I made this 9'3" surfboard in September of 1997 immedaitely after surfing a large hurricane swell in Huntington beach, when I really required more surfboard and paddling power to fight the insane longshore current.
When still on the shaping racks, A friend said it looked like a guppy, a smaller version of an old school pintail longboard. The Name stuck. It was the third surfboard I ever made.
In 2012, with my other surfboards in drydock for repairs, I rode the Guppy with a smaller fin than usual, absolutley loved it even more , and Decided I could not let is snap in half.
I Inlaid 1/4 inch thick cedar planks top and bottom over the center stringer to form a strong 'I beam' down the center of the board. The black stripes are carbon fiber I laid into routed depressions in the deck to bridge over all the heel and toe dents, and glassed over that.
The board has racked up a LOT of mileage in the 5 years since it was rebuilt, it can handle ankle high waves to double overhead. A very good travelling companion that lives on my Van's ceiling.
Recently I pulled it down for another surf session and saw this:
So I put it back up there and pulled down my larger longboard instead.
Back in drydock, more cedar to the rescue:
While I am not an adherent Asatru faith, I really like the shape of this Norse Symbol, and Burnt it into the cedar.
Triple Horn of Odin seared into the guppy.
Long may it ride.
I fiberglassed over the whole area today using Epoxy resin, but forgot to take more pics.
