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plans and specifications : fibreglassed balsa surfboard 1954

1954 Fibreglassed Balsa Surfboard

Matt uses Weldwood glue
and long clamps to fasten
the planks.

Design is drawn on the
surface and is rough-hewn
with saw.

Following design drawn
on sides, surface is shaped
with drawblade.

Entire surface is now
shaped with rough
sand paper, then fine.

Plastic resin is applied.
Fiberglas is set into it
and trimmed.

Now fill the cloth with
several coats of resin,
sanding between.

Matt Kivlin, Jr., designer and builder
of the surfboard
with Miss Jean Moorehead.

A Fiberglas-covered surfboard is
easy to make and thrilling to ride.
By Edna Wood MATT KIVLIN, JR., of Brentwood, Calif., is not only a top-notch "surfer," but he also designs and builds surfboards in his home workshop. According to him, both safety and skill in surfing depend, to some extent, on using the right sized board - determined by the rider's height and weight.
Standard length is about ten feet. If you weigh around 125 lbs., 3 in. of thickness is about right, 3 1/2 in. if you're 140 to 180 lbs., etc.
Glued balsa timbers are left clamped together overnight, then lines are drawn, board is rough-hewn, shaped, smoothed, rough-sanded, coated with plastic resin which glues on Fiberglas. Top coat of resin is applied and allowed to harden dry before sanding. A coat of thick-gloss paint gives the board a perfect finish.

Mechanix Illustrated Magazine
September 1954 Volume 50 Number 9
Surfboards
Edna Wood/Matt Kivlin
pages 72 - 73 .

NOTES
1. Matt Kivlin was an understudy of Bob Simmons.
2. Substantial rocker.
3. No fin is specified - probably an oversight.
4. Initial shaping with a draw-blade - preceeds use of planners and the surform blade.
5. Finished balsa blank is impregnated with resin before applying the cloth.
6. All resin work with brushes - preceeds use of rollers and squeegees.
7. The classic backyard board - shaped in jeans and thongs. Old sneakers worn for glassing.
8. See #101
9. A surfing photograph, Waikiki circa 1940, accompanies the article - not reproduced here.