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the catalogue #330

1956 Balsa Malibu 9 ft

#330

MANUFACTURE
MANUFACTURER: Unknown
SHAPER: Unknown
DESIGN: Malibu
DESIGNER:
SPECIFICATIONS
CONSTRUCTION
Balsa wood blank, fibreglass, plywood fin (not fibreglassed) set through thr board.
The blank has a off-set central 8'' block with two 4'' strips to the right (on the deck) and two 3'' strips to the left.
The two internal narrower strips are joined by a mitre about the mid point.

DIMENSIONS

*Length :*	9	ft	0	inches
*Width :*	23	inches		*Wide Point :*	+ve 9	inches
*Nose :*	15	inches		*Tail :*	14 1/2	inches
*Thickness :*	2	inches		*Pod :*	9	inches
*Nose Lift :*		inches		*Tail Lift :*		inches
*Weight :*		kilos		*Volume :*		litres
*Other :*		inches

FEATURES
Nose: Pin, poorly repaired.
Tail: Rounded square
Deck: Flat
Bottom: Flat with slight lift up on rails.
Rails: thin high to mid rail (30/70)
Rocker: some nose lift

FIN
8'' x 8'' base x 10'' span @ 2''.
Square plywood.
The fin is mitred through to the deck of the board and the base is fibreglassed, but the majority of the fin is not.
Red paint.

DECOR
DECALS
Deck: None
Bottom:
MARKINGS
Deck: None
Bottom:
COLOUR
Deck: Clear
Bottom: Clear

Image right:
Tail profile showing fin base mitred through the deck of the board.

NOTES
BOARD HISTORY
Dimensions and photographs taken at Aquatique Core Surf Shop, East Street, Nowra, 2nd November 2007.
Thanks to Mick Morgan.
The original owner reports:
"The board was purchased from Mick Symonds Sports Store, Sydney, in 1956.
The sales staff indicated it was one of ten boards imported into Australia from Hawaii by the company."

COMMENTS
The board is extremely thin and very light.
It only has one layer of fibreglass that has a roughly trimmed overlap most noticeable at the tail.
The setting of the fin through to the deck is unusual.
The absence of fibreglass on the main body of the fin is structually questionable.
Although the paint on the top of the fin has worn off, exposing the timber to water, the lack wood rot indicates the board probably did not have a lot of use.

REFERENCES
The board closely corresponds with the plans and construction technique described by Matt Kilvin in 1954.
See
Edna Wood/Matt Kivlin: Surfboards.
Mechanix Illustrated Magazine September Volume 50 Number 9 pages 173 - 173.

Image left:
Photo shoot at Aquatique Core Store, Nowra.
Fingers by Mick Morgan.
Image above:
Fin profile
Image right:
Bottom.