Harbour Surfboards

Dear Rich,

Greg Escalante brought his 9-10 SUP diamondtail (the one you made for him last spring) along for the trip. We considered not bringing it due to its size and how awkward it was to move it around the deck of the Dirigo II. We ended up lashing it to the rail and hoping for the best and it really turned out to be a great asset for everyone aboard. It was very handy as a tender for moving people and stuff to and from the shore. Here is our top deckhand, Isabella Escalante coming in to the beach at Desperations on her dads’ board (all photos Elva De Jarnett)

It was really fun in the small but high quality waves - here is Greg on a perfect little insider - styling.

I borrowed it later and caught a couple - here is a short ride

and here is a longer one

Looking back at these pictures now I must remark on how clean the water flow is off that board, I guess after 50 years of designing surfboards you must have learned a few things …. anyway the board performed really well and as you can see we had a blast riding it. After the intense core workout of all that SUPing we had to take a break, and here you can see here how wired our expedition leader Len Daniello of Horizons West Adventures has these trips. Here is shot of Michael and myself kicking it under a shade structure that Len brought. Totally surfed out, we had shade, cold drinks and great food waiting for us on a pristine deserted beach.

It is amazing to me that this kind of ocean/wilderness experience is STILL possible in southern California. I have flown around the world on surf trips only to find myself in waiting in line for waves at a so called “exotic and inaccessible” surfspot. Upon my return to SoCal i would reflect that I had not REALLY escaped from the crowds and the social pressures of surfing in them. These trips to the offshore islands succeed every time in getting me into a different mindset relative to waves, other surfers, and life in general.

But I digress, we also used the SUP for touring - here is my fellow deckhand Michael Knowlton setting off to explore the coastline at one of our anchorages.

I will close this post with this line up shot

When I started visiting these islands 12 years ago I came looking for surf, now I return for moments like the one shown in this picture, standing on an empty coast far from civilization and having a true adventure with my dearest friends and family.

keep it moist,

MdJ

Harbour enthusiasts gathered for the annual Harbour Surfboards Surf Day last Saturday. The Orange County Register was also there reporting on the event! Click to read today’s paper’s article.

Monday night Rich Harbour was presented with a proclamation from the city of Seal Beach. As a testament to his contributions to the city, Rich was recognized as a local surf legend and longtime business owner. In his acceptance speech, Rich spoke of how the Harbour Surfboards triangle logo is practically synonymous with Seal Beach and can be recognized on any beach in the world as a symbol of the city. He also thanked the city, his family and business partner Robert Howson for their support. Surfline’s (and fellow Seal Beach resident) Sean Collins was also present and came to the podium to share a few stories about how Rich and Harbour Surfboards had influenced his love of surfing and ultimately his career path as a wave forecaster.

Rich center with Robert Howson (left) and Sean Collins (right)

Dear Rich,

Since the water just dropped 10 degrees and winter is finally here, it seemed like a good time to go through some of last summers pics from our boating trip to the local offshore islands. In August, we sailed on the topsail Schooner Dirigo II out of Long Beach, myself working as first mate to the skipper Bob Wilder and Horizons West expedition leader Len Daniello. An elegant craft, she is 73 feet long , built in 1939 at Boothbay, Maine. Here she is anchored up outside one of the surfspots we visited, lets call it “Desparations”. This is our “100 ton” skipper, Bob trimming his Harbour HP through a little inside drainer 118 miles from the Harbour shop. (all Photos: Elva De Jarnett)

This spot is a really a fun small wave that breaks on a cobblestone reef. Winds blow side-offshore all day and the water was crystal clear and about 68 degrees F. We had it all to ourselves for a few days. It never got much bigger that this…..

but we surfed our brains out. My Good friend Michael Knowlton’s face sez it all here - it was like a small wave smörgåsbord and it was just a question of how much your could eat……sun exposure was an issue hence the embarrassing hats. Michael here is riding a 10-0 wingpin and I am riding a 9-2 winger as well.

Harbour Regular Greg Escalante also came along the trip - here he is riding his 9-0 wingpin.

I have some SUP stuff that i will post later - to finish this post - here is another short sequence of me at desperations - I wish I still weighed 150 - I might fit into this little tube more easily……

Keep it moist,

MdJ

I shaped one this morning and it went to the glass shop this afternoon.

Happy Anniversary! We are very proud to announce that our year long 50th anniversary celebration begins today. Please come down to the shop and check out our Limited Edition surfboard model and tons of new merchandise commemorating this major milestone. We have also posted a very special slide show on our website homepage featuring 50 years of our surfing history.

Starting November 1st, Harbour Surfboards will begin honoring its Fiftieth year in the surfboard business.

In 1959, Rich Harbour, Harbour Surfboards’ founder, began shaping surfboards out of his parent’s garage at 15 years old and continues to craft surfboards today. Fifty years later, Harbour Surfboards is the oldest surfboard manufacturing shop that sill operates in the same location. Handcrafting nearly 30,000 surfboards and counting, Harbour Surfboards is recognized worldwide as an iconic surfboard label.

Harbour Surfboards was an early pioneer in the Southern California surfboard building industry that has since become a lifestyle and cultural phenomenon with its influence in fashion, advertising, music, movies etc. Today vintage Harbour boards are coveted and by collectors and enthusiasts everywhere.

As a tribute to his fifty years of board building, Rich Harbour is pleased to present the Limited Edition surfboard model. The concept is a culmination of Harbour’s most popular surfboard shapes. A classic pin-tail shape with 50/50 rails and made of classic weight poly-urethane foam, the Limited Edition is decked out with a 5 piece cedar and basswood t-band stringer, offset glue lines, Volan fiberglass and a single multi-colored fin - the Limited Edition will surely become a collectable. The Limited Edition surfboard model is available to the public for one year only beginning November 1st. Contact Harbour Surfboards for pricing and a brochure.

For the serious collectors, Rich Harbour plans to personally glue and shape five high-end Balsa and curly Redwood versions of the Limited Edition surfboard model next year offered at $8,000.00 on a first come first served basis beginning November 1st.

Please contact Harbour Surfboards 562 430-5614 to get your hands on one of these boards!

“Sweet 5 piece T-Band”

Harbour Surfboards is having a rare surfboard sale! We must make room for our new 2009 surfboard inventory. For a limited time save up to $300.00 on select boards. Hurry sale ends November 1st!

If your interested in purchasing a sale surfboard please call, email, contact@harboursurfboards.com, or come down to the shop. Cash only!
Harbour Surfboards 329 Main Street Seal Beach, Ca 90740 562 430-5614

7-4″ Spherical Revolver
Board No. 28479
yellow resin tint
16″ nose
22 7/8″ wide
15 /2″ tail
2 3/4″ thick
6/4 oz. Silane glass deck, 6 oz. Silane bottom.
Single fin.
$555.00
Original price $805.00

9-2″ Quatro
Board No. 29019
grey resin tint
18″ nose
22 3/8″ wide
14 1/4″ tail
2 3/16″ thick
6/4 oz. Silane glass deck, 6 oz. Silane bottom.
Quad fin set-up.
$680.00
Original Price $980.00

9-2″ Quatro
Board No. 28841
yellow resin tint
18″ nose
22 3/8″ wide
14 1/4″ tail
2 3/16″ thick
6/4 oz. Silane glass deck, 6 oz. Silane bottom.
Quad fin set-up.
$680.00
Original Price $980.00

9-2″ Quatro
Board No. 28927
clear
18″ nose
22 3/8″ wide
14 1/4″ tail
2 3/16″ thick
6/4 oz. Silane glass deck, 6 oz. Silane bottom.
Quad fin set-up.
$600.00
Original Price $900.00

9-0″ Quatro
Board No. 28794
orange and tan airspray
18″ nose
22 3/8″ wide
14 1/4″ tail
2 3/16″ thick
6/4 oz. Silane glass deck, 6 oz. Silane bottom.
Quad fin set-up.
$680.00
Original Price $980.00

9-0″ Quatro
Board No. 28897
brown and tan airspray
18″ nose
22 3/8″ wide
14 1/4″ tail
2 3/16″ thick
6/4 oz. Silane glass deck, 6 oz. Silane bottom.
Quad fin set-up.
$680.00
Original Price $980.00

6-4″ EPS Fish
Board No. 28471
clear, sand only
17″ nose
21 3/4″ wide
16 3/4″ tail
2 7/18″ thick
6/4 oz. Silane glass deck, 6 oz. Silane bottom.
Lok Box twin fin
$505.00
Original Price $755.00

5-10″ Quad Fish
Board No. 28786
opaque white, black pin line
17″ nose
21 1/2″ wide
16 3/4″ tail
2 5/8″ thick
6/4 oz. Silane glass deck, 6 oz. Silane bottom.
Lok Box quad fin set-up
$505.00
Original Price $805.00

5-8″ EPS Fish
Board No. 28489
blue airspray, red pin line
17″ nose
21 7/16″ wide
16 3/4″ tail
2 9/16″ thick
6/4 oz. Silane glass deck, 6 oz. Silane bottom.
Lok Box twin fin
$495.00
Original Price 795.00

5-8″ Fish
Board No. 28343
clear, gloss polish
17″ nose
21 7/16″ wide
16 3/4″ tail
2 9/16″ thick
6/4 oz. Silane glass deck, 6 oz. Silane bottom.
Lok Box twin fin
$505.00
Original Price 755.00