Case Study Surfy Surfboard #1
Part 1 of new series on essential Case Study surfboards that make up the Surfy Surfy quiver.
Case Study #1: The Guy Takayama GWAT.
Custom shaped for me by Guy Takayma in the summer of 2001. Guy shaped the original GWAT for personal use, got stoked on it and then had it scanned at KKL. The KKL software allows for perfect scaling of this design from 6’6″ to 8’0″.
Concept is a mini longboard. Works in beachbreaks, works extremely well in points.
This board is 6’8″ x 21 3/4″ x 2 1/2″
(until measuring it this morning I thought this board was 6’6″)
Shaped out of a Clark Foam blank which has held up extremely well after over a decade of heavy usage.
5/4 oz glassing deck, 5 oz bottom by Gary Stuber at Moonlight Glassing.
Airbrush and pinlines by Peter St Pierre. The green and blue theme is inspire by the color of the 55 gallon resin drums the surfboard industry gets from Revchem Composites.
The side bite fins are the Red-X fin system, which is routed all the way through the board. The fin is screwed in from the deck. Red-X is a extremely strong system, however it is important to cap the deck with a piece of cloth during build, which few in the industry did, therefore killing the system in the long run. As far as I know Red-X (previously called the Excel system) is now defunct.
*note-if you need fins for an old board with Red-X Surfy Surfy can special order them for you. We got a hookup.
Current center fin is 6.5″ GT Manta, normally ridden with the 7″.
The side fins are not the GT template. Those were donated to a customer 7 years ago.
Gloss and polish finish (this board is another example of why gloss coats are important to longevity). 
This board is a Hang 5 machine! Slight nose concave. Hang 10’s could be possible for a more skilled surfer than myself.
Maggie Marsek Rhyne snapped these Hang 5 shots on the smallest non-wave day ever.
Excellent paddling, fast down the line and nimble weaving thru crowded lineups. Easy flowing cutbacks. Not a retro flashback dog. I also call this board The Slump Buster because it’s a good board to ride when things aren’t going well.
Leash worn only on occasion. It’s taken some lumps, lost it on the rocks in central California 6 years ago being the only real damage which was minimal and easily repaired.
The GWAT is often compared to the Donald Takayama Scorpion model (Guy’s uncle). The GWAT has more hip and more nose rocker and more shortboardy rails than the Scorpion.
This board has been loaned out to dozens of surfers of all abilities and has been a favorite to push kids and spouses into waves on.
Once widely available, Guy is currently only shaping GWATS in limited quantities these days. Surfy Surfy tries to keep them in stock, but they sell quick. Average retail on these boards is $950.00 which includes custom fins from Fibre Glass Fin co.
New GWATS feature the Probox system for the side bites.
It’s a testament to a board when it’s stayed in rotation for over 10 years and hasn’t been sold.
thanks,
JP St Pierre
Anonymous
June 28, 2012Can I get one without the Red-X fin system?
adhd
June 28, 2012maybe read the whole post?
Anonymous
June 28, 2012The post was too long for me to read,sorry.
JP from Surfy Surfy
June 28, 2012I restructured the post so it may be easier on the eyes.
Standard side boxes are now Probox as stated in the post.
thanks!
Tim in Kona HI.
June 28, 2012Aloha J.P. from Big Island…
Great explanation of all the subtleties that go into building this custom craft & a great testament to what can be achieved through constructing them with the finest materials, talents & structural thinking…not to mention, taking care of your board over the years, fixing the dings, rinsing it off, keeping it out of the sun when storing it, etc… & glosscoats definitely add to the endurance factor. I dig the shape too! …good job & solid work going on there at Moonlight Glassing.
**Get well Peter Pinliner!**
Peace & much aloha,
Tim
Anonymous
June 28, 2012I look forward to more case studies!
-Harry
Anonymous
June 28, 2012How dare case study #1 not be a bonzer!?!? Blasphemy! Good thing you got the Lady outside protecting you.
ps – I have said Scorpion from Donald. Same size. You’re right – it is flat as a door. But it too is a hang 5 machine that I will never sell.
Now, where’s that bonzer case study?
JP from Surfy Surfy
June 28, 2012The Bonzer I want to feature is out at the factory with a rail ding. I gotta fix it (and surf it) before the photo shoot/blog post.
Anonymous
June 28, 2012Oh sure, post a detailed review of a killer board that I (and many others) would love to own…and then tell us it’s nearly impossible to get! You’re a cruel tease, Mr. Surfy!
Kidding of course. Love the write-up, and look forward to more of them!
– Waldo
vader101
June 29, 2012oh i cant wait for the bonzer study. please let it be a russ short, being im on the edge of grabn one!
Anonymous
June 29, 2012case studies are rad
Anonymous
June 29, 2012If you could only have one… would it be the GWAT or the Thumb?
Anonymous
June 29, 2012Is a 2+1 set up basically a beanzer?
Mat
June 29, 2012great post jp. if i could suggest a bonzer to study, it would be this one. (it’s rad) http://www.surfysurfy.net/2009/12/justins-511-bonzer5.html
Anonymous
June 29, 2012gwat? kinda sounds like something else, juss saying. what does it stand for?
Anonymous
June 29, 2012Why is this format/page color different on here? I don’t like it, bring back the back in black! Thanks!
Anonymous
June 29, 2012just when i thought this blog couldn’t get any better….very nice review!
thanks!
Anonymous
June 29, 2012Nice hang 5 shots.
Anonymous
June 29, 2012I have a 6’6″ GWAT with the 5 fin Bonzer set-up. It was glassed by Moonlight with color swirl and airbrushed bright orange deck. I really love it! It was my first “shortboard.” I moved out of state to finish my degree but have it visible in my house to motivate myself to get back to Leucadia. Looking forward to more case studies and thank for giving me a connection to home. 🙂
Anonymous
June 29, 2012Best post in a long time… Love the details & history etc. –Mark
Anonymous
June 29, 2012I think everyone can (finally) agree, this is a killer post!
Anonymous
June 29, 2012give the people what they want!! more case studies!!
viva surfysurfy!!!!
JP from Surfy Surfy
June 29, 2012I think the name GWAT came from Guy shaping a sqautty little longboard. Guy + Squat = GWAT
Anonymous
June 30, 2012Thanks for answering that question, I was wondering that myself.
Now what does Surfy Surfy mean? You a two time sayer you a two time sayer? Thanks Thanks 🙂 🙂
Anonymous
June 30, 2012To the person who is thinking on getting a Russ Short Bonzer, DO IT!! such a fine shape, more for speed and better waves. Now to the question on what Surfy Surfy means, HAPPY HAPPY, When ever i stop in to vist it just makes me a very HAPPY HAPPY person, anywho cool name that Surfy Surfy. Peace, taco’s & olas. Doug.
J
July 1, 2012JP hooked me up with a 6ft8 GWAT and is my fav board–very fast and controllable in good surf and can catch our oh too common mushy mushy surf no prob, HIGHLY recommend this one and really enjoyed the write up.
Anonymous
July 3, 2012doe’s this guy eat anything else besides taco’s? juss sayin…
Anonymous
July 7, 2012G = Guy’s
W = wave
A = attack
T = tool