---

surfresearch.com.au  the catalogue #198

FINS: Centre fin box : 8 inch @ 4 1/2'' Centre fin : 7 1/2" x 5 1/2'' base  Moulded wide base, thick profile, rear fin tab.  Bonzer / Keel fins :  2 1/2" x 9 1/2'' base @ 9''  Not toed in, parrallel to stringer. Tipped out at 45 degrees Thin, not foiled. Clear laminated.

DECOR DECALS: Deck:   ' WEBER ' blue text with black shadow @ s/spot. Bottom: MARKINGS: Deck: None  Bottom:

MANUFACTURER HISTORY Weber Surfboards (USA) :  Dewey Weber - flambouyant hot-dog surfer of the early 1960's Noted 1960's design : The Weber Performer with Hatchet fin. Early 1960's manufacturer, label still operating. March 1967 Nat Young Ski

The bottom design has  similarities with the shape of Rogallo hang gliders, first designed in the late 1940's as a method of recovering returning space capsules by NASA.
F. M. Rogallo predicted in 1949 that "Portable delta wings will give bith to a popular sport"
 - quoted in Desfayes (1974) page 41.
By the early 1970's, hang-gliding was a sport in rapid transition with a large amount of media exposure.

As a sign of the powerful influence of Australia in world surfing at this time, the name Bonzer (also Bonzar, Bonza) is an Australian expression for “excellent”.

In late 1973, the Campbell Brothers lisenced the design to Bing Surfboards for commercial development.
The design then became associated with Bing's head shaper, Mike Eaton, who had played a significant role in the development of the Twin fin 1 in 1970. See image and notes, below.
The Bing models were noted for the wedged Bonzer decal that was laminated on the side fins.

Australian exponents of the design included ...
Peter Townend (Gordon and Smith Surfboards). See image below.
Ian Cairns (Gordon and Smith Surfboards),  rode  a Bonzer to first place, 1973 Smirnoff Contest, Laniäkea , Hawaii and Terry Richardson (Skipp Surfboards). See image below.

Preceeded (contempoary?) by the Tri-fin of 1971, the design had some influence on Simon Anderson's Thruster of 1981.

Further adaptation in 1988, the Phazer - a Stinger/Thruster adaptation ( 3 similar fins with 2 small Bonzer D-Fins) initially credited to Rusty Priessendorfer for Rusty Surfboards (USA).
Later identified as another original design by the Campbell Brothers.
See John Wythe White :Surf Wars :The Bonzar,  June 16, 1999
http://www.honoluluweekly.com/archives/coverstory%201999/6-16-99%20Boards/6-16-99%20Boards.html

See: Cambell Bros. Surfboards: History (July 2011)
http://bonzer5.com/history/timeline/1970-birth-of-the-bonzer/

Mike Eaton of California; responsible for reviving the twin fin.  Seen here with his 70's brain child 'the bonzer'. Photograph : Drew Kampion Nat : History (1983), page 108. Following legal representation by the Campbell Brothers, this caption was changed in the second edition (1985) to read... Mike Eaton of California; responsiblefor reviving the twin fin.  Seen here with The  Bonzer.  Designed by Malcolm and Duncan  Campbell of Oxnard, California.

MAGAZINES
Articles
1. Jim Neece: The Bonzer
Surfer magazine Vol  14 # 3 September 1973 page 64
See image below.
2. Steve Core: The Bonza
Surfing World Volume18 Number 2. November 1973
3. Mick Mock : Richo's Choice
Deep magazine , No 18 Spring 2000, pages 22 to33
4. John Wythe White: Surf Wars :The Bonzar,  June 16, 1999
http://www.honoluluweekly.com/archives/coverstory%201999/6-16-99%20Boards/6-16-99%20Boards.html
5. Steve Barilotti : Belief System : The Bonzer Saga
The Surfers Journal 2004? Volume 13 No. 2 pages?
Advertising :
BOOKS
Warshaw, (2005) page 73.
CONDITION: 7 - note weight.

Peter Townend and G&S Bonzer, circa 1974. Nat : Fundamentals (1985) Page 102. Image left : Terry Richardson and Skipp Surfboards Bonzer, circa 1975 Photograph : Steven Cooney Tracks magazine, January 1976 Page 25

Jim Neece : "The Bonzer" Surfer magazine  Vol  14 # 3 September 1973 page 64

Plans for F. M. Rogallo's Delta Wing Kite,  circa 1969. April 21, 1970  Patent Number 3,507,464  Filed March 18, 1969. From  Desfayes, Jean-Bernard : Delta - The Hang Gliding Book Hassener Publishing, Inc. Drawer B, Newfoundland, N.J. 07435 circa 1974. Page 30.

Bing Surfboards :Only One Bonzer, 1973. Featuring the Campbell Brothers, Wildman (Jim Neece), Steve Wilkings, Jeff Kahman, Tiger Makin and Dru Harison.

---

Bonzer Cutback. Surfing Comedy Album 1974. page 25.

---

surfresearch.com.au

---