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 23, 2011

Good longboarding videos.



Not often one can find good longboarding video's on YouTube so check our Mike Clancy's  body of work.

Nov 20, 2011

Making wood fins - Hatchet style

We've been using 9" Hatchet style fins for some time and really like the way they hold and allow for easy turning. Dan came across a 10.5" Hatchet and it works even better. Certainly there has to be some draw backs, probably too much bite for really swinging turns...don't know right now. Anyway, boredom struck and he started going through his wood pile.
Around 1985 he found a downed Sycamore tree, in a swamp that showed good potential for Spalting to develop. Spalting creates random black lines in wood. Rather rare, even more rare is to get large pieces and not to have the wood too decayed. Dan used pieces in furniture, drawer fronts and in places that would show off the beauty of Spalting wood.
So boredom, helped create some new fins for us to play with.



Rough Sycamore log


Inside with not much left to work with.


Scrap piece with nice figuring...something for the future


Putting on fin box blocks


Each fin has two layers of 4 oz with epoxy. Two more layers for fin box/wood joint.



Just finished three of these. Gave the best one to Tom, I have one and one for ???  We're hoping for surf to play with these tomorrow.

Nov 13, 2011

Chris Crocker - December 4, 1973 -- November 5, 2011

On Sunday afternoon, Amy Crocker called to tell us Chris passed away on Saturday. He had a heart attack.

Now Chris is truly the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back. He was a great father to Brittney and Jake, and loving husband to Amy. He was always kind to everyone, even if he didn't agree with their politics. At the beach, he often took a good handful of Jake's friends with him surfing - was like father duck leading his flock to water.

Chris was the kind of surfer who would go out in any of kind surf, I've seen him take off on waves that were impassable yet he'd surf it well. Of course Jake would be ripping up whatever came in. Chris could shape boards and recently finished one for Jake. He loved to hunt, fish, clam, just about anything outdoors. Last year he stopped over with good 20 pounds of clams from our area. Darn good eating.

Last few weeks Chris didn't feel well but just ignored traditional heart attack warning signs. Last Friday night, after going out to dinner with his family, he felt worse. On Saturday conditions were getting worse and Amy took him to emergency center at our local hospital. Chris died on the way there.

There were many good reasons for Chris to have lived to an old age but few for him to have died so early.  Yet one comes to mind, us men can be stupidly stubborn humans and we think we are invincible. We are afraid to admit we have to ask for help like having to go to doctors, and we think we are super human.  I know, there is a fine line between always asking for help or ignoring situations. I think that if someone says you need to see a doctor, then the symptoms must be showing enough for others to worry. So pay attention to what people say about your health.

Today we had a Paddle Out for Chris. In true Hawaiian tradition, his friends came from far and wide to pay there respects in our unique way. Eastern Surfing Association, our Southern NC chapter, folks came also: Mary Ann Mangiacapre, Amy Rose, and Jesse McCrery, thanks for coming down, along with a whole bunch of fellow surfers. Our weather was absolutely perfect.  This was a perfect way to say good bye to Chris.

Here's photos from today. I'll edit some video and add it later.
Dan and Tom



Jake next to Chris's board







Chris's fellow surfers




"Preacher" Terry saying few words before we paddle out. ( Rev. Dr. Terry Hans Johnson, Retired (PCUSA))






We all put flowers on Chris's board.



Most of us told our favorite story about Chris, with Terry, Jake and Chris's board in the center.


After each story about Chris, we splashed water and shouted his name. At the end, Preacher Terry gave a very nice prayer for Chris.



Everyone heading in.

Jake taking a wave in.




Today's sunset from home. Like to think this was Chris's way of saying 'thanks for today'. Terry sent first sunset taken at Ocean Isle Beach is evening.