail. It was my favorite board and I still miss it. Would love to find some pictures of the butterfly if you know anyone who has some. Thanks.
Matt John
web host!