Welcome to the March Board Bazaar, a look back at some of the second hand sales over the last month. I've gotta explain that bit 'cos I've had a few people wonder what the hell this column is. Well, what it isn't is a place to buy or sell boards, that's what eBay and Gumtree are for. This is just a place to blag on about old boards, shapers, prices, designs, whatever.

And speaking of blagging on, Fred Pawle wrote an article in The Australian recently that dealt in this topic entirely. Titled 'Vintage surfboard collectors paying for a piece of history' it's worth a read, once you've finished this of course...

The evolution of a shaper: Mick Mackie wasn't always a highly-sought, fringe dwelling shaper, crafting beautiful and experimental boards out of his quaint Ulladulla shaping shed. Uh-uh, way back in the 80s Mick was a hot comp surfer learning his shaping chops with Hot Buttered, and even before that with Express Surfboards out of Cronulla. It's a long way from box-railed, day-glo thrusters to refined side cut keels. So far, in fact, that there's no discernible similarities between this and his later work. Take heart, ambitious new shapers. A sole bidder scored it for $60

'Transition era' usually refers to boards shaped during the '67-'68 shortboard revolution, or to a lesser extent boards shaped '81-82' during the twin to thruster transition. However, this Ben Aipa is a board from another period of fast change – the late 70s single to twin transition. Check the tail and fin config on this and compare it to, say, MR's twins which had wide swallows and toed in fins. The fins on this are almost parallel and remind me of a li'l experiment Neal Purchase Jnr has been conducting. It's in top nick and a lone bidder bought it for $600.

The aforementioned article by Fred Pawle made mention of boards by the Bronzed Aussies saying they "were flying under the radar", ironic considering that in their day the BAs clamored for the spotlight. They even donned matching gold jumpsuits, an ensemble that got them attention and notoriety, not to mention their fair share of mockery. Anyhoo, the article was right, this classic BA singley saw 7 bids for just $303. A great price for a board with history, and sure to appreciate in value.

Board collecting is a pastime followed by obsessives and outcasts, people with an unhealthy preoccupation to surfing's past. I can deal with that, I've come to terms with my neurosis. But tell me, what sort of person collects old legropes? It's not like you can use them, the neoprene has surely weakened, and anyway O&E have a heritage series if you really need the period look. Nope, legrope collecting is a weird, weird business and the person who bought this 80s-era Surf Aids leggy for $20 needs our sympathy.

"One lady owner, only ever been driven to the shops." Not often you see a board for sale with a certificate of authenticity from the dear old lady who owned it. Story goes she got this D-fin Michael Hallenstein for Christmas 1964 when she was in Year 8 and getting into the "surfie culture thing - the music, the fashion, and the sport itself." The board is in immaculate condition without a single repair or resto to be seen, brown bruises along the stringer from slow water intrusion the only signs of age. The board was sold to raise money for PNG surfers and went for $993.

This Hot Stuff singley is in a bad state, even looks like it suffered fin reassignment surgery at some point. But never mind that, it's all about the logo. The Wayne Bartholemew logo was an unashamed copy of the Warner Brothers logo and only a few hundred were made before Hot Stuff received a cease and desist from Hollywood. The story goes that Rabbit heard through the Paskowitz family that the powers that be thought it funny, however it was already in the hands of the lawyers - case closed. Nothing like a limited run to drive up the price - 13 bids took it to $203.

Another mob playing fast and loose with copyright laws in the 1970s were Bondi Underground who co-opted The Rolling Stones tongue and lips logo. However, as far as I'm aware there was no court case to contend with. Mick & Keef should be honoured to adorn a board of this calibre. Shaped by one of Scum Valley's finest, the legendary Brad Mayes, who was the son of the even more legendary Jack 'Bluey' Mayes, this classic seventies single is in excellent unrestored condition. A lone bidder nabbed it for $350. Legend!

"It's better to regret something you have done then something you haven't done," so said some old bloke with a beard. And it's advice an anonymous punter in Perth is consoling himself with right now. Y'see, last year this 7'2" Sam Hawk-shaped Brewer went under the hammer at Richard Hadley's auction for $2,900, and now it's being sold on eBay for just $2,000. Even the same photos are being used. I had a good chuckle when I saw it, but not out of malice. More an awareness that it could've been me getting carried away in a room full of beautiful old boards.

"Surfboard design is a long line of beggars and thieves." Not too sure who said that, maybe I'm the first, but the notion stands: the design world abounds with borrowed inspiration. Take this Clear & Natural kneeboard with a Greenough-inspired high aspect ratio fin (not pictured) and a very modern looking planshape. Shaped in the late-70s by Steve Zoeller who Simon Anderson considered "one of the fathers of the Thruster". In fact, this board would've been shaped in the same factory as Energy and the early thrusters. 8 bids took it to just $105. 

There are surfboards bought and sold for investment, boards that meet the "40 year rule", and boards that house sentimental memories...and then there are boards that are a meal ticket. One hungry punter in Freshwater advertised a "5'10 HS Shred Sled snapped but otherwise in decent condition. Will swap for a pepperoni pizza." While in Scarborough WA a board that doesn't get used anymore "will be swapped for an ice cream. Pick up only." (Thanks Scott Ozolins). No idea if their meagre demands were met. Till next month...

Previously in the Board Bazaar for 2015:
January
February