Board Dimensions:  9’8"

Year Shaped:  1967

Condition:    9 out of condition 10  - Original.       

Serial Number:

Pre-Auction Estimate:      $3,500 - $5,000.00

Reserve: NO

Starting Bid: $500.00

Location:  NJ

Description:     NAVY VETERAN OWNED!  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

Here is a Surfboards Makaha Semi Gun shaped by Ben Aipa in the Greg Noll factory in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was there where Ben shaped for the Surfboards Makaha label started by Joe Kuala.  This board has a clear deck throughout with a ¾ inch redwood center stringer with the Surfboard Makaha logo on the deck.  It has a lime green rail wrap and bottom tint with a matching translucent lime green swept back glass on fin.  There are some heal dents and a repair on the rail professionally done in 1968.  In the Greg Noll book, The Art of the Surfboard, on pages 97 & 98, Ben says he was influenced by Greg’s shapes, mostly the Semi gun boards he was doing. Greg says “in fact, Ben may have contributed to the creation of the Semi gun,” Ben continues and says “I wanted a wider shorter board that was easier to turn, and so the word Semi came up, and we came up with the Semi Gun” The serial number 164 is written on the center stringer and the owner of the board has reached out to Duke Aipa, Ben’s son confirming that the serial number was written by his dad.

Full provenance:

The owner of this board served in the US Navy in North Vietnam during the war.   After his return, he was in the Triple Army Hospital on Oahu for a severe knee injury.  It was there, in Waikiki where he learned to surf. He said it helped heal is knee, …and my head, from the war.   He goes on to say he became a fairly good surfer after renting boards in Waikiki and surfing with his friends at Sunset Beach at the North shore.  But, during his time on the island he fell in love with this one surfboard, A Surfboard’s Makaha Semi Gun he purchased used for $75.  This surfboard has so many meanings, from Ben Aipa shaping it under Greg Nolls expert tutelage, to the magical healing powers it has for the body, mind and soul.  When it was time for him to go home and he surfed it one last time on Dec 20, 1968.  That was the last time she (his board) felt the ocean.  It spent the next 54 years in his barn.  The owner says and I quote “I have to admit that I am a bit emotional about letting her go.  She played such a huge part in my healing.” 

Good luck to all bidders as this board will be going to its next care giver.  Bid with confidence, bid with pride, but don’t let this incredible board get away as it is up at NO RESERVE!!!