With
little money to be made selling surfboards it's understandable
why certain shapers have increased production where labor
is cheaper. More boards can be built for less money and
shop owners can double the amount made per board. Even Matt
Biolas, the punkishly outspoken guru behind …Lost
Enterprises was forced to set up a factory outside of the
US, admitting that he couldn’t compete without it.
The “Placebo” model was his solution.
Others,
despite increased surfboard production overseas have become
militant in their connection to the hand-shaping of American
made products. New York board builder Jeff Anderson, who
works under the North Atlantic Longboard label, is one of
them. He continues to construct quality surfboards by using
only American made products. To some this may sound a bit
extreme but to others it’s exactly what needs to be
happening if an American surfboard industry is to survive.
An issue not limited to surfboard construction but rather
to a greater global, consumerist one.
A
few months back I received an email from Jeff entitled,
‘More Work.’ He suggested writing a piece about
shaping legend Charlie Bunger, in the spirit of tapping
into the roots of surfing in New York. Coincidentally one
was already in progress, but this got us talking about early
Long Island legends, the closure of Clark, and eventually
Jeff’s own unique approach toward backyard board building.
This interview was conducted via email during the month
of May.
MM: You had mentioned Long Island legends?
Jeff Anderson: It seems many of the local shapers/craftsmen
on Long Island are descended from Charlie Bunger. Squeak
and Bob Pitagno worked for him, they both went off on there
own and eventually taught others like Mike Becker. But I
came across something in Matt Warshaw's "Encyclopedia
of Surfing" that I found interesting. Under "New
York" it states that Charlie Bunger was a protégé
of John Hannon, and yet under "Charlie Bunger"
and "John Hannon" this is never mentioned. I knew
they competed together for years, but had never heard this.
Perhaps we all have really evolved from John (Jack) Hannon.
Hannon Surfboards opened in 1961, one year before Bunger
claims his 1962 start out. Hannon was also inducted into
the East Coast Surf Legends Hall of Fame in 96' and described
as the "father of New York Surfing.” I restored
an old Hannon Bump model last year, and I've seen and worked
on quite a few other models over the years too. He also
had a 720 model (sales gimmick was that it was twice as
good as the Bunger 360). I thought that was cool.
What’s
your shaping lineage?
I'm self taught. I've been working with fiberglass for over
20 years now, started out at RAYBO Marine in Lindenhurst
back in the mid-eighties. It was the height of the Miami
Vice era and we specialized in all kinds of fiberglass work,
especially structural modifications to ocean racers. It
was a small family business back then, whose owner was a
former U.S. Marine. His policy was to never come to him
and say I can’t do this. He believed that with enough
time and money we could build a customer the space shuttle.
Quality really was job one. That kind of reputation is the
same one I have been striving for today with the North Atlantic
Longboard Co. which I started in 1996.
After riding a lot of the "longboard revolution"
(shortboard inspired) boards, I knew I could build something
better (stronger). I primarily build between 7' & 10'
mid-lengths and longboards. I use only American made foam
(Walker, Just Foam, Homeblown), cloth (JPS or Hexel) &
resin. Every board comes with an "All labor and materials
made in the USA" laminate on the bottom. I'm 200 lbs.
/ six foot and longboards / mid-lengths are what I ride
and what I know best.
 Do
you do your own glassing?
Yes, I do all my own glassing. My glass work is the one thing
that I believe separates me from most other manufacturers.
All my boards are glassed with a minimum 6+8oz. deck. Polyester
boards have gotten a bad wrap mainly due to the whole quest
for performance. Weight means strength and weight, especially
with short boards, is the one thing everyone has been cutting
for years. I'm the only local guy that uses Volan on at least
1/3 my stock boards. I produce boards with the extras (tail
block, material inlays, custom stringers), but don't really
charge for it. Many of the original longboards from the 60's
are still around due to their structural integrity, how many
boards built today will still be around 40+ years from now?
I install all my leash plugs and fin boxes prior to glassing.
That means that the entire lay-up (6 & 8 oz. cloth + resin)
cover and hold these items in place. I have never seen any
other manufacturer do this, and I've repaired literally hundred
of boards assembled in shops all over the world. I think that
the glass work is without a doubt, the most misunderstood
aspect of surfboard construction. I've spent over 20 years
using all types of resin (mostly polyester and epoxy) and
know what works and what doesn't. If everyone really understood
how thinly glassed (and how far from responsibly engineered)
their boards are, they most likely wouldn't be jamming them
into the places they are.
I'm
not looking to be the next Hobie. I don't think that’s
possible in NY. I've been at this for a long time now and
I consider myself a realist. As such, I know I would starve
to death trying to survive on just this. However I have been
chugging along at the best pace possible to build what I believe
are the most structurally sound, locally built boards available.
Let’s
talk about the American backyard movement…
Many of the major manufacturers have argued for years that
the small operators like myself, have been undercutting their
ability to charge the higher prices a hand crafted surfboard
should fetch. That we are the ones that have been keeping
the prices so low and the profit margins so thin. I agree
that all the work, time and materials that go into a surfboard
should fetch more money. I agree that the craftsmen who commit
their lives to this pursuit should be paid more. I think that
it’s fundamentally wrong that the biggest benefactors
in the whole surfboard manufacturing industry today make their
money by using cheap labor in third world countries. But if
it is the small operators in this country that have forced
the major American companies to keep their prices competitive,
then it is also those same small operators that have kept
foreign competitor from swamping the whole American surfboard
manufacturing industry decades ago.
Since
the closure of Clark foam, the focus on surfboard manufacturing
has really intensified. Unless you’re in the business
of building boards yourself, you really don’t understand
how truly relevant it is. Gordon Clark had near total control
of the world’s blank supply. Someone once stated that
he was the Equalizer. What that meant was Gordon Clark knew
that today’s garage shaper had the potential of becoming
tomorrows Rusty or Al Merrick. He maintained the practice
of keeping all blank prices set the same for everyone, right
to the end. If I only paid $80 dollars for a 9’4”
blank, so did Al Merrick. There were no quantity discounts
either. Whether I purchased a hundred 9’1” Y’s
or only one, the price was the same. I could order a custom
9’8” blank with a two inch balsa stringer and
have off set colored glue lines added and have it in my shop
in three weeks. Every time I received a shipment of blanks
I’d ask myself, ‘Imagine this industry without
Clark Foam.’ Today it's a different world. Prices are
higher, the wait for any custom work is considerably longer
and the service to our customers isn’t as efficient.
New companies within the US as well as many importers are
now fighting for the supremacy Clark once had. In California
where dozens of new foam blowers are located, custom orders,
and lower prices for foam are available, but the kind of quick,
reliable supply lines Clark once provided the east coast are
gone. The Californians understandably, had to circle the wagons
to protect themselves and in this hostile environment. You
can’t really blame them. They’re fighting for
their very survival. Here on the east coast, we’ve just
had to have patience. It’s not like we’ve really
had much of a choice.
Which blanks are you using now?
I primarily use Walker Blanks for the majority of my longboard
construction. Walker was Clark’s only real competition
on US soil for decades. Harold Walker actually started out
prior to Gordon Clark, back in 1959. The foam is a lot nicer
to work with than Clark’s and their rockers and close
tolerance sizes help to make the final product all that much
better. They have been wholesale distributing out of North
Carolina and whereas the price of the blank is more than Clark’s,
the shipping cost is considerably less.
I just
started trying out Homeblown as well for some of my mid-length
boards. They’ve been headquartered in Cornwall, England
since 1988 and have just started operations in San Diego.
They make some of the finest quality MDI (environmentally
friendly) foam I have tried. The company that used to manufacture
all of Clarks wood stringers, now owns all of Clark’s
old rocker templates, and they now supply any of those rockers
(70 +) to Homeblown.
Also,
Bob Pitagno of Exotic Surfboards is an east coast rep for
Just Foam. He was warehousing out of Maryland and brought
up blanks for me from time to time. I had used quite a few
of their mid-length blanks last year and found them to be
pretty close to the feel and quality of Clark’s. A few
weeks ago however, I had read that the main factory in California
had burned to the ground. The status of the company is unknown
at this point. I’m sure Bob still has blanks in stock
though and I would suggest anyone wanting to get a blank or
two give BeePee in the shaping room (message board section)
of Newyorksurf.com a shout.
Do
you make your own fins?
Since 1999 I’ve had Fins Unlimited in California hand
crafting my own custom 9_” fin design. A standard on
all my single fin models and this year I’ve added a
smaller 7” fin for my 2+1 longboard, and mid-length
shapes. They are stocked in a dark smoke, translucent color
so they will match anything. Custom orders of any specific
color or even wood inlay can be ordered. They’re called
Main Drivers and will be available at Therapy Surf for anyone
interested in changing out their current fin for something
better. The name Main Drivers is taken from the name given
to the driving set of wheels on an old stream locomotive.
It just seemed fitting.
Speaking of trains, isn’t that your day job?
Building surfboards is my day job, running diesel hauled passenger
trains is what I do at night. I’m a federally licensed
Locomotive Engineer for the Long Island Rail Road. I originally
studied to be a mechanical engineer at NYIT, and ended up
a locomotive engineer. I’m still not sure how that happened.
When I first started with the rail road I was forced into
half nights (4pm to midnight) and always had weekdays off.
It had its advantages when it came to surfing and I have since
grown to like it. It has allowed me to live outside the loop
so to speak. Away from the normal hectic crowds of Long Island,
and honestly I have never been comfortable running with the
herd. In the mornings when I’m the most awake and full
of energy, that’s when I do the majority of my work
on the surfboards. I leave for work before evening rush hour
begins and making my way home after midnight is always quick
and painless. When people ask me what I do for a living, I
say I own my own small business building surfboards. Believe
me when I say it always gets a more positive response that
I work for the LIRR. Who on Long Island doesn’t have
a personal LIRR horror story to tell? Honestly, running trains
has become something I do while waiting for my resin to cure.
Why go on? Why keep shaping?
Why do I do this? Asking why I build surfboards is a tough
question. I have asked myself that question many times. Especially
after a rough day in mid summer heat covered in resin and
dust, or in the dead of winter while tapping through a thin
layer of ice that has formed on the surface of a gallon can
of buffing compound. It’s a difficult thing to answer.
First and foremost I consider myself a craftsman. Working
with my hands is something that I have always enjoyed. Like
surfing itself, it allows me to concentrate on the job at
hand and all the surrounding bullshit gets set aside. I tell
my wife it’s my therapy, and for me it really does seem
to work. A sense of accomplishment at the end of the day is
also important to me. The final buff out of a finished board
is especially gratifying. To make the last few passes with
the polisher while scrutinizing every square inch of the final
product might help to answer the question. The most gratifying
moment comes with the silence of the whining polisher. I can
step back to admire the final product and the sweat and labor
of the preceding days are forgotten. Every once in a while
I’ll meet a stranger with one of my boards out on the
beach. After the exchange of a few friendly words I’ll
ask him how he likes the board. I’ve never gotten a
negative response. That’s worth more to me than any
profit I made on that board, hands down. Nothing beats the
ability to provide the means of a few hours of pure surfing
bliss for someone. An older customer of mine told me that
the board I sold him years ago was used to teach just about
every kid in his neighborhood how to surf. He said that board
created more smiles and happiness then I could possibly imagine.
That comment alone, beat out about 90% of all the paychecks
I have ever cashed. The financial gains are regrettably thin.
I have told many people in the past that if you’re going
into this for the money, you’re going into it for all
the wrong reasons. Even the surf shop owners will tell you
that of all the various products they sell, the thing they
make the least amount of money on is the surfboard.
Do you have any apprentices?
Guys have asked me for years to let them sit in at the shop.
A lot of them have a real desire to learn the craft. There
are so many images put forward by the media of what it takes
to build a surfboard, and frankly most of them really do over
romanticize the whole process. The emphasis on shaping, and
the artwork is really quite misleading. Ninety percent of
the work has to be performed while wearing a respirator or
dust mask, and the materials involved can be harmful if not
properly utilized. Besides, my hours of operation are somewhat
unconventional and even they can change at any moment. I have
also appreciated the ability to keep my shop and the showroom
separate. If I had people over at the shop on a regular basis,
I’m sure my productivity would decrease substantially.
Personally the dedicated space and time is something I really
need to do this. Ask yourself why Bruce Wayne never brings
visitors to the Bat Cave, and you’ll probably come pretty
close to the same answer as to why I don’t bring customers
to my shop.
Releasing the secrets of the craft has been a bit of a dilemma
though. Local builders usually aren’t too keen on the
idea for obvious reasons. All of us have had to suffer through
all the little minefields of learning the craft, and giving
it away just doesn’t seem right. Last year this whole
business changed though. The closure of Clark foam sent out
a shock wave that still hasn’t settled out. Getting
raw materials to Long Island and keeping the free flow of
foam, resin, and cloth (which all have specific surfboard
construction types) is now a big concern. I think that keeping
the traditional methods of construction alive are now more
important than ever. Mass produced, molded construction from
overseas has produced a surplus of boards whose designs are
locked in forever. Most of those designs were created by shapers
and craftsmen who spent a lifetime designing, handcrafting,
testing and perfecting those shapes. Where will tomorrow’s
designs come from? Will tomorrows east coast shapes be designed
by the accounting or law department of Thailand Incorporated?
I think keeping the craft alive is the important thing right
now. Rekindling the local interest in design and manufacture
will also keep the demand of raw materials up and prices down
so we can remain competitive with all the options surfers
face today.
Aren’t you doing a shaping seminar though?
Every year I sponsor an event we call North Atlantic Night.
It started out as more of a customer appreciation event where
we would show a surf movie, offer up some free food and drink
and then raffle off an assortment of small items from the
shop and then one of my boards. In the beginning the raffle
board was usually decided upon by determining which one had
stood in the racks the longest. Every shaper in history has
experimental boards in the beginning that are, shall we say,
not quite right. If I could break even on my cost of raw materials
I was happy.
For about the past eight years, the guys at the shop and I
have continued the tradition. Finding a board to raffle off
though has been harder to find I’m glad to say. We plan
to hold the event again this year on Saturday night, July
14. I thought I might try something a little different this
year though, and add a shaping seminar in the afternoon.
Closing
thoughts or thanks?
To pursue a passion like this with so much energy and time,
you have got to have a very understanding woman. Except for
that banana cream pie incident on father's day a few years
ago, my wife Dianna has never really had any issues with my
surfing or the time I burn up building boards. She understands
it's my therapy and it's my only real drive to exercise and
try to stay in shape.
Owning this business and making it run takes more than just
me. The most important asset of any company really is the
people behind it. I consider myself first and foremost a craftsman.
I've learned over the years that it takes a different breed
to be in the retail end of things. Customers need people with
patience and knowledge and I have been very fortunate to have
crossed paths with some of the best in the field. The original
owner of Woody's Surf Shop, Randy a.k.a. Woody's a.k.a. R.J.,
took on promoting and selling my boards in the beginning when
I was a nobody. Without him, I wouldn't have the reputation
or sales I have today. The day after we first met back at
the original shop, we were surfing the jetties in West Hampton
together. He quickly became a good business associate and
a great friend.
Local surf historian and regular staple at the shop, Gary
O'Oneil, a.k.a Hermit, a.k.a. Yoda, was always available for
advice and direction. Whether on the beach at Montauk or stranded
in the jungles of South America, Gary's ability to locate
an old friend is uncanny.
Above all, many of my first customers like Javaman. He had
enough faith in my abilities to lend me many of his prized
original long boards from the sixties. He never wanted to
ride the originals because of their value, so I reproduced
them so he could ride them on a regular basis and not have
to be concerned with beating them into a local beach break.
I learned a lot about early long board design from those experiences
and many of my templates today are derived from those original
shapes lent to me by him as well as others.
Also to
Ray the new owner over at Therapy Surf, as well as Mattie
the old shop manager, and Timber (yesterday’s shop groom
all grown up), along with all the new kids over there who
continue to do a great job as salesmen and promoters of not
only my boards but my line of fins and T's as well. It would
have been impossible to take this all on with out them.
Michael
Machemer is a New York surfer, writer, photographer, curator
and a frequent contributor to Newyorksurf.com. Michael can
be reached at eataknish@newyorksurf.com
All
photos courtesy of North Atlantic Longboard Company.
For
more information on Jeff Anderson and the North Atlantic Longboard
Co., please contact Therapy Surf Shop at
(631) 281-0008, or email Jeff at singlefin@optonline.net.
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