The Craic is Christened

The Mastersurfcraftsman, The Dude, has finally named and christened his original 6'8" hollow timber fish "The Craic".  Regular followers of this story will remember that, for the lack of a better name, The Oldfartsurfer had unofficially and without any originality called the board The Dude board after its creator.  "Naming rights go to the creator" said the Oldfartsurfer "and I apologise for the liberties taken in prematurely naming this icon of the surfing world." he went on and on.

(The Dude and The Craic)

In a secret naming cememony, The Craic was offered as one of Huey's children.  Huey threw down a couple of lightning bolts and thundered "Nah - keep it Dude".  The Dude was thankful, telling Huey he promised not to curse him next time he had to wait more than 2 hours for a set.

(Nice bottom - The Craic was nearly named Juanita)

The Young Dude and The Mexican witnessed the ceremony and Huey was omnipresent.  "Its like having a new brother in the family" said Young Dude. "I hope the old fart gives me a crack on The Craic" he said hopefully.  Old Farts Surf Co. Head Honcho, The Mexican, said "this is a historic moment moment in the development of the Old Fart Surf Co. community."

(Beautifully crafted timber fins on The Craic)

The Dude told the legendary story of the creation of The Craic.  The Young Dude, The Mexican and Huey were spellbound as the Dude described every piece of timber glued and shaving taken and how they all came together in perfect harmony as The Craic.  He described "the magic as it took off under his feet on the first ride in 1' slop".

(The classic "crack" in The Craic)

Several pints of Guiness were drunk to honour The Craic and its creator.

Order your copy of The Craic

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Tell the Oldfartsurfer what you think

The Dude Avoids Mortgage Foreclosure - Sells Wife Instead

(Would you sell your wife or your house for this? The Dude Board nonthreatening handcrafted timber fins.)

Its hard to imagine the positive affect that the sight of an inanimate object can have on a surf community. The original Dude Board by the mastersurfcraftsman, The Dude, is making waves of happiness around the local breaks. When the Dude Board turns up at a local break it puts smiles on dials and a buzz of conversation spreads across crowded peaks as everyone wants to check out this unique surfcraft. Whispers spread down the beach and surfers start paddling over for a chat. The Dude said "sometimes I just have to paddle down the beach to spread the crowd and give the guys a go, but is good having a great old chat." "Most guys want to know how it was made, how long it took and how it performs, there is genuine interest".

Long time surf buddy, and Old Farts Surf Co. Head Honcho, the Mexican said "the Dude is a friendly guy , even without his eye catching hollow wooden retro fish, he makes a lot of friends in the lineup." "On a recent trip to Bali the Dude had us amazed after each session with what he knew about everyone else in the line up who previously had been total strangers" said the Mex, "and that was without his Dude board, a true sign of a genuinely nice fellow".

The Mex believes that "the 6'8" hollow timber retro fish is a happy shape, it is not threatening or unfriendly in any way and the warm timber colours evoke calmness in the lineup." When the crowd see an old fart with a fat wooden fish turn up at the break the crowd probably doesn't anticipate an aggressive wave hog is about to join the pack.

(The "happy shape" of the 6'8" retro fish.)

Some unkind people are a little cynical, saying the Dude only makes friends to put them off guard so he can get more waves and avoid retribution when he drops in, however, according to the Mex they are "just twisted and bitter and too afraid to have their names in print."

Hollow timber surfboards aren't cheap, even when you make them yourself. Very few people possess the craftsmanship and are dedicated to put in the hours needed to create these beautiful surfcraft. This is generally recognised by the surf community who are generally in awe of mastersurfcraftsmen like the Dude. Last weekend the Dude was asked by one of his new mates in the lineup "did you have to sell yer wife to afford that?". This new friend obviously knew the value of the board, but sadly didn't know how true his words could be if the Dude or any other surfer was confronted with the choice of selling their wife or foreclosing on their mortgage, They certainly wouldn't sell their hollow wooden surfboard.

Successful Sea Trials of the Young Dude's Gun

The Young Dude took delivery of his hollow 6'6" rounded pin (pictured above) a couple of weeks ago but poor surf had frustrated any attempts of sea trials and getting the board up to reasonable speed. "I've had had 1' mushy beach breaks, rediculous 4' sand and seaweed straighthanders (refer post where The Dude tried to dial up some decent surf with a special iPhone application)" the Young Dude lamented, "but finally cracked onto some size and shape at Eaglehawk on 4 July". The forcast was for a 1.5m SE swell and west winds were forcast to blow 30-40knts with a front later in the day so the test crew, consisting of The Young Dude, the Dude (mastersurfcraftsman and the board's creator), The Other Dude and The Mexican decided to head down early. Arriving at first light with a cold rain and light offshore the crew found the beach closing out with the occassional hint of shape. The Other Dude, who was keen to crack onto some size, was keen but it was decided to check Tessos first. Tessos looked small and inconsistent but there were two brave soles out on Lufra reef. The reef was solid but looked impossible with the SE swell causing the end section to close down. The oldfartsurfers, The Dude and The Mexican decided they still had a lot to live for and decided not to take the long paddle out. The Mex said "its been 31 years since I last surfed the reef and you need the right equipment - balls". The crew then checked out Eggs, which was a bit smaller on account of the swell direction. Checking the surf in the rain the Mex came the grief in the mud, sliding into the cutting grass but despite the access difficulties, the crew decided the sea trials were on. Getting fully rubbered up for the 9 deg C air temp and 13 deg C water temp the boys found the path way to slippery for wettie boots and chaos rained as they all slid and caked themsleves in mud. The crew enjoyed some lovely 4' glassy take offs and the Young Dude, showing patience beyond his years, waited out the back to pick up the best of them. He had a grin from ear lobe to ear lobe and said "ooooh this board feels so good". "Sea trials a success" said The Dude, proud of both his creations.

The crew noticed that the swell was building and a couple of jet skis heading out to the reef so went back to check out what was happening. The following pictures tell the story. The reef turned on and so did Tessos which also got crowded. Surfed out the boys hit the bakery.

Lufra reef layout.

Lufra barrel 1.

Slotted at Lufra Reef.

Lufra barrel 2 - someone's in there!

Lufra barrel 3.

Imminent destruction on the lufra reef - yes there is someone in there!

Booger exits the reef.

Booger scraping the bottom of the barrel.

The Young Dude, The Dude and the other Dude contemplate mortality from the car park.

Tesso's turns on inside the reef for the more faint hearted.

Bottom turn at Tessos.

Empty Tesso's barrel.

Mastersurfcraftsman turns it out for the Young Dude

Mastersurfcraftsman, the Dude, has turned out another masterpiece in his series of hollow timber surfboards. This time he's chipping this one off the old block for the Young Dude. "He used to be happy with toy wooden trains every year but now he's getting a little bit more demanding" said the Dude. The Young Dude said "the toy trains didn't work very well when it got over 2' and the chimney's used to stick in my stomach when I paddled them." The board design was a collaboration between the boys and involved secret new computer modelling to perfect the bouyancy distribution and fin placement.

Best Sea Trials Ever While Samoa Beckons

No photographic evidence yet but the Dude reports the best sea trials of the dude Boardever in 3' Eaglehawk. The mastersurfcraftsman reports that he and the board became one artful wave dancing organism as the board slid effortlessly over the glassy faces and carved smooth arcs commensurate with a 6'8' hollow timber fish carrying an oldfartsurfer.

The Mexican reflected on the missed opportunity to throw a sicky, chained to the office chair dreaming of perfect barrels he's going to get in Samoa in 2 weeks time. See attached photo for the break in front of his accommodation. When he got home a neat package from World Surfaris had arrived with his tickets. Stay tuned for more adventures.

The Mexican also had a surprise rap with The Doctor today while they checked out this blog and the web site (http://www.oldfartsurf.com.au/ - click on Stephanie) while the patients waited patiently (always wanted to use those two words together in a sentence). The Doc is now a confessed oldfartsurfer with sticker sponsorship and an XL Original Series Old Fart Surf Co. individually numbered Tee shirt on order (order by emailing oldfart@oldfarsurf.com.au with size an preferred colour).

Sea Trials of the Dude Board

No photographic evidence but the inaugural sea trials of the Dude Board took place at a secret location in crap conditions in drizzling rain. "We had to undertake the trials in secret in case of failure so it had to be in crap conditions" said The Dude. The predicted 1.5m south easterly swell produced 2' dribble, but fanned by a light offshore the test team of The Dude, The Young Dude and The Mexican took to the sea just as the wind turned onshore and the surf became the worst crap you have seen. The Dude led the charge and paddled out and launched his new machine into a lumpy shore dump close out. "It was sensational" said the Dude, " my own home made hollow timber 6'8" fish worked a treat. It paddled in easily and was solid under my old fart feet, senational." the Young Dude tried it next and he managed to whip a bottom turn before the browny grey shore froth consumed him. "The old man's truly a master surfcraftsman being able to create this thing of beauty" was the Young Dude's summation. The Mexican then finished the trials with some beautiful headstands on the shallow bottom. " I almost broke my freakin' neck but it was a beautiful thing to ride over the falls".

The next day the sea trials continued in public in clean crisp sunny 4' Clifton Closeouts. This time some clean faces were scoured by the machine. The Dude's style was a sight to behold on his beautiful craft. Macho the legendary sea craft architect was there to test his scientifically designed fin placements and gave them his stamp of approval. "The Dude placed the fins perfectly and this placement is what gives the board its drive, stability and control" said Macho. "It made me feel young again just the way it slid over the surface". The Mexican, having recovered from his broken neck the day before rode a rare non closeout - a little fat left - to the beach. "The extra kilo of weight and the surface area helped me through the really really fat sections and it just kept going like a mal but with stacks of manouverability" said the Mex. Next he did a bottom turn and floated over the whitewater of a beautiful straighthander and pronounced it "cool". Afterwards, the crowd gathered in the car park and stared eviously at the beautiful craft and tried to paw its creator. Having achieved rock star status the Dude pulled on his sunnies and enjoyed his moment.

Shiny Example of Surfcraftsmanship from the Dude

The Dude's hollow timber 6'8" retro fish is finished. The Oldfartsurfer says its a shiny example of surfcraftsmanship from the master surfcraftsman himself. The final coat of expoxy has set and sea trials are about to commence.

Former four time World Champion, Tom Carroll said "Man, The dude has ripped off my fins" and then lamented "they are so much better than mine, they have the perfect shape that I spent so long developing but they are made out of this perfect piece of timber and they look so beautiful I could eat them". The Dude settled the copyright suit out of court by making Tom his famous gnochi gorganzola and home made capaccino. "Tom's a cool cat" said the Dude, " but he's becoming a bit of a fat cat the way he eats so much, he's like Occy on the roids".

Fine Art Surfcraft takes Shape

The view from the nose showing the creative use of timber

The clean curvature from nose to tail.

The fine touches to the 6'8" hollow timber retro fish being created by The Dude are complete and it is now waiting for a tin of UV resistant epoxy resin to arrive so it can be glassed. By any accounts, the board created by the master surfcraftsman is a work of fine art and would hold its own in any gallery. The careful placement of the timber grains, the curves and the sculpting of the rail transition from full at the nose to hard at the tail are beauty to behold. A spokesman for the Old Farts Surf Co. suggested that if the board went to auction bidding could start as high as $3,000. However, The Dude said the board is being made to be used and not sit in a gallery being dusted by a curator every day. At 5.5 kg it is only 0.8 kg heavier than his glass 6'8" Nomad, despite its greater volume so floatation and wave catchability should really suit the discerning oldfartsurfer.

Decking the Dude Board

The third installment in "how to make a 6'8" timber fish by The Mastersurfcraftsman The Dude. Check out the timber fins.

Master SurfCraftsman on Track with Prototype Dude Board

Master SurfCraftsman, The Dude, is making steady progress on his prototype 6'8" western red cedar retro fish . Head full of saw dust, perspiration and covered in glue, The Dude poked his head up from his workshop for a brief coffee break and a chat with the Oldfartsurfer. "Progress is great" he said, "but we can't forget our roots. This is how they made boards in the 1920's using solid timbers and copper nails. We're adopting traditional methods but using lighter timbers and modern epoxy glue's and fibreglassing techniques to produce something lightweight, modern and surfable while keeping tradition and a link to the past."

The Dude said "we've laid up the hull and bottom rails and its really starting to take shape."

The Oldfartsurfer will be keeping you posted on the progress and sea trials of this exciting surf craft. Something special is being created here and the rest of the surfing industry is keeping a close eye on developments.

"The Dude" Timber Board

Being full of creative energy and with plenty of time to kill, the Dude has commenced his prototype of a timber board being made from western red cedar. Photos show the skeletal frame of the the prototype 6' 8" retro fish. The Dude reports that it will be coated with epoxy and have a breathing hole. It is likely to weigh slighly more than a standard foam based board.

The Oldfartsurfer will keep you posted on the development and sea trials. Negotiations are under way for the board to be marketed under the Old Farts Surf Co. label.

Desgin expert Macho reckons its got a lot of rocker so we are interested in finding out how it performs in the sea trials.