I am looking at buying a 2nd hand 9' McTavish board at one of the local surf shops and want to get some opinions on this. I am not sure of the model , but it is an epoxy board.

I weigh around 75kg soaking wet and am pretty well still at the learning stage. I already have a 6'8 XL Super Fish so I am looking at a longboard so that I can get more time on the water.

Any advice etc would be appreciated.

Before you buy, can I ask you to find out which model it is,width and thickness?all very important before anyone can give good advice.
If its 23 x 3 forget it,way too much volume for your weight,you need something around 22 7/8 x 2 7/8 or 22 3/4 x 2 3/4 .

Have a good look at it especially if it is an epoxy board. You should check if it has been repaired or painted up anywhere. The epoxy boards take in a lot of water once the outer shell has been broken. Better still take someone along who knows a bit about boards who may be able to help you.

Thanks for that. I shall give it a good going over on Monday and look for any issues.

G'Day OceanBlue64,
I'm close to you, over in Torquay. I'll post some pics of my 9'1 McTavish Original. I snapped it, but had it repaired professionally. But I'm a bit of a snob, and I can afford to just replace it. So it's for sale for $250, which is precisely the price I paid to get it put back together.... PM me, or anyone else. I just want it to go to someone who will use it. For the last 2 years it has only been used a few times over summer for visitors. I bought it brand new in Circa 2003.

There are 2 separate ranges of "McTavish Epoxy". There are the ones that are done by Surftech / Tuflite, and there are the "SLX" models I believe.

Use this....
www.mctavish.com.au/

Is it similar to 1 or 2... ??

1) http://www.mctavish.com.au/_webapp_743241/Fireball_Evolution_SLX_Epoxy
2) www.mctavish.com.au/_webapp_797800/Fireball_Tuflite

Or browse around for different models, and art work... You should be able to identify it on their site....

Simondo
PS - mine is about 9'1 x 22 1/2 x 3 or 2 7/8, I can't recall. But it would suit your weight. As Mac said, you don't want to overload on volume.... and mine is trimmed down a little bit....

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Simondo said...

G'Day OceanBlue64,
I'm close to you, over in Torquay. I'll post some pics of my 9'1 McTavish Original. I snapped it, but had it repaired professionally. But I'm a bit of a snob, and I can afford to just replace it. So it's for sale for $250, which is precisely the price I paid to get it put back together.... PM me, or anyone else. I just want it to go to someone who will use it. For the last 2 years it has only been used a few times over summer for visitors. I bought it brand new in Circa 2003.

There are 2 separate ranges of "McTavish Epoxy". There are the ones that are done by Surftech / Tuflite, and there are the "SLX" models I believe.

Use this....
www.mctavish.com.au/

Is it similar to 1 or 2... ??

1) www.mctavish.com.au/_webapp_743241/Fireball_Evolution_SLX_Epoxy
2) www.mctavish.com.au/_webapp_797800/Fireball_Tuflite

Or browse around for different models, and art work... You should be able to identify it on their site....

Simondo
PS - mine is about 9'1 x 22 1/2 x 3 or 2 7/8, I can't recall. But it would suit your weight. As Mac said, you don't want to overload on volume.... and mine is trimmed down a little bit....

How good are the boards once they are repaired? Would I notice much difference as against a board that hadnt been repaired?

A repaired board just puts on about 500 grams maybe. Maybe only 300 grams. If you don't surf bog waves, you are unlikely to snap it.... But that is the risk.... I would be prepared to offer a 50% 3 month warranty, on the provision that you don't ride it in waves approaching double overhead, or bigger.

Mine is an Original, and it is actually a model that Bob McTavish himself has ridden very often. A great board for beachies, and juicier beachies, and great for nice point breaks with a little juice, and steepness.

Pics tomorrow....
The board I speak of, is the thin Light Blue "streak" near the rear of frame...


Speed Lines at Bells.... just for fun !!

This beauty is for sale too.... I love this board, but it's not the type of board I will ride often enough. It's a traditional late '60's remake with 50/50 rails, or 60/40.... A great cruiser.... I just like my boards to have a bit more snap off the bottom, so I can get busier with turns on the wave.... With this board, you set your line a bit more, and trim.... then run back for a turn.... a beautiful traditional board....

You will need over $1000 to pries this away from me. Condition is approx 98/100 to 99/100. So virtually brand new. Cream tint, double stringer, comp stripes, glass on Greenough fin, glass leggie loop... 9'4 x 22"1/2 x 3. (previous posts said this board was 23"1/2, but that was a typo by McTavish, it has 22"1/2 written on it.... but I have not actually measured it).....

why you selling the involvment sim - you only just got it

It's just not my style of board.... I ride fast down the line waves, and it's more of a traditional cruiser, and it doesn't have that sting off the bottom.... you have to do nice graceful turns.... it's just not quite my style of board. One of the best looking boards I have ever seen though !

But I'm equally happy to hang onto too. I'm in the process of clearing about 5 boards out. 2 other mals are going, so there will actually be available space on the racks to hang onto such a nice board...

A little off topic but not worth starting a new topic.

Simondo,did you take a board over to HI on your last trip?
If so what?

I hired some in 07 but the dollar is all time atm and thinking
of going in September,just loved those rolling waves on the south
side in 07.

I was thinking of my Fireball 9.6,what do you think?

For sure, the FB should be perfect for over there on the South. The FB is the best of all worlds.... Rounded / Rounded Pin model.... It still has decent tail area for smaller waves, but if you luck into a swell, or some juicier sets, that tail is nice. Plus it nose rides good enough. And it is a performer, which is what you need over there, to mix it up, show your stuff.... it is a competent wave magnet, and competitive paddling machine too...

But, for North Shore Malibu riding.... The Original could be the pick.

On my last trip, I hired boards. Mostly rode Tuflites. I rode a 9'6 yellow single fin mostly.... Sorry, can't remember which shaper.... But it would have closely resembled The Redline. On the juicier days I switched to a yellow 9'1 with side bites.

One good thing about hiring from a decent place (not crappy stuff on the beach front!)... is that you get to test drive a few different boards....

Mac, a bunch of my mates (and me) don't like The Saints (AFL). I noticed The Suns are above The Saints on the ladder. Brings a smile to our faces !!

Yes I noted that the Suns were a head of the Saints I am not a big fan of AFL, but I'll watch Brisbane,Suns just because there local teams.

I hired mt gear from Kona Board Sports in 07,only drama was at first they did not have a good volume board so I had to suck it up on ITP 9.1 which was a struggle in those fat slow waves until a better board become available.

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Simondo said...

Mac, a bunch of my mates (and me) don't like The Saints (AFL). I noticed The Suns are above The Saints on the ladder. Brings a smile to our faces !!

It's ok, the saints are my team and even I don't like them ATM!!

Here it is..... For $250, you'll be cleaning off the old wax . The dark dots on the bottom are also just wax, waiting to be cleaned off (last photo). There's a few pics showing the stringer. They have painted / spayed the board, to match, but on the outside. Additional stingers have been inserted next to the broken stringer, plus they do the "Diamond" strengthening glass job, so you resist a weak point for re-creasing / re-breaking.

Note, it has been re-sprayed on the outside. It's been done well, but you can tell when you get close. As I said, I paid $250 cash to get it put back together. So it's kind of like getting a free board (??)...

Sold!

In pic 2, you can see some mild colour changes on the rail.... As it's hard to match both the Inlay Blue, and the darker Rail Blue Fade.... But a nice fresh coat of wax, and build-up, with hide this very well !!

Plus is needs the wax stripped off, and a fresh start... I'll even throw in some hard wax, for base coat....

Just picked up a old 80s thruster with fin box, Has a big spray of the ozzi flag, Im going to restore it and put the NZ flag on it

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OceanBlue64 said...

Sold!

I think you've got a bargain there... was going to suggest you think seriously about this but got caught up at work... I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

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boarder paul said...

Just picked up a old 80s thruster with fin box, Has a big spray of the ozzi flag, Im going to restore it and put the NZ flag on it

You mean "touch up a few of the stars" !!!

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boarder paul said...

Just picked up a old 80s thruster with fin box, Has a big spray of the ozzi flag, Im going to restore it and put the NZ flag on it

That sounds very unAustralian

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Simondo said...

In pic 2, you can see some mild colour changes on the rail.... As it's hard to match both the Inlay Blue, and the darker Rail Blue Fade.... But a nice fresh coat of wax, and build-up, with hide this very well !!

Plus is needs the wax stripped off, and a fresh start... I'll even throw in some hard wax, for base coat....

Thats a great repair job, $250 thats a bargin!!

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smh said...

boarder paul said...

Just picked up a old 80s thruster with fin box, Has a big spray of the ozzi flag, Im going to restore it and put the NZ flag on it

That sounds very unAustralian

So this BP bloke thinks he can mess with our flag hmm

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62mac said...

smh said...

boarder paul said...

Just picked up a old 80s thruster with fin box, Has a big spray of the ozzi flag, Im going to restore it and put the NZ flag on it

That sounds very unAustralian

So this BP bloke thinks he can mess with our flag hmm

Damn south sea pommies.[}:)]

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doggie said...

Simondo said...

In pic 2, you can see some mild colour changes on the rail.... As it's hard to match both the Inlay Blue, and the darker Rail Blue Fade.... But a nice fresh coat of wax, and build-up, with hide this very well !!

Plus is needs the wax stripped off, and a fresh start... I'll even throw in some hard wax, for base coat....

Thats a great repair job, $250 thats a bargin!!

Doggie, trust me, it's a good to very good repair... "great" is stretching it... maybe...

Well I have had it out a few times now. Love it. Thanks heaps Simondo!!!

And here are the pics of it cleaned and rewaxed -

Great to see its gone to a good home,unlike its previous ownerwho never cared for that beautiful board