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history
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the boogie board
1977
1977
Twin Fin IIadaptation
of 1976 Fish design by Mark Richards and Dick Brewer (Hawaii).
6 ft x 20" flyer swallow tail with vee
bottom and twin Brewer wide base fins.
Particularly suited for small waves it
dominated 50% of the market by 1980..
1977
Modern Malibu resurgence of plus 9 ft
traditional Malibu template but with modern construction (light weight,
note leg rope use) and design features (particularly rails) by Bob McTavish,
Bob Cooper and others.
Becomes an industry standard for small
wave use, greying of the market and 1960’s nostalgia.
"The Alex McKenzie"
By 1972 Inshore Rescue Boats had made
their appearance on the life saving scene, it was decided to set up a study
group to consider the advisability of acquiring such a craft.
When the report was tabled it was resolved
not to buy one.
Two more studies were undertaken before
it was resolved in 1977 to invest in such a motorised craft.
Funnily enough, the person to move
the first motion negating the proposed acquisition was the member who moved
to buy the craft five years later.
Application was correctly made to have
half of the cost borne by a Federal Government Assistance Scheme, but unfortunately
the application got fouled up in the Illawarra Branch, leading to much
conflict between the club and Branch.
The problem was finally resolved by
State Centre of the Surf Life Saving Association meeting half the cost
from options not taken up from the original allocation of funds.
Named after Alex McKenzie, then mine
host of the Imperial Hotel, Clifton and a great club supporter, it was
launched on the 4th December, 1977 by Mrs. Fitzgerald, wife of popular
member Alan Fitzgerald, who was President of the Seagulls section of the
club for some years.
For a number of years the running costs
of the craft were sponsored by Liverpool Chrysler (through Mr. Max Doyle
of that Company).
Unquestionably the craft has proved
its work as a rescue unit, as a surveillance unit, !IS a work boat and
still continues to give service in these fields."
1977
Mini Mal smaller (7 to 8 ft) version of
Modern Mal above by Bob McTavish approximating first short board designs
of 1967-8.
By the end of the 1980’s has become an
industry standard with the application of Thruster fins.
1978
Asymmetric intentional asymmetric template
and tail designs for increased performance in one defined direction, notably
by Bob McTavish.
See Hook tail 1963.
Further adaptation by Angulo (Hawaii)
for sailboards in the mid 1980’s
1978
No Nose narrowed nose and widened tail
single fin as a response to twin fin 2 success in small waves, by Geoff
McCoy.
See Pig 1958.
1980
Lazer Zap further development of the No
Nose concept by Geoff McCoy based upon his work for Cheyne Horan.
Later models incorporated Ben Lexan Keel/Star
fin.
1980
Clinker Bottom Phil Byrne (Byrne Surfboards)
design Twin fin 2 with deep vee bottom and channels in front of fins to
extend wave range.
A ‘stiffening’ of this design as opposed
to Geoff McCoy’s ‘loosening’ of the single finned Lazer Zap, above.
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REFERENCES FOR THIS SECTION
BOOKS
1992 Stell, Marion K. :
Pam Burridge
Collins Angus & Robertson Publishers
(Australia) Pty. Limited
A division of Harper Collins Publishers
(Australia) Pty. Limited
25 Ryde Road, Pymble NSW 2073, Australia
1997 Warshaw, Matt : Surfriders
– In Search of the Perfect Wave
Tehabi Books, Inc. Collins Publishers,
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
1978 Warwick, Wayne
A Guide to
Surfriding in New Zealand Second Edition
Viking Sevenseas Ltd Wellington, New Zealand
1979 Young, Nat ; Photographs by
McCausland, Bill: Nat Young’s Book of Surfing
A.H. & A.W. Reed Pty. Ltd. 53 Myroora
Rd, Terry Hills, Sydney.
1983 Young, Nat with McGregor, Craig
: The History 0f Surfing
Palm Beach Press,40 Palm Beach Road, Palm
Beach NSW 2108
FILM
1985 A History of Australian
Surfing Nat Young.
MAGAZINES
1971 Modern World
July Shane Steadman/Terry Fiztgerald (possibly) : 'Surfboard
Design' pages 30 to 36.
WEB SITES
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