The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-07-10
PATTON HAS 4
PATENT BOARD
Mechanic Sportsman lnvents a
Hollow Surf Board on
New Lines.

Here is the latest thing in surfing
and it sounds like excellent sense.
Mike Patton, who is trained me-
chanician, wood butcher and a keen
thinker, besides being well-known
sportsman, has been figuring on the
surfboard proposition for some time
and he gave out the results of his
think tank naturalization yesterday
afternoon.
Mike figures on a hollow surfboard
but not one built on the same lines as
those which have already been tried.
His idea, as well as can be explained
without diagram, is something like
this. bottom board, or bilge, of sufi-
cient thickness to allow for the taper
ing and chamfering necessary for the
correct shape of the board.
Along the outer edges of this main
body would run side pieces Of about
three quarters of an inch or one inch
in thickness This side piece would, of
course, be planned off at the bow end
to admit of the fastening of fat top.
This top would be of the same material
as the main body, light wood and would
be not more than half an inch thick
with supports in the center, if neces-
sary-and they would be necessary for
heavy rider.
In the center of the underbody would
be flush, screw bilge drainer of light
brass SO that, in case there was leak,
the air space could be drained dry.
Careful carpenter work in building the
board would make it unnecessary to
have any caulking. A line of lead
along each side of the side pieces would
insure the board being water tight
Mike claims, and his claim looks very
reasonable, that such a board would
be light and yet have sufficient heft
to carry way when once started GA
big steel steamer said he sis heavy
enough and, though advancing at a
very slow speed, will grind the end of
a pier to pieces. 1t is the air inside
which keeps such huge leviathans afoat
yet the weight and heft is there just
the same. I believe that a board con-
structed on these principles would be
a great success
MUCH VI TINS conversation took place
on ear bound for Waikiki and an
enthusiastic surfer who is blessed with
the wherewithal to crafty minor ex-
perimental fancies, was so taken with
the idea that he has already arranged
to have board constructed on the
lines suggested by Mike Patton.
Chicago's big Bellerophon was
constructed on new lines and has
proved really fine success. SO that the
launching of the latest craft will be
watched with keen interest-by the surf
ing hui.
It is quite true that the real ex-
perts can take any old kind of a board
and catch wave while the malihinis
are struggling vainly to get a start,
but any Improvement that tends to
make it easier for the malihini, is good,
not only for the sport, but for Hawaii
As it is now there are only a few
boards which an absolute novice can
take and, after being given a good
push by some kindly cicerone. catch
a wave for the first time. What Is
needed is more good boards and more
people to take an interest in the
chance visitor and show him how to
get start. All the tourists who have
tried surf riding and have made sue
cess of only one wave. have all gone
away with the surf bug firmly embed
ded in their craniums.
We need more boards of different
sizes and We need triie more courtesy
IN the surf. Many of the Outrig- |