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the catalogue #386

1974 Michael Petersen Swallow-tail Gun 7 ft Shaped by MP

#386

MANUFACTURE
MANUFACTURER: Michael Peterson Surfboards
Gold Coast, Queensland

SHAPER: Michael Petersen

DESIGN: Swallow-tail Gun
DESIGNER: Michael Petersen - MP

SPECIFICATIONS
CONSTRUCTION
Fibreglassed foam blank, 1/4" redwood stringer, resin pin-lines, l/h post-production plug.

DIMENSIONS

*Length :*	7	ft	0	inches	*L2:*	7ft ?
*Width :*	18.5	inches		*Wide Point :*	+ 3.5	inches
*Nose :*	12	inches		*Tail :*	11	inches
*Thickness :*	3	inches		*Pod :*	5	inches
*Nose Lift :*		inches		*Tail Lift :*		inches
*Weight :*		kilos		*Volume :*		litres
*Swallow-tail :*	5	inches		x 2 inches deep

FEATURES
Nose: pin
Tail: swallow-tail
Deck: flat
Bottom: flat
Rails: soft down
Rocker:

FIN
8'' x 4.5" base x 9.5" @ 4 inches

DECOR
DECAL
Deck: Michael Petersen Surf Design, black script at sweet spot.
Bottom:
MARKINGS
Deck: Michael Petersen 1974 - hand signed in black marker on top of the fibreglass.
Bottom:
COLOUR
Deck: clear with black resin pin-lines.

Bottom: clear.

NOTES
BOARD HISTORY
In 2021,the board's current owner wrote that they bought the board from Michael and his mother in Tweed Heads in about 2010.
Likely one of MP's personal boards, it was possibly ridden in Hawaii without a leg-rope, the plug added sometime later.
His brother Tommy was one of many experienced surfers who initially disapproved the use of leg-ropes, see:
Tommy Peterson : Interview, Breakaway, Number 23, October 1975.
However, by 1977 MP was promoting Windensea Legropes in Backdoor, October 1977, page 6.
COMMENTS
The board is severely stressed, with a savage crease in the bottom.
Heavily stained and faded with numerous repairs and the swallow-tail restored with what may be Q-cells.
DESIGN HISTORY
REFERENCES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Peterson_(surfer)

Magazine Articles:

MP with a flyer swallow-tail, Tracks n60 1975 September

Books:
Doherty, Sean: MP - The Life of Michael Peterson: The incredible untold story of Australian surfing's cult hero.
Harper Sports, Australia. 2004.
Film :

CONDITION: 5.5- post-era leg-rope plug