Our Promise To You

My Environmental Promise: I use Forest Stewardship Council certified woods or woods salvaged from downed trees. All boards are glassed with epoxy resin which is cleaner for our environment and emits 50-75% less Volatile Organic Compounds than polyester resin. In my shop I have moderate ventilation and no need for a mask when glassing. Epoxy is lighter and stronger than polyester. My wood boards are nearly indestructible and should last a lifetime. Each board is quality crafted for strength, durability and concern for our environment.

My Satisfaction Promise: Ride your board for 30 days. If you don't like it, return it.

CONTACT: Dan Johnston BlindDogSurfboards@yahoo.com

All images are copyright protected and my not be used without permission from Blind Dog Surfboards.


Nov 22, 2010

9'10" Longboard done and up for sale











At Sharky's in Ocean Isle Beach (click to enlarge). Sharky's has a great Grouper sandwich. Good food. See if Ray is around and introduce yourself. Good surfer, and his son Knox is an up and coming competitivesurfer: http://www.swellinfo.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=10410&catid=1







HEY...go over there and grab lunch and a beer. Great collection of vintage boards, some I remember dragging, cause I couldn't lift them, across our surf beach in Hermosa Beach, CA.








Not glassed...just one naked board. 11/20





9'11" Longboard. Nose and Tail is Spruce and Walnut. Decking is Poplar, Cedar and Spruce. Click on photos to enlarge.







11/23 bottom deck glassed, 11/24 top deck patch and top decking glassed. I added a shell inlay of a Loggerhead Turtle. Hope to get at least one side hot coated tomorrow - Turkey Day!







11/27 God I love the lack of smell in the morning when hot coating with epoxy.



Email us for price and shipping details.

Oct 16, 2010

Tom's Art Board and Daily Rider


Tom finally built a board for himself. Seems all that we've been doing is build a really nice board, then sell it. So we both built ones for ourselves. Tom showed off his wood working skills with this one. It's stunning. CLICK on the image to enlarge.





Not yet shaped but looking very sweet.


Oct 11, 2010

Something for the Holidays

Thinking of that special gift, this might be the one. Just few more planks and she'll be enclosed. We can customize this with decals, and an inlay or two made from shell veneer. We can add your name and/or the one this would be intended for. Never two boards alike, something very unique and special. Give us an email and lets talk. blinddogsurfboards@yahoo.com

Poplar with red Cedar and Spruce. Should come out around 9'9". Am tinkering with 'sunburst D style glassed on fin Pine and Walnut.

Aug 23, 2010

Woody Wagon and Blind Dog Classic Woody

May 28, 2012.
I have a wood surfboard, used, for sale. It is 9'7" and in perfect condition. $675. If you need a fin, I'll sell you one at cost. I do have a really sweet wood fin, old school style, for $75.
dan

 Boards for sale




One of Tom's woodies at it's new home in Wilmington, NC.

Looking for a used wood board for your Woody wagon? From time to time we have a used wood surfboard. The are in very good condition, gently used by Tom and I. These boards are built for us to surf daily...we'll when possible. If you're interested, give us an email: BlindDogSurfboards@yahoo.com








































Aug 15, 2010

Surfing Lessons Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach

We've moved Tom over to his own blog. Tom helps people learn to surf. In this capacity he is not associated with Blind Dog Surfboards (that's a legal way of saying Tom is freelancing lessons). His own site gives him more room to talk about surfing lessons and post photos of his surfing students with grins from ear to ear. Learning to surf, well it's not that hard but like any sport, getting a jump start is best way to learn.

Tom has really been putting out boards this summer, good five woodies and half dozen foam short and long boards.

So check out Tom's new site for surf lesson information, photos and hopefully more videos of students.


Jul 31, 2010

Just finished Nose Rider

Sold

Want to see this board? It's hanging at Sharky's restaurant over in Ocean Isle Beach (61 Causeway Drive 910 579 9177). Grab one of their Grouper sandwiches...really good.

Sweetly finished, 9'10" Nose Rider. Our first inlay using Paua Abalone shell. Cedar, Spruce deckings, book matched as are all our boards. 8/20 rails mid-section, 7/30 nose and tail. More photos in our "Wood Pile - right side of this page. Email for pricing.


Jul 26, 2010

One Fast Ride






Don Eddins makes awesome hot rods. We'll post more details later today. Don't we wish that was our surf buggy.....
Fat Cat Custom cars bought one of our 9'8" Long Boards. Rather sweet ride it'll have.

Jul 20, 2010

Jun 24, 2010

July 4th Calabash Fireworks and town party

Over in Calabash, down by Calabash River, is an event for celebrating Independence Day. We're setting up two tents, working on boards and there to enjoy showing off our boards. We should have it all set-up by noon, maybe earlier. Come on over, we'll show you how's HWS's are built.

Dan and Tom

Jun 10, 2010

New Board

Just finished. Click on photos to enlarge.



9'11", 23 1/2 x 3 1/2. Tail is 6" wide. Spruce and Cedar

May 12, 2010

Jon Blair Picking Up His Board

June 16

We asked Jon what did he think of his new board. Expecting couple of sentences, we received this:

I(Jon) first got turned on to hollow wood surfboards, a few years ago when I saw this old guy ripping on a beautiful balsa board. I had never seen anything like it before, it was like he was riding a piece of art, a piece of mother nature, something that was masterfully hand crafted by some ones hands.

When I got home I researched and researched these boards, reading all of the forums and learning about Tom Blake and the history of these boards but I never really quite got the sense of what these boards were or what really went into them. I then happened upon Blind Dog surfboards on the internet, two local guys that happen to be one of the few on the east coast that make these boards.

I called them up immediately because I wanted to learn more about these boards, and I needed a new longboard. I met Dan Johnson and a few days later my new hollow wood longboard was started. The building of one of these boards in itself is a great journey one that you wouldn't experience with a regular poly board and a regular shaper. Dan kept me updated all throughout the process, informing me of what he was doing and the different techniques being used. To better help me understand and to let me see how one of these boards were built he made me a series of youtube videos of the board being constructed.

The day I went to pick up the board, he led me and my father up to his workshop to show me a board in construction and gave us some really interesting information about hollow wood boards and how they are built. Speaking of my board, it was absolutely beautiful the different color woods matched perfectly and glistened brilliantly under the gloss coat of epoxy.

Riding the board for the first time was a new experience too, I got to experience knee paddling for the first time, I got looks and glances from other beach goers and surfers as they couldn't keep there eyes off of such a cool board. As far as performance goes, the board was so smooth, it paddled fast and easy and caught waves farther out than I had ever caught before.
All the while on my board I get to see my graphics that I drew and he put on there really making the board personalized.

I couldn't recommend a better person to make a hollow wood surfboard for you than Dan, he really takes the time to see that you get everything you want, and that everything is perfect. He puts a lot of time and energy into these boards making them that much more special when they are complete.

Jon



May 8th

Jon and father came over yesterday to pick up his new board. Jon added some custom artwork that came out perfectly. (Click on picture to enlarge)

May 9, 2010

Beautiful Sight







Jody (843 957 4032), 215 Main Street, Myrtle Beach, SC




Adrienne, my wife, took these with her cell phone camera. Just love technology.




Apr 16, 2010

How to build a Hollow Wooden Surfboard...well sort of

Here's video, ok not the best quality, about making a 9'8" longboard. What you'll not see is: picking through stacks of lumber for just the right woods (1 in 10 is a good day), cutting, planing, sanding planks, glueing up planks, building jigs, tweeking - steaming - bending - begging wood into place, trimming trimming trimming, and those 2 am wake ups thinking of a new way to trim/tweek that piece of wood.


Oh, know when you say something and then knock on wood? That's an old German, probably many other cultures also, superstisition that for good luck you knock on a tree. Building HWS boards we knock on wood a lot.

Anyway, this kind of gives you an idea of what it takes to build hollow wooden surfboards.
Dan and Tom

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Mar 21, 2010

ESA Divisional Contest 3-20-10







(Click on photos to enlarge)














Tommy Reily borrowed my board for this event.



Dan on same board. This board is our 9'8" Long Board, came in at 23.5 pounds. Awesome performer. Last summer Tom Allen (Blind Dog partner) helped Tommy build his first wooden board.

Mar 18, 2010

http://benchmarkradio.com/downloads/Car-and-Driver-Radio/2010/031310/CD_031310_HR2_06.mp3

Last Saturday I was invited to Car and Driver radio to talk about future safety technology that Volvo will be using (I work for Volvo). At the end Alan Taylor, C&D host, asked about my hobby of making wooden boards. Thought you would enjoy hearing our discussion.

Mar 9, 2010

Three new boards






March 7, 2010



Ganging up ribs and three spars. One Longboard and two nose riders. Nose rider has bit more tail rocker, longboard has a slighly less tail rocker.








Jan 13, 2010

Tubbs Inlet - Wood in Waves

December 26, 2009. Small stuff but fun.

Surf Dog - nice video

www.ripcurlriki.com

Hope there is room in Hell for this person

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Reward Offered in North Carolina Pelican Cruelty Case

(Jan. 12, 2010) — The Humane Society of the United States and The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for breaking the wings of 10 brown pelicans in Brunswick County, N.C.
The Case:
News reports give the following account: Between Dec. 17 and Dec. 31, 10 pelicans were found washed ashore on Bald Head Island, Oak Island, Holden Beach and Caswell Beach. The birds were suffering from broken wings. Some of the birds had drowned, and the rest had to be euthanized as a result of their injuries. In 2007, there was a similar string of pelican injuries in the same area.
“The infliction of such egregious cruelty on these birds is a serious crime,” said Kimberley Alboum, North Carolina state director for The HSUS. “Clearly the person or persons responsible have a callous disregard for wildlife laws and the species they are intended to protect.”
If caught, the individual or individuals face numerous violations of state and federal law. Maliciously maiming an animal is a felony in North Carolina. Pelicans are also protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Animal Cruelty:
Getting the serious attention of law enforcement, prosecutors and the community in cases involving allegations of cruelty to animals is an essential step in protecting the community. The connection between animal cruelty and human violence is well documented. Studies show a correlation between animal cruelty and all manner of other crimes, from narcotics and firearms violations to battery and sexual assault.
Poaching:
Every year, thousands of poachers are arrested nationwide; however, it is estimated that only 1 to 5 percent of poachers are caught. Poachers kill wildlife anytime, anywhere and sometimes do so in particularly cruel ways.
The Investigators:
Anyone with information about this case should contact the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission at 800-662-7137.
The HSUS works to stop wildlife abuse and animal cruelty across the country. Visit humanesociety.org/wildlifeabuse for more information.
Media Contact: Liz Bergstrom, 301-258-1455, ebergstrom@humanesociety.org

-30-

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 28. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.

Since 1993 the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust, alone or in partnership with other conservation groups, has participated in the protection of more than 1.8 million acres of wildlife habitat in 37 states and seven foreign countries. On all properties owned by the Trust or protected by the Trust's conservation easement, both here and abroad, we prohibit recreational and commercial hunting and trapping and restrict logging and development. The Trust's commitment to these principles will never change as we continue to assist caring landowners to make their property permanent, safe homes for wildlife. Join our online community at wildlifelandtrust.org.