The SAN DIEGO FISH:

The SAN DIEGO FISH has been my traditional fish design for almost 50 years. I originally shaped this design for myself and my riders in California in 1971-72 before moving to Hawaii to study, work and surf. I've kept up on the refinement of the SDF since then, and in 1991 began building more SDF designs for guys like Donavan Frankenrieter and my son, Ryan and other team riders. We still build many of this model as custom orders worldwide. In 2002, Larry Mabile and I were shaping next to each other in Miramar, San Diego and Larmo greatly influenced my approach on this model as well.

We offer this design as the classic straight Swallow, as well as offering a single and double wing version as well. Normally, this is offered with either classic glass-on fiberglass/wood keel set up, as well as with the removable fin option via Futures or FCS using the MR twin design,or related products such as the Rob Machado series, or with Futures with the AMT and the K2 Keel designs. We also can do the SDF as a quad design as well, usually as the double wing swallow tail configuration, and the Futures Controller design is a nice option.

Board Range: 5'2 ~ 6'6

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

5'4 x 19.25 x 2.25 @28.5cl

5'6 x 19.75 x 2.37 @32.2cl

5'8 x 20.00 x 2.50 @34.3cl

5'11 x 20.62 x 2.62 @38.6cl

6'2 x 21.00 x 2.75 @42.6cl

6'4 x 21.50 x 2.87 @46.4cl

6'6 x 21.87 x 3.00 @50.3cl

Rocket Fish (RF):

I've been building and refining the Rocket Fish design aka RF design since 1992. My longtime friend; Clyde Beatty, was the originator of the original Rocket Fish Design in the early 70's. A long while ago, I had asked his permission to use his Rocket Fish name, because I really like that name and also the type of board it represents in my surfboard model categories.

In 1992: Riders were asking for shorter boards with wider nosed designs that paddled better, and optimized small junky surf everywhere. The RF has the foil and thickness located ahead of center, and a beak type nose, along with a flatter deck, and fuller soft/low rails for carving, skating and great paddle in one sexy package. If ridden longer, wider, and thicker, the RF is well suited for beginning to beginning-intermediate riders.

The RF series is offered as either Twin fin design, Twin plus trailer (2+1), or as a straight quad setup.
All the RF Series tails are "adjustable" and also offered as a straight swallow, single wing swallow, or a double wing swallow giving into the customer's needs. The RF channel bottom version is quite popular as well.

Board Range: 5'5 ~ 6'6

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

5'5 x 19.25 x 2.31 @25.5cl

5'7 x 19.50 x 2.44 @28.1cl

5'9 x 19.75 x 2.50 @30.1cl

6'0 x 20.00 x 2.56 @32.4cl

6'2 x 20.75 x 2.62 @36.5cl

6'4 x 21.00 x 2.75 @39.3cl

6'6 x 21.25 x 2.87 @42.6cl

Alien Swallowtail:

The Alien Swallowtail is the offspring of my former SR-71 model which was very popular 17 years ago while I was working at the PSG factory in Miramar, San Diego. It features a beak type nose, with thickness forward along with a flatter deck, and fuller low rails. The double wing swallow version is ideal for a quad fin positioned off each wing. The double wing swallow really helps the tail width and volume reduce smoothly, offering smoother transitions while riding backhand and or initiating a cutback. This feature makes this speed-skate design a versatile surfboard. It rides equally well with different multi-fin setups, and we offer this design primarilyas a Twin or Quad, but the 3+2, or a 2+1 type fin configuration work equally as well.

Board Range: 5'4 ~ 6'8

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

5'4 x 19.25 x 2.25 @25.7cl

5'6 x 19.50 x 2.37 @28.3cl

5'9 x 19.75 x 2.50 @31.6cl

6'0 x 20.25 x 2.62 @35.4cl

6'2 x 20.75 x 2.75 @39.9cl

6'4 x 21.25x 2.87 @43.0cl

6'6 x 21.50 x 3.00 @46.7cl

6'8 x 21.75 x 3.12 @50.4cl

1975 Sting Model

Back in 1973, renowned Shaper/Surfer Ben Aipa came out with his revolutionary Sting design. At the time, Ben was working exclusively with Larry Bertlemann and Buttons Kaluhiokalani and Mark Liddell, and that was the hottest single fin design of that time period. Naturally, I was very interested after surfing with Ben in town that Summer and next Fall at Haleiwa, Chun's Reef and Laniakea, and I was on a mission to build my own version.

The Aipa inspired Sting design model surfs shorter, is quicker and faster from rail to rail, and looser than other single fin designs of that short board size range, and I pride myself that mine I build are very true to form of that exciting 1973 era. I also offer a bevel rail for those that prefer that design modification, making the board even faster and looser than the normal railed version.

1975 Sting Model:
5'8 ~ 7'0

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

5’8 x 19.25 x 2.56 @31.7cl
6’0 x 19.75 x 2.75 @36.2cl
6’2 x 19.87 x 2.87 @39.1cl
6'4 x 20.12 x 2.94 @41.7cl
6'6 x 20.50 x 3.00 @44.2cl
6'8 x 20.75 x 3.06 @47.1cl
7'0 x 21.00 x 3.12 @49.7cl

The '84 Model:
As Summer of '84 came about, the thruster was getting perfected in in terms of refining the design around 3 (or more) fins. For me at that time, I took off the double bump wings, and streamlined the outline somewhat, compared to the Summer of '83. These newer '84 boards were more refined, although I continued with the nose to tail panel vee, going into a double concaved vee in the fin area. I also moved my fins up about 1/4" from the first placements of the '83 resulting in a more all around board that had a more contemporary look. I still kept with the 5 fin box idea on my personal boards and the 4 fin was a special offered product of this '84 design.

'84 Model size Range:

5'8 ~ 7'0

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

5'8 x 18.87 x 2.44 @29.7cl
5'10 x 19.00 x 2.50 @31.9cl
6'0 x 19.50 x 2.62 @33.8cl
6'2 x 19.75 x 2.75 @36.3cl
6'4 x 19.87 x 2.81 @39.2cl
6'6 x 20.00 x 2.94 @42.3cl
6'8 x 20.50 x 3.06 @45.9cl
7'0 x 21.50 x 3.25 @54.2cl

TC Impala Quad Board Range:
5'8 ~ 7'4

All the TC Impala Quad Models can also be ordered shorter or wider and thicker. They all are hand signed by Tom, and are a great choice for surfers that love speed, carving, powerful bottom turns and gouging roundhouse cutbacks.

These dims below are based by Tom's actual boards and body weight for a step-up style.

5'10 x 18.37 x 2.37 @26.2cl
6'2 x 18.50 x 2.44 @30.5cl
6'2 x 18.50 x 2.44 @30.5cl
6'4 x 18.62 x 2.50 @32.2cl
6'6 x 18.87 x 2.62 @35.1cl
6'8 x 19.37 x 2.75 @38.8cl
6'10 x 20.00 x 3.00 @44.8cl
7'0 x 20.37 x 3.06 @47.7cl

The Alien PLUS Model:

The Alien PLUS is the expanded version of both my Alien Swallowtail and Round tail models. Many surfers today are looking for surfboards with more length, bigger dimensions, more cubic volume, that are designed with the correct rocker and rails for larger boards that still maintain the speed and ride of the smaller board models, yet still surf well as the longer & bigger version.

Board Range:
6'4 ~ 8'8

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

6'4 x 21.25 x 2.87 @42.7cl
6'8 x 21.50 x 3.00 @47.4cl
7'0 x 21.75 x 3.12 @52.4cl
7'4 x 22.00 x 3.18 @56.6cl
7'8 x 22.25 x 3.25 @61.2cl
8'0 x 22.50 x 3.31 @66.1cl
8'4 x 22.75 x 3.37 @70.7cl
8'8 x 23.25 x 3.50 @79.4cl

The Rocket Fish (RF) PLUS Model

The Rocket Fish (RF) PLUS model is the expanded version of my Rocket Fish (RF)
model. Many surfers today are looking for surfboards with more length, bigger dimensions, more cubic volume, that are designed with the correct rocker and rails for larger boards that still maintain the speed and ride of the smaller board models, yet still surf well as the longer & bigger version.

Board Range:
6'2 ~ 8'6

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

6'2 x 21.00 x 2.87 @40.7cl
6'5 x 21.25 x 2.94 @43.9cl
6'8 x 21.50 x 3.00 @47.2cl
7'0 x 21.75 x 3.12 @52.1cl
7'4 x 22.00 x 3.25 @57.3cl
7'8 x 22.25 x 3.37 @61.8cl

The Diablo Model Longboard
My latest longboard design; the Diablo Model, has only been in my catalog lineup for 3 1/2 years. It’s a newer design, and mainly an ultra-performance longboard with a sleeker nose and tail template. But, it’s designed with a light concave for lift in the nose, and the extra tail rocker enables this model to fit hollow waves well.

This model’s continuous flowing tail rocker enables this board to handle many wave conditions, including adverse wind chop. It is versatile as a single fin, or a single fin with side bites, as well as thruster and/or quad fin setup.

Board Range:
8’4 -10’0

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

8’6 x 21.50 x 2.75 @57.8cl
8’8 x 21.75 x 2.87 @61.2cl
9’0 x 22.25 x 3.06 @67.6cl
9'2 x 22.37 x 3.12 @71.3cl
9’6 x 22.50 x 3.18 @76.5cl
9’9 x 22.75 x 3.25 @80.8cl

The Chun’s Model Longboard:

My Chun’s Model Longboard has been in my catalog lineup for many years. I mainly build my Longboard model shapes on a custom order basis as they are of a personal nature. I still love to longboard when the conditions are appropriate, and I have been evolving this model over the past 53+ years at places like Malibu, CA, #3’s in Waikiki, and of course: Chun’s Reef on Oahu’s North Shore.

This model offers a 18”+ nose width at 12", enhancing nose riding capabilities, and it's designed with a medium tear-drop concave in the nose section for extra lift. This model’s continuous flowing tail rocker enables this model to handle many wave & surface conditions, including wind chop. It is mainly ridden as single fin, or a single fin with 2 side bites on the rail at 15” from the tail block.

Board Range:

8’6 -10’6

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

8’6 x 21.50 x 2.75 @59.9cl
8'9 x 21.75 x 2.81 @60.2cl
9’0 x 22.25 x 3.00 @66.1cl
9’2 x 22.37 x 3.06 @70.6cl
9’6 x 22.50 x 3.18 @74.7cl
9’9 x 22.75 x 3.25 @79.1cl
10'0 x 23.00 x 3.37 @86.3cl

Tom Carroll 1991 Pipeline Masters Snapback Model:

We've made a lot of these high-end TC replicas for many over the past 6 years. They are shaped exactly to spec like Tom's original famous snapback 7'8 x 17.87 x 2.37 Bombora Round tail thruster that he did his famous snapback on back at Pipe in 1991. That are with hand signed TC autograph that’s glassed under inside Tom's famous "sash" airbrush, and high-end quality all the way and comes with either FCS FUSION boxes for shipping ease, or glass on fins of Tom's original fin design.

The same 5 strand carbon strip on the deck and the high sand-polish finish really completes this trophy board.

The exact size of Tom's board is: 7'8 x 17.87 x 2.37 Bombora Round tail thruster.

The 4X2 Model:

Back about 10 years ago, professional surfer, Allen Sarlo and I started designing boards for his powerful surfing style using medium deep concave bottoms combined with double concaves inside that concave, resulting in a very high planing and super-hydrodynamical bottom design that worked extremely well for Allen's powerful style in both large and small wave in California and Hawaii. That model we named The Escalade, which proved to be the choice for larger and more powerful surfers in both large and small wave alike.

The 4x2 was an small wave offshoot of the Escalade into a fun hybrid-ish play toy for small wave air moves and gutless, mushy surf. It's mainly a wing-squash but works well as a wing swallow or roundtail. Mainly ordered as quad, it'll serve the range nicely of 2-3-4-5 finbox configurations.

The 4X2 Model:

5'4 ~ 6'10

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

5'4 x 19.5 x 2.37 @25.9cl

5'6 x 19.62 x 2.50 @28.1cl

5'8 x 19.75 x 2.56 @32.8cl

5'10 x 19.87 x 2.62 @34.2cl

6'0 x 20.12 x 2.75 @36.9cl

6'2 x 20.50 x 2.87 @40.4cl

6'6 x 20.87 x 3.06 @46.8cl

6'10 x 21.25 x 3.12 @ 53.2cl

NOVA Twin

The Rawson NOVA Twin is a newer contemporary design with an exclusive wing diamond tail. It features fuller low rails, a "Sleek Beak" nose and is a well rounded dedicated twin fin. It’s important to note the fin placement is further back on this board providing solid, confident hold, and eliminating the need for a back fin or trailer. The lower nose rocker and tri-plane front entry really help this model paddle into and handle sub-par surf. The thin yet boxier rail with nice edges in the tail section is all drive and release, coupled with a slightly lower tail rocker with pronounced double concave vee the last 24". The roundhouse cutbacks and backside riding on this wing diamond tail design is very smooth and predictable. We also offer this design with a channel bottom configuration for those that love the speed of a channel twin.

Available in a full range of sizes including plus sizes for the experienced surfer.

*If you’ve been loving your Rawson Sniper or Impala, the NOVA Twin is a great choice to spice up your smaller wave game.

NOVA TWIN

Board Range:

5'5 ~ 7'2

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific need

5'5 x 19.00 x 2.37 @27.1cl

5'7 x 19.25 x 2.50 @29.9cl

5'9 x 19.75 x 2.62 @33.5cl

6'0 x 20.00 x 2.75 @36.8cl

6'2 x 20.75 x 2.81 @39.7cl

6'4 x 21.00 x 2.87 @42.5cl

6'6 x 21.50 x 3.00 @45.9cl

6'8 x 21.50 x 3.00 @48.0cl

6'10 x 21.75 x 3.06 @50.9cl

7'0 x 21.87 x 3.18 @54.3cl

7'2 x 22.00 x 3.25 @57.3cl

Alien Round Tail Bonzer:

The Alien Round tail is my Rawson Round tail rendition of the Alien series.
The Alien Round tail features a Bonzer bottom design, which enhances the loose-ness from the curvier tail curve, and really gives this model speed to burn derived from effortless transitioning rail to rail bursts.
It's best ridden as a Twin fin, Quad, Twinzer or 2+1 fin setup, and features a beak type nose, with thickness forward along with a flatter deck, and fuller low rails.

Board Range: 5'4 ~ 6'8

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

5'4 x 19.25 x 2.25 @26.2cl

5'6 x 19.50 x 2.37 @28.9cl

5'9 x 19.75 x 2.50 @32.3cl

6'0 x 20.25 x 2.62 @36.2cl

6'2 x 20.75 x 2.75 @40.0cl

6'4 x 21.25 x 2.87 @41.8cl

6'6 x 21.50 x 3.00 @47.7cl

6'8 x 21.75 x 3.12 @51.5cl

'77 Single Fin Model:

Back in 1977-78, I started working with Rob Burns, the founder of Local Motion in Kailua Oahu as his first shaper. We enjoyed tremendous initial success and we were able to have team riders like Buzzy Kerbox who was a top 10 ASP rider from Kailua, Oahu, where we were located. We finally made the move "over the hill" to the Kapiolani district of Honolulu where Local Motion surfboard sales really took off. That was about the same time we contracted Mark Liddell and Buttons Kaluhiokalani as our pro riders. So, the '77 Single Fin is the culminatione of those 2 riders working with me, and making many prototypes to fine tune the design. Mark was an "eagle eye" in the shaping room, and with both of their input, we figured out the "Modern Single Fin" designed for skate moves in small surf. We designed those boards using 10" fin boxes with the 7"-7.5" rakier center fins we were using that were placed up 10" - 12" forward of the tail block.

Buttons made that a reality concept for many riders and shaper worldwide, and the old surf movie footages show how innovative and radical his surfing really was those early years. What was cool, is that design was super versatile and so a normal style wide base fin worked equally well at 6" from the tail block.

It's one of my most popular single fins I build and sell.

We also offer the 1975 Single Fin Model which was reflected from my energy with Dick Brewer and his strong influence on my board designs of that time period. These boards are shaped built true to form with the rockers and thicknesses popular at that time. Beak noses, flat decks, fuller soft low rails prevailed, and this model has a very drivey yet loose feel to it.

Finally, we further offer the 1979 Single Fin Model which really was the last version of "performance single fins" before the Thruster Design moved into the limelight in 1981. The '79 is sleeker, more foiled out, and racier than the other singles I offer, and that model has a distinct Bill Barnfield influence whom I worked with and was the leader of that time period in Hawaii.

77 Single Fin Model range:
5'6 ~ 6'8

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

5’8 x 19.50 x 2.62 @31.1cl
5’10 x 19.75 x 2.75 @33.7cl
6'0 x 20.00 x 2.87 @36.6cl
6'2 x 20.12 x 2.94 @38.9cl
6'4 x 20.50 x 3.00 @41.5cl
6'6 x 20.75 x 3.06 @45.6cl
6'8 x 20.87 x 3.12 @49.7cl

Summer of '83 Model:

The first thruster models I was designing and shaping, and being sold at Local Motion Hawaii and in Japan, were mainly designed for Mark Liddell and "Button's", who were my team riders and riding for LM since 1978. In the middle of the Summer of '83, I had 3 different magazine cover shots of that same thruster design, and so the name: "Summer of '83" model was appropriate.

At the time, I was mainly making these first thruster boards with a double bump-wing squash tails and we were also playing with twins and quads. Because of heavy experimentation in fin designs and placements, all my personal boards had 5 fin boxes in them. Ken Bradshaw and Ben Aipa both really influenced me in putting in multiple fin boxes, so we could fine tune the fins and fin placements. This true-to-form early '80's model is presently being faithfully recreated off my original notes, to intentionally be true to form as I was building them in '83. They are styled with a "sleek- beak" nose, and the thicknesses are shifted forward of center but not as forwardly pronounced as my single fins were in the 70’s. A healthy panel Vee flowing throughout the whole bottom with a double concaved vee in the tail, was the motor on that board's ability to go from rail to rail easily, and pick up speed going from rail to rail (just like shifting gears in a Porsche!)

This model is such a fun board to ride in all conditions and the 80's outline with the lower bottom rocker, flatter deck and fuller rails complete the package.

Summer of '83 Model Range:
5'6 ~ 6'10

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

5'8 x 19.25 x 2.50 @30.2cl
5'10 x 19.50 x 2.62 @32.9cl
6'0 x 19.75 x 2.75 @35.1cl
6'2 x 19.87 x 2.81 @37.8cl
6'4 x 20.00 x 2.87 @39.7cl
6'6 x 20.37 x 3.00 @42.2cl
6'8 x 20.87 x 3.12 @46.2cl

Sniper Series

The Sniper series is currently my most asked for model from my customers world wide. I originally designed the first Impala in 2009 while shaping at Lost Surfboards while building and selling my Rawson brands that Lost was distributing for me. At the time, Matt Biolos; the Lost Surfboards owner, was encouraging me to design a hybrid that had the best of the '80's, but style was contemporary looking. The result was the Impala: my best small wave model seller for 8 years, only giving those numbers up to The Sniper, which is a souped up, latest version of the Impala Classic.

All of the Sniper Series Model I build still have the thickness forward of center, but with more of a high performance rail than the Impala and a more contemporary non-beak nose design with more rocker the last 6" to tip, that helps the whole board fit in the wave better for the high performance moves this board is capable of..

We offer the Sniper Series as aClassic Roundtail, or the Sniper SS which is either a swallowtail or a squash tail. The Sniper SS series tends to lend to a Quad setup where both the Classic and SS work well with the 3+2 setup. Like the Impala, the result is a small wave board that thinks it's a skateboard, and has plenty of flow, drive, speed, and looseness in many wave sizes and types. Both my Sniper and Impala expand nicely in size and volume w to accommodate larger/older mature riders with the bigger cubic volumes.

Sniper Board Range:

5'10 ~ 8'6

5'10 x 19.50 x 2.50 @31.5cl

6'4 x 20.25 x 2.75 @38.5cl

6'8 x 20.75 x 2.87 @43.2cl

7'0 x 21.12 x 3.00 @48.3cl

7'4 x 21.50 x 3.06 @52.6cl

7'8 x 21.75 x 3.18 @56.1cl

8'0 x 22.12 x 3.25 @61.7cl

8'6 x 22.37 x 3.37 @68.9cl

The SK8+ Model:

The performance series Rawson SK8+ is a modified offspring of the long-enduring Rawson Hyper-Skate Model. Combining a slightly wider nose, with a lower and more efficient nose rocker, and a slight concave bottom contour to double concaves in the tail, along with a thinner, boxy California styled rail with good tail edges, gives this short board model characteristics to be skatey and loose in powerless small surf, and a dependable small wave board for most small wave conditions. The concave to a double concave within a concave in the mid and tail sections gives extra drive and skate for a good carving, all around ride.

Board Range:
5’6”- 7’0

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

5’8 x 18.37 x 2.18 @22.1cl
5’10 x 18.50 x 2.25 @24.3cl
6'0 x 18.62 x 2.31 @26.7cl
6'2 x 18.75 x 2.44 @28.9cl
6'4 x 19.37 x 2.50 @31.1cl
6’6 x 19.75 x 2.75 @35.6cl
7’0 x 20.75 x 3.00 @43.6cl

The "Speed Egg" Model

The Speed Egg was designed by using the Sniper model with it's bottom and rail and tail template, and then morphing in a wider Egg type nose.
The Speed Egg has all the characteristics of my Sniper model, with the extra planing and paddling from the wider nose. Those liking the Sniper Model, will love the Speed Egg for a step down type board, or just for a longer easy takeoff weekend model.

Speed Egg Board Range:
5'6 ~ 8'6

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs

5'10 x 19.50 x 2.50 @33.5cl
6'4 x 20.25 x 2.75 @40.5cl
6'8 x 20.75 x 2.87 @45.2cl
7'0 x 21.12 x 3.00 @50.3cl
7'4 x 21.50 x 3.06 @54.6cl
7'8 x 21.75 x 3.18 @58.1cl
8'0 x 22.12 x 3.25 @63.7cl
8'6 x 22.37 x 3.37 @70.9cl

The Sunset Point Model:

My Sunset Point Rounded Pintail Model Longboard has been our favorite step up long board for good surf in Hawaii type surf. This board has a narrower round tail with a slight concave in the nose for lift.

Along with it's continuous flowing tail rocker, the narrower tail combined with the wide point brought forward enables this board to handle many diverse wave conditions, including somewhat adverse conditions. It can be ridden as a single fin with side bites, as well as a dedicated Quad, and/or a 3+2 design making it convertible between both these fin configurations.

Board Range:
8’2”- 9’9

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

8’8 x 21.50 x 2.87 @61.6cl
9’0 x 22.00 x 3.00 @66.9cl
9'2 x 22.25 x 3.06 @69.8cl
9'4 x 22.25 x 3.12 @71.4cl
9’6 x 22.50 x 3.18 @76.7cl
9’9 x 22.75 x 3.25 @80.2cl

The Cheater 5 Gun Model:

The Cheater 5 Gun came about by speaking with different big wave Rawson team riders asking me about combining some new concepts into my gun series. So, my first idea was placing a Cheater 5 outline over my Sniper Gun Model and combining both concepts.

The result that came about is the Sniper Gun's gun rocker and thickness flow and rails, combined nicely with the Cheater 5 fuller yet racy template and offered better paddling and extra glide from the wider nose/wide point placed up further. This "NEW" model combo just another way to have more fun & satisfaction in larger surf when you're older, more mature rider and/or heavier (read the Sniper Gun Model to learn more)

Cheater 5 Gun Board Range:

8'0 ~ 10'6

I generally prefer not setting pre-set dimensions to weights on my Gun Models, due to the variability from customer to customer. Because ordering a custom Gun is a very personal experience for most, My "team" and I prefer working directly with the customer for their gun needs to be dialed in. Here are a few "ideas" though.

8’6 x 21.25 x 3.37 @66.9cl

9’0 x 21.50 x 3.50 @74.7cl

9’6 x 21.75 x 3.62 @82.7cl

9'9 x 22.00 x 3.75 @88.9cl

10'0 x 22.37 x 3.87 @95.7cl

10'5 x 22.75 x 4.00 @104.9cl

The Redwood:

I do love building exotic surfboards when I have the time, and the TC 1991 Pipeline Masters Snapback redwood model is isan example of this. It is the only one of it's kind I have in my collection. I like building other exotic boards with balsa wood construction as well, and these are only availabe custom ordered and are glassed by legendary glasser, Jack Reeves on the North Shore.

7'8 x 18.62 x 2.56 @39.5cl

The 4x2 Twinzer Blunt Model

The 4x2 Twinzer Blunt was designed by modifying my existing 4x2 model by morphing a wide nose template, also incorporating less nose rocker for paddling, and for increased front foot drive in small dead surf. This one is meant to be ordered wider overall than the standard 4X2.
Additionally, I decided to combine this new modified 4x2 model with a Twinzer fin setup, and that setup made the board both looser and faster out of turns and down the line.
This model could be perfect as the smallest board in your quiver, for those super small gutless days you might normally ride a longboard, just to get wet!

The 4X2 Twinzer Blunt Model:
5'4 ~ 7'0

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs

5'4 x 19.87 x 2.37 @28.9cl
5'6 x 20.12 x 2.50 @30.1cl
5'8 x 20.50 x 2.56 @33.8cl
5'10 x 20.87 x 2.62 @36.2cl
6'0 x 21.12 x 2.75 @39.9cl
6'2 x 21.50 x 2.87 @42.4cl
6'6 x 21.87 x 3.06 @46.8cl
6'10 x 22.12 x 3.06 @51.8cl
7'0 x 22.37 x 3.12 @51.8cl

High Performance Twin model (HPT)

We started building and selling the High Performance Twin design around 1989 to the Japan and Hawaii market.

At the time, we still had "sleek-beak" noses and lower nose rockers in our thrusters that were just ahead time-wise of the hyper-kicked Kelly Slater style that came into the design scene in 1992.

The HPT is a dedicated twin design, and the overall template was closer to a swallow tail thruster design of that time period with no wings, and the tail widths are a bit narrower than the RF series. Because this is a dedicated twin fin: I normally recommend the Futures AMT or the T1 sides on this model.

Board Range:

5'6 ~ 6'6

5'6 x 19.00 x 2.25 @24.3cl

5'8 x 19.37 x 2.37 @26.7cl

5'10 x 19.50 x 2.50 @29.1cl

6'0 x 20.00 x 2.62 @31.9cl

6'2 x 20.25 x 2.75 @34.7cl

6'4 x 20.50 x 2.87 @37.7cl

6'6 x 21.00 x 3.12 @42.8cl

Kailua Single Fin Model:

Around 1976, I started shaping & building Wing Round Pin single fins on the North Shore. They had very flat decks, and fuller yet low rails and they were really a consistent riding board I enjoyed shaping. When Rob Burns started Local Motion in Kailua, Oahu, I became his first shaper and this was a really popular model I was building then around LM Kailua team rider, Buzzy Kerbox. So, this model replica is aptly named "The Kailua Model.

Kailua Single Fin Model:

5'10 ~ 6'10

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs

5’10 x 19.75 x 2.75 @34.4cl
6'0 x 19.87 x 2.87 @37.2cl
6'2 x 20.25 x 2.81 @39.7cl
6'4 x 20.50 x 3.00 @41.3cl
6'6 x 20.75 x 3.06 @46.0cl
6'8 x 20.87 x 3.06 @47.8cl
6'10 x 21.25 x 3.12 @50.6cl

The '85 Model:
By 1985, shapers everywhere were pretty much on top of the thruster design, and finally other proven designs were being tested. I always had a soft place in my heart for Twin fin designs. At that early to mid '80's time period, Larry Bertlemann and I were working together and Larry is a mindful shaper/surfer, who was always trying out new combinations to get surfboards that were extremely fast bottoms designed for doing airs, and skateboard moves.
So, the '85 is the culmination of our work together both as a twin fin and/or a thruster design. Almost all of the '85 models were shaped as wing swallow or wing squash tail designs, and Larry really liked the short "belly channels" that were still popular, starting through the early 80's.

So, I built Larry the channels on his model, and also started implementing the Campbell Bonzer bottom on my boards as well, which I had learned to shape directly from Malcomb Campbell, who was the inventor and leading proponent of the Bonzer bottom. The Bonzer bottom worked extremely well with the twin fin design and 4 fin designs: taking off that center fin was like taking the emergency brake off, as if it was half-on in your car.
The '85 is thicker, wider, and flatter than the the boards I was making Mark and Buttons at that time, and so the heavier guys I was building for really loved the '85.

'85 Model size Range:
5'6 ~ 7'0

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs

5'8 x 19.25 x 2.50 @30.9cl
5'10 x 19.50 x 2.56 @33.3cl
6'0 x 19.87 x 2.62 @35.9cl
6'2 x 20.12 x 2.75 @37.6cl
6'4 x 20.50 x 2.87 @40.8cl
6'6 x 20.75 x 3.00 @44.7cl
6'8 x 21.00 x 3.12 @48.9cl
7'0 x 21.75 x 3.37 @53.9cl

The Impala Model:

I designed the first Impala in 2009 while shaping at Lost Surfboards while they were building and selling my Rawson brand. At the time, Matt Biolos; the Lost owner, was encouraging me to design a hybrid that had the best of the '80's, but with style that was contemporary looking. The result was one of my best small wave model sellers for 8 years: the Impala.

All of the Impalas have the thickness forward of center, with a very flat deck and a beak nose design that helps the paddle-factor! The Impala bottom contours have a panel Vee in tail section with a Tri-Plane Hull type contour setup going forward into the wide point and into the nose. The result was a board that thinks it's a skateboard, yet has plenty of drive, speed, and looseness in many wave sizes and types. It's still popular, only giving up some ground to my newer Sniper model series.

We offer the Impala in 3 basic styles: either the Impala Classic Roundtail, the Impala SS, and the TC Impala Quad which is a step up style off the original Impala design. The basic Impala model accommodates well to either 2+1, thruster-style, quad or 3+2 fin configurations. We offer all the Impala's tail designs as either a Round (Classic) or SS style (swallow, squash or hard Diamond tail.

Impala Board Range:
5'2 ~ 6'10

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

5'8 x 19.50 x 2.50 @30.7cl
6'0 x 20.00 x 2.62 @35.3cl
6'2 x 20.25 x 2.75 @38.1cl
6'4 x 20.87 x 2.87 @42.0cl
6'6 x 21.25 x 3.00 @45.9cl
6'8 x 21.75 x 3.06 @49.8cl
6'10 x 21.87 x 3.18 @52.2cl

HC+ Model:

This high performance Rawson specialty model was formally known as the Hyper-Classic model, and is one of my longest running Rawson step-up models I offer. The HC+ is a semi-gun design originally “spawned” on the North Shore and is intended for good surf and traveling surfers everywhere. Whether you’re riding Back Door, Teahupoo, Mentawais or other exotic destinations, this model is designed to be the most reliable board in your quiver.

Utilizing a smoothly flowing bottom rocker with well-placed concaves and with an esthetic thickness foil from nose to tail, these attributes give this design great maneuverability along with great flex characteristics for a “turning in the tube” style of riding. I have probably shaped more boards of this HC+ model for Pro surfers and world travelers, than any other design I build.

Board Range:
5’8” ~ 7’0”

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs:

6’0 x 18.37 x 2.37 @25.5cl
6’2 x 18.50 x 2.50 @29.1cl
6’4 x 18.75 x 2.62 @31.6cl
6’6 x 19.00 x 2.68 @34.5cl
6’8 x 19.25 x 2.75 @35.8cl
7'0 x 19.50 x 2.87 @39.8cl

Cheater 5
The Rawson Cheater 5 model was named by Rocky Point Rawson team rider, Jack Lutey. At the time, we were trying to collaborate on a design that was a mid length that would surf high performance maneuvers and fit the wave at Rocky Point, and other premier surf spots, yet easily handle the trade wind bump and still paddle well.

The result is the Cheater 5. It's a racy mid length that's designed for decent to good surf, and can also be order in step up dims as well.
The Cheater 5 features a thinner performance rail, and a moderate bottom rocker that enables the surfer to ride from any spot on the board. The Cheater 5 performs as a 2+1 center/side bite fin set up, as well as thruster or quad or single fin.

Cheater 5 Board Range:

7'0 ~ 9'6

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. My team will work personally with all my customers and their specific needs

7'0 x 21.00 x 2.87 @46.7cl

7'6 x 21.50 x 3.00 @52.5cl

8'0 x 21.75 x 3.06 @57.7cl

8'6' x 22.00 x 3.12 @62.3cl

9'0 x 22.25 x 3.25 @70.6cl

9'6 x 22.50 x 3.37 @78.2cl

Wave Bandit Twin/Quad Model (Bandito de Las Olas)

I've always made and ridden hybrid-type boards for myself that had some extra volume and paddle power for the crowded days in Honolulu Summer surf and North Shore small surf, but still rode like a performance board in good surf. The Wave Bandit Design has been around since 2001 and was spawned in Lima, Peru where I was shaping boards for the Peruvian market at the time. The Wave Bandit series is ordered as either a Single or Double Wing Swallow, or as a round tail design, and shaped with a full range bottom rocker and adding in the Bonzer bottom contours along with a slightly fuller high-performance rail mixing in really highlights paddling and performance attributes in 1 package.

Board Range:

6'4 ~ 8'0

Suggested body weight to board sizes:

6'4 x 20.00 x 2.44 @34.8cl

6'6 x 20.50 x 2.62 @39.3cl

6'10 x 20.75 x 2.75 @43.9cl

7'2 x 21.00 x 2.94 @49.8cl

7'6 x 21.50 x 3.00 @53.9cl

7'9 x 21.75 x 3.12 @59.3cl

8'0 x 22.00 x 3.25 @64.4cl

Classic Gun Style:

The Classic Gun has been my Rawson Surfboards design forte since the '70's for high performance Guns and catering to serious experienced riders wanting pre-tested and proven gun designs for their different needs and aspirations in large surf. Building custom boards on the North Shore of Oahu for 48 years has enabled me to fine tune my larger wave boards constantly.

Having feedback with such a wide variety of surf conditions and top riders further pushes my understanding of Gun design even further. I encourage this model ordered as custom, and my sales team members I have in place are very helpful for further fine-tune this to your special needs.

Board Range:
7’6′′-10’6′′

I generally prefer not setting pre-set dimensions to weights on my Gun Models, due to the variability from customer to customer. Because ordering a custom Gun is a very personal experience for most,my sales team is available to work directly with the customer for their specialized gun needs.
However, here’s’ some sample ideas for reference for high performance gun ideas:

Sunset Beach type gun
7’6 x 18.75 x 2.75 @41.3cl
8’0 x 19.75 x 2.87 @48.1cl
8’6 x 20.25 x 3.06 @54.3c
9’0 x 20.87 x 3.12 @60.2c
9’6 x 21.25 x 3.18 @66.2cl

Waimea Bay type gun
9’2 x 20.25 x 3.12 @61.4cl
9’6 x 20.75 x 3.18 @66.9cl
9’10 x 21.00 x 3.25 @71.3cl
10’2 x 21.25 x 3.50 @79.6cl
10’6 x 21.50 x 3.62 @86.8cl

The Sniper Gun Model:

The Sniper Gun came about around 4 years ago, by combining into my previous Matador/Impala gun combination, which was growing in popularity, especially with my more mature customers wanting to stay connected to their large wave commitment. Thanks to Trip Forman of Real Water Sports, this model and its name evolved into my most popular gun model that I offer besides the Classic Quad Model.

Those Matador Guns, having wider noses and having the wide point up really helped give better paddling power to that design, and also offered the rider more direction and early penetration into the wave during the takeoff. The newest mix of the Sniper gun really helped transform this model into a very contemporary look and feel, but still combining the best of paddling and maneuverability and controlling one versatile design that is a serious large wave design. The versatility of this model accommodates all tail shapes and thruster and quad designs. It still features my Rawson beak nose.

The overall wave size range this model is effectively is broader and larger than most other surfboard gun styles I build. It's a super versatile gun design.

Sniper Gun Board Range:
8'6 ~ 11'6

I generally prefer not setting pre-set dimensions to weights on my Gun Models, due to the variability from customer to customer. Because ordering a custom Gun is a very personal experience for most, I prefer working directly with the customer for their gun needs. However, here’s’ some sample ideas for reference:

8’6 x 20.75 x 3.25 @61.4cl

9’0 x 21.25 x 3.50 @71.3cl

9’6 x 21.50 x 3.62 @78.3cl

10'0 x 21.87 x 3.75 @87.9cl

10'5 x 22.00 x 3.87 @95.1cl

11'0 x 22.87 x 4.12 @111.2cl

The Rawson Lighting Bolt Model:

In 1974 through 1977, I was glossing and doing finish work on Lightning Bolt boards for the Lightning Bolt crew like Gerry, Rory, Tom Parrish, BK, Reno and many of the other the top Bolt shapers that were not glassing their own boards, on both North and South Shores of Oahu. I was meticulous and always had new Bolt color ideas and pin line design ideas for Lightning Bolt boards.

Consequently, I was also building new boards from start to finish for Lightning Bolt founder Jack Shipley in the Kapiolani Lightning Bolt store: they were mostly gun designs that was my niche. Mainly, those were my 7'6 Sunset models, and my 7'10 Pipe model. The shapes on them were pretty nice, but I think people bought these boards because many customers there loved the color work and finish work I was doing on them.

Regardless, I love rebuilding these boards off my original 70's notes and they are very true to form of that avant-garde era in in the mid 70's Surfing history. My range of Lightning Bolts include my true to form single fin short boards from 6'4 to 7'2 of that 1975-1980 period, as well as the longer 7'6 to 8'6 Pipe and Sunset guns I was building back in the 1974-1978 period.

The customer will have a choice of resin tint or opaque color schemes, and each Bolt on the deck and bottom will be of resin color, and hand signed as I did on all of my Lightning Bolts back in the day. The finished quality that goes into these finished boards have are second to none. Custom resin tints, rail Bolts, touching pinlines, and all boards feature a beautiful Gloss and Polished finish in all the Genuine Lighting Bolts I build. I am currently licensed by Lightning Bolt Corporation as one of the authorized shaper/manufacturers, and each board is registered and has a genuine Lightning Bolt Hologram glassed into the board for authenticity.

Board Size Range:
6'4 - 8'6

While I think it’s helpful to have rider weight and dimensions: remember these are only a general guide. I will work personally with my customers and their specific needs on these Lightning Bolt models.

7'2 x 19.00 x 2.75 @38.9cl
7'4 x 19.25 x 2.81 @41.6cl
7'6 x 19.37 x 2.87 @44.9cl
7'8 x 19.50 x 3.00 @47.8cl
7'10 x 19.62 x 3.06 @50.3cl
8'0 x 19.62 x 3.06 @54.6cl