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the catalogue #119 

1978  Hawaiian Pro Designs by Larry Bertlemann Twin fin II   6 ft 1 1/2" 
#119


MANUFACTURE
MANUFACTURER: Probably Australian manufacturer, made under licence
SHAPER:  Unknown
DESIGN: Twin fin 2
DESIGNER: Larry Bertlemann - Mark Richards
SPECIFICATIONS
CONSTRUCTION: Foam blank, 1/8" redwood stringer, spray, centre plug, Astrodeck patches.
DIMENSIONS
Length :
 6
ft
1.5
inches

Width :
 19 .80
inches
Wide Point :
+ve  2
inches
Nose :
 14
inches
Tail :
 14 .5
inches
Thickness :
  inches
Pod :
 5
inches
Nose Lift :
  inches
Tail Lift :
  inches
Weight :
  kilos
Volume :
  litres
Swallow:
  inches
Flyer:
 7
inches


FEATURES
Nose: Pin
Tail:  swallow tail, flyer
Deck:   flat
Bottom:  slight Vee in nose, deeper at fins, channel from fin base to rail
Rails: Tucked
Rocker:
FINS
Two
5 3/4" x 5" base 
Brewer, inside flat/outside foiled, 
toed and tipped/cambered
Five colour laminate 
White/blue/white/red/white
Image right.

DECOR
DECALS
Deck
1. Hawaiian Pro Designs, Designed by Larry Bertlemann- "Anything is possible." - boxed graphic, red, white and blue.
2.Ying-Yang, red and white.
Bottom
1. Hawaiian Pro Designs, Designed by Larry Bertlemann- "Anything is possible." - boxed graphic, red, white and blue.
2.Ying-Yang, red and white.
3. Line-Up, black between fins.

MARKINGS
Deck: None
Bottom:
COLOUR
Deck:  Blue circle in between yellow, green and red panels.
Red Astro-deck tail grip.

Bottom: Blue circle in between yellow, green and red panels.
# 40 MR
                ribbon '78

NOTES
BOARD HISTORY
Stewart Bartley collection, subsequently sold. 
Photographs and dimensions 21st March 1997
Significant damage, possibly from the leg rope, to swallow tail.

Also noted:  Hawaiian Pro Designs - Anything Is Possible - Designed by Larry Bertelmann swallowtail twin fin surfboard. 
Used 6ft 1", Shaped by "M.A." and purchased new around 1977 in Yamba.

DESIGN HISTORY
Mark Richards was familiar with the Twin Fin I, see #71 and #106, a circa 1970 design by Mike Eaton / Rolf Arness / Corky Carroll / David Nuuihwa -all USA.
Imported to Australia by Tom Hoye (USA) at Bennett Surfboards, the design had a strong following in Sydney, particularly at Narrabeen by McCoy Surfboards.
 
Tom Hoye and Twin Fin, Bennett Surfboards, 1970
 From Tracks in Nat-History, page 106. 

Although the design quickly disappeared from mainstream production in Australia, a number of surfers found the design complimented their style or local conditions.
Over the next six years a small number of Twin-fins were produced as custom boards.
From 1974, in conjunction with Billy Tolhurst and influenced by Reno Abellira's early Fish designs, Ronnie Goddard began experimenting with twin fins.
Local interest was negligible in these designs until the contest success and media recognition of Mark Richards' Twin fin, circa 1978.
- from Ronnie Goddard interview, Scott Dillon's Legends Surf Museum, Coffs Harbor, June 29th 2005.

The use of twin fins on prone boards, common in the 1960's, continued into the 1970's, for example the mass produced Bellybogger, 1975.

 In the USA,a small following lead by knee-boarder Steve Lis developed The Fish, a design with long base twin fins and a split 'Fish' tail.
From xxx, Bear Miradon precedent.
The fish tail was later supplanted by the Swallow tail.

The design was adopted by standup surfers, a longer version with with a more standard fin template, was designated The Rocket Fish, the name at least credited to Clyde Beatty.
There is much dispute amongst US commentators as to the originators of the design.

This was to influence Reno Abellira, (Hawaii) who rode a 5 ft 3" x 20"  model in the 1976 Coke contest, Sydney.
Inspired, Mark Richards  built his own version and subsequently refined it at a month long shaping seminar with Dick Brewer in Hawaii 1976-1977.
The design was tested in Hawaii the following winter and contest success in the Bells 1978 and  Stubbies 1979 contests and the 1979 World tiltle proved its high performance capabilities, particularly in small waves. Available from all Australian manufacturers, it was the dominant small wave board design 1978 – 1981.
The design also had a strong following on the south shore of Ohau, notably Larry Bertlemann and 'Buttons', and was to be extensively used in the USA - Mark Richards models were made under licence by Gordon and Smith Surfboards.These apparently were available with fin boxes, a uncommon feature in Australian boards .
The design was also shaped by  Mark Platter, Ken Freeland and Tony Cerff at Maddog Surfboards.
Mark Richards Surfboards (single fin designs) were first manufactured by Morning Star Surfboards, Mona Vale.
The fin to flyer channels rarely appear on later/copied examples.
The ribbon decals were early designs, gradually replaced by a MR/Lightning Bolt, a MR script and a MR/Lizard graphic.
Apparently the famous MR/Superman logo only appeared on Mark Richards' personal boards during this early period.

COMMENTS
Leg-rope damage indicates possible pre rail saver use, tip damage to the tail is endemic to this design.

REFERENCES

Other Boards
#165
Book
Knox: Mark Richards   pages 61 to...
Film
Free Ride1977 Bill Delany , Water footage by Dan Merkel.
Surfers : Shaun Tomson, Mark Richards and Rabbit Batholomew
 *The definite film of this period, note that most of Mark Richards' surfing is not on a Twin fin II .

CONDITION:
8





Larry Bertlemann and Pepsi Board, Ehukai Beach, 1978. Photo: Lance Trout.


AND
1977 Hawaiian Pro Designs - Anything Is Possible - Designed by
Larry Bertelmann
Used 6ft1" Larry Bertelmann swallowtail twin fin surfboard. 
Shaped by "M.A." and purchased new around 1977 in Yamba.






Note the flutes in the swallow-tail.



#43p MR's Apia/Brewer Stingers,
          circa 1976#40p MR
          Twin fins, circa 1978
Photograph by Peter Boskovic
Printed in The Australian Surfers Journal Vol 1 #  3 Winter 1998 page 44
Note : Original Apia Surfboards 'Flame' Stinger,  Twin fins  with various decals.
All boards much photographed. 
Other Twin Fins II (old Scale)
Mark Richards' first Twin fin II, based on Reno Abelira's Fish, Coke Contest 1976
Photograph: Andrew Canning
#39 Bryne Bros. Surfboards Twin Fin II 1978
Shaped by Laurie Byrne.
#55 Pipedreams Flyer Roundtail Twin Fin II 1979 6 ft 2''


surfresearch.com.au
home catalogue history references appendix

Geoff Cater (1997-2021) :  Hawaiian Pro Designs-Larry Bertlemann Twin fin II,  6 ft 1", 1978 
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