Mr Simmons Surfboard

Product Description

If you're familiar with the evolution of surfboard design, then you've heard of Bob Simmons, who – before there was a surf industry – developed radical new ways of thinking about board design. Applying science gleaned from naval architecture texts, Simmons melded the performance characteristics of displacement and planing surfaces to obtain performance characteristics unheard of at the time but which are now essentials of most modern surfboard shapes.

In the same vein of experimentation is Jon Wegener, who shares Grain Surfboards' interest in making and spreading knowledge about alternatives to the standard surfboard. We're proud to offer the Mr Simmons, Jon's re-evolved interpretation of the now famous mini-Simmons style board. Jon's take of the tombstone-outlined original includes a subtle single-to-double concave, some belly through the nose, progressive rails and good volume for paddling. You can get this board in foam direct from Wegener Surfboards and now in wood as a Grain Surfboards Home Grown kit from Fyne Boat Kits.

Even though the wooden version of the Mr Simmons is a meticulous copy of Jon's shape, surfing one will provide a completely different experience than you get on the Wegener originals. Expect a slight difference in weight which is an asset for a board of this style.

These Grain Home Grown surfboard kits are manufactured in the UK by Fyne Boat Kits using locally-sourced sustainable Paulownia wood. They come with all the components that go into the board, including:

• Machine-cut keel and frames
• Top and bottom planks
• Rail strips
• FCS rail fin plugs (quad fins)
• Leash plug
• Air vent
• PEC epoxy bio-resin
• Epoxy fillers
• Wood glue for the planking
• Sikaflex EBT+ for gluing the planks to the internal framework
• Fibreglass fabric
• Protective gloves
• Mixing cups
• Brushes
• Detailed instruction manual

The included manual shows how to make a simple rocker table from basic materials you can salvage or obtain locally. A rocker table helps form the board to the correct rocker.

Some things you'll need are not included in the kit, such as tools, supplies and fins, but most of it should be available locally or from Fyne Boat Kits.

These kits are designed to be built by anyone with the room to do it. Previous wood working experience is not necessary – all you need is a little patience.

Rocker table lifts set

The optional rocker lift kit forms the perfect platform for building your board. The CNC-cut parts form a contoured mould that defines the rocker and precise bottom shape of your surfboard, ensuring that it comes out exactly as designed while simplifying the building process so that you can enjoy the experience of building at home even more.

The set contains one form (‘lift’) to fit under each frame of the surfboard on your glue-up table. These lifts are CNC-cut to the exact contours and rocker of the board you are building. The set includes an instruction manual to help you build a glue-up table and assemble the rocker lifts.

Keel and frames sets

The internal pieces needed to build your Grain Home Grown Surfboard. Each frames set includes one keel (stringer) and all the frames for your board. Each piece is cut and numbered to precisely match up with its place on the frame. Also included are nose and tail templates, construction notes and a 54 page instruction manual that covers the building process.

The frames sets are intended for people who have built a board of this style before and are familiar with the process. They do not include the detailed instruction manual that accompanies the full kits.

If, after buying the frames set, you decide that this is more than you can manage, we'll credit £90 of the purchase price towards the full kit, minus the frames that you already have.

Full size plans and manual

The plans include full-size templates for the keel, frames, nose and tail; board outline; construction notes and a 54 page instruction manual that covers the building process.

The plans are intended for people who have built a board of this style before and are familiar with the process. They do not include the detailed instruction manual that accompanies the full kit.

If, after buying the plans, you decide that building from scratch is more than you can manage, we'll credit £45 of the purchase price towards the full kit.